Where to Celebrate Labor Day In & Around Los Angeles

Maybe to celebrate the dog days of summer and Labor Day Weekend you’ve decided to skip town and go on one last vacation before fall arrives in Los Angeles. Or maybe you’ve decided to stay home and relax but are looking for a special nearby event or two to make sure your summer goes out with a bang. Below are all the best events in and around Los Angeles, from outdoor film screenings to food and wine festivals to live music concerts, to make the most of your long weekend.

Courtesy LA County Fair

LA County Fair, Pomona – The annual event kicks off Labor Day weekend in September and continues over four weeks. Concerts over the weekend include Old School Funk & Soul Festival on Friday, Bad Company on Saturday, Camila on Sunday, and the Isley Brothers & The O’Jay’s on Monday. LA Metro is offering late night service from Union Station to LACF on weekends so it’s the perfect opportunity to leave the car at home.

Off tha’ Hook Catch & Release at the LA River, Glassell Park – Support Friends of the Los Angeles River by attending The Third Annual FoLAR Fish Derby – Off Tha’ Hook in the Glendale Narrows – on September 3rd. One of the  the “Free” fishing days, as per U.S. Fish and Wildlife. “Free” meaning, no license is needed on this day and it is open to all with programs for kids and adult anglers! The FoLAR education team will have educational activities,  arts and crafts for all ages, and community booths including: Patagonia, Atwater Village Neighborhood Council, Tree People, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, Stillwater Sciences, and the Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club.

Courtesy Cinespia

Cinespia, Melrose – Los Angeles’s favorite outdoor film screening series at Hollywood Forever Cemetery offers not one but two film screenings this Labor Day Weekend. On Saturday night, Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds will screen at 8:30pm. There’s no better place to watch the master than a cemetery! And on Sunday evening, Tony Scott’s modern classic True Romance will also screen at 8:30pm, perfect for a date night. Pack your picnic baskets and bring a bottle of wine or two.

Photo discotech.me.

Rhondesia, West Hollywood – On Sunday, September 4, LA’s now legendary A Club Called Rhonda will take over Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel for a poolside day of drinks and dancing. Hotel guests hop straight to the front of the line, so make it a staycation this holiday weekend by booking a room with the special Rhonda promo code: RHONDA16.

Malibu Wines, Malibu – As if you need an excuse to go to Malibu Wines, on Friday night they’ll host the Sips & Giggles Comedy Show starting at 7:30pm featuring Host James Frey and continue with regular business hours throughout the long weekend. With live music on the weekends, Malibu Wines is a great place to enjoy wine tastings with friends and family.

Courtesy Gladstone’s Malibu

Gladstones, Moonshadows, Duke’s, Carbon Beach Club, Geoffrey’s, Paradise Cove, Malibu – The beaches may be packed this weekend, and deservedly so, but the coast of Malibu has plenty of restaurants to guarantee a beachside table overlooking the ocean any time of day.

Courtesy 626 Night Market

626 Night Market, Arcadia – 626 Night Market’s last event of the year is happening over the holiday weekend, so if you’ve been meaning to go all summer now’s the perfect opportunity. 626 Night Market is a large-scale night market located at the Santa Anita Park. The market offers booth upon booth of delectable foods, innovative small businesses, imaginative crafts, and expressive art. It’s the original and largest Asian-themed night market in the United States and boasts hundreds of food, merchandise, crafts, arts, games, music, and entertainment attractions in one jam-packed weekend of festivities for the whole family.

Courtesy LA Times The Taste

LA Times The Taste, Melrose – With events all weekend long at the gorgeous Paramount Pictures lot, LA Times The Taste brings together the best of L.A.’s amazing food scene for five great events over Labor Day weekend. Each features dozens of the city’s most talked-about restaurants and pours of exquisite wines, beers, and spirits. The Opening Night Bash is hosted by Noelle Carter, Jonathan Gold, Jenn Harris, and Amy Scattergood. And the Sunday block party will feature some of LA’s best and most inventive chefs and mixologists. As a bonus, if you’re an LA Times subscriber you get a sweet discount on tickets.

John Williams: Maestro of the Movies, Hollywood – With a performance on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Academy Award winning composer John Williams returns to the Hollywood Bowl to conduct music from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Bowl movie night maestro David Newman will also conduct a thrilling first half of film score classics, including a selection of clips shown on the big screen. And, of course, I hear there may be fireworks.

Fiesta Hermosa, Hermosa Beach – The bi-annual arts and crafts festival returns to Pier Plaza on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for a weekend of over 300 artists including painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, sculptors, and handcrafters. Attendees can choose from a wide selection of cuisine in the food court. The AB InBev-sponsored Charity Beer & Wine Garden offers beer, wine and beeritas with proceeds benefiting a number of local charities. There is live music on two main stages and families have plenty of activities to keep the kids happy including a 30 foot slide and a petting zoo.

Long Beach Greek Festival and the Long Beach New Blues Festival, Long Beach – Why  not hit up two festivals in Long Beach over the long weekend? The New Blues Fest will host over thirty top-caliber Southern California-based blues acts headlined by blues legend Bobby Rush on Saturday and roots/rockabilly great Lee Rocker on Sunday. The Greek Fest includes authentic Greek dance performers, free Greek dance lessons, authentic Greek food and pastries, Greek cooking lessons, full meals, beverages, vendor booths featuring an array of exotic gifts and artwork, a children’s carnival area, and continuous live Greek music provided by The Olympians!

Eat|See|Hear Outdoor Movie: The Hateful Eight, Griffith Park – Eat|See|Hear has been hosting food trucks, live music, and outdoor film screenings all over town. On Saturday the 3rd they’ll return to The Autry Museum in Griffith Park for Quentin Tarantino’s opus The Hateful Eight, a performance by musical act Kong, and food trucks including Bison Burger, Boba Ni Taco, Brasil Kiss, Burnt to a Crisp, Foodism, Papa Fritz, Roll’n Lobster, and Street Kitchen LA. That’s quite a lineup!

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. Did I miss any of your favorite Labor Day events? Let me know in the comments!

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