Events & Festivals
Your guide to the best events and festivals in LA
50 amazing things happening in LA this September
Plan out your month with the city's best concerts, culture and cuisine.
18 things to do with kids in September 2016
We're here to smooth out your scheduling woes with these 18 things to do with kids in September.
The Time Out Love Los Angeles Awards 2016
Let us know how much you love LA by nominating your favorite cultural venues across the city.
Music festivals within driving distance of LA
Whether a day trip or a Metro ride away, there's no short of music festivals near Los Angeles.
This week's top events
Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours
Spend a late night at the Music Center and watch as the beloved Downtown cultural space transforms into an interactive performance space. Past events have included everything from a backstage tour of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to drinks and dancing in the Founders Room, and a pillow lounge in the lobby to a roller derby demo on Lower Grand.
Surf City Surf Dog
Start teaching your pooch how to carve waves because Huntington Beach's annual surf dog competition is right around the corner. The event starts out with two days of "yappy hour" specials and surfing exhibits, followed by the competition itself on Sunday. The action starts in the morning with big dogs and works its way up (or down?) to pint-sized pooches before the final round.
Abbot Kinney Festival
Take every artsy street fair you’ve ever attended, add all the stereotypes about Venice Beach and you've got the general idea. A this year's festival, dozens of top food trucks and booths will be on hand, as well as five live music stages featuring everything from electro to spoken word. Get your drink on in three different beer and spirit gardens, or shop from local vendors selling art, jewelry and other handcrafted goods. Riding your bike there? A free bike valet lets you lock it up carefree—which is more than we can say on other days of the year.
Music Tastes Good
Music Tastes Good will take over Downtown Long Beach from September 23 to 25 with headlining sets from ska revivalists the Specials, folk outfit Iron and Wine, indie pop duo Sylvan Esso and more. Best described as "KCRW approved"—the public radio station is presenting the fest—Music Tastes Good is bringing an eclectic mix of bands to Downtown Long Beach. De La Soul, Deltron 3030, Dr. Dog, RX Bandits, Metz, Melvins, Warpaint, Gallant, Girlpool, Squeeze and Living Colour round out the rest of the inaugural fest's lineup. True to its name, Music Tastes Good has also curated a food experience themed to each day of the festival, from a farm-to-table dinner to a Bloody Mary brunch.
Month-by-month calendars
Full events calendar for LA
Concerts in LA
Lush
Catch a burst of glorious guitar haze by these reunited '90s heroes, packing a shoegaze-pop punch at some of their first shows in 20 years.
Music Tastes Good
Music Tastes Good will take over Downtown Long Beach from September 23 to 25 with headlining sets from ska revivalists the Specials, folk outfit Iron and Wine, indie pop duo Sylvan Esso and more. Best described as "KCRW approved"—the public radio station is presenting the fest—Music Tastes Good is bringing an eclectic mix of bands to Downtown Long Beach. De La Soul, Deltron 3030, Dr. Dog, RX Bandits, Metz, Melvins, Warpaint, Gallant, Girlpool, Squeeze and Living Colour round out the rest of the inaugural fest's lineup. True to its name, Music Tastes Good has also curated a food experience themed to each day of the festival, from a farm-to-table dinner to a Bloody Mary brunch.
Bloc Party + Bob Mould + Ezra Furman
After another long, long hiatus and a line-up change, Kele Okereke’s emotional post-punks finally reconvened for a fifth album and more dancey live performances. But Bloc Party aren't hitting the Bowl alone: Punk icon and Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman Bob Mould joins the bill, as does the youthful, verbose lyricist Ezra Furman. Book Online
Ozzfest Meets Knotfest
Black Sabbath, meet Slipknot. The two metal bands are taking their respective namesake festivals and uniting them into a single weekend at the San Manuel Amphitheater. The Sabbath-fronted Saturday lineup includes Disturbed, Megadeth, Opeth and Black Label Society, while the 'Knot-led Sunday lineup includes Slayer, Amon Amarth, Anthrax and Trivium. The fest features tent and RV camping—complete with showers and "shitters"—as well as fiery carnival rides, a freak show, monster trucks and a Mad Max Thunderdome battle arena. Book Online
Food events
Feast of San Gennaro
Slather your weekend in marinara sauce at the 15th annual event celebrating Italian culture, with an opening night gala featuring live music and entertainment. Show off your bocce playing skills, watch a kid's pizza-making contest, listen to opera singers and play bingo all while feasting on Italian food and wine during the three-day festival.
The Coconut Club Cocktail Night at ETA
When it comes to punchy, over-the-top craft cocktails, The Cocout Club is no amateur. On Sunday, September 25, LA’s favorite tiki-inspired dive (and one of the most sought-after spots in town) is shaking things up with a special á la carte cocktail menu for R&D night at ETA bar in Highland Park. Step inside the newly minted, casual-sleek lounge for a taste of the Hawaiian tropics in an artsy, brick-lined setting that we can’t get enough of. No reservation required.
Whiskey Tasting at MiniBar
Hollywood watering hole MiniBar is joining forces with fellow connoisseurs of the trade, Benromach Whisky and K&L Wines, to host an exclusive one night only whiskey tasting in its retro-inspired digs. Pull up a stool and let Benromach whiskey expert Joe McCluskey guide you through a four-pronged single malt flight, alongside a savory spread of small bites from Little Dom’s chef Brandon Boudet.
Boneyard Bistro Cuban Pig Roast
If you have an appetite for hearty Cubano sandwiches, Boneyard Bistro’s sixth annual Cuban Pig Roast is calling your name (and taste buds). Come Wednesday, September 28, the Sherman Oaks neighborhood staple is harkening back to the food truck-studded streets of Havana with a no-holds-barred grub fest. Expect classics like a roast pork sandwich and Havana Sour cocktails. Bon provecho.
Comedy events
Tracy Morgan
The former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock star mounts a comeback tour after his yearlong recovery from a devastating 2014 automobile accident....
Comedy Palace
This weekly comedy showcase in Los Feliz hosts one of the most stacked lineups of stand-ups this side of the 101. Located above a Chinese restaurant, the...
Andrew Dice Clay
Andrew Dice Clay made a name for himself with his brash, controversial humor, beginning in the early 80s and gradually earning a following in New York and...
Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival
Promoters keep trying to make outdoor comedy fests happen, but we can't complain with one look at the lineup for Funny or Die's Oddball Comedy and Curiosity...
Shopping events
Melrose Trading Post
Better known locally as Fairfax Flea Market, it has become an LA staple for hours of people-watching and treasure-hunting among nearly 200 vendors.