{"id":453449,"date":"2026-09-04T15:20:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T15:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/453449\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T15:20:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T15:20:13","slug":"18-things-to-do-over-labor-day-weekend-in-l-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/453449\/","title":{"rendered":"18 things to do over Labor Day weekend in L.A."},"content":{"rendered":"

Many of us think of Labor Day weekend<\/a> as the end of summer<\/a> (though fall doesn\u2019t technically begin until September 22). But in Los Angeles, we know better. Temps are still in the high 80s (though the rain forecast for Sunday is a curveball), and we\u2019re likely still in for weeks of sunny days and balmy, warm nights where we can keep summer alive.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, if you\u2019re in need of ideas for the best way to spend your long weekend, we\u2019ve got you covered with\u00a018 picks, from alfresco films to free concerts to stadium shows. (You can even catch Elijah Wood behind the DJ stacks.) Here are our top\u00a0things to do this Labor Day weekend<\/a>\u2014including some kid-friendly picks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Watch a movie outdoors<\/a>
Fri\u2013Mon<\/p>\n

Outdoor movie season isn\u2019t slowing down yet\u2014in fact, some series keep the fun going all year long\u2014but this weekend is particularly full of fun films. In DTLA, Rooftop Cinema Club<\/a> has a reliably great lineup throughout the weekend: Obsession, 500 Days of Summer, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Notebook, School of Rock, Interstellar\u00a0and La La Land. Meanwhile, Cinespia<\/a> hosts Josie and the Pussycats\u00a0on Saturday and The Sandlot\u00a0on Sunday; the Montalb\u00e1n<\/a> is showing Project Hail Mary on Friday; Burton Chace Park screens Scott Pilgrim vs. the World for free on Saturday; and Street Food Cinema<\/a>\u00a0hosts a showing of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman spooky favorite Practical Magic on Saturday at\u00a0the Autry<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A
\nPhotograph: Courtesy Smorgasburg <\/p>\n

2. Cool off with tasty frozen treats<\/a>
Sun<\/p>\n

Ice Cream Alley<\/a> at Smorgasburg<\/a>\u2014a special area of the market serving up artisanal scoops, soft-serve, gelato, shaved ice and fruit bars\u2014has been\u00a0keeping\u00a0things cool on Sundays since July, and\u00a0September 6\u00a0marks its last installment of the year. Don\u2019t miss the homemade Choco Tacos from Sad Girl Creamery.\u00a0Plus, we\u2019ve got the scoop on the best ice cream shops in the city<\/a>, which you can check out anytime over the long weekend.<\/p>\n

3. Sip wine on a scenic hilltop<\/a>
Fri<\/p>\n

One of our favorite summer traditions is the Friday-evening wine tastings held on the west lawn of Frank Lloyd Wright\u2019s historic Hollyhock House\u00a0all summer long.\u00a0A win-win\u00a0way to support\u00a0Barnsdall Art Park<\/a>,\u00a0the alfresco series\u00a0features pours provided by\u00a0Silverlake Wine<\/a>,\u00a0food trucks and music. You\u2019re welcome to bring along a blanket and picnic basket, too,\u00a0and\u00a0watch the sun set over the city. And this year, the fun is once again stretching\u00a0all the way into September.<\/p>\n

4. Shop and stroll at a South Bay street party<\/a>
Sat\u2013Mon<\/p>\n

A long-standing\u00a0Labor Day weekend tradition, the free Fiesta Hermosa is back with an arts festival, food fair, makers market, a mini carnival, a wine garden and live music on the beach.<\/p>\n

\"The
\nPhotograph: Courtesy Desert 5 SpotDesert 5 Spot <\/p>\n

5. Party poolside at the hottest bars<\/a>
Fri\u2013Sun<\/p>\n

Bars that boast a pool are celebrating the long weekend with pool parties, including a\u00a0country-inspired celebration<\/a> with a cowboy cookout and karaoke at Desert 5 Spot<\/a>. And Downtown at rooftop bar Golden Hour, DJs will take the stage from day to night at a handful of events<\/a>, which include a set of hypnotic house music from Grum\u00a0and a special Sunday edition of Sunset Sessions.<\/p>\n

6. Or make a splash at the best public pools in L.A.<\/a>
Fri\u2013Mon<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not blessed with a private pool, luckily L.A. is home to some actually-appealing public options. One of our favorites is at the Annenberg Community Beach House<\/a>, a former old-Hollywood beachfront estate that\u2019s been transformed into a public club with a historic pool. Its recreational swimming season winds down on Sunday\u2014as do many of the pools on our list\u2014but it\u2019ll still be open on weekends through September. After your dip, stick around for a game of ping-pong or beach volleyball.<\/p>\n

7. Get a head start on Halloween<\/a>
Fri\u2013Sun<\/p>\n

Sure, it might not feel Halloween-y yet, but Labor Day\u2019s late arrival this year means that some of spooky season\u2019s hallmark events are already in swing. Universal Studios Hollywood\u2019s Halloween Horror Nights<\/a> kicked off on Thursday, with new haunted houses inspired by Sinners, Hellraiser, Stranger Things 5, Evil Dead Burn and more. For a family-friendly option, Bob Baker Marionette Theater presents its annual Hallowe\u2019en Spooktacular<\/a>, with over 100 silly and spooky puppets. Down in Anaheim, Disneyland Resort<\/a> is decked out in pumpkins, and Haunted Mansion has been taken over by Jack Skellington and co.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Mt.
\nPhotograph: Time Out\/Michael Juliano <\/p>\n

8. Listen to live music on top of a mountain<\/a>
Sun<\/p>\n

Hear live classical music a mile above the city at the Mount Wilson Observatory<\/a>\u2014specifically inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope\u2014during an installment of its monthly concert series this Sunday. This weekend, the Webern String Quartet performs works by composer Todd Mason and Beethoven. If you\u2019re more interested in looking at the sky, on Friday, the observatory and\u00a0Los Angeles Astronomical Society are hosting a free Star Party<\/a>, where you can\u00a0peer through LAAS telescopes (7pm\u20131am).<\/p>\n

\"Guns
\nPhotograph: Time Out editorsGuns N’ Roses <\/p>\n

9. See a stadium show by K-pop or rock\u00a0& roll royalty
Sat, Sun<\/p>\n

Two decidedly different acts are headlining L.A.\u2019s stadiums this weekend. BTS<\/a>, the first K-pop boy band sensation to make a splash in America, finishes up four nights at SoFi Stadium. Meanwhile, in Pasadena, Guns N\u2019 Roses<\/a>\u00a0returns to the Rose Bowl for the first time in over 30 years\u2014with Ice Cube in tow, no less.<\/p>\n

10. Or catch a free concert<\/a>
Fri, Sat<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not in the mood to shell out money for a ticket, summer\u00a0offers a wealth of riches when it comes to free concerts,\u00a0many of them set in some of the city\u2019s top cultural destinations. You can have your pick this weekend: Grammy-winning composer and bassist Trevor Ware plays Jazz at LACMA<\/a> on Friday. KCRW hosts its last\u00a0Summer Nights<\/a>\u00a0of the season, starting Friday at the Autry Museum, where Elijah Wood (yes, that Elijah Wood) and Zach Cowie are part of the night\u2019s DJ lineup. The following night, there\u2019s a\u00a0block party in the NoHo Arts District on Saturday, with a performance by L.A.-based singer\u00a0Madison McFerrin and sets by\u00a0KCRW DJs Peanut Butter Wolf and LUXXURY. And Santa Monica\u2019s new Tongva Twilight: Sounds & Cinema<\/a>\u00a0series,\u00a0produced by Rum & Humble, hosts yacht rock band\u00a0the Windbreakers before a screening of a doc about the genre on Saturday.<\/p>\n

11. See some alfresco theater
Fri\u2013Mon<\/p>\n

Movies and music aren\u2019t the only culture you can catch outdoors this weekend. There\u2019s also live theater, courtesy of the Independent Shakespeare Co.<\/a>, who end their season this weekend with performances of the Bard\u2019s A Comedy of Errors\u00a0in Griffith Park. If you need\u00a0more Shakespeare, you can see\u00a0A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream\u00a0on Monday at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum<\/a>, nestled in Topanga Canyon. (For the kids, there\u2019s Treasure Island on Friday.) And the Getty Villa begins previews this weekend of its new\u00a0Outdoor Classical Theater production, Antigone: In the Language of Kings<\/a>, a take on Sophocles\u2019s tale that\u00a0incorporates Aztec mythology.<\/p>\n

\"Hollywood
\nPhotograph: Michael Juliano for Time Out <\/p>\n

12. Bring your lightsaber to the Hollywood Bowl<\/a>
Fri\u2013Sun<\/p>\n

Nobody\u2019s film credits can compare to John Williams: Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and literally a hundred others. David Newman conducts the L.A. Phil as they tackle some of the composer\u2019s iconic film scores set to a selection of movie clips\u2014and against the glow of a sea of lightsabers in the crowd. Though Williams used to appear (and conduct) in person for this series each year, these shows now serve as a tribute to the nonagenarian.<\/p>\n

13. Check out an exhibition
Fri\u2013Mon<\/p>\n

Two noteworthy museum exhibitions are closing this weekend: \u201cMummies of the World<\/a>\u201d at the California Science Center, a sometimes-eerie display of over 30 mummified people and animals, closes on Monday. And \u201cSublime: Straight From Long Beach<\/a>,\u201d a look at the LBC\u2019s hometown heroes, is also open through Monday at the Grammy Museum. While you\u2019re there, check out \u201cOlivia Rodrigo: the cure unraveled<\/a>,\u201d featuring the handcrafted sets from the singer\u2019s music video for \u201cthe cure.\u201d<\/p>\n

14. Watch classic films at the Nuart<\/a>
Fri\u2013Mon<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Cinecon Classic Film Festival\u00a0isn\u2019t your typical film fest\u2014you won\u2019t find Casablanca on the schedule here,\u00a0but rather classic titles you most likely have never encountered before. Enjoy a five-day program of features and shorts shown at the festival\u2019s new venue\u2014the Nuart Theatre in West L.A.\u2014interspersed by Q&As with special guests, including I Dream of Jeannie\u2019s Barbara Eden. Even avid film buffs are likely to encounter something they\u2019ve never seen before. You can buy a day pass for $103.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Kassi\"
\nPhotograph: Courtesy Ashley RandallVenice rooftop bar Kassi. <\/p>\n

15. Sip cocktails at a rooftop bar<\/a><\/p>\n

Whether you want to watch the sun set over the ocean or see sweeping views of the DTLA skyline, L.A. has a drinking spot that boasts the beautiful backdrop you\u2019re craving. From rooftop watering holes in Downtown<\/a> and Hollywood<\/a> to a few tried-and-true beachside bars in Venice<\/a> and Santa Monica<\/a>, here are the city\u2019s\u2014literally\u2014top rooftop bars.<\/p>\n

16. Be basic and go to the beach<\/a><\/p>\n

Sure, they\u2019ll probably be mobbed, but even if after reading all our suggestions above you\u2019re really just craving a day by the ocean, we don\u2019t blame you. Browse our guide to the 11 best beaches in L.A. to find your perfect seaside match, whether you want to surf, swim, people-watch or do some coastal hiking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A
\nPhotograph: Courtesy of Catalina Island Company <\/p>\n

17. Get out of town just for the day<\/a><\/p>\n

L.A. is great and all, but sometimes you need a change of scenery. Luckily, living in L.A. means it\u2019s an easy (well, depending on traffic) and often scenic drive<\/a> to SoCal\u2019s best beaches, small towns, wineries and gorgeous desert landscapes. From wine tasting in Santa Barbara and vintage hunting<\/a> in Palm Springs to hiking in Joshua Tree, you\u2019re sure to find a short trip worth taking. My pick for the end of summer? A mini island getaway to Catalina, complete with sky-diving and lounging around at Descanso Beach Club.<\/p>\n

18. Or escape the city on an impromptu road trip<\/a><\/p>\n

Want to put a bit more distance between yourself and our fair city? Pack up the car\u2014and the kids\u2014for these 14 family-friendly road trips. You can find\u00a0forest vistas in\u00a0Big Bear, coastal charm\u00a0in Laguna Beach or, if you\u2019re up for a 5.5\u2013hour drive, fairy tale vibes\u00a0in Carmel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Many of us think of Labor Day weekend as the end of summer (though fall doesn\u2019t technically begin…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":453450,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[7579,48,52,51,47,50,49,7995,420],"class_list":["post-453449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-categories-things-to-do","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-news-events-festivals","tag-things-to-do"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=453449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453449\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/453450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=453449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=453449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=453449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}