Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome.
Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).
This weekend (October 6 – October 8) includes the L.A. Greek Festival, a Moon Festival in Chinatown, a Filipino Food Festival, CicLAvia: Heart of the City, the Fresh Coat Mural Festival, and MUCH more.
Enjoy!
Friday October 6th, 2017
1. Multi-sensory, walk-through experience Creep LA returns to the Music Box in DTLA Oct. 5 through Nov. 12. Inspired by the Amazon Prime Exclusive Series Lore the experience is fully engaging, multi-sensory and super-scary, featuring some of pop culture’s most legendary horror myths, including vampires, changelings, werewolves, séances and possessed dolls. Happening Thursday through Sunday.
2. Eat|See|Hear returns with Front Porch Cinema, a free movie night below the stars every Friday on Santa Monica Pier from Sept. 29 through Oct. 27. This fall film series will also feature music, drinks, and bites before each screening. Guests have the option to rent old-timey lawn chairs on site or bring their own gear. The series continues with a screening of The Princess Bride. FREE
3. The L.A. Greek Festival returns Oct. 6 -8 for a big fat block party featuring delicious Greek food, live music, dancing and more. Now in its 19th year, the event is a popular one, drawing over 15,000 each year. This year honorary chairs and co hosts are Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson.
4. Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch at Platform LA happening Oct. 6-30 in DTLA features a fun spooky space for families to celebrate Halloween featuring an interactive pumpkin village, straw maze, a giant rocking horse ride, Mr. Bones’ Super Slide, A Jumpin’ Pumpkin and much more.
5. It’s Oktoberfest at the Pomona Fairplex! Oom-pah music, the Chicken Dance, authentic German brats and brews such as wheat beers flown directly from Germany will be on hand to help you party in Bavarian style. Happening Friday and Saturday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
6. Silent Classic Horror Festival will kick of their month long fright fest with the 1920 film Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde at Old Town Music Hall located in El Segundo.
7. Knott’s Scary Farm is back with their signature haunted attractions, mazes and thousands of monsters ready to scare the living day light out of you and your crew. Be sure to check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
8. The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. FREE
9. Get ready to shriek, because Urban Death: Tour of Terror is back at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group in North Hollywood. This haunted theater attraction features a terrifying performance and a maze of inexplicable horrors, unfathomable monstrosities, and the disturbing spirits that walk among us. The organizers have been creating versions of Urban Death for 12 years and the theatre group is known for creating boundary-pushing live progressive theater. Happening every Friday and Saturday this month. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
10. The 10th annual IndieCade gaming festival is coming to Little Tokyo in DTLA from Oct. 6 through 8 featuring 200+ innovative indie games. Test out games, attend talks, network, and meet both new creators and industry legends.
11. Back for its 8th year, Wicked Lit is a spooky immersive theatre experience that takes classic and unique horror literature and turns them into plays at the Mountain View Mausoleum & Cemetery every Thursday through Sunday starting Sep 28 and running through Nov. 9. Check for discounted ticketsbefore making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
12. Head over to Torrance for one of the most celebrated Oktoberfest events in the L.A. area! Alpine Village Oktoberfest runs Sept. 8 through Oct 28 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy traditional Bavarian food, beer, dancing, and more.
13. Boo at the L.A. Zoo returns for a spooktacular season this year with a new “Nocturnal Adventure” maze and favorites like the Zoo’s “Animals and Boo” creepy crawler encounters, pumpkin-carving demos and other family-oriented fun. Weekend tickets will feature “Fearsome feedings,” during which carnivores will devour their favorite carcasses and bones.
14. The ultimate NSFW traveling showcase returns to Think Tank Gallery in DTLA on Oct. 6-7. I Didn’t Ask For This: A Lifetime of Dick Pics features a tongue-in-cheek approach to dick pics. However, it’s not just all show and tell. The event also features various panels and discussions on gender inequality and consent in the digital age. There will also be celebrity panelists on-site, including Garbage front woman Shirley Manson, Sovereign Syre (author and feminist pornstar) and Tristan Taormino (sex educator and author).
15. Now in its 6th year, the L.A. Podcast Festival happening October 6-8 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles will feature industry panels, parties, a DIY podcast lab, and a special stand-up comedy show on Saturday featuring Marc Maron and appearances by shows My Favorite Murder, Doug Loves Movies, Jackie & Laurie Show, Dork Forest and many more.
16. There’s a Musical Parody of Hocus Pocus at Los Angeles’ Rockwell Table & Stage. The 1993 family comedy starred Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker as three witches looking to feed on the youth of the world on Halloween. Only two teens, a young girl and a once-human cat can stop them. In this version expect powerhouse songs and lots of jokes. Happening all weekend. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
17. Celebrate the art of the music video during the 7th Annual Los Angeles Music Video Festival, taking place over seven nights from October 1 to 7 at various L.A. locations. This grassroots festival is the largest music video event in the country and includes video screenings, speakers, a juried competition, musical performances, and more. Be sure to check out the discount ticket options available for this event. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
18. Beyond Fest returns from Sept. 29 through Oct. 10 with 12 days of special screenings from around the globe at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
19. Pacific Standard Time LA/LA is in full swing with a four-month-long exploration of Latin American and Latino art in relation to the City of Angels. Led by The Getty the high profile event is a collaborative effort with dozens of art institutions across the city. Check out our top highlights here.
20. Since its the first Friday of the month check out all the cool events happening around town including block parties and art walks for First Fridays.
Saturday October 7th, 2017
21. dublab is throwing itself a 18th Anniversary Block Party in Frogtown happening next to the LA River at Zebulon, Salazar and Altamirano Records.
22. Drive down memory lane during Classic Car Show & Drive-In Movie at Paramount Ranch. Explore the grounds during a move history tour followed by a screening of Back to the Future! FREE
23. There’s a brand-new Los Angeles Arts District block party happening this Saturday called Fresh Coat Mural Festival. The daylong event features nationally acclaimed street artists painting new murals and music by RJD2, Peanut Butter Wolf, The Hood Internet, Beat Junkies, Viceroy, and Poolside.FREE
24. Cal Jam 17, a 12-hour musical celebration at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino have bands like Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Cage The Elephant, The Kills, Japandroids and more on the bill. But the fun doesn’t stop there, water park, carnival rides, attractions, a mobile recording studio and much more.
25. The Kings of Leon will take to the stage this Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl with Dawes to open the concert. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
26. 50 Paella chefs from California, Baja and Spain will be at’ Pershing Square for the 3rd Annual Paella Wine and Beer Festival. Featuring unlimited paella tastings, the largest paella ever cooked in California with dozens of local wineries and breweries offering unlimited tastings. Tickets cost $30 to $90.
27. Tombstone Cinema presents a ghoulishly fun double feature — Ghostbusters and Hotel Transylvania — at Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery in Riverside on October 7. The final resting place for over 27,000 souls, Evergreen was established over 130 years ago!
28. Los Angeles’ first Filipino food festival EAT. PLAY. MOVE. will feature 20 food vendors and trucks serving up Filipino eats, from traditional to trendy, during the fest at Eagle Rock Plaza. Admission is free, so come savor ube, adobo, pandan, and turon from the likes of Ninong’s, Hopia Like It, Grill City, Johnny Pacific LA, Eat Bolo and many more.
29. L.A.’s only live animated comedy show Picture This! is back with a free show on Saturday at The Virgil where the bar will be fully stalked and a taco truck will be parked outside for your dining pleasure. FREE
30. The Library Foundation of Los Angeles will present a demonstration and tasting of moles sauceswith Rocio Camacho at the Sylmar Branch Library this Saturday afternoon. The event is part of the on going series Visualizing Language: Oaxaca in L.A. FREE
31. The 79th Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival in Chinatown includes sampling mooncakes and other pastries, a culinary stage, live music, a Far Bazaar and lots more. FREE
32. A Hot Wings & Craft Beer Festival will take over Santa Anita Park in Arcadia for a day of wing eating and beer tasting. If you plan to attend, be sure to check out the discount ticket optionsavailable, while supplies last. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
33. The 8th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival is a free and all-ages event featuring six music stages, visual artists, food trucks, arts & crafts, vendors, and more. FREE
34. Time to get in the Halloween spirit. The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride returns to The Old Zoo in Griffith Park from September 29 to October 31. This years theme is “Clown” and features four different freaky zones, a slew of demonic clowns, a corn maze and more. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
35. Street Food Cinema will host two screenings this Saturday. Batman (1989 version) at Victory Park Pasadena and Halloween at L.A. Historic State Park.
36. Enjoy a Saturday afternoon of art during the Culver City Art Walk located on the strip of Washington and La Cienega where the city’s arts district resides. This event is free and open to all-ages. FREE
37. The Brunch Crawl kicks off its inaugural event in DTLA this Saturday with four resturants and four convenient start times perfect for early birds and hangovers. Tickets cost $15 ticket and gets you a customized Brunch Crawl cup, $2 to $6 drink and brunch specials at participating restaurants Pez Cantina, Le Petit Paris, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken and Màs Malo. Crawlers are advised to bring cash so stop at the ATM!
38. 45th Annual Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair taking place on Oct. 7-8 at Live Oak Park South Field is a free fair with games, arts & crafts, food, beer & wine gardens, live entertainment, and more. FREE
39. There’s a Great Pumpkin Hunt happening at the South Coast Botanic Garden from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring an imaginative scavenger hunt, light hiking, a pumpkin shop and access to the gorgeous 87-acre grounds. Great for families. Halloween costumes are welcome.
40. King Harbor Brewing is throwing an Oktoberfest! Head to Redondo Beach this Saturday and get your hands on a stein and play some beer games. Tickets cost $30 and includes a stein with four fills and access to compete.
41. There’s a Los Angeles Dragonboat Festival happening at Legg Lake Park in Whittier. Compete and dress up in a crazy costume or watch the race on the side lines for free.
42. The folks at Rooftop Cinema Club are back with two screenings at their rooftop locations. Goodfellas at LEVEL in Downtown Los Angeles and Selma at Montalban in Hollywood.
43. The city of El Segundo celebrates its centennial with a fireworks spectacular telling the story of the city’s history. The show will feature an original orchestral score by Jason & Nolan Livesay (X-Men, Maze Runner) and narration by Ellen Dubin. Free and open to the public, folks can reserve vip guaranteed seating for a special fee.
44. The Actors Gang in Culver City will open their season with Captain Greedy’s Carnival, a musical satire mocking greed, humbug, corruption and predatory capitalism. Follow the story of four innocents who get tricked by a legendary con man. From there on they’ll encounter freaks, illusion, terrifying exhibitions and more. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
Sunday October 8th, 2017
45. The Harvest Festival returns to the Skirball Cultural Center on Sunday for a grand celebration of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. This daylong festival will feature live music, dancing, a socially conscious market offering produce, locally sourced fare, home goods, craft beer, and more. FREE
46. Walk, bike or skate your way through Downtown LA when Ciclavia: Heart of LA returns on October 8. Six miles of streets branching out to Echo Park, Boyle Heights, and Chinatown will be car free, encouraging vibrant public spaces, physical activity, and community connection! FREE
47. The 5th Annual Vegan Chili Cook Off at Tony’s Darts Away will take place this Sunday with delicious chili tastings, judging and more. The judging panel includes celebrated Chef Tal Ronnen, VegNews editor Ryan Ritchie and Chef Caroline Concha.
48. The Wallis’ 2017/18 Season Opening Day, will feature a family-friendly day of free dance, music and theater programming. Join Debbie Allen as she leads a Salsa Sunday outdoor dance class. Story Pirates will also be on hand to perform a Greatest Hits Show celebrating the words and ideas of the kids of L.A. and lastly enjoy a performance by soul and hiphop big band Urban Renewal Project. FREE
49. The Big Draw LA returns with the 8th Annual Make Your Mark in the Park taking place at Grand Park in DTLA. Come draw or learn how to draw, instructors will be on hand to help, the event is free and open to all-ages. FREE
50. The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor will transform into a seaport of the damned this Halloween season with terrifying mazes and monsters at every turn like the Iron Master and Graceful Gale. This year they’ll reveal their newest member of the crew, his name is Chef and he’s got a carnivorous kitchen staff with a big appetite. Happening Thursday and through the weekend. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
51. The Brunch Crawl continues on the westside this Sunday with four resturants and four convenient start times perfect for early birds and hangovers. Tickets cost $15 ticket and gets you a customized Brunch Crawl cup, $2 to $6 drink and brunch specials at participating restaurants Ashland Hill, Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, O+O Sicilian Kitchen & Bar, Plan Check Santa Monica and Cabo Cantina 3rd St Promenade. Crawlers are advised to bring cash so stop at the ATM!
52. Halloween Horror Nights taking place at Universal Studios Hollywood will immerse guests in a three-dimensional world of terror featuring a new slate of mazes, scare zones and a newly designed “Terror Tram” experience. Themes include American Horror Story, The Shining, SAW, Insidious and more.
Article by We Like LA.