The Best Labor Day Weekend Events in Los Angeles

Movie nights are some of the most popular events at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl, from the annual John Williams: Maestro of the Movies to the perennial favorite The Sound of Music Sing-Along on September 21. On August 30-31, Gustavo Dudamel conducts the LA Phil for two concerts that will take audiences on a cinematic journey through the Marvel Studios Infinity Saga - beginning with the Tesseract being hidden on Earth by the Asgardians all the way to Tony Stark’s ultimate sacrifice. You may think you’ve seen these stories before, but never like this. Fireworks will follow both concerts!

Then, mega-selling band Toto makes their Hollywood Bowl debut on Sunday, September 1 with five-time GRAMMY winner Christopher Cross opening for a night of hits.

KCRW Summer Nights brings hot tunes and cool vibes to the California African American Museum on Friday, August 30. Enjoy live sets from KCRW DJs Novena Carmel and Francesca Harding; food trucks, a beer garden, an all-ages maker activity and more. After-hours museum access to all CAAM exhibitions includes solo exhibitions by Simone Leigh, Paula Wilson, and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh; as well as a historical look at African Americans in rural California. RSVP at the KCRW website.

The Beach Boys are synonymous with SoCal's "Endless Summer," so it's apropos that their Endless Summer Gold Tour is stopping by the landmark Greek Theatre on August 30.

On Sunday, Lainey Wilson brings her Country's Cool Again Tour to The Greek, with support from Jackson Dean and Zach Top.

Rooftop Cinema Club offers a premier outdoor movie experience at LEVEL in Downtown LA. This Labor Day Weekend, screenings include: Scream (Aug. 30), The Virgin Suicides (Aug. 31), La La Land (Aug. 31), Back to the Future (Sep. 1), Pretty Woman (Sep. 1), The Sandlot (Sep. 2) and Goodfellas (Sep. 2). For tickets and the complete movie schedule, visit the RCC website.

Museum Row will be bustling over Labor Day Weekend, starting with Jazz at LACMA on Friday, August 30 with vocalist and recording artist Sherry Williams, who has toured the world for nearly five decades. Williams has worked with such legendary musicians as Hubert Laws, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Patrice Rushen, John Rodby, Roy McCurdy, and many more.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is screening movies in the Ted Mann Theater on Friday and Saturday: Breathless with director Jim McBride in a pre-screening conversation (Aug. 30); an Accessible Screening of Monsters, Inc. (Aug. 31) and Escape from LA in 4K (Aug. 31).

Held on the first Sunday of every month, Member Appreciation Day (Sep. 1) will take place from 5:30 to 8pm and offers exclusive access to the galleries and Academy Museum Store. Academy Museum educators will be available for drop-in style conversations.

American Cinematheque presents a full calendar of Labor Day screenings at its three theatres: The Egyptian in Hollywood, the Los Feliz 3 and the Aero in Santa Monica. The newly restored Egyptian is featuring The Adventures of Robin Hood (Aug. 31), The Double Life of Véronique (Aug. 31), Mulholland Drive (Aug. 31), the West Coast premiere of Frenzy in 4K (Sep. 1), and the 40th anniversary of Amadeus in a new 4K restoration (Sep. 1). On Labor Day, the Los Feliz 3 is screening Videodrome, part of the Cinematic Void series; and the Aero presents the 75th anniversary of The Third Man.

On last year’s full-length, Stereo Hits Vol. 2, Moenia put their own spin on Spanish-language rock and pop hits like “Amante Bandido,” “Fotonovela” and “Lobo Hombre en París.” More recently, the Mexican synthpop greats teamed up with pop singer and songwriter Aleks Syntek for the single, “La Tormenta.” Catch Moenia live at The Belasco on Friday, August 30. Tickets at Live Nation.

Pro skateboarder-turned-musician Tommy Guerrero dubbed the sound on his most recent album, Amber of Memory, “surf goth.” It’s dreamy and evocative of travels to distant, maybe even imagined, places. It’s fitting then that locals Healing Gems, whose fusion of styles like exotica and cumbia is perfect for letting your imagination run wild, will also be playing this show. Ray Barbee opens the night.

Midge Ure, the Scottish singer and songwriter known for his time in pioneering synthpop bands Visage and Ultravox, is touring in celebration of his 70th birthday with a collection of songs that span his 50-year career that includes both fan favorites and deep cuts. Tickets at Dice.

Now in its 12th year, 626 Night Market is the largest Asian-inspired night market in the country. Taking place at Santa Anita Park from Friday to Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, the family-friendly festival features 300+ food vendors, arts & crafts, games, music and entertainment.

Celebrating its 5th anniversary, the Leimert Park Jazz Festival is taking place on the rooftop deck of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza on Saturday, August 31. Headliners include Stanley Jordan and Billy Childs, along with the Gilbert Castellanos Quintet, Justo Almario's Afro-Colombian Ensemble and more. Co-hosted by Jose Rizo and Ron G. The festival will include a Visual Arts Pavilion, Food Court, Wine & Beer Lounge and Kids Zone.

FREE General Admission with RSVP at Zeffy. VIP ticket and table options available.

Featuring a wide range of films, gourmet food trucks and live music, Street Food Cinema presents screenings at outdoor locations from Los Angeles State Historic Park to The Autry Museum, Griffith Park, Will Rogers State Historic Park and more.

On Labor Day Weekend, SFC presents the 25th Anniversary of 10 Things I Hate About You at The Autry (Aug. 31); and The Princess Bride at the LA Equestrian Center on September 1.

The new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, the $2-billion Intuit Dome celebrated its grand opening with a pair of sold-out concerts by GRAMMY Award-winning artist Bruno Mars on August 15 and 16!

Ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Intuit Dome has announced a full slate of events, including Future & Metro Boomin bringing their co-headlining We Trust You Tour to LA on Saturday, August 31.

Located at Exposition Park, BMO Stadium is the home of MLS's LAFC and Angel City FC of NWSL. Easily accessed from the Metro E Line, BMO Stadium is LA's first new open-air stadium since Dodger Stadium opened in 1962.

Both home teams will be playing at BMO Stadium this weekend: LAFC vs Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday, August 31; and Angel City FC vs Chicago Red Stars on September 1.

Lionel Richie and Diana Ross headline the inaugural Fool in Love Festival, taking place on Saturday, August 31 at the Hollywood Park grounds adjacent to SoFi Stadium! The stacked lineup includes Smokey Robinson, Nile Rodgers & Chic, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Santana, Al Green, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson and many more.

Hawthorne Heights’ touring festival Is for Lovers hits The Torch at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, August 31 with a lineup tailor-made for those whose nostalgia leans towards the heyday of emo and Warped Tour. Saosin, Finch, Anberlin, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and more will be part of the LA lineup. VIP ticket upgrades include the “Joe, Dough and Emo” package with a Hawthorne Heights hangout over coffee and donuts and the “401k Super Emo” package,” which includes side stage access for Hawthorne Heights’ set, plus a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity, in addition to the pre-show fan hangout.

Bridging performance art and synthpop, Geneva Jacuzzi has long been influential on Los Angeles’ indie music scene. Her latest album, Triple Fire, is out now on Dais Records, and she’ll be following up the release with a headlining show at Highland Park’s Lodge Room on Saturday, August 31. Joining her is equally influential local Baseck, who emerged from the city’s rave underground to make some of the most interesting, experimental electronic music to come out of LA. Also playing are Sayaka Nono and Toucan.

Soak up the view from the Mondrian’s roof when Deep House Brunch takes over Skybar for a Labor Day weekend pool party on Saturday, August 31. Scotty Boy, Lyric Jones and Christian Bradford will be on the decks while Chris Hammett and Rasmus Lee play live percussion and sax. Contact Orlove via email or phone, info for which is on the ticket sales page, if you’re interested in table reservations. Tickets at Resident Advisor.

Enjoy the final days of Summer and spend Labor Day Weekend at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village! The hotel's new Baja Mediterranean concept, The Cove, will heat up on Saturday, August 31 from 5pm-7pm with a live performance by Nashville-based singer-songwriter Anthony Michael and acclaimed drummer Adam Topol. Along with The Cove’s all-day dining menu, guests can enjoy an eclectic flavor of music that provokes the mind and soothes the soul. Access to The Cove is complimentary for overnight hotel guests and $60 per person for non-hotel guests. Book your reservation at OpenTable.

As the sun sets, guests can enjoy Night Swims at The Cove from 7pm-11pm and groove to the sounds of a live DJ. Additionally, the grand pool and whirlpool spas will be available to enjoy as well as bocce ball and cornhole on the activity lawn. Access to The Cove is complimentary for overnight hotel guests and $45 per person for non-hotel guests, likewise available to book on OpenTable.

For anyone over thirty, Under the Rug checks multiple indie band boxes: they’re from perpetually hip Austin; their irreverent, folky rock-lite, proudly DIY ethos; and curated, candid headshots. What distinguishes UTR is the soulfully supple voice of Casey Dayan, an instrument that imparts tremendous emotional impact to potentially innocuous pop melodies - falsetto-capped and capable of almost jazzy flurries. In the build-up to the band’s ambitious new Happiness is Easy – a 30-song, two-part epic featuring collabs with songwriters Sam Hollander (Panic! At the Disco, blink-182 etc) and Minneapolis folk-pop mainstay Mason Jennings – the trio has released a pair of intriguing singles. “Mad Girls Love Song” is the Dayan we’ve been dying for: whisper-intimate and deliciously coy; then wonderfully, tremulously crooning. Released last month, the more somber but no less tantalizing “Laugh a Lot” further implies that Happiness will propel Under The Rug over the top.

Tickets at Ticketweb.

Acraze, whose rework of Cherish’s 2006 song “Do It to It” became an international dance floor hit a couple years ago, headlines the holiday weekend edition of Day Trip in the Park at LA State Historic Park on Sunday, September 1. Miami-based DJ Loofy is billed as the event’s “very special guest.” Also playing are Dent and Lord Rash, who will be DJing back-to-back. Tickets at Ticketweb.

Bears in Space, the long-running, and incredibly popular, summertime bash, closes out the season on Sunday, September 1 with resident DJs Chris Bowen and Victor Rodriguez, plus “space cadet” Stacy Christine. Follow Bears in Space on Instagram for more details, including how to get tickets, when they are announced.

Cinespia hosts classic films and modern favorites at historic locations across LA. Its most popular events take place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The outdoor screenings take place on the Fairbanks Lawn, named for the adjacent crypt housing both Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Jr. Guests picnic under the stars and watch films digitally projected against the wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum, which houses the crypt of Rudolph Valentino among many others.

On Sunday September 1, Cinespia presents its annual Labor Day Weekend tradition, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Gates at 6:15pm, movie at 8pm.

Staged in the parking lot of the storied Rainbow Bar & Grill, the annual Backyard Bash is a must-do for veteran hair metal lovers and a crash course in 1980s-90s Sunset Strip sounds for those curious about the era.

This edition is headlined by KK’s Priest, former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing’s outfit which some say is closer to classic Priest than its current incarnation. Also appearing are hugely influential German proto speed/thrash juggernauts Accept, now fronted by former T.T. Quick singer Mark Tornillo; and LA’s own BulletBoys (who coincidentally released a cover of Accept anthem “Balls To the Wall” in 2009). Head to the Rainbow early for longtime Ventura County thrashers Warbringer plus Danger Danger frontman Ted Poley doing his solo thang – not to mention, of course, the Rainbow’s world-class people watching, which just might include someone from a poster on your teenage bedroom wall.

Free with RSVP at Ticketweb, two-drink minimum.

One of the Petersen Automotive Museum's signature events, the Japanese Car Cruise-In attracts thousands of Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) enthusiasts and aficionados each year. From time-attackers to showstoppers and custom builds, the event features an impressive showcase of JDM legends spanning several floors of the Petersen Garage. Car enthusiasts from across California flock to Los Angeles for this renowned show, eager to display their prized vehicles and share in the culture and history of Japanese automotive excellence.

In this illuminated lecture at the Skirball Cultural Center, Professor Paul Lerner discusses Orson Welles' infamous 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds vis-à-vis analysis from Austrian Jewish media researcher (and later advertising exec) Herta Herzog, who studied audience reactions to the broadcast and argued that the tensions of the time — the rise of fascist movements, the growing likelihood of war — agitated listeners and predisposed them to believe the fabricated threat from the skies, despite Welles’ assurances that the broadcast was a hoax.

Throughout the lecture, actors from LA-based theatre dybbuk will perform excerpts from radio broadcasts and other sources, bringing the talk vividly to life.

"Become a Conqueror" at the 15th Annual Conquer the Bridge, which will take participants on a five-mile run/walk course over the historic Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. The race starts at 7am on Labor Day, and all registered and timed participants will receive a custom finishers medal when they cross the finish line!