Plan out your month with the city’s best concerts, culture and cuisine.
THINGS TO DO
Through Sept 23
L.A. County Fair; Fairplex
Bring your appetite for all things deep fried to the perennially popular event.
Sept 6-16
PaleyFest Fall TV Previews; Paley Center for Media
Geek out with fellow TV nerds during premieres and panels for shows like BoJack Horseman, The Kids Are Alright, Charmed, Get Shorty, Castle Rock and more.
Sept 14-November 3
Halloween Horror Nights; Universal Studios
Get an early start to Halloween with this big-budget terrifying tradition, with mazes themed to Stranger Things, Poltergeist, The First Purge and more.
Sept 14
Roaring Nights at the LA Zoo; Los Angeles Zoo
Roam the zoo after hours at this late-night bash, featuring live bands, food trucks, boozy drinks, a dance party, zookeeper talks and live animal encounters.
Sept 15
Glendale Open Arts & Music Festival; Downtown Glendale
Get to know Downtown Glendale at this free community festival with music from Allah-Las, arts and craft markets, beer and wine gardens and more.
Sept 19–Oct 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party; Disneyland Resort
See Disneyland’s not-so-scary Halloween spirits materialize before you even have time to catch the post-Labor Day blues.
Sept 22
Tarfest; La Brea Tar Pits
Pay tribute to L.A.’s bubbly asphalt pools with this annual afternoon of live music, DJs, dance and live artwork.
Sept 22, 23
Union Station’s Retrocade Experience; Union Station
Leave the quarters at home and take advantage of free play on over 40 arcade cabinets.
Sept 25
An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson; The Wiltern
Take a seat while Dr. Tyson blows your mind with astrophysics.
Sept 29
Surf City Surf Dog; Huntington Dog Beach
Start teaching your pooch how to carve waves for this annual K-9 surf competition.
Sept 29–Oct 28
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride; Old Zoo
Brace yourself for the 10th anniversary of this frightening fall staple.
Sept 30
Abbot Kinney Festival; Abbot Kinney
Take every artsy street fair you’ve ever attended and add in innumerable food trucks plus all the stereotypes about Venice.
Sept 30
Celebrate LA!; Various locations
Pedal your way from Downtown L.A. (where the Walt Disney Concert Hall will be bathed in projections from artist Refik Anadol) to Hollywood as this sprawling CicLAvia event culminates in the LA Phil’s free 100th anniversary, Katy Perry-headlined concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Find more things to do in our September 2018 events calendar.
FOOD & DRINK
Through Sept 2
626 Night Market; Santa Anita Park
Come hungry and grab a late-night snack at the massive Asian street food market.
Through Sept 2
The Taste; Paramount Studios
Indulge at the annual L.A. Times’ weekend food festival featuring the most exciting restaurants in the city along with demos and panel discussions.
Sept 1, 2
Vegan Street Fair Nights; The Federal Bar
Taste and sip your way through plant-based dishes and a beer garden at this all-vegan night market.
Sept 7-9
Long Beach Original Lobster Fest; Rainbow Lagoon Park
Crack open claws at this annual lobster festival, where thousands of fresh Maine lobster are shipped in for your dining pleasure.
Sept 8
Brunchology: East Asia Edition; Location T.B.A.
Catch East Asian riffs on classic American brunch dishes from chef Wendy Zeng.
Sept 8
LA Food Fest; Santa Anita Park
The LA Food Fest has transformed itself into a brand new concept, growing from a street food-focused event to a more all-inclusive culinary spectacle.
Sept 8
LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade; Royce Quad, UCLA
Join top chefs from across the country at the annual charity food festival, where food and drink superstars craft outstanding bites and drinks to help raise money and awareness for children’s cancer.
Sept 27
Sunset & Dine; Columbia Square
Sample bites from some of the best restaurants in Hollywood while sipping on beer and enjoying tunes.
ARTS & CULTURE
Through Sept 9
“Not an Ostrich: And Other Images from America’s Library”; Annenberg Space for Photography
Curator Anne Wilkes Tucker has pulled 500 of the most striking portraits and obscure curiosities from the Library of Congress’ staggering collection of 14 million images.
Sept 14–16, 21–23
dOGUMENTA; FIGat7th
Escort your pooch to this art exhibition designed for dogs.
Sept 15
Long Beach Zine Fest; Expo Arts Center
Meet more than 120 local writers, designers, cartoonists and artists at this showcase of independent publishing.
Sept 22
Frogtown Art Walk; Various locations
Make your way to the L.A. River-adjacent neighborhood for live music and open galleries.
Sept 22
Museum Day Live!; Various locations in L.A.
Art lovers can spend a day at select museums for free during this one-day event hosted by Smithsonian magazine.
Sept 28
Ai Weiwei; LACMA
Amid a trio of L.A. exhibitions, the Chinese artist sits down with LACMA director Michael Govan.
Sept 28–Mar 3
“Ai Weiwei: Life Cycle”; Marciano Art Foundation
The acclaimed Chinese artist takes over the Marciano’s massive theater gallery, including an inflatable boat inspired by the refugee crisis as well as Ai’s floor-covering “Sunflower Seeds” and “Spouts” pieces.
Sept 29
Pop-Up Magazine; The Theatre at Ace Hotel
See a selection of writers, artists, photographers and filmmakers premiere new works at this live magazine experience.
Sept 29–Jan 5
“Ai Weiwei: Zodiac”; Jeffrey Deitch
Distinguished art dealer Jeffrey Deitch inaugurates his new L.A. gallery with LEGO zodiac portraits and 6,000 wooden Ming and Qing dynasty stools from Ai Weiwei.
Sept 29
Summer Happenings at The Broad; The Broad
Spend a late night at the museum during the finale of its after-hours programming series, which finds musicians, dancers and poets collaborating in the outdoor plaza as well as in gallery spaces.
FILM
Through Sept 3
Cinecon Classic Film Festival; Egyptian Theatre
Film buffs, unite for this cinephile festival of rare and unusual old-school films.
Through Sept 15
Eat|See|Hear; Various locations in L.A.
Park your lawn chair on the field, sit back and enjoy classic films like Boogie Nights and A League of Their Own alfresco.
Through Sept 22
Cinespia Cemetery Screenings; Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Grab your picnic blanket and watch a movie under the stars at this iconic venue before the summer series ends.
Through Sept 29
Rooftop Cinema Club; NeueHouse • LEVEL
Make the most of the outdoor movie season at this top-notch Hollywood and Downtown rooftop series.
Through Oct 27
Street Food Cinema; Various locations in L.A.
Gourmet food trucks meet outdoor screenings at this seasonal series, showcasing films like Mean Girls and Practical Magic.
Sept 6
Animaniacs Live!; Grammy Museum
Head to the Grammy Museum for a musical revue that stars composer Randy Rogel and Rob Paulsen (Yakko).
Sept 8
InFocus: Latinx & Hispanic Cinema; Samuel Goldwyn Theatre
Don’t miss this three-part short film program highlighting emerging filmmakers from Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Spain, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Argentina and the U.S.
Sept 8
Proud Picnic + Movie Night; Grand Park
Celebrate the freedom to love whomever you please at this LGBTQ picnic, which includes a selection of short films as well as a screening of “bucking” documentary When the Beat Drops.
Sept 13
Silver Lake Picture Show; Sunset Triangle Plaza
Cruise over to Silver Lake for the final, free outdoor showing of the season, Rush Hour.
Sept 20–28
LA Film Festival; ArcLight Cinemas
Witness a week of movie premieres and screenings, from locally shot films to indie horror flicks.
Sept 22
Sing-A-Long Sound of Music; Hollywood Bowl
Put on your lederhosen and yodel along during this sing-along of the Julie Andrews classic.
MUSIC
Aug 31, Sept 1, 2
John Williams: Maestro of the Movies; Hollywood Bowl
Travel to a galaxy far, far away as the prolific film composer leads the LA Phil with selections from Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and more.
Sept 2
Delicious Vinyl West Adams Block Party; Delicious Pizza
Celebrate West Adams’ rich culture at this hip-hop pizza joint’s block party, with headlining sets from KRS-One and Masta Ace.
Sept 4
The Future is Female; The Wiltern
Explore the exceptional work of standout female composers during this annual showcase of the women who score your favorite films and TV shows.
Sept 5–Oct 7
Twilight on the Pier; Santa Monica Pier
See acts like Brazilian Girls, Betty Who and Fela! The Concert at the retooled return of this free oceanfront concert series.
Sept 5, 6, 8, 9
BTS; Staples Center
RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jimin and Jungkook are coming to L.A.
Sept 6, 7, 10–12
Phoenix; The Fonda Theatre
Thomas Mars & Co. take up residency at the Fonda for a five-night run of shows.
Sept 14–16
Kaaboo; Del Mar Racetrack
Venture down to San Diego for this grown-up music fest featuring Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry and Robert Plant.
Sept 14, 15
Nocturnal Wonderland; Glen Helen Amphitheater & Regional Park
Escape to this whimsical, carnival-like atmosphere drenched in Day-Glo and pulsating lasers with the likes of Kill the Noise, Liquid Stranger, Flux Pavilion, AC Slater and more.
Sept 16
Pathway to Paris; The Theatre at Ace Hotel
See appearances from Patti Smith, Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O, skateboarder Tony Hawk, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and others at this climate change benefit concert.
Sept 16
The War on Drugs + Alvvays; Hollywood Bowl
Listen to sunny, dreamy tunes as the two bands play the Bowl.
Sept 18
Ms. Lauryn Hill + Dave Chappelle; Hollywood Bowl
Two larger-than-life personas who need no introduction share the bill at the Bowl for a music and comedy pairing.
Sept 20
Arcade Fire; Greek Theatre
Though their latest record may be the band’s first misstep, Arcade Fire still pulls off sweeping, cathartic concerts.
Sept 20, 21
The National; Hollywood Palladium
Spend two nights with melancholy singer Matt Berninger’s hauntingly beautiful voice and lyrics.
Sept 21
Blood Orange; Greek Theatre
Dev Hynes plays a soulful set on the heels of his latest lauded release, Negro Swan.
Sept 22
Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival; Torrance Cultural Arts Center
Make sweet melodies on a four-stringed instrument during this day of workshops, as well as a marketplace.
Sept 22
Head in the Clouds; Los Angeles State Historic Park
Music and media collective 88Rising’s inaugural hip-hop-focused festival features the likes of Rich Brian, Joji, Keith Ape, Zion.T, Higher Brothers and more.
Sept 22, 23
Beyoncé + Jay-Z; Rose Bowl
Bey lets Mr. Carter share the stage at this On the Run tour reprise.
Sept 23
Grizzly Bear + TV on the Radio; Hollywood Bowl
Textured melodies and layered harmonies rule the evening during this dream pairing. Local composer Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith opens.
Sept 25, 26
Florence and the Machine; Hollywood Bowl
See this eccentric British bandleader belt out her now-famous tunes. Local saxophone wizard Kamasi Washington opens.
Sept 26
Childish Gambino; The Forum
The actor-rapper hits the Forum for the first of two shows, this one with support from Rae Sremmurd.
Sept 27
California Soul; Walt Disney Concert Hall
Kick off the LA Phil’s centennial season with a survey of California composers that includes performances from Chris Martin and Corinne Bailey Rae.
Sept 28
Beck; Hollywood Bowl
A giant of weird pop, alt rock and anti-folk since the early ’90s, L.A.’s own Beck Hansen headlines an evening at the Hollywood Bowl.
Sept 28-30
Ohana Festival; Doheny State Beach
Enjoy beachfront sets from Eric Church, Norah Jones, Eddie Vedder, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liz Phair, Johnny Marr, Mumford & Sons and Beck.
Sept 29, 30
Music Tastes Good; Downtown Long Beach
Eat, drink and jam your way through Long Beach at this annual fest featuring New Order, James Blake, Broken Social Scene, Santigold and more.
Sept 29, 30
Watts Towers Day of the Drum and Simon Rodia Jazz Festival; Watts Towers
Get your feet stomping at this annual duo of pan-African and jazz festivals.
Find more shows in our September 2018 concert calendar.
THEATER
Through Sept 2
Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park; Old Zoo
Close out summer with the free series’ last performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Titus Andronicus.
Through Sept 9
Man of La Mancha; A Noise Within
This 1964 classic musical tells of 17th-century author Miguel de Cervantes and his own classic novel Don Quixote.
Through Sept 30
Ain’t Too Proud; Ahmanson Theatre
This musical follows the Temptations, the successful R&B group, in the 1960s.
Through Sept 30
The Crucible; Theatricum Botanicum
Arthur Miller set his now-classic play during the Salem witch-hunt era of the late 17th century—though he wrote it amidst the needlessly damaging politics of the McCarthy era.
Through Oct 7
Sweat; Mark Taper Forum
Layoffs, promotions and strikes threaten to tear apart fellow factory workers who have spent their workdays and free time together.
Sept 4–Oct 7
The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona; Geffen Playhouse
When a woman loses her twin sister, a strange business puts her in touch with a dying man.
Sept 11–Oct 21
The Cake; Geffen Playhouse
A baker hesistates to create a wedding cake for two women in this play from This is Us writer Bekah Brunstetter.
Sept 12–30
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical; Pantages Theatre
The touring musical about the beloved singer-songwriter’s road to fame returns to L.A.
SHOPPING & STYLE
Sept 8, 15, 16, 22, 23
Unique LA; The Grove • Platform
Peruse handmade wares during this pair of free pop-up events from the celebrated market series.
Sept 21
Odd Nights at the Autry; Autry Museum of the American West
Head to the latest installment of this monthly market, nighttime dance party, happy hour and shopping extravaganza.