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A bit of picture perfect weather and plenty to do. Sounds like a winning weekend ahead!
On deck for this September 12-14 in Los Angeles, you’ll find DTLA Dog Night, Oktoberfest at Ivy Station Night Market, Illuminate the Night in Frogtown, a Scholastic Book Fair for Adults in NoHo, Los Angeles Libros Festival, Family Style Food Festival, Zona Libre: A Musical Celebration of Latino LA at the Skirball, CicLAvia—Historic South Central meets Watts, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
DTLA Dog Day – M FA > DTLA Dog Day returns this Friday for a one-night activation at Maguire Gardens at Los Angeles Central Library. Guests can enjoy specialty drinks at Settecento, 20+ dog-friendly vendors, photo ops, activities, live music, and community dog walks. It all runs from 4 to 8 p.m. and is free to attend. More info here.
Pacific Opera Project Presents Pagliacci at Heritage Square – M > This Friday to Sunday, POP continues performances of their 15th Anniversary season opener with an immersive production of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci accompanied by live orchestra and surrounded by the Victorian houses and historic setting of the Heritage Square Museum. Tickets start as low as $15. More info here.
Ivy Station Night Market: Oktoberfest – M FA > Ivy Station’s monthly night market leans into the Oktoberfest season this Friday with special pop-up vendors, food, beer, Oktoberfest games and contests, and live polka music. Runs 5 to 10 p.m. Free to attend, as always. More info here.
Summer of Salsa – M FA > LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Summer of Salsa hosts their final monthly dance party of the summer this Friday. Closing out the season is salsa band Conjunto Oye! with Super DJ Robby spinning tunes in between sets. Free salsa dance classes precede the show from 6 to 7 p.m. by Dancing 101 with Roberto. Free to attend. More info here.
Hola México Film Festival – M > Beginning this Friday, the 2025 Hola México Film Festival returns to Los Angeles with the largest Mexican Film Festival outside of México. Presented by Toyota Camry, the lineup features screenings at the Montalbán Theater, Regal Cinemas LA LIVE, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, and Milagro Cinemas Norwalk. Screenings continue through September 21. More info here.
2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine -> The Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival returns to Manhattan Village for a two-night culinary celebration on Friday and Saturday. Each evening spotlights 20 top chefs and restaurants, alongside premier wineries, craft breweries, spirits, cocktails, and curated non-alcoholic offerings. Guests can enjoy live entertainment while exploring this strolling food-and-drink extravaganza. Tickets are $199.33 for general admission or $299.44 for VIP. More info here.
Illuminate the Night – FA TP > The third annual llluminate the Night returns to Frogtown (Elysian Valley) this Saturday night. Local businesses, galleries, restaurants and creative spaces adjacent to LA River Pedestrian & Bike Path will come together for evening activations, special vendors, installations, and music. Guests are encouraged to walk the neighborhood dressed in their brightest “illuminated” wardrobe, and dogs are welcome too. Public transit or ride share strongly encouraged. Free to attend. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Mezcal Por Siempre -> On Saturday, the first U.S. festival dedicated to traditional mezcal returns for its second year, now at Rolling Greens in DTLA. Founded by Ivan Vazquez (Madre) and Rocío Flores, the event offers unlimited tastings from top mezcal producers across Mexico—many debuting in the U.S. Guests can also enjoy panels with mezcaleros, food for purchase, and an after-party with live entertainment. Tickets are $87.21. More info here.
Scholastic Book Fair for Adults – FA > This Saturday, the Last Bookstore Studio City location welcomes a Scholastic Book Fair for Adults, billed as a “giant book fair for all our big kid readers.” The 21+ event will feature cocktail specials cocktails, plenty of books for purchase (card only), and door prizes for guests. Best of all? Free to attend. Runs 1 to 5 p.m. More info here.
Burbank Fall Festival – FA > This Saturday, the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and Starlight On Tour team up for a Fall Festival at Johnny Carson Park. Details are still being finalized, but expect plenty of live music, local vendors, and onsite food trucks at the event. Runs to 4 to 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Los Angeles Libros Festival – FA > The 7th annual Los Angeles Libros Festival is back this Saturday bringing a family-friendly, bilingual book festival to Central Library. Guests can enjoy bilingual storytelling, musical performances, workshops and more. Runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Family Style Food Festival – M > Complex’s Family Style Food Festival pops up at L.A. State Historic Park this Saturday, corralling a bevy of celebrated chefs, cult-favorite restaurants, and streetwear brands for a one-day mashup of tastings and activations. Culinary participants includes Howlin’ Ray’s, Jon & Vinny’s, Michelin-starred Kato, Bell’s (Michelin-starred Los Alamos bistro), Marathon Burger, Bettina (Santa Barbara), The Dutchess (Ojai), Potluck Club (New York), and Curry Up (Tokyo). GA tickets start at $47. Runs noon to 8 p.m. More info here.
City of West Hollywood: Free Theatre in the Parks – FA > Continuing this Saturday and Sunday, the City of West Hollywood and Coeurage Ensemble team up for free theatrical performances over three weekends in September at Kings Road Park. The Coeurage players will perform an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Pericles on Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m. through September 21. Seating is first-come, first-served. More info here.
Zona Libre at the Skirball – FA TP > Grand Performances and Zócalo Public Square are partnering with the Skirball Cultural Center for a special celebration that honors Los Angeles’ deep ties to Mexico and Central America. On Sunday, Zona Libre: A Musical Celebration of Latino LA offers an afternoon of community-building activities including a dance workshop, panel conversations, and evening musical performances. Free to attend! Runs 3 to 9:30 p.m. If RSVPs are full, a limited number of walk-up tickets will be available. More info here.
Drag Story Time with Pickle and Bob Baker Marionettes at The Getty – FA > This Sunday at the Getty, the Bob Baker Marionettes stop by to join Pickle, the fabulous Drag Laureate of West Hollywood, for a pair of drag story time readings in the Central Garden. Readings are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Free to attend, but you’ll need to reserve an advanced ticket at the Getty. More info here.
Americana at the Park – M FA > Santa Monica’s Americana at the Park series returns on Sunday with a free concert at Gandara Park presented by McCabe’s Guitar Shop. Enjoy live music from five acts, including El Rayo X, Alice Howe & Freebo , The Gumbo Brothers, and Babilonia featuring Celia Chavez. You can also enjoy food trucks and special all-ages activities. The event runs from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
CicLAvia—Historic South Central meets Watts! -> M FA > CicLAvia returns on Sunday with a 6.25 mile course along Central Ave connecting South Central and Watts. Expect multiple activity hubs along the way plus plenty of space to walk/run/bike/skate. Free to attend as always. Runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Dino Fest at Natural History Museum – M > Dino Fest returns to NHMLA this Sunday for a day of celebrating the prehistoric giants that once ruled the earth. Expect to see rare specimens from NHM’s permanent collections, partake in hands-on activities, shop dino-themed merch, and more. Dino Fest is free with paid admission to the museum. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Harold & Belle’s Launches Brunch (Starting September 13) -> After over 50 years of serving classic Creole cuisine, Harold & Belle’s is debuting its first-ever weekend brunch, kicking off Saturday, September 13. Available every Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the bold new menu features dishes like a Breakfast Po’Boy with your choice of fried catfish, hot link, or bacon; Mushroom & Spinach Hash with maitake mushrooms and homestyle potatoes; Wings & Waffles drizzled with hot honey butter; and Shrimp & Grits Étouffée topped with crawfish gravy. Guests can round out their meal with brunch sides like drop biscuits or waffles with strawberry butter, plus a Signature Mimosa Menu, a Creole-inspired Proud Mary, and a Sunrise Sangria for a festive weekend start.
Bearology x Squishmallows Summer Tiki Pop-Up (September 13 through November 25) -> Step into the adorable world of Squishmallows at Boba Bear in Temple City, where a tropical, tiki-themed pop-up runs daily from September 13 through November 25. The immersive experience features a playful menu with treats like Cam’s Caramel Cloud, Junie’s Tropical Hugs, and pork katsu sliders, plus interactive photo ops, a Surf & Sand–themed claw machine, a mystery capsule vending machine, and a cotton candy station. Guests can join a “Show Us Your Collection” contest for special giveaways and shop exclusive Squishmallows merch. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. More info here.
Linden’s New Menus -> Hollywood’s Linden has refreshed its menu with bold new dishes, including Lobster Frites, a Crab & Caviar twist on blinis, and a lamb lion with southern inspired spaetzle. Fan-favorite Wagyu Pie also makes its return, with just 25 servings available daily. Plus, Linden now offers a late-night menu from 10 p.m. to midnight, featuring lemon pepper turkey wings, an old-school bologna sandwich, and “Rocafella” oysters.
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