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Labor Day weekend is coming into focus… and there’s a lot to do!
This September 4-6 in Los Angeles you’ll find Maestro of the Movies at the Bowl, Fiesta Hermosa, back-to-back KCRW Summer Nights events to close out the summer, the Rebel Jazz Fest in Venice, an Los Angeles Astronomical Society star party, another Joint Seafood Summer Block Party, the Prickly Monster Cactus and Succulent Festival, and more.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Bixby Knolls First Fridays Art Walk – FA > Bixby Knolls celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with the return of its monthly First Fridays art walk along Atlantic Avenue. The neighborhood-wide event features live musical performances, local art displays, and community activities, while area restaurants, breweries, and retail shops stay open late with special promotions and pop-up events. Free electric shuttle service is provided along the Atlantic Avenue corridor during the event. Admission is free and open to all ages. Runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. this Friday. More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights at The Autry – FA > The penultimate event for KCRW’s 2026 Summer Nights series comes to the Autry Museum of the American West, offering a free, all-ages party this Friday. Expect a guest DJ set from Wooden Wisdom (Elijah Wood and Zach Cowie) alongside sets from KCRW DJs Alejandro Cohen and SiLVA. Guests can also explore museum galleries after hours, including the special exhibit Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles, and there will be food and drinks to purchase on site. Admission is free with an RSVP recommended. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Maestro of the Movies: A Tribute to John Williams -> Maestro of the Movies returns to the Hollywood Bowl this Friday to Sunday, paying homage to iconic film composer John Williams. Conducted by David Newman and hosted by Bryce Dallas Howard, the program celebrates Williams’s legendary cinematic scores with over 50 minutes of specially edited film clips set to live orchestral selections from Star Wars, E.T., Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Jaws, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. More info here.
Pacific Opera Project Presents Il fortunato inganno – M > Beginning this Friday, Pacific Opera Project presents the U.S. premiere of Gaetano Donizetti’s 1823 lost bel canto comedy Il fortunato inganno (“The Happy Deception”) at the Garibaldina Mutual Benefit Society in Highland Park. Directed by Josh Shaw with new English dialogue, the backstage farce follows a small opera company whose rehearsals descend into chaos until a clever disguise trick saves a pair of young lovers. Table seating tickets include a plate of pasta and a glass of wine with the performance. Shows continue on Friday-Sunday through September 13. Single tickets start at $35. More info here.
LAAS Star Party – FA > The Los Angeles Astronomical Society and Mount Wilson Observatory co-host a free public star party in the observatory’s upper parking lot this Friday. LAAS members will set up telescopes for evening sky viewing, accompanied by family-friendly astronomy outreach. Admission is free with no RSVP required, though donations are accepted at the front gate to support outreach efforts. Attendees are advised to bring red flashlights to preserve night vision. The event is wheelchair accessible and open to all ages, though dogs are not permitted and the historic 60-inch and 100-inch telescope domes will remain closed to the public. Event runs 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. .More info here.
Fiesta Hermosa – FA TP > This Saturday to Monday, the annual Fiesta Hermosa Labor Day Weekend street festival returns, bringing live music, local artisans, food vendors, and family activities to the coast. The three-day event features the 21+ Garden area with a dedicated live music stage, covered seating, yard games, and a full bar ($10 cover or reserved seating options), alongside a second acoustic stage (the Love Local Stage). Festival goers can also explore the Makers Mercado, a Food Fair, and a Mini Carnival with rides and games. General street festival access is free, with proceeds supporting local community volunteer efforts. The fun starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, then at noon on Monday. More info here.
American Craft Sake Fest -> On Saturday, the largest gathering of the North American sake industry is coming to Los Angeles. The public is invited to sip on over 100 premium sake selections, poured by the brewers themselves. Sit in on seminars diving deep into koji, fermentation, and yeast development from some of the top leaders in the sake world. Enjoy food from vendors including Yama Sushi, a live tuna cutting, and DJ sets keeping the energy going all day. Tickets start at $100. More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights at the NoHo Arts District – M FA > The season finale of KCRW Summer Nights comes to the NoHo Arts District this Saturday, closing out the series with a free neighborhood block party at Lankershim and Magnolia Boulevard. The lineup features a live performance by electropop and R&B artist Madison McFerrin, along with DJ sets from KCRW’s Peanut Butter Wolf and LUXXURY. Attendees can also access an outdoor beer garden, with special perks available for KCRW members. Admission is free and open to all ages. Runs 6 to 11 p.m. More info here.
Latin Sounds at LACMA – M FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents its summer Latin Sounds series at the outdoor Dorothy Collins Brown Amphitheater, featuring a live performance by Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca. Founded in 1990 by vocalist Ricardo Lemvo, the ensemble blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with pan-African styles like soukous, semba, and kizomba. Attendees can enjoy local food options from the Mad Dumplings food truck on site, with direct Metro access available via the D Line Wilshire/Fairfax Station. Admission is free. Concert runs 5 to 7 p.m. More info here.
Tongva Twilight: Sounds & Cinema – M FA > The City of Santa Monica’s summer series at Tongva Park continuing this Saturday with another double-bill of live music and film. The event opens with a live performance of 1970s classics by yacht rock band The Windbreakers, followed by an outdoor screening of the HBO original documentary Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary introduced by director Garret Price. Guests can bring picnics to the lawn, with complimentary popcorn available while supplies last. Admission is free for all ages. Program runs 7 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
Rebel Jazz Fest in Venice – FA > This Saturday, For the Nonsemble presents the 5th annual Rebel Jazz Fest at the Venice Beach Recreation Center, celebrating progressive, forward-thinking, and boundary-pushing jazz across multiple stages. Dedicated to Billie Harris and the historic Azz Izz Jazz Club, the family-friendly event features live performances by emerging and established musicians, a roller-disco rink, live DJs, vinyl pop-up shops, a curated Vendor Village, and local food vendors. Admission is free, with voluntary donations supporting participating artists, festival production, and the Venice Heritage Foundation. Runs noon to 6 p.m. More info here.
Prickly Monster Cactus and Succulent Festival – FA TP > On Sunday, Common Space Brewery hosts the Prickly Monster Cactus and Succulent Festival, which brings together over 25 vendors specializing in rare cacti, succulents, handmade ceramics, local art, crystals, and home decor. Festivalgoers can enjoy craft beers in the tasting room or covered outdoor patio, alongside food trucks, coffee, and live DJ sets. The gathering is family-friendly and dog-friendly, with free admission for all ages. Runs noon to 5 p.m. More info here.
Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome -> This weekend, Mount Wilson Observatory returns with another edition of its Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series, offering a concert under the vaulted acoustics of the historic 100-inch telescope. Curated by artistic director Cécilia Tsan, the September performance features the Webern String Quartet—violinists Benjamin Hoffman and Chiai Tajima, violist Alex Granger, and cellist Stella Cho—performing Todd Mason’s String Quartet No. 5 “The Phoenix” (2025) and Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132. Tickets are $65. Performances are at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with a reception in between. More info here.
Joint Seafood Block Party III – FA > Joint Seafood is hosting its third block party of the summer this Sunday afternoon at Joint Seafood DTLA. The an end-of-summer community celebration will feature local food, drinks, live art, and giveaways, along with a vendor lineup that includes Yang’s Kitchen, 626 Hospitality, Saucy Chick Eatery, Jie Jie Austin, Bar JOMO, JOIMO Kombucha, Mineragua, and KACE Tea. Highlighted events feature a live Bluefin tuna cutting by Dry Aged Fish Guy at 7:30 p.m., an interactive Doodle Jam with tote bag prizes, and complimentary beverages from KACE Tea, Mineragua, and Jarritos. Admission and parking are free. Runs 5 to 9 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Dolly Parton Tribute Skate Night -> Moonlight Rollerway hosts an all-ages Dolly Parton Tribute Skate Night in Glendale this Sunday, featuring a soundtrack of Parton’s hits, country glam costumes, and prizes. Attendees are encouraged to dress in country attire, with online presale admission set at $23 ($25 at the door) and skate rentals available on site for $8. All entrants require an admission ticket and skates to enter. The event runs 8 to 11 p.m. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Choma Sundays at Jikoni (Sundays) -> AfriCali Chef Kiano Moju is doing something special every Sunday at Jikoni her Beverly Hills culinary studio. Choma is a weekly gathering centered around fire, flavor, and community, and the Mishkaki Platter is the reason to show up. Three grilled marinated skewers: Rosemary Lamb Suya, Steak Mishkaki, and Peri Peri Shrimp, arriving alongside Kijani herb yogurt sauce, Kale with ground Nigerian melon seeds, Tomato and Sweet Corn Kachumbari, Pounded Yam, and Chapo, a Kenyan flatbread. All for $48. Add slow-roasted, flash-fried wings in Kenyan-style chili lemon butter for $10. Close with the passion fruit and key lime pie on a gingerbread crust, available mini ($14) or nine-inch ($48). Pre-order only, pick up in Beverly Hills. Communal seating available and BYOB welcome.
Maydan Market Weekend BBQ Nights (Weekly Friday through Sunday) -> Something special is happening on the back patio at Maydan Market. Every Friday through Sunday evening, Lugya’h by Poncho’s Tlayudas and Maléna by Tamales Elena take over the grill with fire-roasted specialties that are turning heads. Maléna’s Instagram showcased a Zarandeado platter: a whole fresh Robalo butterflied, marinated in a smoky coastal chile sauce, and charred over an open flame until perfectly cooked. It arrives with salsa molcajete, lime, tomato, onion slices, and warm corn tortillas.
Looking Ahead…
Cross Town Takeover: Super Peach x Yang’s Kitchen ( September 9) -> Super Peach’s Cross Town series keeps delivering, and this time it’s San Gabriel Valley’s time to shine. Alhambra cult favorite Yang’s Kitchen, known for its thoughtfully sourced, farm-to-table Asian American cooking, takes over the Century City kitchen for one night only. Tickets are $75 per person for three courses that make every dollar count. The meal opens with Poached Dungeness Crab and Steelhead Trout Tartare with Kosho Cream and Rye Powder, served alongside White Kimchi, Cucumber, and Chive Kimbap. Mains span Steak Frites in Yang’s legendary Black Pepper Sauce, Grilled Bass with Crispy Potatoes in Chili Butter, and a vegetarian Mushroom Noodle dish built around Yang’s signature Mushroom Meat. Elaine’s Purin made with Okinawa Brown Sugar Plums ends the meal on a “not too sweet” note. Secure a seat through Open Table.
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