October 2025 events calendar for Los Angeles

Don’t go in the water, but do go to the Academy Museum to see the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Steven Spielberg’s original summer blockbuster, Jaws—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The museum was already home to the last surviving model shark from filming, but now you can go behind the scenes and see some 200 original objects from the film across multiple galleries. Some highlights: a re-creation of the Orca fishing boat, the dorsal fin used both in Jaws and its sequels, costumes worn by the central trio and a room full of vintage film posters and merch promoting the film. There are interactive elements, too: You can have your own Chief Brody dolly-zoom moment (and see the lens used to film the famous shot), play the iconic John Williams two-note score and control a replica of the mechanical shark.

Ed Wood’s tale of an alien invasion in the Valley is bad—so bad that the 1955 B-movie has of course inspired its own cult following. A few weeks before Halloween, you can catch a bunch of comedians, actors and writers performing a live read of the awful classic, including Frank Conniff, Dana Gould, Laraine Newman, Patton Oswalt, Jonah Ray, Kimmy Robertson, Paul Scheer, Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney and Kat Aagesen, at Largo.

The disco pop queen is blessing us with two dates at the Forum on her “Radical Optimism Tour.”

The Hammer Museum’s excellent, ongoing series of biennial exhibitions ups the ante each year with its spotlight on emerging and under-recognized L.A. artists. Though its theme is still to come, this October’s edition—the seventh such show—will bring together works from 28 artists.

True blue Valley girls Alana, Danielle and Este Haim bring their brilliant and breezy West Coast harmonies and epic, ‘80s-influenced pop back to their home base for a night at the Forum.

The millennial nostalgia shows no signs of slowing: By now you’ve likely heard the news that Rilo Kiley is back together. Yep, L.A.’s own indie darlings, led by Jenny Lewis, are in the spotlight again after over a decade apart. Following shows in San Luis Obispo, Ojai and Pasadena’s Just Like Heaven fest, they’re embarking on a reunion tour they’re calling “Sometimes When You’re On You’re Really F**king On,” which wraps up right here in L.A. at the Greek Theatre, with Waxahatchee opening. Due to demand, another show has already been announced for Oct. 14, where SNL’s Kyle Mooney will join Waxahatchee as openers.

Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday, May 16, at 10am here.

Stroll through a mile-long trail filled with all things pumpkins, including an illuminated forest of jack-o’-lanterns, during Descanso Gardens’ annual Carved.

For three weeks this fall (Oct 3–30), the event lines a loop of the botanical garden with pumpkins in all sorts of forms: as a sea monster rising from a pond, in thick clusters on the ground and cobbled together into a house.

For the 2025 edition, Carved is introducing a new route, as well as new vignettes on the Pumpkin Trail, treats at Harvest Acres and new ghostly characters carved from logs by chainsaw. The gardens’ model trains will also be illuminated during the event, and the popular neon-hued Rhizome light sculpture will return. Tickets ($27–$45, kids $17–$30) are on sale now.

Look out for the expanded Día de los Muertos ofrenda altar near the entrance on your way to the two main jack-o’-lantern areas. The first is a forested section lined with expressively carved (but fake) pumpkins, some of which have been arranged into wonderfully whimsical characters (a crow-like scarecrow and a pumpkin holding its own head, among them). Meanwhile, there’s a pavilion in the rose garden with real gourds whose designs are inspired by pop culture characters (plus a station where you can see them being carved).

There are a few familiar sights if you’ve ever attended Descanso’s other holiday tradition, Enchanted, but tweaked for Halloween (stomp along the trunk-encircling platforms in the oak grove, and you’ll hear shrill cackles instead of sparkly sounds). Like Enchanted, the music is moody (but not spooky or scary; this is definitely made for families), and the installations are artfully assembled: Sure, they could’ve just dumped a bunch of jack-o’-lanterns everywhere, but supplementing them with woven straw lanterns, glowing boxes and a neon tangle of web-like ropes was a way more creative choice.

Depending on the crowds and how often you stop for photos, expect to spend at least 45 minutes walking around—plus some extra time if you stop for snacks and drinks in the courtyard or some sweets in the rose garden. Timed tickets are required. Alternatively, while you’ll miss out on all of the after-dark elements, the decor is all still visible during a daytime trip to Descanso; it’s also considerably cheaper ($18) this way, and while nothing will be illuminated (which is admittedly the essence of Carved), you can still pose in front of the pumpkin house or navigate the hay maze.