Another weekend is upon us, and while the calendar leans heavily into all things autumnal and appropriately eerie, there's still plenty happening across Southern California that doesn't involve a single jack-o'-lantern. Whether you're chasing live music, seeking sophisticated culture, or just looking for a good bite, the region delivers. This weekend offers everything from acclaimed musical acts to a unique take on scientific cinema and even a spot where your dog can enjoy a "beer."
For those fully embracing the spooky season, several immersive experiences are ready to deliver a chill. Street Food Cinema is transforming the Heritage Square Museum into a "spooky, cinematic playground" this month. Visitors can catch double features, including *Obsession*, *Sinners*, and *Jennifer’s Body*, alongside Victorian home tours, "adult trick-or-treating," food trucks, a bar, and market vendors. Meanwhile, a "supernatural shindig" awaits at a historic Glendale theater with the Haunted Soiree, formerly known as House of Spirits. This adults-only, two-hour immersive experience, based on a 1928 true crime involving German-American folk magic, encourages Oktoberfest-inspired attire, offering themed drinks, music, masks, ghost stories, and games. For those who prefer their scares delivered in theatrical vignettes, Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group in North Hollywood is back with its chilling series, touted this year as "bigger and badder than ever." Guests navigate a "labyrinth of terror" with a flashlight before and after a series of scenes designed to unsettle during the roughly 40-minute experience, which has been scaring audiences for over 20 years. If the scariest thing you want to consume is a cocktail, the traveling horror-themed Black Lagoon pop-up has returned to Melrose Umbrella Co. This women-owned concept takes over the Beverly Grove bar with metal music, spooky decor—including a 12-foot-tall skeleton—and expertly mixed drinks such as the Bone Temple and Abyssa’s Obsession. Spirit-free options are also available, and another SoCal outpost is open at Midnight Oil in Long Beach. For classic horror on the big screen, the Million Dollar Theater on Saturday hosts Last…Remains, screening genre classics.
Beyond the immediate frights, Southern California offers a variety of cultural events and musical acts. The Natural History Museum is tackling "scientific nonsense" head-on with its Movies Under the Microscope series, aiming to separate "cinematic magic from the actual science." On October 16, the museum screens Joe Dante’s 1985 adventure movie *Explorers*, followed by expert discussion. Each screening includes a pre-show reception with an all-vinyl ’80s DJ set, vintage collectibles, and pop-ups. For a different kind of performance, American Contemporary Ballet opens its 15th season at the Bank of America Plaza in DTLA. The program features George Balanchine’s *Sonatine*, *Rubies*, and *Episodes*, plus a new ballet by ACB founder Lincoln Jones, all performed to live music, followed by a reception. Art enthusiasts can head to Beverly Gardens Park for the long-running alfresco Beverly Hills Art Show. Meanwhile, the Beyond the Streets gallery is hosting a limited-time exhibition focused on System of a Down. For a more tranquil outdoor experience, Descanso Gardens’ annual Carved event fills a mile-long trail with thousands of professionally carved pumpkins, creating an "illuminated forest" for four weeks this fall. The popular neon-hued Rhizome light sculpture has moved into the Oak Grove.
For culinary enthusiasts, one of the year's significant fundraisers, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, returns to UCLA on Saturday. Downtown’s Smorgasburg at ROW DTLA, a Brooklyn import, continues to draw crowds with dozens of food vendors, from established pop-ups to emerging culinary stars. This Sunday, Smorgasburg is also hosting its first-ever Diwali celebration, bringing together some of the city’s top South Asian restaurants. For a taste of Germany that lasts all season, Silver Lake’s Red Lion Tavern extends its Oktoberfest celebrations through mid-November. Patrons can indulge in an Oktoberfest platter and a four-liter boot of beer. The tavern also hosts live music and stein-holding contests on select nights. In Venice, a local gastropub is throwing a Bavarian celebration every weekend through October 24, complete with lederhosen and "finger-licking fare." Live music options include Charli XCX at the Kia Forum, Geese at Hollywood Forever, and local label Stones Throw Records celebrating its 30th birthday with an outdoor festival in Highland Park.
Perhaps the most uniquely Southern California event this month is Dogtoberfest at South Coast Botanic Garden. What was once a monthly dog-walking treat has expanded to every weekend in October, offering dog-friendly paths and a full slate of Oktoberfest-style activities. For humans, there are beer stations along a "Pup Crawl" and on the main lawn, featuring live music from Die Sauerkrauts, plus stein-holding, pretzel-tossing, and yodeling contests. Pups aren't left out, with training obstacles along garden pathways and races on the lawn. VIP tickets for humans include a flight of beer or root beer samples, a full-size beer, and a pretzel necklace. New this year are dog VIP tickets, which come with a "dog beer" tasting, a treat, a photo, and access to a "VIP Top Dog Zone" with splash pads and doggie pools. Because, naturally, Southern California dogs need their own exclusive amenities.
