The last weekend of September is stacked. Fall has officially arrived — even if the weather hasn’t gotten the memo — and LA is sending summer off properly: indie reunions under the stars, a boulevard-wide block party in Venice, free festivals from Watts to Pasadena, and enough live music to fill two days twice over. Here’s where to be.
Music & Nightlife
Rilo Kiley + Beachwood Sparks at Hollywood Forever — Fairbanks Lawn, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Saturday, September 26. Two pillars of LA’s ’00s indie scene share one very special lawn. Seeing Rilo Kiley play as the sun drops behind the palm trees at Hollywood Forever is the kind of only-in-LA night people talk about for years. Bring a blanket, arrive early, stay late.
Tove Lo with Mallrat at the Greek Theatre — Greek Theatre, Griffith Park, Sunday, September 27. Swedish pop star Tove Lo closes out her U.S. tour under the stars at the Greek, with Mallrat opening. The Greek in late September — warm night, canyon breeze, that perfect natural amphitheater sound — might be the best room in the city for a send-off show.
Day Trip Season Closer with Armand Van Helden — Los Angeles State Historic Park, Sunday, September 27. Day Trip wraps its 2026 season of Sunday afternoon parties with house legend Armand Van Helden headlining, plus sets from James Poole, Adam Auburn, and Athena. Dancing on the grass downtown as golden hour hits the skyline: this is peak LA Sunday.
Iron Maiden, Megadeth & Anthrax at BMO Stadium — BMO Stadium, Exposition Park, Sunday, September 27, 6:15 PM. The metal show of the year, rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday night. Three generations of heavy metal royalty on one stadium stage — if you like your weekends loud, this is the loudest thing happening in the city.
Mariachi Tierra Mia Plays The Smiths at The Ford — The Ford, Hollywood Hills, Sunday, September 27. Morrissey’s miserablist anthems, reimagined by a full mariachi band under the Hollywood Hills stars. It sounds like a fever dream and plays like pure joy. One of the most delightfully LA bills of the entire weekend.
Food & Drink
6th Annual Oktoberfest at Lawless Brewing Co. — North Hollywood, Saturday & Sunday, September 26–27, free entry. Lawless throws open the doors for two days of Fest Bier, Hefeweizen, Bavarian food trucks, and Shappy’s pretzels. Stein-holding contests, the Fest-Lympics (sack races, sausage toss, keg roll), and a crowd-favorite dog race. Family- and dog-friendly, costumes encouraged, admission free.
71st Annual Polish Festival — Our Lady of the Bright Mount, 3424 W. Adams Blvd., Saturday & Sunday, September 26–27, from 10 AM. Seventy-one years strong. Folk dancers in full costume, pierogi and kielbasa made with care, live music all afternoon, and a dyskoteka (dance party) when the sun goes down. Come hungry, stay for the dancing.
Black Restaurant Week — Final Weekend — Across Los Angeles, through Sunday, September 27. The last days of this year’s Black Restaurant Week, celebrating Black, African, and Caribbean cuisine across the city. Familiar favorites like Bludso’s and Harold’s are in the mix alongside spots you’ll be glad you discovered. Don’t sleep on the final weekend.
Arts & Culture
Abbot Kinney Festival — Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, Sunday, September 27, 10 AM–6 PM, free. Venice’s favorite Sunday is back. The boulevard shuts down for live music, the KidsQuad with rides and games, a DJ-led ANNEX experience, and the neighborhood’s best shops and food all in one sun-soaked stretch. Forty-plus years running and still the definitive Venice day out. Bike or rideshare — parking is a myth.
Pasadena Chalk Festival — Brookside Park, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, Saturday 10 AM–6:30 PM, Sunday 11 AM–6:30 PM, free. Hundreds of artists turn the pavement near the Rose Bowl into massive chalk murals — portraits, tributes, jaw-dropping originals — and you get to watch them work, talk to them, and see the whole thing come alive. Free, outdoors, and genuinely magical with kids.
Watts Towers Day of the Drum & Jazz Festivals — 1727 E. 107th St., Watts, Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM–6 PM, free. Saturday brings the 44th annual Day of the Drum Festival; Sunday hosts the 49th annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival. Tower tours, a food court, and art galleries round out two free days at one of LA’s most iconic landmarks.
Autry Annual Block Party: “Love Letters to L.A.” — Autry Museum, Griffith Park, Saturday, September 26, 10 AM–5 PM. The Autry’s fall block party goes full carnival: Ferris wheel, bounce houses, a mechanical bull, food trucks, classic cars, live sets from The Midnight Cowgirls and Las Chorizeras, horse grooming workshops, plein air painting, and a screening of L.A. Story. Free for members; general admission at 1988 opening-day prices — just $4.75.
Planning a longer stay? Browse our evergreen things to do in Los Angeles for year-round ideas.
Outdoors & Free
FREE Latino Carnaval — The Reef, 1933 S. Broadway, Saturday, September 26, 11 AM, free. The 2nd annual Latino Carnaval goes big: Ivy Queen, Snow Tha Product, Legado 7, Baby Bash, Lil Rob, DJ Quik, Suga Free, and more. All ages, all free, all day. This lineup at zero dollars is honestly absurd — get there early.
A Night of Chicano Surf Punk & Classic Indie Rock — East LA Civic Center, Saturday, September 26, 5–8 PM, free. The finale of the September Encore Series, presented by LA County Parks and NextFestLA: post-punk act Floats, dream-pop group Lucys, indie-punk outfit En-Vitro, and alt-folk project Násmar. Free, outdoors, and exactly the kind of neighborhood show that reminds you why LA’s music scene never sleeps.
That’s the weekend. Pick your lane — or don’t, and just follow the music. Either way, get out there: this is the good stuff, and it’s all happening within about twenty miles of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the best free things to do in LA this weekend?
A: This is one of the best free weekends of the fall: the Abbot Kinney Festival, Pasadena Chalk Festival, both Watts Towers festivals, the Latino Carnaval, and the Chicano surf punk night in East LA are all completely free.
Q: Where should I park for big shows like the Greek Theatre or BMO Stadium?
A: For the Greek, use the official shuttle lots — driving up the hill is a trap. For BMO Stadium, Expo Park lots fill fast; the Metro E Line drops you right at Expo Park/USC and skips the whole mess. Hollywood Forever and the Ford are rideshare-friendly.
Q: What’s family-friendly this weekend?
A: The Autry block party, Pasadena Chalk Festival, the Polish Festival, and Lawless Brewing’s Oktoberfest (dogs welcome too) are all great with kids. The Watts Towers festivals are free and fun for the whole family.
Q: What’s the weather like in LA this weekend?
A: Classic late-September LA: warm afternoons, cooler evenings. Layers are the move, especially for outdoor night shows at the Greek, the Ford, or Hollywood Forever.
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