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Many of us think of Labor Day weekend as the end of summer (though fall doesn’t technically begin until September 22). But in Los Angeles, we know better. Temps are still in the high 80s (though the rain forecast for Sunday is a curveball), and we’re likely still in for weeks of sunny days and balmy, warm nights where we can keep summer alive.
In the meantime, if you’re in need of ideas for the best way to spend your long weekend, we’ve got you covered with 18 picks, from alfresco films to free concerts to stadium shows. (You can even catch Elijah Wood behind the DJ stacks.) Here are our top things to do this Labor Day weekend—including some kid-friendly picks.
1. Watch a movie outdoors
Fri–Mon
Outdoor movie season isn’t slowing down yet—in fact, some series keep the fun going all year long—but this weekend is particularly full of fun films. In DTLA, Rooftop Cinema Club has a reliably great lineup throughout the weekend: Obsession, 500 Days of Summer, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Notebook, School of Rock, Interstellar and La La Land. Meanwhile, Cinespia hosts Josie and the Pussycats on Saturday and The Sandlot on Sunday; the Montalbán is showing Project Hail Mary on Friday; Burton Chace Park screens Scott Pilgrim vs. the World for free on Saturday; and Street Food Cinema hosts a showing of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman spooky favorite Practical Magic on Saturday at the Autry.
2. Cool off with tasty frozen treats
Sun
Ice Cream Alley at Smorgasburg—a special area of the market serving up artisanal scoops, soft-serve, gelato, shaved ice and fruit bars—has been keeping things cool on Sundays since July, and September 6 marks its last installment of the year. Don’t miss the homemade Choco Tacos from Sad Girl Creamery. Plus, we’ve got the scoop on the best ice cream shops in the city, which you can check out anytime over the long weekend.
3. Sip wine on a scenic hilltop
Fri
One of our favorite summer traditions is the Friday-evening wine tastings held on the west lawn of Frank Lloyd Wright’s historic Hollyhock House all summer long. A win-win way to support Barnsdall Art Park, the alfresco series features pours provided by Silverlake Wine, food trucks and music. You’re welcome to bring along a blanket and picnic basket, too, and watch the sun set over the city. And this year, the fun is once again stretching all the way into September.
4. Shop and stroll at a South Bay street party
Sat–Mon
A long-standing Labor Day weekend tradition, the free Fiesta Hermosa is back with an arts festival, food fair, makers market, a mini carnival, a wine garden and live music on the beach.
5. Party poolside at the hottest bars
Fri–Sun
Bars that boast a pool are celebrating the long weekend with pool parties, including a country-inspired celebration with a cowboy cookout and karaoke at Desert 5 Spot. And Downtown at rooftop bar Golden Hour, DJs will take the stage from day to night at a handful of events, which include a set of hypnotic house music from Grum and a special Sunday edition of Sunset Sessions.
6. Or make a splash at the best public pools in L.A.
Fri–Mon
If you’re not blessed with a private pool, luckily L.A. is home to some actually-appealing public options. One of our favorites is at the Annenberg Community Beach House, a former old-Hollywood beachfront estate that’s been transformed into a public club with a historic pool. Its recreational swimming season winds down on Sunday—as do many of the pools on our list—but it’ll still be open on weekends through September. After your dip, stick around for a game of ping-pong or beach volleyball.
7. Get a head start on Halloween
Fri–Sun
Sure, it might not feel Halloween-y yet, but Labor Day’s late arrival this year means that some of spooky season’s hallmark events are already in swing. Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights kicked off on Thursday, with new haunted houses inspired by Sinners, Hellraiser, Stranger Things 5, Evil Dead Burn and more. For a family-friendly option, Bob Baker Marionette Theater presents its annual Hallowe’en Spooktacular, with over 100 silly and spooky puppets. Down in Anaheim, Disneyland Resort is decked out in pumpkins, and Haunted Mansion has been taken over by Jack Skellington and co.
8. Listen to live music on top of a mountain
Sun
Hear live classical music a mile above the city at the Mount Wilson Observatory—specifically inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope—during an installment of its monthly concert series this Sunday. This weekend, the Webern String Quartet performs works by composer Todd Mason and Beethoven. If you’re more interested in looking at the sky, on Friday, the observatory and Los Angeles Astronomical Society are hosting a free Star Party, where you can peer through LAAS telescopes (7pm–1am).
9. See a stadium show by K-pop or rock & roll royalty
Sat, Sun
Two decidedly different acts are headlining L.A.’s stadiums this weekend. BTS, the first K-pop boy band sensation to make a splash in America, finishes up four nights at SoFi Stadium. Meanwhile, in Pasadena, Guns N’ Roses returns to the Rose Bowl for the first time in over 30 years—with Ice Cube in tow, no less.
10. Or catch a free concert
Fri, Sat
If you’re not in the mood to shell out money for a ticket, summer offers a wealth of riches when it comes to free concerts, many of them set in some of the city’s top cultural destinations. You can have your pick this weekend: Grammy-winning composer and bassist Trevor Ware plays Jazz at LACMA on Friday. KCRW hosts its last Summer Nights of the season, starting Friday at the Autry Museum, where Elijah Wood (yes, that Elijah Wood) and Zach Cowie are part of the night’s DJ lineup. The following night, there’s a block party in the NoHo Arts District on Saturday, with a performance by L.A.-based singer Madison McFerrin and sets by KCRW DJs Peanut Butter Wolf and LUXXURY. And Santa Monica’s new Tongva Twilight: Sounds & Cinema series, produced by Rum & Humble, hosts yacht rock band the Windbreakers before a screening of a doc about the genre on Saturday.
11. See some alfresco theater
Fri–Mon
Movies and music aren’t the only culture you can catch outdoors this weekend. There’s also live theater, courtesy of the Independent Shakespeare Co., who end their season this weekend with performances of the Bard’s A Comedy of Errors in Griffith Park. If you need more Shakespeare, you can see A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Monday at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, nestled in Topanga Canyon. (For the kids, there’s Treasure Island on Friday.) And the Getty Villa begins previews this weekend of its new Outdoor Classical Theater production, Antigone: In the Language of Kings, a take on Sophocles’s tale that incorporates Aztec mythology.
12. Bring your lightsaber to the Hollywood Bowl
Fri–Sun
Nobody’s film credits can compare to John Williams: Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and literally a hundred others. David Newman conducts the L.A. Phil as they tackle some of the composer’s iconic film scores set to a selection of movie clips—and against the glow of a sea of lightsabers in the crowd. Though Williams used to appear (and conduct) in person for this series each year, these shows now serve as a tribute to the nonagenarian.
13. Check out an exhibition
Fri–Mon
Two noteworthy museum exhibitions are closing this weekend: “Mummies of the World” at the California Science Center, a sometimes-eerie display of over 30 mummified people and animals, closes on Monday. And “Sublime: Straight From Long Beach,” a look at the LBC’s hometown heroes, is also open through Monday at the Grammy Museum. While you’re there, check out “Olivia Rodrigo: the cure unraveled,” featuring the handcrafted sets from the singer’s music video for “the cure.”
14. Watch classic films at the Nuart
Fri–Mon
The Cinecon Classic Film Festival isn’t your typical film fest—you won’t find Casablanca on the schedule here, but rather classic titles you most likely have never encountered before. Enjoy a five-day program of features and shorts shown at the festival’s new venue—the Nuart Theatre in West L.A.—interspersed by Q&As with special guests, including I Dream of Jeannie’s Barbara Eden. Even avid film buffs are likely to encounter something they’ve never seen before. You can buy a day pass for $103.
15. Sip cocktails at a rooftop bar
Whether you want to watch the sun set over the ocean or see sweeping views of the DTLA skyline, L.A. has a drinking spot that boasts the beautiful backdrop you’re craving. From rooftop watering holes in Downtown and Hollywood to a few tried-and-true beachside bars in Venice and Santa Monica, here are the city’s—literally—top rooftop bars.
16. Be basic and go to the beach
Sure, they’ll probably be mobbed, but even if after reading all our suggestions above you’re really just craving a day by the ocean, we don’t blame you. Browse our guide to the 11 best beaches in L.A. to find your perfect seaside match, whether you want to surf, swim, people-watch or do some coastal hiking.
17. Get out of town just for the day
L.A. is great and all, but sometimes you need a change of scenery. Luckily, living in L.A. means it’s an easy (well, depending on traffic) and often scenic drive to SoCal’s best beaches, small towns, wineries and gorgeous desert landscapes. From wine tasting in Santa Barbara and vintage hunting in Palm Springs to hiking in Joshua Tree, you’re sure to find a short trip worth taking. My pick for the end of summer? A mini island getaway to Catalina, complete with sky-diving and lounging around at Descanso Beach Club.
18. Or escape the city on an impromptu road trip
Want to put a bit more distance between yourself and our fair city? Pack up the car—and the kids—for these 14 family-friendly road trips. You can find forest vistas in Big Bear, coastal charm in Laguna Beach or, if you’re up for a 5.5–hour drive, fairy tale vibes in Carmel.