It's a weekend packed with festivals and sporting events that are sure to take a toll on traffic. The LA Times reminds us that things could get pretty snarled up on the roads around town: "USC plays Oregon at the Coliseum at 5 p.m.; the Cubs are at the Dodgers at 7 p.m.; Washington State plays UCLA at the Rose Bowl at 7:15 p.m.; and singer Neil Diamond performs at Staples Center at 8 p.m."

Although chances are if you're an LAist reader your musical selection for this weekend might be less "Sweet Caroline" and more "Fa-Fa-Fa" which means you're headed to the Detour Festival, which will have streets closed off in Downtown around City Hall. Or if you're going to rock out in Eagle Rock, the Music Festival will have a stretch of Colorado closed off. Near NoHo? It will be a Scene--it's the re-vamped annual theatre and arts fest, which takes over Lankershim right in the heart of the Arts District. And things could get tight near the Tar Pits on the Miracle Mile for the 4th annual TarFest. Down in Carson, fans of Sarah Palin will flock to the Home Depot Center, which could make for some gridlock.

Bottom line: Check your route before you hit the road if you're going to be around any of this weekend's likely big draws. Of course, you can always Go Metro and leave the worrying to the drivers. For more info on some of this weekend's fests, check out LAist's mini-guide.

Photo by Peggy Archer/LAist