Lana del Rey said it best: It must be the season of the witch. There are so many spooky events starting to sprout across SoCal, and with so many of them being popular, it's time to start thinking about purchasing tickets in advance.
Here are some of the events happening around town that are worth checking out.
Fiestas Patrias Festival and Parade
The City of Santa Ana has hosted this free public event for more than 40 years. It celebrates the vibrant Hispanic and Latino cultures throughout Orange County and commemorates the independence of Mexico and other Latin American countries.
The weekend-long celebration will return this year to the downtown Santa Ana Historic District on 4th Street. There will be live entertainment, including Mariachi Los Reyes and Larry Hernandez on Saturday, Sept. 15 and Marisol Terrazas and Ezequiel Peña on Sunday. There also will be a street fair and vendors, cultural exhibitors and carniaval rides for an additional cost.
Exhibiting Forgiveness
Opening to the public on Sept. 14, Gagosian in Beverly Hills will present Exhibiting Forgiveness, an exhibition of paintings by Titus Kaphar that inspired his upcoming feature film of the same name — which will be released in theaters Oct. 18 and stars Andra Day and André Holland. In addition to portraits, the Exhibiting Forgiveness paintings depict figures, façades of neighborhood houses, personal objects and ephemera. It runs until Nov. 2. To learn more, visit here.
Gary Goldstein
Diesel A Book Store is hosting Goldstein’s LA book signing and Q/A launch event on Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. for his new book, “Please come to Boston.”
Goldstein is a freelance film critic for the LA Times and has over 30 produced screen and stage credits. His most recent TV movie for Hallmark Channel, “Friends & Family Christmas,” earned a 2024 GLADD award nomination.
His “Please Come to Boston”, out now, follows a college freshman at Boston University in 1975 who finds himself in an unexpected love triangle, which changes the course of his life. It also, in part, takes place in the present when the two men from the triangle meet up again in Boston after a lifetime apart.
Goldstein will be at the Brentwood bookstore to discuss and sign copies of his book!
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Opening night for this LA tradition will be Oct. 20. Tickets are now on sale. This event, which includes the hayride and mazes, comes with a warning that might be too intense for childen under 12 years of age. There will be opportunities for photos and grabbing food and drinks at one of the many vendors. Shuttle parking is available at the LA Zoo.
Nights of the Jack
This immersive experience will be back at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas this Halloween season. The event will run from Sept. 27 to Nov. 2 and will include a variety of hand-carved and illuminated pumpkins. This family-friendly event is about three-quarters of a mile with lots of photo opportunities. There also will be food trucks for attendees to purchase food and drinks. Tickets start at $29.99 and up depending on when you attend.
Disneyland Halloween
Through Oct. 31, the Disneyland parks will transform for Halloween with themed attractions, entertainment and food. The Haunted Mansion also has reopened with a virtual queue that allows visitors to take a tour of the eerie estate’s macabre makeover.
Culver City Pumpkin Patch
Opening on Oct. 5, this Halloween haunt is a female-owned business that will return with food, entertainment and lots of pumpkins. Note that pets are not allowed at the patch. For guaranteed entrance to the patch, it’s suggested visitors purchase tickets online. Tickets range from $8 to $20 depending on the time and day.
Tito's Fiesta Mexicana
On Oct. 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tito's Tacos and Tito's Handmade Vodka are hosting a traditional Fiesta Mexican to celebrate National Taco Day and National Vodka Day. The cost per person varies depending on whether you'd like to be a responsible partygoer ($30) or a non-alcohol partygoer ($15). Comedian Eric Schwartz will be the master of ceremonies and entertainment will be provided by several music groups. The proceeds will be donated to the Culver City Arts Foundation. To purchase presale tickets, visit the Culver City website.
Latin Restaurant Weeks
The inaugural two-week event will spotlight the diverse Latin flavors offered throughout Los Angeles. The "Buen Provecho" campaign encourages residents to support Latino chefs, restaurant owners, caterers, coffee shops and bakeries from Sept. 13 to 27. Each participant will highlight menu selections that represent their culture. For a list of participating restaurants, visit their website.
Imaginarium
Through Oct. 20 at Ontario Mills, light meets magic at this walk-thorugh experience that displays more than five million lights. New activities have been added, including immersive activity rooms, a ball pit and more. Tickets can be purchased online.
Cinespia
The outdoor moviegoing experience has announced its October screening lineup, which includes "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974) on Oct. 5, "Trick 'r Treat" on Oct. 19 and a 15th-anniversary screening of "Coraline" on Oct. 12, all at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Cinespia will also host a Halloween night screening of "Suspiria" (1977) at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 31. Tickets are available for purchase here.
LA Times Food Bowl
From Sept. 20 to 22, the annual culinary festival will be taking place at the Paramount Pictures Studios Backlot. The event will showcase SoCal’s food scene with three days filled with samples, drinks, live cooking demonstrations, cookbook signings and more. The best restaurants and culinary talent also are expected. Tickets are now on sale.
ChainFest Los Angeles
This chain food festival is returning to LA on Oct. 5 after a sold-out debut last year. Expect an expanded lineup and interactive experiences, featuring some of your favorite chain restaurants. Each chain will showcase a one-of-a kind pop-up restaurant to allow fans to experience their food in elevated ways. In 2023, the festival sold out within hours, so those planning on attending are encouraged to register to secure tickets ahead of the festival’s on-sale starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 23.
Los Feliz Flea Market at Vintage Land
Although the name still includes "Los Feliz," the flea market has recently moved to a new, two-story space on the border of downtown LA and Echo Park and is now open every weekend on both Saturdays and Sundays. It is LA's only rooftop flea market — complete with views of the downtown skyline — and features two full floors of antique and vintage vendors. The flea also features food trucks, a full bar, a misting station for hot days, and is completely pet friendly — plus free admission and parking.
Jazz at LACMA
Every Friday evening through October, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art showcases jazz music at its welcome plaza. The concerts are free and seating is first come first served. Space is limited, but attendees can bring a blanket and a picnic to enjoy during the performance.
The Nova Music Festival Exhibition: The Moment Music Stood Still
At sunrise on Oct. 7, the peaceful festival was disrupted as thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, resulting in the murder of 1,200 lives, among them 370 festival attendees. The exhibition premiered in Tel Aviv for a span of 10 weeks and drew thousands who paid homage to the departed. Now, the team behind Nova has brought the exhibition to the West Coast, specifically to Culver City. The Nova Exhibition founders and their partners from the United States have recreated a sacred space resonating with the weight of the memories of both victims and survivors, enveloped by remnants salvaged from the festival grounds. Click here to purchase tickets.
Palm Tree Music Festival at Dana Point
The Oct. 5 and 6 events at Doheny State Beach will feature artists including OneRepublic, Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers and more. There are several ticket tiers offering different experiences. For ticket information, visit the festival’s website.
Hollywood Bowl
During the summer, $1 tickets are available for Philharmonic performances on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Bowl. Park-and-ride and shuttle services are also available for as low as $7 so people can come and go to the venue.
For the latest LA Phil concerts, visit its website.
CicLAvia
Streets will be closed to traffic to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the city in the following events:
Lincoln Heights — This CicLAmini event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 15 and the quarter mile route will take attendees through Broadway
- Heart of LA — This 7.5-mile ride is happening from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13
Get more details about each route from their website.
Puppets in the Park
Presented by Bob Barker Marionnet Theater and Hollyhock House on Sept. 14 and Oct. 12, this free ticketless event includes a performance followed by an art activity for families. Gates of the west lawn open at 9:30 a.m., with the puppet show starting at 10 a.m. and the art at 10:30 a.m.
Hollyhock House
Self-guided tours of the Frank Loyd Wraight house are offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Advance tour ticket purchase is recommended.
Ohana Festival
This music festival will return to Doheny State Beach in Dana Point from Sept. 27 through 29. Some of the musical acts include Pearl Jam, Alanis Morissette, Sting and La Santa Cecilia. There are various ticket options. For more information, visit the festival’s website.
Picnicking at Echo Park Lake
Having officially opened in July, the restaurant Piknik has taken over Echo Park Lake's boathouse, with Scandinavian-inspired fare alongside a laidback ambiance. Located between the swan boats at the water's edge, Piknik is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. A rotating selection of house-made ice cream is available this summer. Additionally, the restaurant offers Piknik baskets filled with artisanal treats for date nights or impromptu city escapes in the park's surroundings.