I’m happy to make room for a pumpkin patch, but October in Los Angeles is much bigger than Halloween. It’s a good month to explore a neighborhood you don’t visit often, take the family somewhere new, or make an ordinary evening feel like an occasion.
Here are a few plans I’d put on the calendar.
Spend an afternoon at the Beverly Hills Art Show
The Beverly Hills Art Show returns to Beverly Gardens Park October 17 and 18, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Browse original paintings, photography, sculpture and ceramics, meet the artists, and enjoy live music, food trucks and children’s activities. Admission is free, so you can stop by without committing to a full day. Beverly Hills, CA
I’d make an afternoon of it. Wander the booths, find a piece you keep coming back to, then head somewhere nearby for lunch. It’s an easy way to enjoy Beverly Hills beyond the usual shopping stops, and you might come home with something more interesting than you planned.
Stop by Zibby’s Bookshop
While you’re on Montana Avenue, make time for Zibby’s Bookshop. It’s the kind of local stop that can turn an art walk into a whole afternoon. Browse for your next read, check the shop’s calendar for author conversations and community events, and leave room for one more coffee before heading home.
I always notice places like this when I’m exploring a neighborhood. An independent bookshop, a familiar café, and a street you actually enjoy walking can become part of your weekly routine. Those details rarely fit into a real estate listing, but they do shape what living there feels like.
Experience Venice Afterburn by the Beach
Venice Afterburn brings art cars, installations, theme camps, music, and a little Burning Man spirit to Windward Plaza on October 10 and 11. It runs from noon to 10 p.m. and is free before 6 p.m.
Go during the day to explore the art, or stay as the lights come on and the beach takes on a different energy. Venice is one of those places that can feel entirely different depending on when you visit, which is exactly why I like spending time in a neighborhood before forming an opinion about it.
Take an Evening Trip to Lavender Nights
For a change of pace, Lavender Nights at 123 Farm runs through October 25 in Cherry Valley. Lights transform the lavender fields and olive grove, with live music, an outdoor market, and lavender-inspired food and drinks. The event is open Wednesdays through Mondays.
I’d make this a proper outing. Choose a night when you can enjoy the drive, wander without watching the clock, and stay for dinner. One of the advantages of living in LA is how many different settings are within reach when you’re ready for a change of scenery.
That’s my favorite way to approach an October calendar. Keep the plans that genuinely sound fun, try a neighborhood or venue that’s new to you, and leave time to enjoy your own corner of Los Angeles. Where you spend your days is a big part of what makes a place feel like home.
Check official event pages for current hours, tickets, and schedule changes.
