Just when you thought summer was winding down, we hit you with a weekend of absolute mammoth proportions. And speaking of mammoths, The La Brea Tar Pits is hosting a party you’ll definitely want to sink into. As always, there are also plenty of festivals on our radar. This go-around, we’re celebrating music, the moon, Italian food, podcasts, Oktoberfest, dinosaurs, and Iranian and Irish film. Is that the United Colors of Benetton of festivals or what? But wait, there’s more! If people aren’t really your thing, you can participate in a philanthropic doggie happy hour. Oh, and if you’re tweaking for Halloween as much as your local Ralphs,
Knott’s Scary Farm opens today. Staying home this weekend just isn’t an option.
Thursday, September 22 - Sunday, September 25th
Irish Screen America Film Festival
Not so unlike an Irishman doublefisting a Guinness and a whiskey, Irish Screen America is taking on two coasts at once, opening their film fest in both LA and NYC within the same week. With a mission to promote Irish talent in the US and maintain the love affair between Americans and the Irish, the festival will showcase film, TV, documentaries, animation and even a selection of shorts made by Irish filmmakers in LA. Check out the complete schedule HERE, or get into the mood with their trailer
HERE.
Deets: LAEMMLE NoHo 7; Tickets available
HERE
Image courtesy of Handsome Devil film
Friday, September 23
Shacktoberfest
Don your lederhosen and head on down to Shake Shack to kick off the Oktoberfest celebrations this year. Beginning Friday, the burger joints will be serving up Brat Burgers, ShackMeister Brats, soft pretzels, Bavarian-inspired Apfelstrudel, Black Forest Shakes and steins full of, you guessed it, beer. You even get to keep your stein for refill purposes. The best part? The party doesn’t stop at the WeHo location until October 2nd. Prost!
Side note for SFV residents: Glendale Shake Shack has its grand opening on Friday, and though the new location won’t be participating in Oktoberfest, they’ll have all the crinkle cut fries and Shack Stack burgers your heart desires.
Deets: Shake Shack - WEHO, More Info
HERE
Image courtesy of Shake Shack
Stones Throw x TCY
The Container Yard in DTLA continues to grow as one of LA’s hottest venues for food, art and music. This Friday, Stones Throw brings you a DJ extravaganza featuring Mayer Hawthorne, DâM-FunK, Peanut Butter Wolf and Ras G. We won’t be surprised if a special guest makes an appearance … Anderson Paak, anyone?
Deets: Doors open at 7 p.m.;
The Container Yard; All Ages; Tickets $18.50
HERE
Image courtesy of The Container Yard
Luckyrice Moon Festival Cocktail Feast
Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with a late night shindig featuring some of LA’s finest drinking establishments — including The Bellwether, Lock & Key, MiniBar and The Cannibal. The harvest festival originally hails from China and Vietnam, so expect a bevy of Eastern-influenced libations (sponsored by Bombay Sapphire East) alongside some exotic bites. Sichuan Collins anyone?
Deets: 10 p.m. - 12 a.m;
Alexandria Ballrooms; Tickets $50 (VIP available)
HERE
Friday, September 23 - Sunday, September 24
Los Angeles Podcast Festival
If you don't podcast while you battle the LA traffic, then you’re truly missing out, my friends. Why waste time on road rage when you can calmly delve into history, science, pop culture or have a laugh with your favorite comedian? The LA Podcast Fest brings to town some of the biggest names in podcasting along with almost 40 live podcast sessions, podcasting panels and even a podcast lab where you can go and record your very own. Special guests include Wil Wheaton, Bill Hader and Silicon Valley’s T.J. Miller.
Deets: Friday; 5 p.m. - 1 a.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 12 p.m. - 1 a.m.;
Sofitel Los Angeles; Tickets ($49-$139) & more info
HERE.
Image courtesy of Los Angeles Podcast Festival
Hollywood Feast of San Gennaro
The 15th Annual Galbani Cheese Italian Feast of San Gennaro — AKA a massive Italian food festival— takes over Highland Ave this weekend with food aplenty, music, cooking demos and rides. On Friday evening you can play Bocce with the Grandsons of Italy and on Saturday you can do mass at the main stage before getting involved with the plethora of Italian food stalls and ice cold Peronis. If you go green and take the metro, you’ll get $1 off your entry fee.
Deets: Friday, 5 p.m. - 12 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 12 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.;
Highland Avenue; Tickets available at the door, $5 Adults, Kids under 12 free. More info
HERE.
Image courtesy of Feast of LA
Saturday, September 24
Watts Towers: Two Days of music, art and culture
Two sister festivals with long histories return to Watts Towers this weekend. On Saturday, experience the 35th Annual Day of the Drum Festival celebrating the role of drums in world culture and community whilst Sunday’s 40th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival will highlight jazz, gospel and R&B. Both events will kick off with a traditional Yoruba ground blessing. There will be children’s activities, guided tours, food, arts and crafts. If you’ve never spent time with the Watts Towers, this is your perfect opportunity. Read more about Watts Towers and some of LA’s other unique landmarks
HERE.
Deets: Saturday & Sunday; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.;
Watts Towers Arts Center; Admission FREE. More info
HERE
Image courtesy of California State Parks
Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival
Celebrate Iranian culture with LACMA this weekend at the only festival in the world dedicated to Iranian short films. The red carpet event seeks to spark and inspire interest in Iranian art and culture outside of Iran. This year's finalists span several genres and showcase some serious talent—from Rumi and Nowruz-inspired animations to documentary depictions of poverty and poetry in South-eastern Iran, there’s something for everyone. Now in its eighth year, the screening will feature the six finalists and award the top three with monetary prizes, followed by a reception filled with Persian-themed drinks and appetizers prepared by Patina Restaurant Group. To get in the mood, come early and check out LACMA’s Ahmanson Building, where Iranian works are currently on display.
Deets: 6 p.m.; Bing Theater at
Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Tickets $45 ($35 for LACMA members); More info
HERE
Still from Sarah Tabibzadeh's "From the Far Eastern Lands." Image courtesy of Farhang Short Film Festival
Tarfest Music & Art Festival
Make like a prehistoric homo sapien and celebrate art and culture around the Tar Pits this weekend — because it’s the 14th annual Tarfest! There will be food trucks, art and installations, dance, DJ sets and music with LA alt-rockers, Dear Boy, headlining. Lagunitas is bringing the beer and wine bar and Tito’s is hand-making vodka cocktails so you can get totally fossilized.
Deets: 4 - 10 p.m.;
La Brea Tar Pits; FREE/All Ages. More info
HERE
Saturday, September 24 - Sunday, September 25
Natural History Museum’s First Annual Dino Fest
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is dedicating a whole weekend to every kid’s fantasy. Any by “kids,” we mean adults too. There will be tales from excavations, hands-on fossil cleaning, demos, behind-the-scenes tours of the dino labs as well as special guests, like the velociraptor from Jurassic Park and the slightly more kid friendly, Buddy the Dinosaur. There will also be a chat about the making of Jurassic Park with the paleontologist who consulted on it. This is the NHM’s first event of this kind, so geek out and discover what’s really hidden at the museum.
Deets: 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.,
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; Tickets: Adults, $12; Seniors & Student, $9; Kids aged 3-12, $5. More Info and tickets
HERE
Image courtesy of Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Sunday, September 25
Oktoberfest at Angel City Brewery
More Oktoberfest you say? Sure thing. This weekend also brings us the 3rd annual Angel City Brewery Oktoberfest. And where better to celebrate a beer festival than in a brewery? Bring your stomach, because not only is there food from
Salt & Straw,
Tomski Sausage and
Seoul Sausage Company, there will also be a sauerkraut eating contest. Stay for the yodelling and stein-hoisting alongside live music. Märzen style lager will be free flowing.
Deets: 1 - 8 p.m.;
Angel City Brewery; This is a 21+ event. More info
HERE
Image courtesy of Angel City Brewery
Doggie Happy Hour
If you don’t know about The Lincoln’s monthly event, Dog Day Afternoon, listen up! All guests are invited to bring their pups to the patio, and the bar offers dog treats, water, toys and doggie mingling. If that didn’t make your tails wag, Designer Dog Rescue and Best Friend’s NKLA will bring puppies up for adoption to the event. Hot dogs (veggie and meat) and drink specials will also support the charities and cash donations will be matched by the bar. This is possibly the warmest and fuzziest event we’ve ever published. Go!
Deets: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.;
The Lincoln; More info
HERE
Image courtesy of The Lincoln
Monday, September 26
On the Lot
Monday evening is when we most don’t feel like cooking, because we just got slapped in the face by the new week. Lucky for you, Los Feliz has a new food truck gathering on Monday evenings to make your life easier. Tables and chairs allow for you to bask in the (still) warm night air, or feel free to bring your own blanket. A portion of the food truck’s sales go back to the school, and we like good foodie karma.
Deets: 6:30 - 9 p.m.; Parking lot of
Our Mother of Good Counsel; More info
HERE
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Featured image courtesy of California State Parks