The intrepid explorers at Atlas Obscura are celebrating their encyclopedic knowledge of all things weird and wonderful on Saturday with Obscura Day. The website has organized back-room tours, hikes and meet-ups around the world, including a bunch here in Southern California. Here's the thing: We love Atlas Obscura, but so does everyone else. Their tours are as intimate as their are popular; as much as we'd like to explore an abandoned hospital or take a Jeepney tour of Filipinotown, these events sell out well in advance. So we've combed through the Obscura Day listings and picked out the five best events that still have tickets available.
Meet the Big Boy at the Valley Relics Museum
See salvaged taco stand signs, vintage neon and a (Bob's) Big Boy at the Valley Relics Museum in Chatsworth, with a tour led by the museum's own curator and founder, Tommy Gelinas.
21630 Marilla St, 1:30pm, $15
See dioramas of Hindu deities at the Bhagavad-gita Museum
Ancient clayworking and '70s animatronics collide during an exclusive tour of this Culver City museum. Though the earlier tours are sold out, we were able to find a few for the last one.
3764 Watseka Ave, 2pm, $8
Witness a falcon top 200mph in the middle of the desert
Learn about the art of falconry and watch a sunrise flight demonstration from the amazing raptor handlers at Falcon Force.
Palmdale, 5am, $45
Go backstage at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Catch a performance of "Something to Crowd About", followed by a behind-the-scenes tour and meet and greet with the puppets. With the passing of Mr. Baker and uncertainty about the building's future, see this show while you still can.
1345 W 1st St, 3:30pm, $35
Roast marshmallows and stargaze at Vista Hermosa Park
Unwind in this Downtown-adjacent park for this Obscura Day after party. Burbank Sidewalk Astronomers will be bringing along telescopes for public nighttime viewing.
100 N Toluca St, 6pm, Free with RSVP