Labor Day Weekend comes a little earlier than usual this year, falling on the last weekend in August. Taking place in the officially hottest month of the summer means that there’s guaranteed to be perfect weather to enjoy the many outdoor activities going on for the holiday.
Here’s a look at the #WilsonsGuide Top Five list of things to do in the L.A. area this Labor Day weekend:
5.) Los Angeles County Fair
The Merriment: Acres upon acres of fair festivities, day and night.
The Location: Pomona
The Vibes: Outdoors, family-friendly, vibrant, lively
Good for: Lots of stimulating, interactive fun for all ages.
When-To-Go: Now until Sunday, Sept. 28, with varying hours of operation depending on the day.
The $ Factor: Between $6 and $29.99 for adults, children, seniors and season passes.
Parking Situation: Parking passes range from $15–$60.
The 4-1-1: The Los Angeles County Fair is not your small town county fair! Launching Labor Day weekend and running until late September at the Fairplex in Pomona, it will feature the usual attractions you’d find at a fair—a petting zoo, an oddity show, lots of fair food options and carnival rides. But, it will also have a few unique features, including speciality Tasting Classes, an End of Summer Concert Series with award-winning artists like Charlie Wilson performing opening weekend, a massive monster truck show, and more than 300+ food options and 600+ vendors in the Shopping Marketplace. New attractions for this year include a nightclub, the Hall of Heroes and Luminasia, elaborate displays of scenes from the real world using larger-than-life Chinese lanterns. The fair is now in its 92nd year of operation.
For more information: Website
4.) The Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival
The Merriment: A three-day festival celebrating the culture and arts of the Pan African Diaspora.
The Location: Leimert Park
The Vibes: Outdoors, community-oriented, cultural, renaissance
Good for: Becoming immersed in the sights, sounds and tastes of the local community.
When-To-Go: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
The $ Factor: Free
Parking Situation: Nearby free and metered street parking and parking lots.
The 4-1-1: The Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival picked up where the now defunct Los Angeles African Marketplace and Cultural Fare left off, providing the city with a chance to joyfully indulge in the food, music, dance, visual arts and spoken word of the African Diaspora. Since 2009, the Leimert Park Village Group, along with a number of other noteworthy partners, has hosted this lively festival in the epicenter of Leimert Park. Live musical entertainment, a daily Spoken Word & Comedy Showcase, the “Inspired by Africa” Fashion Show, a Hair, Health & Beauty Expo and numerous of food and consumer goods vendors will be present. Listen to the beats of African drum & dance troupes or participate in a dance contest; get pampered in the Women’s Beauty Bar & Lounge or the Men’s Grooming Tent; taste the savory flavor of Jamaican, Caribbean and Soul Food. No matter what you decide to do, there will be many ways to celebrate and appreciate the multi-faceted arts of the past, present and future.
For more information: Website
3.) Los Angeles Times' The Taste
The Eats: A three-day showcase featuring the top chefs and restaurants of Los Angeles’ culinary scene.
The Location: Hollywood
The Vibes: Outdoors, aromatic, food-centric, informative
Good for: Anyone looking to get an insider’s look into the city’s exclusive restaurant scene while also getting up-close-and-personal with internationally renowned chefs, bartenders and industry key players.
When-To-Go: Friday, Aug. 29, 7:30–11 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 30, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. + 7:30–11 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 31, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. + 7:30–11 p.m.
The $ Factor: Tickets range from $100 to $175 per event and include food, beer, wine and spirit tastings.
The 4-1-1: At Paramount Studios, more than 130 restaurants will offer tastings of their top culinary creations! Weekend events include Friday’s Opening Night; Saturday’s “Field to Fork” with an emphasis on local ingredients and seasonal dishes; Saturday’s “Dinner with a Twist” with L.A. Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold; Sunday’s “Sunday Brunch” with internationally acclaimed chef/restaurateur/cookbook writer Thomas Keller; and Sunday’s “Flavors of L.A.”, a dinner highlighting international dishes. On each day there will be multiple bar and culinary stages to visit, with cooking demonstrations by chefs, friendly cook-offs and informative presentations and panels with industry insiders. A few #WilsonsGuide restaurants that will be participating include: Bar Pintxo, CHAYA, Cliff’s Edge, Faith & Flower, Napa Valley Grille, Pono Burger, The Churchill, and Zinc at Shade Hotel.
For more information: Website
2.) A Clockwork Orange @ Cinespia's Hollywood Forever Cemetery Outdoor Movie Screenings
The Merriment: An evening watching film classics in one of the city’s oldest cemeteries.
The Location: Hollywood
The Vibes: Outdoors, picnics, cinema
Good for: Not watching movies in a mundane movie theater, but instead at a unique location that has just as dramatic a historic storyline than any Hollywood film.
When-To-Go: Saturday, Aug. 30, gates open at 6:30 p.m., movie starts at 8:30 p.m.
The $ Factor: $14
Parking Situation: A nearby Paramount parking structure is $8 to park; all $15 Cemetery parking passes are now sold out.
The 4-1-1: Not only happening on Labor Day Weekend but actually occurring every summer weekend and select holidays since 2002, the Cinespia series shows film favorites on a large screen to hundreds of people on the on the Fairbanks Lawn of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This upcoming Saturday for the holiday weekend, the Stanley Kubrick classic A Clockwork Orange will be shown and a DJ will energize the crowd both before and after the movie. It’s highly recommended to bring your own blankets and chairs (no higher than 21”), and food, wine and beer are permitted, but not spirits. Future movies until the end of September include Purple Rain, The Matrix, Pretty in Pink and Rosemary’ Baby. All ages welcome at this cemetery that is one of L.A.’s most intriguing landmarks, with countless permanent residents who were once Hollywood greats.
For more information: Website
The Location: Downtown L.A.
The Vibes: Outdoors, music-oriented, trailblazing
Good for: Music aficionados looking to hear a varied line-up of local and legendary performing artists, including DJs, rappers, singers, bands and more.
When-To-Go: Saturday, Aug. 30 & Sunday. Aug. 31, starting at noon.
The $ Factor: 1-day pass: $114.50; 2-day pass $200
Parking Situation: Nearby parking lots or accessible by the Metro; exit Civic Center/Grand Park station.
The 4-1-1: Launched 2012 in Philly, this is the first year that the Budweiser Made in America Festival is becoming bi-coastal and expanding into other cities, choosing the sunny City of Angels as its next destination. It’s also the first time a major festival will be staged in two cities simultaneously; while it’s happening at downtown’s L.A. Grand Park, it will also be taking place in Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Parkway. Curated by JAY Z, the festival will feature more than 40 performances during its two-day run in L.A., by Iggy Azalea, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Juanes, Cypress Hill, Juanes and more. Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons will headline Saturday’s festival; Kanye West and John Mayer will headline Sunday’s. Beer gardens, food trucks and other activities will also be available.
For more information: Website
*Disclaimer: I work for the parent company that is promoting this festival. All images are not my own; photo credit for The Taste: Marie Astrid Gonzalez for LATMG.
The Merriment: An evening watching film classics in one of the city’s oldest cemeteries.
The Location: Hollywood
The Vibes: Outdoors, picnics, cinema
Good for: Not watching movies in a mundane movie theater, but instead at a unique location that has just as dramatic a historic storyline than any Hollywood film.
When-To-Go: Saturday, Aug. 30, gates open at 6:30 p.m., movie starts at 8:30 p.m.
The $ Factor: $14
Parking Situation: A nearby Paramount parking structure is $8 to park; all $15 Cemetery parking passes are now sold out.
The 4-1-1: Not only happening on Labor Day Weekend but actually occurring every summer weekend and select holidays since 2002, the Cinespia series shows film favorites on a large screen to hundreds of people on the on the Fairbanks Lawn of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This upcoming Saturday for the holiday weekend, the Stanley Kubrick classic A Clockwork Orange will be shown and a DJ will energize the crowd both before and after the movie. It’s highly recommended to bring your own blankets and chairs (no higher than 21”), and food, wine and beer are permitted, but not spirits. Future movies until the end of September include Purple Rain, The Matrix, Pretty in Pink and Rosemary’ Baby. All ages welcome at this cemetery that is one of L.A.’s most intriguing landmarks, with countless permanent residents who were once Hollywood greats.
For more information: Website
1.) Budweiser Made in America Festival*
The Merriment: The inaugural L.A. installment of the JAY Z-curated music festival.
The Merriment: The inaugural L.A. installment of the JAY Z-curated music festival.
The Location: Downtown L.A.
The Vibes: Outdoors, music-oriented, trailblazing
Good for: Music aficionados looking to hear a varied line-up of local and legendary performing artists, including DJs, rappers, singers, bands and more.
When-To-Go: Saturday, Aug. 30 & Sunday. Aug. 31, starting at noon.
The $ Factor: 1-day pass: $114.50; 2-day pass $200
Parking Situation: Nearby parking lots or accessible by the Metro; exit Civic Center/Grand Park station.
The 4-1-1: Launched 2012 in Philly, this is the first year that the Budweiser Made in America Festival is becoming bi-coastal and expanding into other cities, choosing the sunny City of Angels as its next destination. It’s also the first time a major festival will be staged in two cities simultaneously; while it’s happening at downtown’s L.A. Grand Park, it will also be taking place in Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Parkway. Curated by JAY Z, the festival will feature more than 40 performances during its two-day run in L.A., by Iggy Azalea, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Juanes, Cypress Hill, Juanes and more. Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons will headline Saturday’s festival; Kanye West and John Mayer will headline Sunday’s. Beer gardens, food trucks and other activities will also be available.
For more information: Website
Let us know: How did you spend your last Labor Day weekend?
*Disclaimer: I work for the parent company that is promoting this festival. All images are not my own; photo credit for The Taste: Marie Astrid Gonzalez for LATMG.
I wish I had a chance to join it.
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