Best Things To Do This Weekend In Los Angeles And SoCal: Oct. 13 - 15

Son of Monsterpalooza returns to the Marriott Burbank Convention Center from Friday through Sunday. If you’re into SFX for film, TV, and themed entertainment, then this expo is for you. Over 150 vendors, panels and presentations, makeup demos and celebrity guests (Sam Raimi, Cassandra Peterson [Elvira Mistress of the Dark], Linda Blair, Mekhi Phifer and others) throughout the weekend.

Various locations in Pasadena

Enjoy a free evening of art, music and entertainment at 20 of Pasadena’s most prominent arts and cultural institutions. Highlights include the Armory Center's Plein Air art exhibition; traditional and experimental paintings and artwork by Carole Morisseau at Alkebu-Lan Cultural Center; and improvised electronic music by CINIMA and live painting by Surge Witrön at Boston Court.

This group art show features 13 artists who enlighten viewers and reclaim the narratives about witches, highlighting the resilience and strength of women (and men) healers, alchemists and shamans. Amelie Laurice and Meghan DeRoma curate the show, and the opening night features poetry by Brittany Grinham. The show will remain on view through Oct. 28.

This competition among 16 poets centers around the Japanese haiku: a poem of 17 syllables in three lines of five, seven, and five. While haikus are traditionally about nature, these poems will be based on audience suggestions. Applause decides the winners of each round, and the grand prize winner gets $500. In between rounds, there’s music and dancing.

Various locations.

The Downtown Art Walk returns to Long Beach with three activation hubs along the route, including at Mosaic (the Promenade between 3rd and 4th streets), the Long Beach Museum of Art Downtown (3rd St. and Elm Ave.) and the East Village Arts Park (located on Elm Ave. between Broadway and 1st St.). Happenings and exhibition at this weekend's Art Walk include:

• The Downtown Design District’s United States International Poster Biennial Exhibit, which celebrates national and international poster design;
• DreamKreator Studios’ Long Beach Rising Exhibit & Mixer;
• LBMA Downtown's Carl Aldana Exhibit & Jazz Hub; and
• Arts Council for Long Beach’s Professional Artist Fellows Exhibition.

The Soraya’s Hecho en Las Américas Series returns for its eighth season, opening with Grammy-winning Lila Downs’ Dos Corazones: Día de Muertos. Joining her onstage are the dancers of Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles. Together, they'll bring the audience on a journey through the cultural sights and sounds of Mexico’s annual communion with the spirits of departed loved ones.

Take part in nature-inspired events during Urban Wildlife Week, which begins on Saturday at the Wildlife 2 Watts celebration and culminates in the P-22 Day Festival on Sunday, Oct. 22 in Griffith Park. Learn about the L.A. basin's wildlife, plants and natural open spaces — and how to protect them — by connecting with partner organizations and community members. At Saturday's event, The #SaveLACougars campaign and its local partner, 3rd Rock Hip-Hop hold an all-day event filled with fun, interactive science learning activities, native-plant giveaways, arts-and-crafts, live music and surprises for all ages. Check out the complete schedule for Urban Wildlife Week.

Various locations

The Culver City Arts District and Arts District Residents Association present the 2023 Rockin’ Art Walk & Roll Festival, held throughout Culver City Arts District along Washington Boulevard — which will be closed to cars between Hutchinson and La Cienega avenues. The festival includes live music, beer gardens, food, children’s activities and live murals.

Families are invited to explore the natural and cultural history of Orange County through educational activities and programs presented by OC Parks archaeologists and paleontologists, along with exhibitors from cultural, paleontological, and geological organizations. The celebration coincides with Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Oct. 9), the National Park Service’s National Fossil Day (Oct. 11), the American Institute for Archaeology’s National Archaeology Day (Oct. 21) and California Archaeology Month.

The duo Pure & Weary (Katherine Biskupic & Leah Frires) pay tribute to the 1998 movie Practical Magic by hosting an evening of comical magic. The variety show includes original comedy, music, dance, poetry and surprises. Guest artists include Ainsley Bailey, Natalie D'Alacio, Sofia Fey, Genesis Sol, and Magic Show (music from Marcel Wilks and Tyler Davis).

Join artist Sonia Romero and Laband Gallery Director and Curator Karen Rapp for a walkthrough of the current exhibition, Sonia Romero: Taken Root. The 20-plus-year survey exhibition honors Romero's boundary-pushing art practice that addresses issues of social, cultural, and political significance. The exhibition includes more than 50 pieces from the early 2000s to now. The show runs through Dec. 9.

The Wallis launches Family Fest, a quarterly, family-friendly event that includes kid-friendly activities, musical performances, and food trucks. The day includes performances by Adaawe, the "International Women of the Drum and Voice,"; Mariachi Tierra Mia, Kymberly Stewart, Parker Bent, and Spring Groove. GRoW @ The Wallis and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra also hold music-related activities and an instrument petting zoo.

Various streets in and around downtown L.A.

The next CicLAvia, the popular open streets event, takes place on Sunday with 7.8 miles of car-free streets connecting the Arts District, Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Historic Core, Little Tokyo and South Park. The roads will be transformed into public parks and spaces open to travel in your favorite people-powered way (bikes, roller skates, walking). Take the day at your leisure and enter/exit at any point along the route. Find essentials, community partners, resource booths, activities and photo ops at the various Hubs.

Galpin Motors hosts the San Fernando Valley's biggest car show, featuring over 1,000 cars across nine locations on Roscoe Blvd. View hot rods, custom cars, lowriders, exotic cars, Volkswagens, off-road and Bronco displays, and The James Hetfield collection from the Petersen Automotive Museum. The family-friendly event includes many interactive activities, rides, snacks, and carnival games. Free parking will be available in five nearby lots with complimentary shuttles.

Every October for the past 40 years, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles "digs up the dirt" on Hollywood's history through a walking tour of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which opened in 1899. Featured on the tour are Art Deco monuments and the final resting places of people whose names will forever be associated with Hollywood and the City of Angels, including Col. Griffith J. Griffith, Hollywood founder Harvey Wilcox; actors Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolph Valentino and Marion Davies; filmmakers Cecil B. DeMille and William Desmond Taylor. Choose a time between 9 and 11 a.m. to begin. And wear comfortable shoes for the 2.5- to 3-hour tour.

1200 Block of Third Street Promenade (between Arizona & Wilshire) Santa Monica

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. screens Freaky Friday on Friday. Before the movie, listen to a Q&A with the movie's screenwriter Heather Hach. The movies start at 7:30 p.m., but get there early for photo ops, free popcorn and a DJ spinning tunes before each film. Low chairs, blankets, picnics and doggies are all welcome.

3709 Sunset Blvd., (formerly Causita)

Joseon, a new Korean tasting menu pop-up, takes over the former Causita space in Silver Lake. Chef Debbie Lee offers a modern interpretation of the traditional cuisine that was created specifically for the royal family of Korea’s last dynasty, the Joseon Dynasty (founded c. 1392). The menu consists of a five or seven course option (with vegan substitutes available) and will be accompanied by optional selections of wine, soju, and cocktails. Courses include kabocha squash porridge, Hall Farmstead Wagyu beef tartare, and braised stew.

Lost Cove Tiki pops up at Lily’s Bar offering its signature tiki cocktails, along with spooky-themed concoctions for the Halloween season. The cocktail menu includes Haunted Tradewinds (El Dorado 8 Rum, Plantation 3 Star, Giffard Apricot Liqueur, pumpkin coconut cream, lime); the1934 Zombie (Plantation 5 Yr Reserve, Plantation OFTD, John D Taylor Falernum, cinnamon syrup, grapefruit, grenadine herbstura, flamed passionfruit); and the Suffering Bastard (dry gin, lime, Demerara Ginger Syrup, bitters). Hawaiian food specialties by Mixplate will be available from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (or until sold out).

The Blending Lab Winery is reopening its tasting room HQ location in West Adams on Saturday, exactly seven years after opening its door in the original W. 3rd St. location. The opening party includes sample tastings, free swag bags with purchase of two bottles, munchies and a deconstructing the wine blend contest.

Time to bust out the lederhosen and dirndls for Oktoberfest at the Fairplex. Now in its 10th year, guests celebrate with Bavarian music, authentic German food and Der Ententanz (the Chicken Dance). There will also be games and prizes, tribute bands and a live DJ. And beer, of course. Ages 21+ only.