Labor Day weekend may mark the end of summer somewhere, but Angelenos rest assured: you’ve got plenty more beach days ahead of you. Still, the weekend’s so jam-packed with outdoor movies, concerts and festivals you might as well just play along. Here are The Agency’s top picks to help you make the most of your long weekend.
Fiesta Hermosa – This local arts festival in Hermosa Beach has been hailed as the largest arts & crafts fair in Southern California, and features hundreds of art and food vendors—from gourmet cuisine to classic fair favorites like roasted corn, shaved ice and funnel cakes—a charity beer & wine garden, live music, a rock climbing wall, petting zoo, pony rides and more, all against a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Sept. 3-5. Free.
L.A. County Fair – A tradition since 1922, this year’s fair features the usual assortment of rides, animals and food (deep-fried everything), plus a full-service ice skating rink with igloo and shopping promenade, a dinosaur walking tour, human body exhibit, and flower & garden pavilion. The beloved festival kicks off on Friday with an Old School Funk & Soul Festival featuring The Brothers Johnson, Rose Royce, The Original Lakeside, Heatwave, Evelyn “Champagne” King and Jimmie Walker, plus performances by Bad Company, Camila, and The Isley Brothers & The O’Jays throughout the weekend. The festival runs through September 26, with extended holiday hours for Labor Day. Sept. 2-25. $25 for a single-day pass during Labor Day weekend.
Cinespia’s Labor Day Screenings – Cinespia’s beloved outdoor movie screenings in Hollywood Forever Cemetery continue this Labor Day weekend with two cult favorites: Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds on Saturday and Tony Scott’s True Romance on Sunday. Sept. 3-4. Tickets $16.
L.A. Times The Taste – Join the L.A. Times’ food staff on the Paramount back lot for a weekend dedicated to delicious eats. Enjoy unlimited bites, live demos, daily panel discussions and dinners hosted by some of the city’s most prominent culinary figures, including Jonathan Gold, Amy Scattergood and Michael Cimarusti. Sept. 2-4. Ticket prices vary, $300 for a weekend pass.
Cinecon Classic Film Festival – Film buffs unite: this Cinephile Festival at L.A.’s historic Egyptian Theatre offers a five-day program of back-to-back showings. From rare films to classic Laurel and Hardy shorts and restored favorites, there’s a little something for everyone. Sept. 1-5. Tickets $40 per day or $165 for a full festival pass.
Cinefamily’s Wine & Movie Fundraising Series – Still mourning the loss of The Thin White Duke? Cinefamily’s teaming up with Barnsdall Art Park Foundation for a new wine and movie fundraising series, taking place on the West Lawn of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famed Hollyhock House. Things kick off with a David Bowie tribute night on Sunday, featuring a mixtape of Bowie rarities curated by Cinefamily staff. Get there early for a picnic and wine tasting. Sept. 4. Tickets $25.
