16 Fun Things To Do In Los Angeles In September (2023)
Want to know all the best things to do in Los Angeles in September? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
Fun Things To Do In Los Angeles In September
While it’s a little early for most of the Halloween events in LA, there are a ton of Fall, Oktoberfest, and other events that take place all throughout the month of September.
Below are our recommendations of the best things to do in Los Angeles in September.
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👉🏼 Accommodations
👉🏼 Tours/Experiences (this one is also great for finding local things to do!)
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1. Magic Of The Jack O’Lanterns
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns is located at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte.
This event takes place on select nights from September 22nd – October 31st.
Enjoy pumpkin trails similar to events like Nights of the Jack or Pumpkin Nights.
Ticket prices currently start at $24.99 and if you buy your tickets before the opening day there are early bird specials.
2. Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
This event is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
It’s located in the Griffith Park area and it starts on September 22nd.
In addition to the haunted hayride, the town square area is also interactive with scare actors.
There is also a haunted house and live show.
3. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood
This annual event at Universal Studios Hollywood happens on select nights throughout the Halloween season.
It is not recommended for young children or anyone that is easily scared.
4. Smogtoberfest at Smog City Brewery
Smogtoberfest takes place this year on Saturday, September 16th from 12 pm – 10 pm at Smog City Brewery.
Smog City Brewery in Torrance is throwing a Smogtoberfest to celebrate the annual release of Smogtoberfest, their popular rendition on the classic Oktoberfest style lager.
The Torrance Taproom will be hosting live music, games & prizes, authentic German food offerings.
Lederhosen and dirndls are highly encouraged.
As are any appropriate non-traditional Oktoberfest costume.
5. Beach Life Ranch Festival
The BeachLife Ranch Festival will take place from Sept. 22-24 and features live music from The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile and more.
6. Torrance Beer Run
Beginning on Sept. 23 is the 2023 Torrance Beer Run, which runs until Sept. 30.
The Beer Run is a self-paced tour of 12 breweries all around the City of Torrance where participants can collect a stamp for their Beer Run Passport for each stop and turn it in for a limited edition 2023 Torrance Beer Run hat.
7. Escape Hotel Hollywood
Escape Hotel is an immersive experience where you can enjoy the restaurant, bar, and live entertainment before or after being escorted to your chosen escape room.
From the moment you walk into the lobby it’s like you’re inside a real Tower of Terror experience.
Escape room themes include Haunted Fair, Daycare Chapter, Resurrection, Attic, Zombie, Cursed Crypt, Slaughter, and Purgatory.
On their website, each room lists it’s escape rate to help you choose the level of difficulty that best suits your group.
You can also visit without doing the escape rooms and just enjoy the restaurant.
8. Hollywood Forever Cemetery
This tourist friendly cemetery is the final resting place of many well known celebrities throughout the years.
If the office is open during your visit, they sell a map for $5 or $6 showing you all the noteworthy spots to go to.
Some of the more popular grave sites are of Judy Garland, the dog who played Toto, Mel Blanc, Johnny Ramone, Mickey Rooney, Hattie McDaniel, Burt Reynolds, and more.
9. Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Cemetery
This tiny, hidden cemetery is home to many stars.
Amongst the famous celebrities include Marilyn Monroe, Hugh Hefner, Don Knotts, Eva Gabor, Dean Martin, Natalie Wood, Mel Torme, and Rodney Dangerfield.
10. Forest Lawn Cemetery – Glendale
This cemetery is massive and it’s a little harder to find individual grave sites, but there are many iconic people buried here.
The main reason we visited this cemetery was to see Walt Disney’s grave site.
He’s buried with several of his family members in a great location up on a hill amongst a garden.
A little ways away from him is Clark Gable.
11. The Haunt Ghost Tours
The Haunt Ghost Tours can be taken in LA, Temecula, and in Solvang.
These are paranormal investigation walking tours that take place in the evenings.
The LA tour takes place in Chinatown and when we took the tour our EMF readers picked up a ton of activity all throughout the night.
All locations tend to sell out in advance, so you’ll want to make sure to get your tickets early!
12. Halloween Movie Screenings at Rooftop Cinema Club
They show films seven nights a week at their venues in San Diego, the LA Arts District, Downtown LA, and El Segundo.
September 1st-3rd they are getting a jump start on their “Summerween” movie line up with 2+ movies per night.
Movies will include: Hocus Pocus, Friday The 13th (1980), Coraline, Halloweentown, Practical Magic, Edward Scissorhands, Scream (1996), Halloween (1978), The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Addams Family (1991), Rocky Horror Picture Show, American Psycho, and A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984).
Throughout the season, they’re having a Halloween Vibes celebration featuring films like:
Films for all ages – Hocus Pocus, Coco, Hotel Transylvania, Cruella, Monsters Inc, Coraline, Halloweentown, The Nightmare Before Christmas
Halloween Classics – Halloween, The Craft, Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Ghostbusters, Practical Magic, The Mummy, Scary Movie, Friday the 13th, Edward Scissorhands, It
Horror/Thriller Movies – The Ring, Scream, American Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, Final Destination, Zombieland, Get Out, The Conjuring, The Shining, Misery, The Cabin in the Woods, The Blair Witch Project, I Know What You Did Last Summer
Click for more information on Rooftop Cinema Club’s Halloween movie screenings!
13. LA Beer Fest At Los Angeles Center Studios
The 15th year of this festival returns Saturday, September 16th.
There will be over 80 breweries, 200 beers, and 15 food trucks.
For entertainment, they’ll have live bands, Power 106 DJ, and more!
The event takes place from Noon to 3pm and 5pm to 8pm.
14. Auschwitz Exhibit At The Reagan Library
“The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, in partnership with NEON, is showcasing an unprecedented collection of over 700 original artifacts, now extended at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
This exhibition sheds light on the darkest chapter of human history, serving as a solemn reminder of the importance of upholding human dignity and fostering empathy.”
15. Autumnal Wine Dinner at Garcons-De-Cafe
“To kick off the fall season Elizabeth Mehditach (as seen on Food Networks, ‘Battle of the Decades’ and Hulu’s ‘The Bakers Dozen’) is taking over Garcons De Cafe in Downtown LA for an autumnal collaboration dinner on September 29th and 30th.
The pre-fixe menu will highlight the seasons warm flavors like butter & hot honey feta plate served with arugula, watermelon radish, cornichon, figs, grapes and a grilled baguette.
Other dishes include coconut curry butternut squash soup, penne pumpkin tomato vodka sauce, and braised pomegranate short ribs.
For dessert, enjoy a tasting trio with everything from a french apple layer cake to a carrot pistachio cake with cream cheese icing.
A $30 wine pairing will be available to showcase what Garcons-De-Cafe is known for in an intimate setting tucked away in Downtown LA.
When: September 29-30th at 7PM
Where: 541 S. Spring Street, Unit 114, DTLA, 90013
Pricing: $85 plus additional $30 for wine pairing.”
16. Playtime With Paddington
“Playtime with Paddington at the Langham Huntington Pasadena comes with a Paddington-themed in-room tent, pillowcases, bed runner, and children’s bathrobe.
There’s even a take home Paddington and Langham collaboration plush, drawstring bag, children’s slippers, and balloon with holder.
The experience is available now through December.”
More Fun Things To Do In Southern California In The Fall
If you’re looking for more places to explore throughout the Halloween season, there is plenty to do in Southern California!
These are our favorite Fall events that we like to go to year after year.
🎃 Nights of the Jack Halloween Event in Calabasas
This night time event at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas is fun for everyone.
It’s got a pumpkin trail, which is the highlight of the event, plus food trucks and a “spookeasy”.
This is also a popular place to spot celebrities throughout the Fall season.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Nights Of The Jack Tickets Today!
🎃 Carved at Descanso Gardens
This family friendly night time event is hosted in La Canada Flintridge, in the area surrounding Pasadena, Glendale, and Burbank.
Descanso Gardens is most known for their Christmas lights, though they are now delving in to the spooky season too.
🎃 Roger’s Gardens Witching Hour Halloween Boutique
This plant nursery in Corona Del Mar, near Newport Beach, has been transforming it’s Halloween boutique for several years now.
In the boutique you’ll find tons of Halloween decor and props.
Each year it gets a new theme and the theme for 2023 is The Witching Hour.
Some previous themes include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Cabinet of Curiosities, A Pirates Life For Me, and my personal favorite, Malice In Wonderland.
🎃 Fearplex Presents LIGHTS OUT At Pomona Fairplex
This all new event is located at the LA County Fairgrounds and is for anyone 13+ years old.
There’s haunted mazes, zombie paintball, scare zones, food, drinks, and more.
🎃 Oktoberfest At Pomona Fairplex
On select weekends in October, enjoy this 21+ event filled with all the best German beers, German foods, and German bands.
Each night Oktoberfest runs from 6 pm – 11 pm.
🎃 Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch In Irvine
The best and most popular pumpkin patch in all of Orange County is easily Tanaka Farms.
They’ve even been featured in shows like The Real Housewives of Orange County.
Enjoy fun Fall activities like wagon rides, pumpkin picking, arts and crafts, and more.
🎃 The Best Things To Do In Southern California This Fall
For even more ideas, check out our list of all the best things to do in Southern California this Fall.
We’ve got events, festivals, Oktoberfests, Fall foliage towns, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Things To Do In Los Angeles In September
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we see about things to do in Los Angeles in September.
✓ Is September A Good Time To Visit Los Angeles?
September is generally a good time to visit Los Angeles, as it offers pleasant weather with warm temperatures and lower humidity compared to the summer months.
Tourist crowds are also smaller, making it easier to explore popular attractions.
However, wildfires can be a concern in Southern California during this month, potentially affecting air quality.
It’s advisable to check for current conditions and plan outdoor activities accordingly.
✓ Can You Go To The Beach In September In Los Angeles?
Yes, you can go to the beach in September in Los Angeles.
The weather is typically warm, and the beaches are open year-round, providing opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and outdoor activities during this month.
✓ What Clothes Should You Wear In LA In September?
In September, you should wear lightweight and breathable clothing in Los Angeles due to the warm and generally dry weather.
T-shirts, shorts, dresses, and comfortable footwear are suitable for daytime.
However, it’s a good idea to bring a light sweater or jacket for cooler evenings or unexpected temperature drops.
Sunscreen and sunglasses are essential, as the sun can still be strong.
Conclusion: Things To Do In Los Angeles In September
From festivals to cemetery events to limited engagements, there are so many things to do in Los Angeles in September.
