34 Awesome Things To Do In L.A. This Weekend You Need to Keep on Your Radar [8-14-15 to 8-16-15]

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 Long Beach Crawfish Festival, Echo Park Rising, a R&B fest at the Queen Mary, a rave on wheels, free Cold War Kids, and plenty more!

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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]

Long Beach Crawfish Festival
Credit: Long Beach Crawfish Festival on Facebook

[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 August 14th, 2015

1. Long Beach Crawfish Festival

The Crawfish Festival has become a tradition for over 22 years now. A winning combo of the best Cajun, Zydeco, and New Orleans sounds, tons of fresh crawfish prepared Louisiana style and served by authentic Cajun chefs, a rocking dance floor, beach bars and more make up the largest Crawfish Festival outside of Louisiana, right here in Southern California. For discounts to any of this weekend’s days, make sure to check Goldstar as they’re offering up to 50% off tickets for this event.

2. Echo Park Rising

From August 14-16 Echo Park will become a total madhouse for the 5th annual Echo Park Rising music festival featuring multiple stages and activities all weekend long spread over Sunset Blvd, Glendale Blvd, Alvarado Avenue and Echo Park Avenue. Oh, and it’s 100% FREE!

3. Three Amigos at The Autry

Spend your Friday night at Eat|See|Hear with a screening of Three Amigos at The Autry in Griffith Park. Discounts available via our friends at Goldstar, including fashionably late passes (while supplies last).

4. D23 Expo

The D23 Expo is a massive gathering for lovers of all things Disney that takes place starting this Friday for three days at the Anaheim Convention Center. Insider talks, sneak peaks, exhibitions, celebrity appearances, and more.

5. Hollyshorts

The Hollyshorts Film Festival is a 10 day party with networking events, filmmaker Q&A’s and screenings of short films produced around the world. The festival will be held at the TCL Chinese 6 in Hollywood. The all-access badge will set you back $600 and includes access to the after party at OHM Nightclub, film screenings, panel conferences and awards ceremony. A day pass is $80 check the website for a full schedule and trailers for the shorts.

6. Thomas Wylde Warehouse Sale

Thomas Wylde is having a warehouse sale! All women’s samples, ready-to-wear apparel, shoes and handbags will be discounted 60% to 80% off retail prices. Count on leather, fur and their amazing silks to be discounted just in time for fall shopping! This sale takes cash and credit cards and will run from 10:00am to 7:00pm on Friday and 10:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday.

Location: 3231 S. La Cienega Blvd. 90016

7. Dew Tour LA

Dew Tour is heading to our city! A celebration of the skateboarding, this event will include art, fashion, music, movie premieres, skate competitions and more. The Ace Hotel will play central hub to the Dew Tour.

8. Barnsdall Park’s Friday Night Wine Tasting

All summer long Barnsdall Art Park has a weekly fundraiser to benefit Barnsdall Art Park Foundation programs and projects. Perched on a hill with a gorgeous panoramic view of Hollywood, guests will enjoy fine wine and art in the gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright’s newly restored architectural gem, Hollyhock House. Silver Lake Wine will curate fine selections of boutique, small production, artisanal wines for park-goers as well as local gourmet cheese shop, Say Cheese.

9. FIGat7th Downtown Festival

The Plaza Level at FIGat7th in DTLA invites the public for a free night of music with Analog Sounds with Linear Labs, Adrian Younge & Friend. Explore the bars and restaurants at Fig during the Taste happy hour starting at 4:00pm! Doors open at 7:00pm for the Plaza Bar and the show starts at 8:00pm.

10. Grand Performances

Grand Performances has a summer-long concert series that brings Angelenos together with an eclectic mix of musical performances at a unique setting in Downtown L.A.

11. Labyrinth Fantasy Masquerade Ball

The Labyrinth Fantasy Masquerade Ball is a two night event filled with some of the finest costumers, artists and of course magic. This legendary event will have five stages, a ton of performances like a light show by Sypher Arts, live music and plenty of dancing. The Royal Court of Sypher, the outdoor Elvish Gardens and Fountains.. yup you can count on all the realms to be in tact!

12. Dance Downtown

The weekly summer dance party at the Music Center in DTLA. This week’s dance theme will be 70s, 80s and 90s Night featuring Disco! The shows and dance parties are 100% free to the public all summer long.

13. Groundlings Main Show The Red Light District

The Groundlings Theatre has kicked off their next main show in the Red Light District. The performance schedule runs every Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. through September 26. Tickets are $20.00!

14. The 56th Annual Manhattan Beach Open

The 56th Manhattan Beach Open lays claim to being the longest running, continuous tournament in the sport of beach volleyball. The tournament kicks off with qualifiers on Thursday and then the main rounds will commence starting Friday and going all weekend. The finals are set for 1:30pm on Sunday.

15. To Live and Dine in L.A.

The latest exhibition to hit the Los Angeles Central Library: To Live and Dine in L.A. is one for the foodie nostalgic. Come celebrate the history of food in Los Angeles and view a massive collection of rare, first-edition menus from restaurants that have long since closed. The exhibit aims to promote the historical significance of LA’s food culture, and will feature over 50 food and menu related programs, including lectures, cooking demos and nutrition workshops. Check out more information, times and dates on their offical page.

Saturday August 15th, 2015

16. Beard And Mustache Competition

The Los Angeles Facial Hair Society (YES that’s a thing) will hosts one epic facial hair competition. Taking place at The Avalon in Hollywood the Beard And Mustache Competition spans several different categories like business beard to freestyle!

17. Sounds In Focus With Cold War Kids + Other Lives

KCRW’s signature FREE summer series takes over the Annenberg Space For Photography with performances by Cold War Kids and Other Lives. You must RSVP but that doesn’t hold your spot so arrive early. Doors open at 5:00pm with KCRW DJ’s spinning tunes.

18. Street Food Cinema: The Big Lebowski 

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 Big Lebowski at Exposition Park. Event opens at 5:30pm and movie starts at 8:30pm. Get more information and discount tickets (while supplies last) via Goldstar.

19. Summer Breeze Festival

Keith Sweat, K-Ci & JoJo, Jon B., Color Me Badd, Al B. Sure… If these R&B stars bring back pleasant memories and chill vibes of days you spent listening to the them in the early 90’s, then you’ll definitely want to check out the Summer Breeze Festival, coming to the Queen Mary in Long Beach on August 15. Get more information and discount tickets via our friends at Goldstar (while supplies last).

20. The Actors’ Gang Presents Free Shakespeare In The Park: Harry Potter Hamlet

Founded in 1981, The Actors’ Gang- under the leadership of Tim Robbins, Founder and Artistic Director- has received worldwide acclaim for presenting over 150 plays in Los Angeles and have toured over 41 US states and five continents.The Actors’ Gang is proud to present an annual free Shakespeare-In-The-Park series at Media Park. For August they will present Harry Potter Hamlet. Bring your family and friends, set up a picnic, and join the characters’ tale of friendship, family, justice and coming-of-age. Happening Saturday and Sunday the shows start at 11:00am!

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Location: 9070 Venice Blvd, Culver City

21. Once Upon A Canyon Night Presents: Kids’ Night Out! 

The Actors Conservatory Ensemble and Wildlife Learning Center is proud to present “Exploring the Rainforest” & The Amazing “Juggler in Peril” Michael Reyner to this year’s “Once Upon A Canyon Night” summer series in collaboration with TreePeople. Bring your kiddos for a special night of live animals on stage in an interactive presentation from the Wildlife Learning Center which has been delighting and educating audiences all over Southern California for almost 20 years. Scheduled to appear: a two-toed sloth, squirrel monkey, kinkajou (aka honey bear), macaw, python, alligator, prehensile-tailed skink, Madagascar hissing cockroach and a rainbow boa constrictor.

22. Tiny Pizza Presents: Sound Bites @ UCB Sunset

Tiny Pizza Presents: Sound Bites a free monthly show that combines live music from some of LA’s most talented singer/songwriters, comedy from some of the city’s most hilarious improvisers AND FREE PIZZA! The next show is Saturday, August 15 at 9:00pm at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre on Sunset. Avi Buffalo and Phoebe Bridgers will be the music guest, along with staple UCB and iO improv teams Convoy, The Reckoning, Tiny Pizza, and Boss Jr. The show is completely free. We suggest getting in line early to get seats!

23. Midnight Double Feature At The Hollywood Forever Cemetery

The legendary Hollywood Forever Cemetery is home to the Cinespia outdoor summer screening series. This weekend it’s 90’s nostalgia with a midnight double feature of Scream and Cruel Intentions. From 11:30pm to 4:00am this slumber party in the cemetery will include a photobooth, snacks from KIND, giveaways and special surprises. ChimpChange is also providing free late night snacks from the Yeastie Boys and Taco Bear food trucks.

24. Perform Chinatown 2014: RUSH HOUR L.A.’s 7th Annual Showcase Of Performance Art

Perform Chinatown 2015: RUSH HOUR is a free, day-long festival celebrating live performance work . It will feature endurance-based pieces, public engagement work, dance and movement pieces, stand-up comedy, karaoke, micro-parades, derives, spoken word, noise, and experimental music. Over 40 performers will be distributed across a host of Chinatown galleries and public spaces for this event.

25. David Hockney At LA Louver

David Hockney’s work is being shown jointly by L.A. Louver and London’s Annely Juda Fine Art together they present “David Hockney: Painting and Photography,” an exhibition of brand-new works all made in the last two years by the prolific artist.

26. Rave On Wheels : We Are Animals

Come dressed as your favorite furry friend and join Re/creation for a magical animal themed night of roller skating, dancing and yoga. Hollywood’s iconic Circus Disco club’s 20,000 square feet will be transformed to a roller rink with two stages and a bean bag lounge for “non-skaters” that just want to dance to the amazing line up of DJ’s who will be spinning all night.

27. Nisei Week Japanese Festival

Nisei Week is the largest and longest-running ethnic festival in Southern California. Celebrating their 75th anniversary the event will take place for 9 days and will highlight Japanese and Japanese American culture. This weekends festival will take place at the JACCC and is free to the public. Highlights include plenty of live entertainment, taiko drums, Japanese dancers, martial arts, musical performances, children’s activities, cultural exhibits and of course food and drink vendors.

28. FIDM Museum Hosting Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition 

The 9th Annual Exhibition: The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design will display about 100 costumes created by costume designers, supervisors, and this year’s Emmy Nominees® at the FIDM Museum in DTLA. Costumes include Gotham, Peter Pan Live! Wolf Hall and more. In addition you might want to view Helen Larson’s historic fashion collection with beautiful dresses and hats dating back to 1760! Both exhibits are free to the public and available Tuesday through Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Sunday, August 16th 2015

29. Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin At The Geffen Playhouse

Having broken Geffen Playhouse season production box office records, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin returns to the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse for two weeks only, August 4-16, 2015. In the show, Felder brings to life the remarkable story of Irving Berlin, long thought of as America’s composer, who enjoyed 232 top-10 hits and 25 number-one songs. Featuring the composer’s most popular and enduring songs from “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” to “White Christmas,” and the score of “Annie Get Your Gun,” Felder’s signature creation of character and musical performance will make this evening an unforgettable journey. Tickets run $50-$70 but Goldstar has a limited amount for 50% off.

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30. Gamble House Brings Back its Popular ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ Tour

For a limited time this summer the Gamble House will once again open its servants’ quarters for exclusive 90-minute “Upstairs Downstairs” tours. Visitors to the Gamble House from July 30 through August 16 will be able to compare the living quarters of the served with those “in service.” New information recently emerged about the Gamble family and their servants allowing the curators to share more of the personal history of those who lived and worked at 4 Westmoreland Place in Pasadena. Learn just how the Gambles lived in, maintained and appreciated their beautiful Greene & Greene house.

31. Lucques Rib Festival

Looking to stuff your face full of delicious BBQ? Go to WeHo to check out Lucques 2015 rib fest and indulge in St. Louis-style pork ribs, braised beef back ribs, spiced lamb ribs, chicken wings, and tons of great sides.

32. LF Just Opened A Permanent Outlet Store On Melrose Avenue 

Attention all LF fans out there! The LF outlet is now open on Melrose Avenue next to American Apparel. Everything is under $45 like EVERYTHING including Jeffery Campbell shoes, vintage denim and so much more. Racked has all the info here.

33. SuperHero — Princess Academy: A Mini-Musical for Little Ones

Need to entertain the little guys and gals this weekend? Check out this one-hour mini-musical performed by the folks at the Creating Arts Company. The show includes singing, dancing, and plenty of audience interaction to keep the little ones engaged throughout. Get more information and discount tickets (while supplies last) via Goldstar.

34. Malibu Country Mart Block Party

Need an excuse to soak up some sunshine this weekend? Head to the Malibu Country Mart for an afternoon of carnival activities, animal attractions, photo booths, music, and complimentary snacks at a block party starting at noon on Sunday.


Looking for more things to do in L.A.? Check out these discount listings below!

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