Things To Do

37 Awesome Things To Do in L.A. This Weekend You Need to Have on Your Radar [9-18-15 to 9-20-15]

September 17, 2015 by Christina Champlin

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 decided to curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).

This weekend includes the start of Halloween Horror Nights, Dapper Day at Disneyland, the LA Cider Festival, a doggie street festival, a Baggins Birthday Bash, and plenty more to choose from.

Advertisements

So grab some friends or go at it alone, but most importantly have fun and enjoy yourself!

[RELATED: The Best Way to Find Discount Events in Los Angeles]

View from Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area

View of DTLA from Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area. Credit: Brian Champlin / We LIke L.A.

[REMINDER: In some cases We Like L.A. does receive revenue when visitors click on ticket links and make purchases, however we maintain complete editorial control over the events we suggest. Basically, it only makes it on to the website if we think it is cool!]


Friday September 18th, 2015

1. Dapper Day at Disneyland

This Friday is Dapper Day at Disneyland,  a twice-annual event that encourages guests to come to the Disneyland parks dressed in their most sophisticated and stylish threads. And with an expected 20,000 guests participating, that’s one heck of a fashionable mob!

2. Aladdin On The Big Screen

Never seen “A Whole New World” sung on the big screen? Come to the El Capitan Theater this Friday as the Disney classic returns to the big screen! Get more information and discount tickets (while available) via our friends at Goldstar.

3. Odd Nights At The Autry

From the man who brought you Dodger Stadium Flea, Downtown Flea and Melrose Flea presents Odd Nights At The Autry. Curator Phillip Dane brings another community hot spot to life with a collection of over 200 vendors from 20 gourmet food trucks, a beer garden, custom handmade treasures and live local bands. Perfect for all ages and families to bring a blanket, host an evening picnic while enjoying the great outdoors. Both the event AND parking are free!

4. Halloween Horror Nights

Halloween is just a couple weeks away but if you can’t wait till then head on over to Universal Studios for a pre-game scarefest! Universal Studios has announced some new features to their annual horror night including the Crimson Peak: Maze of Madness, based on the upcoming Guillermo del Toro film. Walk into the world of Insidious, outrun the park’s monsters and try to survive the walkers of The Walking Dead. They even revamped the Terror Tram with a 3-D maze based on the apocalyptic comedy This is the End.

5. Oktoberfest At Alpine Village

Enjoy traditional Bavarian fun, food, and beer at the oldest running Oktoberfest celebration in Southern California at Alpine Village in Torrance. Things kick off on September 11 and the festivities continue all the way until October 31.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers Friday Night Fireworks

Nothing quite compares to an evening watching the boys in blue at Dodger Stadium. After the final out is called, the lights will go down and guests can actually go on to the field for a spectacular fireworks show. This weekend the Dodgers are up against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Get more information and discount tickets while supplies last via Goldstar.

7. Vince Sample Sale

Prive will be hosting a Vince sample sale from September 17-20 at Lincoln Creative Studios. Prepare to shop an amazing assortment of men’s and women’s apparel up to 70% off. Hours run Thursday and Friday from 10:00am to 7:00pm, Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Sunday from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Cash and credit cards are accepted, however no handbags or outerwear are allowed inside the sale and there’ll only be communal fitting rooms available.

Location: 1656 Lincoln Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90404

8. Celebrate The Release Of Lana Del Rey’s Honeymoon With The Biggest Selfie In The History Of The Sunset Strip

This Friday Mel’s Drive In on Sunset blvd. will celebrate the release of Lana Del Rey’s “Honeymoon” by attempting to take the biggest selfie off The Sunset Strip. Folks are encouraged to dress in their best Lana Del Rey costumes, fun starts at 3:00pm with the selfie being taken at 3:45pm sharp. Every Lana Del Rey fan there at 3:45pm will recieve a FREE honeymoon milk shake.

9. Pop Up Flea At The Grove

New York’s Pop-Up Flea, is coming to Los Angeles and bringing a menswear driven marketplace with them for the entire weekend. Taking place on the rooftop level of The Grove’s parking structure, the event focuses on Americana-inspired crafted goods. On the rooster this weekend over 50 apparel, vintage, accessories, grooming, home furnishings, and decor vendors and local LA boutiques will be in participation. Hours run Friday 3:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday 11:00am-7:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm.

10. The Village at Westfield Topanga Grand Opening Weekend Celebrations

The Village at Westfield Topanga, the brand new open-air shopping and dining destination in the San Fernando Valley, will officially open this Friday with a weekend full of exciting events and activities. From live performances and giveaways, to dozens of special classes, demonstrations, and workshops, the Grand Opening Weekend celebration will have something for everyone who comes out to celebrate.

11. VAN Beethoven A Virtual Reality Experience

The Walt Disney Concert Hall is bringing classical music to you! Board the VAN Beethoven mobile experience, touring Los Angeles starting Friday in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena in the evening. Put on the Oculus virtual reality headset and be transported to a 360° 3-D performance featuring the opening of Beethoven’s timeless Fifth Symphony performed by the LA Phil, and conducted by Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. VAN Beethoven, is a virtual reality project touring around LA in September through October in different locations of the city.

12. Friday Night Jazz at LACMA

LACMA’s award winning Department of Music Program is a remarkable city resource, providing hundreds of free concerts and musical events every year for Angelenos to enjoy. This Friday their summer-long jazz series continues at the BP Grand Entrance.

13. A Live Read of Airplane!

For the ninth year in a row TreePeople will close their summer event series with a live (and lively!) reading of the 1980 comedy Airplane! An ensemble of 11 actors, including Oscar nominee Robert Forster, will handle all 69 roles in this deliberately uncensored reimagining of the original classic. The event runs two nights, both Friday and Saturday, and you can get half-off tickets for Friday’s performance via Goldstar.

14. OAK Sample Sale

Now through Wednesday, September 30th, score OAK’s edgy-cool basics, outerwear, shoes and more at their DTLA sample sale. Prices start at a modest $10.

Location: 910 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90015

15. Matthew Barney: River of Fundament

Matthew Barney: RIVER OF FUNDAMENT is Barney’s first major solo museum exhibition in Los Angeles. Barney’s newest film might be his largest undertaking since his five-part CREMASTER film cycle. The artist made 85 pieces for this movie, including a 25-ton sculpture, drawings, photos, and storyboards, all will be displayed at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA starting this Sunday and will run through January 18.

16. LA Podcast Festival

Really, really, really into podcasts? The Los Angeles Podcast Festival is back for its fourth year and includes live podcast recordings, panels, special events, and parties, along with a special standup comedy show. It all goes down over the weekend of September 18-20 at the Sofitel Hotel.

17.LF Outlet store End of Season Blow Out Sale

Shop the LF Outlet now till the 20th for one insane sale. Shoppers can now take an additional 50% off their already discounted items. Expect to find $100 denim for $12, $150 jackets for $14 and so much more.

Location: 
7714 Melrose Ave., 
Los Angeles, CA 90046.

18. Learn CPR With The CPR Mobile Tour

The American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR Mobile Tour stops by Grand Park from noon to 1:15pm this Friday to raise awareness and teach Americans how to perform hands-only CPR to the beat of the Bee Gees’ hit “Stayin’ Alive” which, consequently, has more than 100 beats per minute!

Saturday September 19th, 2015

19. Mad Decent Block Party

Looking to end summer with a bang? The touring Mad Decent Block Party series comes to Los Angeles for a two-day stop from September 19-20 with a lineup that includes Major Lazer, T-Pain, Cut Copy and more.

20. LA Cider Fest

This Saturday, learn (and taste) all things cider at the LA Cider Fest taking place at the historic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Hosted by Hand Crafted Tasting Company and Half Pint Ciders, the event will let Angelenos sample over 100 unique artisanal foods, a rare selections of ciders never before seen in California and small a batch Cali centric craft beers. Plus, cider experts will provide tutorials on cider food pairings and cider-centric cocktails. Goldstar has a limited supply of tickets for up to $30 off the listed price.

21. Doggie Street Festival

As Southern California’s largest pet adoption focused festival this is the perfect place to be a hero and adopt a pup! Weather you are looking to adopt or just a dog lover in general, come out and get some vet tips, score some cool pet products, listen to special speakers and more. Folks are also encouraged to bring their friendly pups to join in on the fun.

Advertisements

22. Street Food Cinema

Good movies, amazing venues, up and coming local bands and tasty food trucks. What more could you ask for? This weekend Street Food Cinema screens The Goonies at Will Rogers Polo Grounds in the Palisades, Fight Club at Westchester Park and The Outsiders at Glendale Central Park. All three events open at 5:30pm and movie starts at 8:30pm. Some screenings have discount ticket offers via Goldstar while supplies last.

23. Abbot Kinney Marketplace

The Abbot Kinney Marketplace is a weekly free outdoor marketplace located on the front athletic field of Westminster Elementary. The marketplace which is organized by a family of artistic individuals, was put together so that artist, designers, craftsmen, and more can come together and have a platform to sell their pieces. They also have food trucks and different dj’s who participate weekly. A percentage of the proceeds go to funding school art and after school programs.

24. Rooftop Film Club Presents: Grease

The popular screening series that has already held court in London and New York is now here in Los Angeles! For each screening of the Rooftop Film Club series organizers will set up rows of lawn chairs on the roof of the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre and provide headphones for each attendee. Doors open at 6:00pm with screenings starting at 8:00pm. This Saturday Grease will be screened.

25.The Music Center Launches Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours

The Music Center launches Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours, a free late night immersive and multi-sensory programming series that highlights and features the historic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. This first-of-its-kind experience allows the public to explore iconic architectural spaces transformed in fun new ways, from relaying on bean bags or pillows on the floor of the Pavilion’s Stern Grand Hall as inspired by dublab’s Tonalism project, to experiencing projections while listening to a rotating roster of DJs playing ambient sounds. Although the event is free online timed entry reservations are strongly suggested. Guests are encouraged to RSVP online musiccenter.org/sleepless to guarantee entrance. Walk-ups will be accommodated based on space availability.

26. Long Beach Folk Revival Festival

The Long Beach Folk Revival Festival brings the best in Folk, Roots, Americana and Bluegrass acts out for one rockin Saturday. In addition to live music guest can enjoy local food, craft beers, contests, the Wee Folk Village and the “Vintage Bazaar” shopping experience. The festival will take place at the Rainbow Lagoon Park from 11:00am – 11:00pm.

27. Barnsdall Art Park’s Famed Outdoor Movie Night Series Begins

Barnsdall Park is bringing it’s fall outdoor screening series to help fund raise funds for the park’s capital projects, art programs, historic renovations and gallery exhibitions. Each event will include pre-screening tunes spun by D.J. youNGNoon from 5.30pm till dusk, plus a selection of wines per Dark Horse Wines as well as several local food trucks (TBD) on hand to make sure no one goes hungry. This week’s movie: Groundhog Day. 

28. Nautica Malibu Triathlon

Come out to Malibu and watch L.A.’s fittest residents compete in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon. On Saturday folks can learn tips and techniques from the best in the industry and partake in a beach-side yoga session (just bring a mat.) On Sunday, kid can enjoy a Fun Zone area with arts and crafts, caricaturists, face painters, and more.

29. LA Children’s Art Show

The LA Children’s Art Show features tons of imaginative art work from aspiring youngsters while providing a family friendly atmosphere that includes hands-on activities, workshops and an awards ceremony with surprise guests from Disney characters, princesses and superheroes. It all goes down over the weekend of September 19-20 at the Pasadena Convention Center. Get more information and discount tickets (while supplies last) via our friends at Goldstar.

30. Crowchella

Silver Lake watering hole the Thirsty Crow will hosts its third iteration of Crowchella, a daytime music fest featuring local bands, drink specials, grub, and revelry. The no-cover fête commences in the afternoon with happy hour prices all day with performances from Los Angeles-based musicians spanning indie, folk, and blues genres. Music performances by Rocco DeLuca, Bryan McPherson, My Imperfect Offering and Gold Country. All happening from 2:00pm – 8:00pm, the full happy hour menu will also be available to attendees, along with fresh oysters by Costa Mesa’s Shucks Oyster Bar and burgers and fries from Takuma’s Burgers.

Sunday September 20th, 2015

31. A Baggins Birthday Bash

Celebrate Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday in Hobbity style at the annual Baggins Birthday Bash. A joyous day filled with plenty of food, games and of course booze taking place on the fields of Griffith Park . A costume contest, Sauron piñata and a discussion on The Silmarillion are just a few of the event’s planned at the bash. In addition Stonemarch Brewing Company will bring four hobbit-themed beers to the potluck party!

32. Discount Tickets to the LA Opera

Advertisements

The LA Opera’s 2015-2016 season opens with a Woody Allen directed production of Gianni Schicchi (starring Plácido Domingo) followed after the intermission by Franco Zeffirelli’s epic production of Pagliacci (which Domingo will conduct!). The double-billing runs from September 12 to October 3, and Goldstar has some discount tickets for select dates, including this Thursday’s performance.

33. The Broad Museum Opens

Downtown’s most anticipated contemporary art museum The Broad will finally open this Sunday. The opening of the museum will feature a selection of masterworks from the Broad collection that spans 40 years. Works by Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, Roy Lichteh, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cindy Sherman, Keith Haring, Barbara Kruger, and Jeff Koons will be on disply, plus a nine-screen video piece by Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson, and an 82-foot-long painting by Takashi Murakami. One of the highlights of the exhibition will be Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room, a mirror-lined chamber housing a dazzling and seemingly endless LED light display. Entry to the mirrored room will a separate free timed ticket, which general admission ticket holders will be able to reserve after arrival at the museum. Typically you won’t need a reservation—it’s a massive, free museum, after all—but we highly suggest securing one if you plan on visiting during the first few weeks.

34. Old World Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is in full effect down at the Old World Village in Huntington Beach. Enjoy beers, brats, German baked goods and plenty of live music and activities. Stop by on Sunday for the Village Market for all your Okoberfest needs.

35. LA County Fair

Few events combine live music, art, agricultural attractions, farm exhibits, and more fried food than your arteries can handle, but it’s all part of the LA County Fair, running until September 27. More information and discounted tickets (for select dates) can be found via Goldstar.

36. Frank Gehry At LACMA

LACMA will be honoring Frank Gehry and his iconic architecture with a career-spanning retrospective. The exhibition will focus on the development of Gehry’s digital design and fabrication programs, along with the architect’s relationship with urbanism.

37. David Bowie Exhibit At Taschen Gallery

“Mick Rock: Shooting for Stardust, the Rise of David Bowie & Co.” will be glam-rocking it up for one month as Taschen Gallery’s latest exhibit. Showcasing prolific music photographer Mick Rock’s extremely rare photographs of David Bowie and friends during his “Ziggy Years.”


Want to get our to-do lists straight to your inbox every week? Sign up for our email program.

Have an upcoming event you’d like suggest for listing? Drop us a line at [email protected]

Advertisements