Things To Do

31 Awesome Things To Do in L.A. This Weekend You Need to Have on Your Radar [10-9-15 to 10-11-15]

October 8, 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 week end that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).

This weekend includes the JPL Open House, LA Boo at the Zoo, a hot wings and beer fest, Politicon, Artisanal LA, Front Porch Cinema, and many more options 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]

Santa Monica Pier Sunset

Santa Monica Pier Sunset. Credit: Felipe Valduga via flickr

[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 October 9th, 2015

1. Carrie: The Killer Musical

An immersive,  one-of-a-kind musical production of the classic Stephen King tale of bullying, cruelty, and revenge. Now playing at the historic Los Angeles Theater. Performances all weekend long. Discount tickets and more information available via our friends at Goldstar.

2. Front Porch Cinema Series Kicks Off!

The Santa Monica Pier presents Front Porch Cinema, a free movie night under the stars taking place every Friday during the month of October. Unwind on old-timey lawn chairs and watch oceanfront films on a giant inflatable screen, this week the featured presentation is Big Hero 6. The Cinema Lounge will open at 6:00pm and the movie begins at 7:30pm.

3. Knotts Scary Farm

For 2015, the Knotts Scary Farm features 11 menacing mazes, tons of interactive scare experiences and more than 1,000 monsters roaming the park and lurking in the fog, whatever you’re imagining, it’s here…at Knott’s Scary Farm. Knott’s Scary Farm takes place on select nights September 24 – October 31. Tickets go for around $46, but sure to check our friends at Goldstar for discount offers throughout the month.

4. Learn the Olympic Sport of Curling: Beginners Welcome!

Who hasn’t watched a curling match during the Winter Olympics and wondered to themselves… “How do you play that, anyway?” Well, now you no longer have to wonder. For around $13 you can get a beginners lesson featuring an excellent introduction to the basics, including sliding stones, sweeping, and game strategy All equipment provided. Tickets available via our friends at Goldstar.

5. LA Boo at the Zoo

Every weekend in October, the LA Zoo’s special season program offers live music, storytelling, fun photo opportunities, jack-o-lantern carving demonstrations, costumed characters, crafts and more. There will even be a “Graveyard Safari” to discover creatures that emerge in the dark corners of Los Angeles.

6. Beachwood BBQ SourFest

Pucker up because SourFest is back at Seal Beach and Long Beach locations of Beachwood BBQ! Owner, Gabriel Gordon is opening up his sour beer collection to pour tons of acidic and tart brews from around the world. The festival will kick off Monday with a pre-festival party featuring Cascade Brewing. There will be special rare offerings from brewers that include Allagash Brewing. Conveniently, a free shuttle will be running between both locations Friday through Sunday. Admission is absolutely free to this event CHEERS!

7. The Groundlings: Stakeout

This Friday night off Melrose catch The Groundlings latest and greatest night of improv comedy and sketches: Groundlings Stakeout. Our friends at Goldstar has tickets for just $10 (while supplies last) so grab ’em while you can!

8. Rooftop Film Club

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 r oof of the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre and provide headphones for each attendee. Doors open at 6:00pm with screenings starting at 8:00pm. Kicking off the weekend  is a screening of The Shawshank Redemption on Friday.

9. 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.

10. What Would You Brew? Is Back!

Ever thought about brewing your own distinct favor of beer? Will here’s your chance! Angel City Brewery is asking What Would You Brew? Simply submit your answer here, the more out there the better! One lucky winner will brew their beer with the Angel City brewing team. In addition, they’ll receive a custom kegerator, case of pint glasses, tap handle and a tin tacker sign. The beer will also be featured during LA Beer Week 2016!

11. The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor

Long Beach Harbor transforms into a seaport of the damned this Halloween. At Dark Harbor, six mazes await you that will take you through never-before-visited areas of the haunted Queen Mary. There’s also the Monster Midway, where you, zombies, food and entertainment intertwine, including a sinister freak show and the Mechanical Monster. Be sure to grab discount tickets (while available) for select dates via our friends at Goldstar.

12. Free Meditation Classes At The Springs DTLA

Urban wellness oasis The Springs is offering free meditation class, Monday through Fridays at 1:00pm! Grab one of their fresh pressed juices after, it’s pretty much the best in town.

13. Rise of The Jack O’ Lantern Festival

Attention pumpkin carving enthusiasts! The Rise of the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival features more than 5,000 hand-carved illuminated jack o’lanterns created by professional artists and sculptors arranged in creative ways along a 1/3-mile scenic walking trail all set to an original music score. In 2015 there are two L.A. locations where you can enjoy The Rise, at either Descanso Gardens or Santa Anita Park.

14. Innovate Pershing Square

As part of our city’s Innovate Week, check out the Innovate Pershing Square Expo scheduled for Friday, from 4-8pm at Pershing Square in DTLA. Expect DJs, music, food, entertainment, and a  showcase of innovations in public space through the visions of L.A. real estate developers, architects and arts community, with some of these renderings offered to the public in a virtual reality demo. 100% FREE to attend!

15. 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.

Saturday October 10th, 2015

16. Politicon

Panels, TV/movie screenings, comedy shows, Q&A sessions, music, all with a (non-partisan) political flavor and all hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend. Enter: Politicon. Among featured guests making scheduled appearances will be James Carville, Newt Gingrich, David Axelrod, Ann Coulter and The Daily Show‘s new host, Trevor Noah. Get more information and discount tickets (while supplies last) via our friends at Goldstar.

17. Hot Wings & Beer Festival at Santa Anita Park

Some like it hot. Some like the races. If you like both, head out to track on October 10 for the Hot Wings and Craft Beer Festival at Santa Anita Park. A ticket to the fest gets you six hot wings, eight 3-oz. beer tastings, club house admission and trackside seating with a racing program and tip sheet. And if you like saving a few bucks on your admission, be sure to check out our friends at Goldstar for discount tickets to the festival.

18. JPL Open House 

One weekend every year NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laborartoy opens their doors and lifts the curtain to allow visitors to go behind the scenes at a facility that’s been instrumental in developing and operating some of the most significant machines in the history of the space program.

Advertisements

19. Barnsdall Art Park’s Famed Outdoor Movie Night Series

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: Stand And Deliver. 

20. Artisanal LA

The Reef in Downtown will transform into a huge pop up shop showcasing some of the best artisanal food vendors around the country. From chocolate makers, picklers, jerky makers and even juice crafters there is something for everyone at Artisanal LA. Tickets are $12 pre-sale and $15 at the door. Our friends at Goldstar also have tickets available for less than $10 (while supplies last), so be sure to shop and compare before purchase.

21. Strut Your Mutt

Enjoy a morning walk through Exposition Park and a 5K run at this canine-themed festival. There will be pet contests, doggy treats and plenty of fun all to benefit The Best Friends Animal Society’s. Registration for the 5K begins at 7:00am and the run begins at 9:00am, festivities will follow the 5K.

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 Scarface at Exposition Park. The screening event will open at 5:30pm with the movie starting at 8:30pm.

23. Taste Of Italy

Get a taste of authentic Italian cuisine at the seventh-annual Taste of Italy. Guest nosh on homemade pasta, pizza and more with plenty of red win, while enjoying performances from the LA Opera, a tribute to Frank Sinatra, and vocalist Giovanna Gattuso. General admission includes six food and six wine tastings, premier tickets offer eight food and eight wine tastings and a VIP gift bag and red carpet entrance.

24. 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.

Sunday October 11th, 2015

25. Donation Ride At SoulCycle Beverly Hills

Join Fashion Mamas LA and The Mama Circle on Sunday at 11:45am for a donation-based ride with SoulCycle Beverly Hills. The 45-minute ride will be followed by Pressed Juicery and mingling. Register on Eventbrite to reserve your spot.

26. 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. Happening this Wednesday through the weekend.

27. The Ancient Forest At Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens just opened their brand new Ancient Forest, the forest features plants virtually unchanged since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Highlight includes a new cycad collection that includes almost 175 plants representing 66 species including several endangered species.

Advertisements

28. LA Haunted Hayride

If the idea of hopping on a bandwagon that travels through the darkness of Griffith Park while costumed characters seep out of the shadows to try to terrify you sounds like the time of your life… then step right up to the L.A. Haunted Hayride! The hayride will run from October 2-31 (every Friday-Sunday, plus some Thursdays and Wednesdays), and our friends at Goldstar have some special deals to save you about $5 on select dates.

29. 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.

30. The 31st AIDS Walk 

The 10K fundraising walk taking place in West Hollywood Park will benefit APLA and dozens more HIV/AIDS service organizations. AIDS Walk Los Angeles is the world’s first walk to fight an epidemic, the walk has drawn hundreds of thousands of supporters to walk, and millions more to donate, raising more than $79 million.

31. 6th Annual Taste of the Pier, King Harbor & Waterfront

Celebrate the cuisine of Redondo Beach at The 6th Annual Taste of the Pier, King Harbor & Waterfront. Savor the best bites the pier has to offer while taking a self-guided walking tour. The event is free and open to the public. Tasting tickets can be purchased for $1 each which can be used to sample bites and beverages. RSVP on Eventbrite and receive five complimentary tasting tickets!


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