Labor Day weekend typically marks the unofficial close of summer for much of the country, but in Southern California, residents know better. With temperatures still expected to be in the high 80s—despite a curveball rain forecast for Sunday—the region anticipates weeks more of sunny days and warm nights, keeping summer very much alive.
For those looking to extend the season, the weekend offers a diverse array of activities across Los Angeles and beyond. Outdoor movie season continues with a robust lineup, including Rooftop Cinema Club in DTLA showing films like "500 Days of Summer" and "La La Land." Cinespia is screening "Josie and the Pussycats" and "The Sandlot," while Street Food Cinema presents "Practical Magic" at the Autry. The Montalbán will feature "Project Hail Mary" on Friday, and Burton Chace Park offers a free showing of "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" on Saturday. For a more relaxed outdoor experience, the historic Hollyhock House hosts Friday-evening wine tastings on its west lawn, supporting Barnsdall Art Park with pours from Silverlake Wine, food trucks, and music.
Music lovers have a wealth of options, both free and ticketed. The Mount Wilson Observatory will host its monthly classical concert series on Sunday inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope, featuring the Webern String Quartet. On Friday, the observatory also offers a free Star Party with the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. For stadium-sized shows, BTS concludes a four-night run at SoFi Stadium, while Guns N’ Roses returns to the Rose Bowl for the first time in over 30 years, with Ice Cube also performing. Free concerts are abundant, with Grammy-winning composer Trevor Ware playing Jazz at LACMA on Friday, and KCRW hosting its last Summer Nights of the season at the Autry Museum, where Elijah Wood and Zach Cowie are part of the DJ lineup. A block party in the NoHo Arts District on Saturday features L.A.-based singer Madison McFerrin and KCRW DJs, and Santa Monica's Tongva Twilight: Sounds & Cinema series presents yacht rock band the Windbreakers. At the Hollywood Bowl, a tribute to John Williams will feature the L.A. Phil performing iconic film scores.
Beyond films and music, the long weekend includes traditional gatherings and chances for a last splash. The long-standing Fiesta Hermosa returns to the South Bay with an arts festival, food fair, makers market, mini carnival, and live music on the beach. Downtown, rooftop bar Golden Hour and Desert 5 Spot are hosting pool parties with DJs, a cowboy cookout, and karaoke. For public pool access, the Annenberg Community Beach House, a former old-Hollywood beachfront estate, offers recreational swimming which winds down on Sunday but remains open on weekends through September. For artisanal scoops, Smorgasburg's Ice Cream Alley, known for its homemade Choco Tacos from Sad Girl Creamery, marks its last installment of the year on September 6.
Even with summer still lingering, Halloween festivities are already underway. Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights kicked off earlier this week with new haunted houses. For family-friendly spooky fun, Bob Baker Marionette Theater presents its annual Hallowe’en Spooktacular with over 100 puppets. Down in Anaheim, Disneyland Resort is already decked out with pumpkins, and the Haunted Mansion has been transformed by Jack Skellington.
For those interested in live performance and art, the Independent Shakespeare Co. ends its season this weekend with "A Comedy of Errors" in Griffith Park, and Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon presents "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" on Monday. The Getty Villa begins previews this weekend for its new Outdoor Classical Theater production, "Antigone: In the Language of Kings." In museums, two noteworthy exhibitions close this weekend: "Mummies of the World" at the California Science Center and "Sublime: Straight From Long Beach" at the Grammy Museum, which also features "Olivia Rodrigo: the cure unraveled." Film enthusiasts can also explore classic titles they might not have encountered before at the Cinecon Classic Film Festival at the Nuart Theatre in West L.A.
