The Best Things to Do in LA This Weekend (September 19-21, 2025)

From cultural events to superstar concerts and world-class sports, Discover LA is your go-to source for what's happening in Los Angeles. Be sure to follow @discoverla on Instagram to find out even more about what to do in LA. Read on for the best things to do in LA this weekend. Find more events and nearby hotels at the DiscoverLA.com Events Calendar.

Come for the show, stay for the weekend!

James Conlon conducts the LA Opera Orchestra in the company’s take on Leonard Bernstein’s classic West Side Story at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Opening night is Saturday, September 20, and the show runs through October 12 with evening and matinee performances on the calendar.

The Dodgers final home series of the regular season begins on Thursday, September 18, with the first of four games against the San Francisco Giants, which will also be Tyler Glasnow Bobblehead night. Other giveaways include a Joe Davis Bobblehead (Sep. 19) and Clayton Kershaw 3,000 Strikeouts Bobblehead on Saturday. The series concludes on Sunday, September 21 with an afternoon game.

Nine Inch Nails bring the Peel It Back Tour to Los Angeles on Thursday, September 18, and Friday, September 19. Few tickets remain for both shows at Kia Forum, where the industrial legends will play with support from German electronic music producer Boys Noize.

Reigning Drag Supermonster Asia Consent, along with Auntie Heroine and Grey Matter, and, of course, The Boulet Brothers, are among the stars you’ll see on stage at The Belasco when the Dragular 666 U.S. Tour heads to Los Angeles on Friday, September 19. Ticket upgrades for the event include access to the “Monster Mixer” and a photo opportunity.

With their first full-length album in 14 years, Forward, out now, folk duo The Swell Season will spend much of September touring the Southwest and West Coast. The Oscar winners will headline the Greek Theatre on Friday, September 19.

The Who says goodbye to Los Angeles over the course of two nights when The Song Is Over: The North American Farewell Tour lands at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, September 17 and Friday, September 19. The Joe Perry Project opens the show.

After a handful of summer dates in Europe, LA punk icons Circle Jerks will be back on the West Coast this September. They’ll headline a rockin’ lineup that includes Ceremony, Rocket from the Crypt and Negative Approach at the Hollywood Palladium on Friday, September 19.

Fright Fest takes over the "Thrill Capital of the World" on select nights from September 19 to November 2! Signature Haunted Mazes include The Conjuring Universe, SAW: Legacy of Terror, Trick 'r Treat, Carnage and Truth or Dare. NOTE: Haunted Mazes are not included with admission and require purchase of a Haunted Attractions Pass.

Scare Zones throughout the park include City Under Siege (DC Universe), Underworlds of Oz (Screampunk District), Thunderbolt Alley (The Underground), CarnivHELL (Bugs Bunny World) and Devil's Triangle at the Park Entrance. Each night begins with the Unleashed opening ceremony, and don't miss queens of the undead competing in a monster song and dance battle hosted by Margo Rita.

Looking for something a little more kid-friendly? The daytime Tricks and Treats (formerly Kids Boo Fest) is an all-new fall festival featuring family-friendly activities, Trick-or-Treat Trail, live performances and, of course, world-class rides.

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride once again transforms the Old Zoo at Griffith Park into Midnight Falls, ruled by the Witch of the Woods and her army of spirited minions.

New for this year is Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem! Hidden behind the facade of her shadowy new home in Midnight Falls, this haunted maze brims with bizarre surprises and ghoulish goodies, infused with the Mistress of the Dark’s signature glamour and spine-tingling mischief.

Halloween icon Janelle Monáe returns with the Monáe Manor, where it’s Halloween every night and things aren’t quite what they seem - where the walls talk and the music blares. You may have more than one ghostly encounter at this twisted soiree and it may even be from Monáe.

Along with the Haunted Hayride itself, attractions include Hellbilly Halloween, hidden deep in the backwoods of Midnight Falls; Madame Aurora's Seance Theatre, Mini Escape Games, Zombie Splat GellyBall, Midnight Falls Axe Throwing and the Monte Revolta Show.

Dark Harbor returns to haunt The Queen Mary this Halloween season! The legendary ship and its surrounding harbor will be transformed into a massive Halloween festival featuring haunted mazes like Voodoo: The Queen's Curse, Feast: The Final Cut, Breakout: Maximum Security, Lullaby, Infirmary and Big Top Terror. Haunted Harbor features hundreds of monsters, immersive attractions, live entertainment, VIP experiences, themed bars and lounges, carnival rides, festive eats and treats, instagrammable moments and more.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Central Avenue Jazz Festival invites thousands of music lovers to groove to a spicy brew of hot, cool and swinging jazz; blues and Latin jazz. Taking place on Saturday, September 20 in the “New 9th” District and hosted by Councilman Curren D. Price Jr., the free, family-friendly festival features more than a dozen performances on two main stages and the historic Dunbar Hotel.

The festival takes place along Central Avenue, between Vernon Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard, and presents a diverse selection of culinary experiences, art, culture and several Pavilions: Youth, PlayLA (sports activities), LA Zoo, Lucas Museum, Piece by Piece (community mosaic), LACMA, Young Musicians Foundation and the Department of Recreation & Parks.

The Central Avenue Jazz Festival celebrates the legacy of the historic Central Avenue corridor in South LA and is one of the last few genuine jazz celebrations left in the Southern California region. The festival pays tribute to jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus, Gerald Wilson and Dexter Gordon, while shining a spotlight on the younger emerging artists that are continuing this rich art form. From the early 1900s to the 1950s, Central Avenue became the epicenter for music, especially with the lively, upbeat tones of jazz and the sounds of large, active R&B. With music at its center, Central Avenue quickly became the heart and soul of the African American community in Los Angeles.

Part of its World Cinema Series, the Central Library presents a screening of The Wind Journeys (Los viajes del viento) on Saturday, September 20. Written and directed by Ciro Guerra, the film tells the story of Ignacio, a grieving accordionist who believes his instrument is cursed and sets out to return it across northern Colombia, joined by a determined boy eager to learn. Their journey through stunning landscapes and musical traditions forges an unexpected bond.

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) hosts its annual InFocus: Latin & Hispanic Cinema film festival on Saturday, September 20. Taking place at South Park Center, the line-up features three short film programs showcasing significant and thought-provoking independent films by emerging filmmakers from and working in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Venezuela, Canada and the United States.

The USC Trojans take on the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, September 20 in a Big 10 Conference matchup at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Haitian DJ/producer Francis Mercier brings his unique brand of house, equally informed by Caribbean and Afrobeat sounds, to California Plaza on Saturday, September 20. Special guests for the evening are Swiss/Uruguayan duo Sparrow & Barbossa. 

Cheech Marin will be in attendance at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Saturday, September 20, for the 7pm screening of Born in East L.A., his 1987 directorial debut and first film without longtime comedy partner Tommy Chong.

For the best guide to what's happening in Los Angeles, visit the Discover LA Events Calendar and book your stay today!