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Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: August 23 - 25
(
Courtesy Throw Down Cornhole Festival
)
Depending on how you look at it, either things are winding down — summer events are wrapping up, we’re in the actual dog days of the seasonal heat — or things are getting busy again as schools start back up and fall openings are filling the calendar. Whatever your glass-half-full or glass-half-empty take, boredom is not an option.
Check out the Hungry Ghost Festival in Chinatown this weekend or relive the Beatles in their 1960s glory with historian Martin Lewis. You can also indulge in three Miyazaki films outside at the Ford or grab a burger at Barney’s Beanery for half-price on Friday.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can learn to keep monarch butterflies, plan to catch the supermoons happening all fall long, or try one of the cold drinks unique to L.A. to cool off.
Events
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Sat, Aug 24L.A. Chinatown Hungry Ghost Festival
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Alpine Park
817 Yale St. , Chinatown
Dragon and lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, shadow puppet shows, delicious food options, and much more.
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Alpine Park
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Sat, Aug 24The Pasadena POPS presents California Dreamin'
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L.A. County Arboretum
301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia
Broadway superstar conductor Michael Feinstein is also the Principal Pops Conductor at the Pasadena POPS.
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L.A. County Arboretum
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Sun, Aug 25
Gardena Jazz Festival
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Rowley Memorial Park
13220 South Van Ness Ave., Gardena
Mindi Abair and other jazz greats will perform at Rowley Memorial Park.
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Rowley Memorial Park
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Fri, Aug 23Conversation Beatles Historian Martin Lewis
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Philosophical Research Society
3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz
Join Beatles historian (fun job, or most fun job?!) Martin Lewis for a TED-style talk at the Philosophical Research Society.
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Philosophical Research Society
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Fri, Aug 23Throw Down Festival
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Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
The Throw Down Festival features the world’s largest cornhole tournament.
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Ventura County Fairgrounds
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Sat, Aug 24Friends of Ontario City Library bag sale
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Ovitt Family Community Library
, Ontario
Fill up a bag with as many books, CDs, and DVDs as you can fit for just $5.
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Ovitt Family Community Library
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Sun, Sep 8Mister & Mischief Presents: Escape from Godot
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Moving Arts
, Atwater Village
Based on the play Waiting for Godot, the experience is “a game and a show, the show is the game and the game is the show.”
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Moving Arts
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Sun, Aug 25Chinatown Screening and Opening Reception for “What’s On Tap: LA’s Water Story…Source to Spigot”
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El Tranquilo Gallery
Olvera Street
A new art exhibit showcases L.A.'s complex relationship with its water supply.
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El Tranquilo Gallery
Outdoor Pick
Sponsored message
Viewing Pick
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Sun, Aug 25The Natural World of Studio Ghibli
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The Ford
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood
In this celebration of Japanese art and cinema, explore how animation genius Hayao Miyazaki brings the natural world to life.
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The Ford
Dine & Drink Deals
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Sat, Aug 24Zizou Market Party
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Zizou
2425 Daly St., Lincoln Heights
New French-Moroccan hotspot Zizou is as much fun to eat at as it is to say.
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Zizou
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Fri, Aug 23Barney’s Beanery x Le’d Cookies x Sad Girl Creamery
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Barney’s Beanery
8447 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
Cookies, ice cream, AND burgers? Sign me up. Lei’d Cookies, Sad Girl Creamery, and Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood are creating a cheat day dinner of your dreams, complete with custom ice cream sandwiches and Juicy Lucy burgers.
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Barney’s Beanery
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Fri, Aug 23Nice Coffee Roasters 1 Year Anniversary Party + Amateur Latte Art Competition
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Nice Coffee
515 Flower St Suite 1960, Downtown L.A.
Check out the Nice Coffee Roasters amateur latte art competition going down Friday night. Last sign up is at 7pm.
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Nice Coffee
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Sun, Aug 25Smorgasburg BBQ All-Stars
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Smorgasburg LA at ROW DTLA
777 S. Alameda St., Downtown L.A.
It’s a BBQ throwdown at Smorgasburg featuring all your favorite vendors, past and present.
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Smorgasburg LA at ROW DTLA
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
