Though the summer season doesn’t actually end until late September, Labor Day has always been considered the unofficial “end of summer.” Kids are already back in school, the Santa Ana winds will start blowing, and fall will soon be in the air! Most importantly, Labor Day weekend is always a good excuse for getting together and having some outdoor fun with friends and family.
As always, there are plenty of fun events happening throughout the LA area this Labor Day Weekend. Here are a few that caught our eye as arts and culture enthusiasts:
LA Philharmonic: Star Wars in Concert
Hollywood Bowl • September 1-2
The Hollywood Bowl is always an epic place to see a concert, especially when it’s the LA Philharmonic orchestra playing live alongside a special showing of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. John Williams’ legendary score will be brought to life by David Newman and the LA Phil. Learn more.
Free Shakespeare Festival
Griffith Park • Through September 3
Every summer, Shakespeare fans gather in the park to watch free performances of his classic plays. In July, the Independent Shakespeare Co. performed Julius Caesar. Currently, they are performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream every Wednesday through Sunday night. The final performance will be on Sunday, September 3 (Labor Day Weekend). Take advantage of this opportunity to experience this performance on an actual midsummer night in beautiful Griffith Park! Learn more.
KCRW Summer Nights
Descanso Gardens • September 1
KCRW hosts their free Summer Nights concerts throughout the Los Angeles area all summer long. They will be visiting one of our own favorite local spots, Descanso Gardens, on Friday of Labor Day Weekend. KCRW DJs Wyldeflower and Raul Campos will be your hosts, along with live music and other fun things for the whole family to enjoy. It’s also a perfect opportunity to check out the beautiful botanical gardens if you’ve never been to Descanso before! Learn more.
626 Night Market
Arcadia • September 1-3
Not far down the road from Descanso at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, you’ll find the 626 Night Market. This festival started in 2012 and has become a popular nighttime attraction as they roam throughout Southern California all summer long. It’s named after the San Gabriel Valley’s 626 area code and inspired by Asia’s street bazaars. There will be over 250 vendors here with incredible food, games, crafts and live music. Learn more.
We hope you all have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend, whether you are just having a BBQ at home or attending one of these great cultural events.
