Your Ultimate Guide To November: 20 Cool Events Happening In Los Angeles

We found a number of notable happenings in November to help plan your social calendar. Read on for all our event picks and details. Did we miss something? Add your event in our comments section.

Nov. 4-5

BREEDERS’ CUP (Horse racing)
The Breeders’ Cup returns to Santa Anita Park this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 4-5). In addition to the horse racing, there’s a fan fest at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Friday night (tickets $45) with music by The Spazmatics, food trucks and cocktails by Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Maker’s Mark®. On Saturday, there’s a country music concert featuring live music, local food trucks, line dancing lessons, lawn games and more on Santa Anita’s infield. Saturday party tickets are $25 (advance), $40 at the gate. General admission tickets to the races start at $10.

Nov. 5-6

COMPLEXCON (Festival)
The inauguralComplexCon festival takes over the Long Beach Convention Center on Nov. 5-6, bringing together music, art, fashion and food for a weekend of performances, pop-ups and more. Snoop Dogg performs on Nov 6, with Skrillex, 2 Chainz, Migos, Kid Cudi, Travis Scott, Little Yachty and The Sailing Team also scheduled to perform. Expo tickets start at $45. Expo + Saturday concert tickets start at $75.

Nov. 5

STONES THROW SUPERFEST (Music)
Stones Throw records celebrates its 20 years with a Superfest on Nov. 5 from 11 am to 7 pm at Sycamore Grove Park in Highland Park. The free festival is part of Red Bull Sound Select’s 30 Days in L.A. and will be headlined by Common. The awesome lineup also includes Peanut Butter Wolf, Dam-Funk, J Rocc, Karriem Riggins, Mndsgn, Homeboy Sandman, Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Mild High Club, Iman Omari, Koreatown Oddity, Chrome Canyon, Sudan Archives and a special guest.

Nov. 5-6

REVELATION (Fashion experience)
On Nov. 5 and 6, the curated fashion market ReveLAtion takes over Siren Studios in Hollywood. Pop-Up shops, DJ's, food, panels, cocktails and live art happen from noon to 6 pm each day. ReveLAtion opens with a Q&A over breakfast with designer Michael Costello, followed by fashion business panels, stylist panels, fashion shows and more. Admission is $10, with additional tickets needed for other panels and events.

Nov. 5-27

AKHNATEN (Opera)
Akhnaten is the third in a trilogy of "portrait operas" by composer Philip Glass, works which he bases on important historical figures. Einstein on the Beach and Satyagraha focused on Albert Einstein and Ghandi, respectively.) Akhnaten, an Egyptian pharaoh changed his world by abandoning “the worship of many gods for just one: the Sun God reigning supreme. In the opera, Akhnaten's bold attempt to alter the course of history with a single revolutionary idea ultimately leads to his violent overthrow.” Akhnaten will be conducted by L.A. Opera Artist in Residence Matthew Aucoin and staged by British director Phelim McDermott at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. There are six performances: Nov. 5, 10, 17 and 19 at 7:30 pm, and on Nov. 13 and 27 at 2 pm. A few single tickets available starting at $19 (but they’re scarce).

R. Buckminster Fuller is the subject of Sam Green's 'live' documentary. (Photo by Fred Blocher, Kansas City Star, 1978, courtesy of the film)
Nov. 10

The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller (Live documentary)
Cinefamily teams up with the Skirball to present the L.A. debut of The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller. Guests will not only view, but experience a “live documentary” with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Green and the indie band Yo La Tengo. The film traces the career of the designer and futurist Fuller. Green narrates live while Yo La Tengo performing their original score live on stage. Tickets: $40-$75.

Nov. 10-17

AFI FEST (Film Fest)
AFI FEST runs Nov. 10-17 with screenings and events held at the TCL Chinese Theatre, the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and The Hollywood Roosevelt. The fest opens with the world premiere of Warren Beatty’s Rules Don’t Apply and closes with the Peter Berg-directed Patriot’s Day, starring Mark Wahlberg. There are free individual tickets to many of the screenings, but passes guarantee admission (and run from $400-$5,000).

Nov. 11

THE GROSSMALERMAN SHOW (Performance art / comedy)
On Friday, Nov. 11, NYC-based performance artist and art-world satirist, Guy Richards Smit screens his sitcom web series, The Grossmalerman Show in Segovia Hall at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles at 8 pm. It’s followed by a Q&A at 9:30 pm with cocktails to follow. The dark comedy sheds light on the underbelly of the art world, from “unscrupulous collectors, vengeful critics and one over the hill art star with a serious drinking problem.” The event is free with RSVP.

Nov. 11-12

A NIGHT ON THE BATTLESHIP (Sleepover)
Atlas Obscura presents A Night on the Battleship—a "sleepover" aboard the USS Iowa starting Friday, Nov. 11 at 4 pm to Saturday, Nov. 12 at 10 am. The Atlas Obscura Society is the only civilian adult group to receive permission for an overnight excursion. There will be tours, mess hall meals and a good night's sleep aboard the Gray Ghost, now permanently moored in San Pedro. Tickets: $125.

Nov. 11-13

CRAFTSMAN WEEKEND (Architecture)
Pasadena Heritage presents its 25th annual Craftsman Weekend, a tribute to Pasadena’s contribution to the American Arts & Crafts Movement. The weekend features Craftsman house tours as well as walking and bus tours surrounding neighborhoods. There’s also an exhibition of antique and contemporary furniture and decorative arts a silent auction, workshops and presentations. Tickets for each of the events are sold separately, but the walking tours start at $22.

Nov. 12-13

CAMP FLOG GNAW (Music Fest)
Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival is at Exposition park on Nov. 12-13. Performers include: Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, Kamasi Washington, TDE's MixedbyAli, Lil Wayne, Erykah Badu, Chance the Rapper, A$AP Rocky, ScHoolboy Q, Death Grips, Sleigh Bells, The Internet, DJ Mustard, Kehlani, Joey Bada$$, SZA, Kaytranada, A$AP Ferg, Toro y Moi, Action Bronson, Kali Uchis, Domo Genesis, Tyler, the Creator himself and others. Doors at 1 pm. Tickets: $98-$498. We hear this festival sold out, so find an alt route to Camp.

Nov. 13

L.A. FOOD STUDIOS AT THE SKIRBALL (Food + talk)
The Skirball presents an intimate food gathering on Nov. 13 by setting up an “open studios” setting and hosting six L.A.-based culinary artists from 2-5 pm. L.A. Food Studios at the Skirball will feature cooking demos, talks and sampling of foods from Kwang Uh of Baroo, Steve Samson of Sotto, Top Chef winner Mei Lin, Wes Avila of Guerrilla Tacos, Pawan Mahendro of Badmaash, and Rose Lawrence of Red Bread. Ticket prices: $25 for general admission, $20 for Skirball members and $18 for full-time students. Free parking.

Nov. 13

CALIFORNIA VEGETARIAN FOOD FESTIVAL (Food)
The inaugural California Vegetarian Food Festival takes place at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood on Sunday, Nov. 13, from 10 am to 5 pm. The festival is 100% vegan and features food and lifestyle vendors, a Main Stage with expert speakers, cooking demos, a mind/body fitness area, a children's activities area and an innovation pavilion. Tickets: $30-$50.

Nov. 13

HAPPY LITTLE FESTIVAL (Tribute party)
A Happy Little Festival—a tribute party for public TV painter Bob “Happy Little Trees” Ross—takes place at Angel City Brewery in DTLA on Nov. 13 from 1-6 pm. The DIY painting guru had a style and vocab all his own. To celebrate his legacy of The Joy of Painting, the party includes a lookalike content, Bob Ross Dancers, raffles and live painting. DJ Shepard Wallace spins easy-listening hits all afternoon. Admission is free.

Nov. 18-Jan. 8, 2017

L.A. ZOO NIGHTS (Holiday)
L.A. Zoo Lights returns to Griffith Park’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens on Nov. 18 with thousands of LED lights, projections, characters and more. The lights are open from 6 to 10 pm daily, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24/25). Zoo Lights includes a 60-90 minute walking tour through select areas of the Zoo while most of the animals are sleeping. There’s a holiday happy hour for 21+ on Dec. 8 and 15th at 6 pm ($75). The lights remain on through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. Admission: $9-$18.

Nov. 19

RARE EXPERIENCE (Beer)
Stout Burgers & Beers presents a beer fest for beer geeks at the restaurant’s Studio City location on Nov. 19 at from 1-6 pm. The Rare Experience beer festival features 20 breweries offering sours, barrel-aged and wild ales. Participating breweries include Deschutes, Logsdon, Allagash, Lost Abbey, Cascade, Almanac, Modern Times, Boulevard, Green Flash and others. General admission from 2-6 pm; the $50 price includes 10 draft beer tickets. The $70 VIP admission from 1-6 pm includes 12 draft drink tickets and 3 bottle tickets.

Nov. 19

AIRBNB OPEN SPOTLIGHT (Music + festival)
Airbnb Open, is three-day festival presented by Airbnb in DTLA. The cultural celebration that showcases the future of hospitality through panels, presentations, music, art, food and more, culminates on Nov. 19 with the Open Spotlight—a concert that begins at 4 pm and is headlined by Maroon 5. Other performances by Best Coast, LÉON, Amy Pham and Jasmine Solano. There will be three outdoor stages and other activities taking place in the Orpheum, Downtown Palace Theatre, Los Angeles Theatre and the Theater at the Ace Hotel.

Nov. 19-20

DESIGNERCON (Design)
DesignerCon (DCON) 2016 returns to the Pasadena Convention Center on Nov. 21-22 featuring two days of collectible toys, art, apparel, ephemera and more. The convention is a great mixture of pop, urban, street and underground art with more than 350 artists, designers and vendors. There are also art shows, panels, presentations and exclusive releases during both days (Saturday, 9 am-6 pm and Sunday from 10 am-5 pm). New this year, DCON teams up with Crewest Studios to help develop programming and the opening night party with DJ Z-Trip. Admission: $10-$25. (Pro-tip: This is the best place to get your Christmas shopping done early.)

Nov. 19

THE GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK (Walking in L.A.)
Now in its 11th year, The Great Los Angeles Walk will lead a walk across Los Angeles beginning at 9 am on Saturday, Nov. 19. It’s a great way to get exercise and keep the waistlines in check for Thanksgiving. The walk extends from Downtown to the beach via Pico this year, and as always, the Walk is completely free. It’s up to the participants to decide how much or little they want to walk, so it’s no pressure, just a lot of fun.

Nov. 28, Dec. 16

SEU JORGE’S THE LIFE AQUATIC: A TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE (Music)
Brazilian musician Seu Jorge performs a series of special tribute concerts in honor of the late David Bowie. The show includes the set to the film A Life Aquatic on stage alongside screens crafted as boat sails that display images from the film. (Jorge performed several Bowie songs in the film in Portuguese.) Because of popular demand, two shows have been added on Nov. 28 and Dec. 16 at 9 pm at The Theatre at Ace Hotel. Tickets: $46-$66.

Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in L.A.? Follow @LAistor me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.