On Saturday, October 3, Celebrate Oktoberfest with Live German Polka, Free Commemorative Steins, Costume and Stein Hoisting Contests, and a Grand Prize Valued at More Than $2,500.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM, Inc.) invites locals and visitors to raise a stein at Oktoberfest on Third Street Promenade on Saturday, October 3, from 1 to 6 PM. The celebration takes over the 1200 block of the Promenade, between Arizona Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, with live music, food, beer, contests, and family-friendly fun in one of Southern California’s most beloved outdoor destinations.

Guests who purchase a beer from 1212, Ugo, Cabo Cantina, Casa Martin, Holey Moley or Barney’s Beanery can snag a free commemorative Oktoberfest stein, while supplies last. With the Santa Monica Entertainment Zone activated for the afternoon, adults 21 and over can also enjoy drinks from participating restaurants, walk the Promenade, and enjoy the festivities with a stein in hand.

Die Sauerkrauts, a live German polka band, will set the festive tone for the afternoon, followed by a set from DJ Richie Rich to keep the party going through the afternoon. Festival fare from participating vendors will round out the menu of beer and bites.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive in their best dirndls, lederhosen, and other festive attire to compete for prizes in the Best Dressed for Oktoberfest and Stein Hoisting competitions. One grand-prize winner will receive one year of free parking plus a shopping spree at Third Street Promenade businesses, valued at more than $2,500. Additional prizes will be awarded to contest winners.

“Oktoberfest is rooted in bringing people together to celebrate, and the spirit of Gemütlichkeit, the German feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer feels right at home on Third Street Promenade,” said Debbie Lee, CEO of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. “The Promenade has long been a cool gathering place for traditions from all over the world. We can’t wait to bring that festive Oktoberfest energy to Downtown Santa Monica with live music, great food, cold beer, and plenty of reasons to raise a glass together.”

Oktoberfest is part of a full slate of programming keeping Downtown Santa Monica lively this fall. Just one week after Oktoberfest, on Saturday, October 10, Santa Monica Block Fest returns with a Halloween-themed edition of the free music festival, bringing costumes, DJs, and spooky-season energy to the Promenade. 

Through October, DTSM, Inc.’s Forever Summer series continues on Wednesdays and Saturdays with live music, curated outdoor seating, fresh flowers, refreshing lemonade, and food from Hermanito, alongside the Downtown Farmers Market. On Sunday evenings, salsa dancing adds another layer of activity and energy to the Promenade. With something happening nearly every day, there’s always a reason to spend time in Downtown Santa Monica.

About Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.: DTSM, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works with the City of Santa Monica to promote economic stability, planning, development, growth and community life within Downtown Santa Monica through management and coordination of programs, projects and services designed to benefit the community as a whole, which includes downtown businesses, property owners, residents, and visitors.

More than 10,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns will illuminate South Coast Botanic Garden this fall as Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns returns to Palos Verdes. Presented by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, a leading producer and operator of immersive experiences, the family-friendly Halloween event will welcome guests on select nights from September 18 through November 1.

Set along a mile-long walking trail, Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns transforms the garden’s winding pathways into a glowing landscape filled with pumpkin artistry, radiant light displays and larger-than-life scenes. This year’s illuminated trail brings the garden to life with a whimsical circus scene, a colorful Día de los Muertos tribute and an enchanting journey under the sea.

A synchronized pumpkin light show will illuminate the event every 30 minutes, while towering inflatables, interactive activities and seasonal photo opportunities offer more to discover throughout the trail.

“We’re thrilled to bring Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns back for another unforgettable season at the South Coast Botanic Garden,” said General Manager Norberto Urrea. “This year’s show features thousands of hand-carved pumpkins along a beautiful trail, with radiant light displays and immersive scenes at every turn. It’s the perfect way to kick off the Halloween season with family, friends, little ones, and the people you love.”

Guests can enhance their visit with 3D Jack O’Lantern Glasses, which transform points of light into glowing pumpkin images, or gather around the fire with a tasty S’mores Package. The Fun Zone also invites children and adults to enjoy a massive pumpkin-shaped bounce pad and oversized pumpkin-themed slides. Food and beverages will also be available throughout the event. A low-sensory night will take place on Sunday, September 27th, offering a modified experience for guests who may benefit from reduced sensory stimulation. 

Tickets start at $29.99 for adults at $24.99 (including fees) for kids on select nights and are on sale now. Visit www.magicofthejackolanterns.com to secure your tickets while supplies last. 

For additional information, including event specifics, ticket pricing, and more, please visit magicofthejackolanterns.com/la/ or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook.

Credit: Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group.

In celebration of the beauty and diversity of cultures found from Mexico to Central and South America to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and beyond, the Aquarium of the Pacific will host its twenty-fifth annual Baja Splash Cultural Festival on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event features cultural dance and music, programming in English and Spanish, booths from participating organizations, and an award ceremony honoring SACNAS in recognition of their outstanding and long-time commitment to cultivating a truly inclusive STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) environment.

Folk dancers and musicians will share their traditions during the festival. Participants include those who have been part of Baja Splash for twenty-five years such as Danza Azteca Cultural Ketzaliztli and musician and teaching artist Martin Espino, who will lead interactive music programs for all ages. Visitors can also explore booths from participating organizations.

The name Baja Splash was inspired by Baja California, Mexico’s Gulf of California, which is one of the most important wildlife havens in the world. Visitors can learn more about this important ecosystem and how people can help protect it by exploring the Aquarium’s Gulf of California exhibition created with World Wildlife Fund México.

The festival is included with Aquarium admission. General admission is $49.95 per adult (ages 12+), $34.95 per child (ages 3-11), $46.95 per senior (ages 62+), and free for Aquarium members and children under age three. Reservations are required for everyone.For more information on the festival and to make reservations, you can visit the Aquarium’s website.

AQUARIUM: The non-profit Aquarium of the Pacific is dedicated to world-class conservation, outstanding animal welfare, and connecting people to nature through more than 12,000 animals and one hundred exhibits, including Jelly Dreamscapes. In addition to its public education programs for all ages, the Aquarium is involved in numerous conservation efforts, including breeding endangered animals for release, rehabilitating rescued species, community science programs, and more. The Aquarium is home to the only sea turtle rehabilitation program in Greater Los Angeles. To make a donation to help support the Aquarium, please visit the donation webpage. To visit, reservations are required and can be made at aquariumofpacific.org or by calling (562) 590-3100.

Where else can you experience Bavaria with ocean breezes, family-friendly surf-town vibes, dogs in lederhosen, brats and craft beer? It’s all happening at the 30^th Annual Encinitas Oktoberfest on Sunday, September 27 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. This beloved community tradition and premier Oktoberfest in San Diego County is back for its 30^th year, bigger and better than ever, and it’s completely FREE to attend.

German music, dance troupes, and a ceremonial parade at noon set the festive tone, while more than 130 local artisans and food vendors transform Mountain Vista Drive into a lively marketplace where you can support local businesses and eat, drink and be merry while shopping for unique crafts, jewelry and handmade goods. A kids play zone with inflatable slides, an obstacle course, games and a rock-climbing wall ensures fun for the whole family.

Festivalgoers can cheer on furry friends in the crowd-favorite Dog Costume Contest, where pups parade in their best German-themed outfits for prizes. The action doesn’t stop there: two lively beer gardens will be pouring everything from authentic German brews to local craft favorites. The Craft Beer Tent will feature local breweries including Burgeon Beer Co., Carlsbad Brewing Co., Culture Brewing, Fox Point Brewing Company, Societe Brewing Company – and the Tap Truck, dispensing beer from a 1921 Buick. Booch Craft, NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer and Skimmers Vodka Iced Tea will also be pouring while a DJ keeps the tent buzzing with high-energy music, interactive games and plenty of reasons to raise a glass and join the fun. For those who prefer wine, official event vendor Authentic Wine Selections will offer a variety of pours to complete the Oktoberfest experience.

Carlsbad Brewing Company returns as this year’s Family Tent Beer Sponsor, exclusively pouring its brews in a lively gathering spot where friends and families can relax, play games and enjoy the festival together. Nearby food tents will tempt every appetite with sizzling sausages, brats, warm pretzels and other traditional favorites from Tarantino’s Gourmet Sausage and Taste of Poland.

And of course, what’s Oktoberfest without competitions? Guests can join the Stein Holding Contest for adults and kids, and win prizes from local attractions.

“Encinitas Oktoberfest brings the best of Bavaria to the California coast and is the perfect way to kick off the fall season,” said Carol Knight, CEO of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce and Visit Encinitas. “For three decades, Encinitas Oktoberfest has brought residents and visitors together to kick off fall with great food, lively entertainment and unmistakable coastal spirit. It’s festive, family-friendly and truly one of a kind—just like Encinitas.”

The festival spans one-third of a mile along Mountain Vista Drive off El Camino Real, between Wandering Road and Rambling Road, and draws more than 15,000 guests each year. A free shuttle will run between the Flora Vista Elementary School parking lot and the corner of Mountain Vista and Wandering Road from 10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Bike parking will be available at both ends of the festival, with a complimentary bike valet hosted by The Encinitas Project at the Wandering Road entrance. Guests can also stay hydrated at the EDCO-sponsored water refill station and refresh their wardrobes at a clothing swap hosted by I Love A Clean San Diego and made possible with support from Cox.

The German roots of Encinitas go back to the northeastern colony of Olivenhain which was founded by German farmers in 1884. The Encinitas Oktoberfest coincides with Germany’s start of Oktoberfest in mid-September.

So grab your stein, lace up your dancing shoes, and don’t forget Fido’s lederhosen—Encinitas Oktoberfest is where fall fun begins! Prost! For more details, visit www.encinitasoktoberfest.com.

Artists from Tahiti visit the Center! One weekend only:

Artist-at-Work: Tapa Making and Stories in Ink: Tātau Bookmark Workshop

Friday–Sunday, Sep 18–20, 2026

Getty Center

Drop-in at 11am, 1pm, and 2:30pm

Discover the Polynesian art of tapa making with artist-researchers from Tahiti. See how tree bark is transformed into cloth and decorated with patterns using natural dyes and traditional tools. Learn about the cultural meanings and stories behind this vibrant, living practice. Then, connect with the traditional art of tātau, Polynesian tattoo. Led by members of ʻARIOI, an Indigenous cultural center in Tahiti, this drop-in workshop explores the powerful history, symbols, and patterns of tātau, and the stories they tell. Design your own bookmark inspired by this living practice. These events complement the exhibition Joshua Reynolds’s Portrait of Mai and 18th-Century Portraiture. 

A bilingual (English/Spanish) mosaic workshop:

Artist-at-Work: Making Mosaics and Modern Mosaics: Family Workshop

Select Saturdays, Oct 10 and 24, Nov 14 and 21, Dec 5 and 12, 2026, and Jan 16, 2027

Getty Villa

Drop-in 11am–3pm

Join artist Andrés Cortes for live mosaic-making demonstrations. Meet the artist, ask questions, and discover different materials and techniques for constructing mosaics. From adorable to a little ferocious, animals take center stage in many mosaics on view at the Getty Villa. In the workshop, create your own mosaic inspired by animals who call Los Angeles home, using contemporary materials and ancient Roman techniques. This hands-on program is developed in partnership with Collage Garage. This event is presented in English and Spanish.

Last chance! This weekend:

Papyrus Scroll Making: Family Workshop and Artist-at-Work: Papyrus Making

Sunday, Sep 13, Drop-in 11am–3pm

Getty Villa 

Presented in English and Spanish

Create your own papyrus scene inspired by vignettes from the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells that provided ancient Egyptians with guidance for the afterlife. Join local Egyptologists to discover how papyrus paper was made and explore the many uses of the papyrus plant in ancient Egypt and in the exhibition The Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Credit: The Getty.

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s Ocean Theater has transformed into a brand-new immersive experience that opens on September 4, making it the first HoloTheater® on the U.S. West Coast. Developed by BASE Xperiential, a live entertainment and media company based in Houston, Texas, the HoloTheater® installation uses six projection surfaces in a custom-designed theater to bring creatures, their environments, and stories to life.

The new space combines panoramic projection, holographic imagery, and spatial audio, allowing up to 132 guests to get an up-close-and-personal glimpse of the ecosystems of past and present. No glasses, VR headsets, or other wearable technology is required to experience the films in 3-D.

The new HoloTheater® is opening with Dinosaur Discoveries: A Holographic Adventure, where dinosaurs appear to come alive on a stage in front of the screen. This twenty five-minute film produced by BASE Xperiential in partnership with Paquin Entertainment Group, and distributed in collaboration with MacGillivray Freeman Films, transports audiences across prehistoric landscapes to encounter some of the most extraordinary creatures to ever walk the Earth. It is an educational journey that tells the evolving story of paleontological discoveries and scientific revelations that gave us what we know today about these remarkable creatures.

“We are looking forward to having the first HoloTheater® experience on the West Coast as a new immersive experience for our guests. We hope they leave inspired to learn more about ocean animals that lived on our planet at the same time as dinosaurs and are still with us today from sea jellies to sharks,” said Nicole Meek, Aquarium of the Pacific senior director of visitor operations.

Multiple HoloTheater® shows will run daily at the Aquarium, and tickets can be purchased with Aquarium admission on-site or in advance online. Later this fall, Ocean Giants Revealed will debut in the Aquarium’s HoloTheater®, where guests can submerge themselves into the world of the deep sea where few have traveled and witness the beauty and diversity of marine species both past and present, including whales, sea jellies, megalodon, and other prehistoric sea creatures.

“HoloTheater® was created to transform how audiences experience stories,” said Brian Becker, founder and CEO of BASE Xperiential. “Partnering with Aquarium of the Pacific allows us to bring our methodology to one of the nation’s premier aquariums, bringing established technologies together to create an experience that is both spectacular and meaningful. Our goal is simple: inspire curiosity by making guests feel like they’ve stepped inside the story.”

Credit: The Aquarium of the Pacific.

Long Beach is getting ready for its close-up! The Long Beach Film Festival (LBFF) is pleased to unveil the full lineup for its inaugural festival weekend, bringing together independent filmmakers, emerging voices and movie lovers for two days of screenings, conversations, and special events. The festivities kick-off with an Opening Night Party aboard the Queen Mary on Friday, August 28, followed by two full days of cinema at the Art Theatre of Long Beach, August 29–30.

The Festival spans four feature films and four curated short-film programs, with stories ranging from dark comedy and horror to science fiction, drama and deeply human stories of second chances. Throughout the weekend, screenings will be complemented by filmmaker Q&As, panel conversations and programming in the LBFF FilmLounge, giving audiences the opportunity to meet filmmakers, hear the stories behind their work and continue the conversation beyond the screen.

The weekend begins Friday, August 28, with the LBFF Opening Night Party aboard the Queen Mary. From 6 to 9 p.m., guests will walk the red carpet inside one of Long Beach’s most iconic landmarks for an evening celebrating the filmmakers, artists and community behind the city’s newest film festival. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson will join the celebration to share a few words and lead a special toast marking the official kickoff of the inaugural festival.

On Saturday, August 29, the festival moves to the Art Theatre of Long Beach for its first full day of screenings. The day begins at noon with “Out of This World!”, a collection of five short films exploring different worlds, dimensions and some of life’s biggest questions. At 3 p.m., writer, director and actor Emily Robinson, known for Eighth Grade, brings “Ugly Cry” to the screen. The darkly comedic feature follows an actor whose “ugly cry” costs them their dream role and sends them spiraling down a dangerous path toward perfection.

Saturday evening continues at 6 p.m. with “Again Again,” written, directed by and starring Mia Moore and executive produced by Lilly Wachowski. The film follows Agatha, who has spent 10 years reliving the same day in a torturous time loop, only to unexpectedly wake up to something even more frightening: a brand-new day.

Closing Saturday night at 9 p.m. is “Nightmares on 4th Street,” a 90-minute collection of eight horror shorts promising campy fun, scares and plenty of reasons to keep the theater lights on a little longer.

The festival returns Sunday, August 30, beginning at 11 a.m. with “The Pursuit of Happiness,” a collection of six short films examining change, risk and the forces shaping modern life around the world. At 1:30 p.m., LBFF brings the story home with “Rescued,” written, directed by and starring Long Beach filmmaker DJ Hale. The feature follows a homeless man who finds the motivation to turn his life around after a stray dog befriends him and refuses to leave his side.

At 4:30 p.m., “21st Century Problems” turns its attention to the complications of modern adulthood, with seven short films exploring love, friendship and life in times of crisis through stories ranging from comedic to dramatic.

The inaugural screening program concludes Sunday at 7 p.m. with director Danny Madden’s “Downbeat.” The feature follows a troubled drummer who moves in with his sister in Boston and rediscovers his passion through street performing, only to find his newfound stability threatened by his own reckless choices.

Beyond the screenings, LBFF is creating opportunities for audiences to engage directly with the people behind the films. Filmmaker Q&As and panel conversations will take place throughout the weekend, while the LBFF FilmLounge will serve as a gathering place for filmmakers, industry professionals and festivalgoers.

The festival is also making room for its youngest future filmmakers. On Sunday, from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., LBFF StoryLab will invite children ages 8–12 into the FilmLounge for a hands-on introduction to filmmaking. Young storytellers will explore camera basics, visual storytelling and how filmmakers turn an idea into something audiences can experience on the big screen, with an emphasis on creativity, confidence and finding their own storytelling voice.

Festivalgoers can experience LBFF in several ways. Individual screening tickets begin at $10, while the $75 All Festival Pass provides unlimited access to screenings Saturday and Sunday. The $150 VIP Pass offers the festival’s most complete experience, including all film screenings, Friday’s Opening Night Party, the Saturday Soiree, Festival Afterparty, panel talks and other FilmLounge events. All festival passes include complimentary popcorn at the Art Theatre.

2026 LONG BEACH FILM FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

Friday, August 28
6–9 p.m. — Opening Night Party | Queen Mary

Saturday, August 29
12:00 p.m. — Out of This World! | Short Film Block

2:00 p.m. — Industry Panel Talk | In the FilmLounge
3:00 p.m. — Ugly Cry | Feature Film

6:00 p.m. — Again Again | Feature Film
9:00 p.m. — Nightmares on 4th Street | Short Film Block

Sunday, August 30
9:00 a.m —  StoryLab

11:00 a.m. — The Pursuit of Happiness | Short Film Block
1:30 p.m. — Rescued | Feature Film
4:15 pm. — “Rescued in Real Life” panel talk | In the FilmLounge

4:30 p.m. — 21st Century Problems | Short Film Block

7:00 p.m. — Downbeat | Feature Film

9:00 p.m. — LBFF Afterparty | In the FilmLounge

Weekend festival passes are available now. To purchase tickets and learn more visit www.longbeachfilmfestival.org. Follow @longbeachfilmfest on social media. 

Credit: The Long Beach Film Festival (LBFF)