Summer in Los Angeles is a sensory overload—this Labor Day weekend alone is packed with events, music, theater, art, and eats that blend the city’s icons with local secrets. Jazz fans should head to LACMA for Friday’s free concert by Grammy-winning Trevor Ware, while Saturday brings KCRW’s energetic Summer Nights series to the Bowers Museum. At MacArthur Park's Levitt Pavilion, punk legends Redd Kross and Juanita & Juan play a finale that promises local flavor and rebellious fun. Outdoor theater is alive too: the Independent Shakespeare Company wraps its Griffith Park run with Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, while those craving classic Bard can see Much Ado About Nothing in Topanga’s Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, both this weekend. Film buffs will love the Cinecon Classic Film Festival at the Writers Guild Theater through Monday—catch rare animation, silent films with live orchestras, and Q&As with Hollywood’s past.

Foodies, don’t miss the 626 Night Market at Santa Anita Park, running through Sunday—think over 250 Asian food stalls, artists, live music, and carnival vibes. Saturday also brings Kreung LA’s Cambodian barbecue pop-up at Culver City’s Platform Park, complete with DJ sets and local brews from Chinatown’s Melody Lounge. Prosperity Market hosts a lively Black Business pop-up at the California African American Museum, capping off Black Restaurant Week: sample African, Caribbean, and soul food from under-the-radar gems.

Art lovers can immerse themselves at Laguna Beach’s Sawdust Art Festival this weekend, with 180 local artists, music, and hands-on demos. For something quirky, Open Clay Time at Craft Contemporary lets listeners try sculpting alongside pros. Kids and families can dive into The Rescue Exhibition and Be Like Blippi Pop-Up at Discovery Cube Los Angeles or explore Bamboozled, the South Coast Botanic Garden’s new bamboo maze.

Los Angeles is legendary for outdoor adventure—hike to the Hollywood Sign for sweeping views, stroll the Venice Canals, or bike from Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach along the coast. Night owls should visit a rooftop bar like Bar Lis in Hollywood or Cha Cha Cha downtown for cocktails and panoramic sunsets. On Sundays, the Runway Playa Vista Farmers Market tempts with organic bites, music, and a true westside vibe.

For sports and fitness, Zuma Beach Triathlon in Malibu is known as the world’s prettiest race, worth catching if you’re in town soon. Beyond Labor Day, mark your calendar for the TYR Wodapalooza festival in Huntington Beach from September 19–21, welcoming athletes and spectators for a high-energy celebration by the shore.

Hidden gems to round out the stay: explore the secret tide pools of Point Dume, go birding at Will Rogers State Historic Park, tap into history with a guided walking tour of film locations in Hollywood, or even catch a live TV taping. End your day with a bonfire on Dockweiler Beach or a sunset ride on the Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier.

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