Best things to do in LA and SoCal: Oct. 7-13

It’s officially October, and even if the weather doesn’t feel the least bit fall-like, spooky season is very much upon us. Every year, my neighbor turns the front yard of our building into something rivaling Universal Studios. And every year, the display gets more elaborate than the last, so I’m well in the spirit, already living amongst a Mars Attacks alien, a bunch of mummies and a skeleton deep-sea diver. No shortage of costume ideas! I hope your neighborhood is also getting into the Halloween vibe — let us know your favorite blocks for decorations as we get closer to my favorite holiday of the year.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can get the latest on the planned Olympic torch path through all 50 states, relive LA’s first Dolly Parton Day, and meet documentarian John Wilson, whose new film History of Concrete explores the building blocks of New York City.

Music

In music this week from our friends at Licorice Pizza:

Brandi Carlile plays the Grammy Museum this week.

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Angela Weiss

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AFP via Getty Images

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Wednesday

• Liverpool rapper EsDeeKid plays the Hollywood Palladium
• UK’s masked mystery metal band President rules over the Wiltern

Thursday 

• Body/Head (which is the duo of Kim Gordon and Bill Nace) are at Zebulon
• Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves celebrate John Coltrane at the Soraya

Friday 

• Mac DeMarco at the Hollywood Bowl
• Schoolboy Q at the Hollywood Palladium
• Blonde Redhead at the Bellwether

Saturday 

• Sombr at the Forum
• Remi Wolf at the Fonda
• Mastodon and Deafheaven at the Palladium

Sunday 

• J-pop boy band JO1 is at the Novo
• DOMi and JD Beck are at the Bellwether

Monday 

• Brandi Carlile at the Grammy Museum 

Tuesday 

• Ella Langley at the Greek
• Finn Wolfhard at the Fonda 

Events

The Wallflowers

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m.
The Orpheum 
842 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A. 
COST: $53; MORE INFO 

Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers performs during the 2026 Railbird Music Festival.

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Stephen J. Cohen

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Getty Images

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Stay with me here. Yes, I still have the Rolling Stone cover with Jakob Dylan’s mesmerizing blue eyes from 1996 in a box somewhere. But honestly, I saw the Wallflowers at Jazzfest last year, and they’ve still got it. Make your way downtown with one headlight.

CatCon

Saturday and Sunday, Oct 10-11
Pasadena Convention Center
300 E. Green St., Pasadena
COST: FROM $11.53; MORE INFO

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Courtesy CatCon

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It’s CatCon time again, but if you’re a cat lover, you probably already knew that. Cat fanciers head to Pasadena every year for this over-the-top ode to the furballs, from exotic breeds to Hello Kitty.

The Outsiders

Through Sunday, Oct. 18 
Pantages Theatre
6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
COST: FROM $57; MORE INFO

Finally! It feels like we’ve been waiting AGES for last year’s Tony winner for best musical to get here on tour! The Pantages hosts the adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s book and later movie (which starred every soon-to-be-Hollywood heartthrob from Matt Dillon to Tom Cruise to Rob Lowe when it came out back in 1983). The stage version has plenty of star power too, directed by Dayna Taymor and produced by none other than Angelina Jolie.

Roopa Mahadevan

Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.  
Muckenthaler Cultural Center 
1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton 
COST: $40; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Roopa Mahadevan

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Seeing Indian classical singer Roopa Magadevan is a great excuse to take a ride to Fullerton for a show at the magical outdoor theater at Muckenthaler Cultural Center. Magadevan is a unique crossover artist and has collaborated with Wynton Marsalis, led a choir show on New York’s High Line and performed at legendary venues like the Public Theater’s Joe’s Pub.

Jonathan Van Ness: Hot & Healed Tour 

Friday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. 
Grove of Anaheim
2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim 
COST: $59.40; MORE INFO

Jonathan Van Ness performs in Anaheim this week.

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Etienne Laurent

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AFP via Getty Images

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Part-time reality TV star, part-time gymnast, part-time comedian, full-time style icon Jonathan Van Ness is bringing their live show to Anaheim. The Queer Eye hair stylist makes the best air-dry cream (trust!) and is hilarious — a multihyphenate indeed.

Indigenous Pride LA

Sunday, Oct. 11
700 Exposition Park Drive, Expo Park
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Indigenous Pride LA

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Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day and the intersecting LBGTQ+ community at a free family-friendly festival in Expo Park. Native Americans have a long history of recognizing two-spirit identities and the contributions of the Indigenous queer community. This party in the park includes native food vendors, health and wellness resources, and arts and crafts.

Dodgers Playoffs 

Various locations 
COST: VARIES 

Dodgers' outfielder Kyle Tucker celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. The Dodgers went on to win the game and clinch their fifth straight NL West title.

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Tanner Pearson

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AP Photo

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The Dodgers are well into playoff land, and there’s plenty of places to catch the action beyond Chavez Ravine. Bars all over town are hosting watch parties for those who’ve cut the cord or just want to cheer with other fans. At Skyduster in the Arts District, the games are on indoors and outside on the patio. Tom’s Watch Bar downtown boasts a 23-foot “Megascreen,” and The Shortstop is always a classic stop before or after Dodger Stadium. Drink and food specials abound at all! There’s also a free FOX One baseball throwback experience October 11-12 at the Original Farmers Market with old-school screens and memorabilia. Attendees are invited to share memories of watching the sport’s most memorable games.

Off the Record x Department of Consciousness: Higher Love 

Thursday, Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 
Reserve Venice
1041 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice 
COST: $38; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Bloomy

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Psychedelics are having a moment. If you’re curious about the science behind the impact researchers say they could have on our inner lives, this talk and interactive evening with clinical psychologists and relationship researchers Dr. Chandra Khalifian and Dr. Kayla Knopp of Enamory might be for you. Higher Love will look at how psychedelic experiences may change the way we understand love, intimacy and connection.

Live Talks LA: An evening with David Byrne 

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m.
(In-person & virtual)
Robert Frost Auditorium
4401 Elenda Street, Culver City
COST: $40 for general admission (book available for purchase at checkout); MORE INFO 

David Byrne speaks during SiriusXM's Front Row with Talking Heads hosted by Este Haim.

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Cindy Ord

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Getty Images for Sirius XM

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Sometimes I’m not sure we deserve David Byrne. His Hollywood Bowl show in August blew me away, and his books have always sparked new ideas and ways of seeing, from observing cities by bike to reimagining how we value music. His latest, Sleeping Beauties: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up, looks at “how breakthroughs across the arts and sciences get forgotten, and how they get rediscovered.” The talk will also be available as video-on-demand for five days.

Filipino American History Month Film Night

Saturday, Oct. 10 
Million Dollar Theater
307 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A. 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Grand Central Market

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The Million Dollar Theater is hosting a screening of two films, Nurse Unseen and Food Roots, to celebrate Filipino American History Month, followed by a panel featuring Filipino American women in film, including director Michele Josue.