Weekend · October 16–18

Free things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Orange County

By HolaSavings · Published October 15, 2026

This weekend is packed: Saturday the 17th is the big day, with the Getty family festival (mariachi and folklórico ballet, free) and Taste of Soul on Crenshaw, two of the biggest free plans of the year. Here are 11 verified plans in Los Angeles and Orange County, almost all free or under $20.

Friday, October 16

• OC Japan Fair (Fri 4–10 p.m.; Sat 12–10 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m.) — Orange County's biggest Japanese festival: street food, taiko drums, tea ceremony, kimonos, a pop/anime zone and Bon Odori dancing. Presale $15.71 through today, October 15; weekend admission is $17.85. Free for kids 6 and under and adults 65+. Parking $15. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa.
• Fall-O-Ween (Fri and Sat, 4:30–8:30 p.m.) — the historical park fills with fall decorations, a hay maze and a scavenger hunt for kids. Free, no reservation needed and free parking. Note: it runs Friday and Saturday only — there is no Sunday session. Heritage Hill Historical Park, 25151 Serrano Rd, Lake Forest.

Saturday, October 17

• Family Festival: LA and Mexico in Focus, Getty Center (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) — the weekend's favorite plan: Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles, folklórico ballet, bilingual storytelling and Lotería sign and hat workshops. Free with a free timed reservation at getty.edu; parking is $25 (drops to $15 after 3 p.m.). Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles.
• Taste of Soul Family Festival (10 a.m.–7 p.m.) — the largest free street festival on the West Coast: three stages of R&B, soul and gospel, 300+ food vendors and a Children's World with free vision and dental screenings for kids. Free, no ticket; get there by Metro (E and K lines). Crenshaw Blvd, between Obama Blvd and Stocker St, Los Angeles.
• Beverly Hills Art Show (Sat and Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.) — 245+ artists across four garden blocks, with live music, food trucks and kids' activities. Free, rain or shine. Beverly Gardens Park, 9439 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills.
• Fall Festival, Original Farmers Market (Sat and Sun, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.) — small-town fair vibes in the middle of the city: pumpkin patch, petting zoo, games, crafts and live music. Free. Original Farmers Market, 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles.
• Camp Fire Long Beach Pumpkin Patch (Sat and Sun, 12–6 p.m.) — last weekend: admission and parking are free, with carnival games, a petting zoo, crafts and food trucks (activities and pumpkins cost extra). 7070 E Carson St, Long Beach.
• Public Star Party, Griffith Observatory (2–9:45 p.m.) — dozens of telescopes on the lawn with volunteer astronomers: the Sun in the afternoon and the Moon and planets after dark. Free, no ticket; arrive early because the lines close ahead of time. Griffith Observatory, 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles.
• Halloween Party: Night at the Autry Museum (5:30–8:30 p.m.) — trick-or-treating in the garden, a Bob Baker Marionette Theatre show, a maze, a bounce house, a DJ and crafts. Costumes welcome. $20 adults and $9 kids under 12. The Autry, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles.

Sunday, October 18

• Calabasas Pumpkin Festival (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) — Sunday only: live music, carnival games, inflatables, a marketplace and a pumpkin patch. $15 online in advance and $20 at the gate; kids under 24 months get in free. Juan Bautista de Anza Park, 3701 Lost Hills Rd, Calabasas.
• World Famous Pumpkin Race, Manhattan Beach (festival from 12 p.m.; races at 2 p.m.) — the coast's most curious tradition: pumpkins on wheels speeding down toward the pier, with prizes and plenty of costumes. Watching is free; if you want to race your own, the official kit is $35 in advance or $40 on the day. Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach.
• And if you still want more, the Beverly Hills Art Show, the Farmers Market Fall Festival, the Camp Fire Long Beach Pumpkin Patch and the OC Japan Fair (until 7 p.m.) are also open on Sunday.

And at night? Los Tigres del Norte in Anaheim

On Saturday the 17th at 8 p.m., Los Tigres del Norte play the Honda Center in Anaheim (2695 E Katella Ave). It is a ticketed concert, but if you go, first read our story What happened to Los Tigres del Norte? so you arrive singing along.

Frequently asked questions

• Is almost everything really free? Yes: 7 of the 11 plans charge no admission. The OC Japan Fair is $17.85 on the weekend, the Autry night is $20 adults and $9 kids, and the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is $15 in advance or $20 at the gate.
• Which plan is best for kids? The Getty festival in the morning (workshops and bilingual storytelling) and Fall-O-Ween on Friday or Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, the Manhattan Beach pumpkin race is the family favorite.
• Do I need to reserve anything? Only the Getty asks for a free timed reservation. Taste of Soul, the Beverly Hills Art Show, the Farmers Market and the Star Party are just show up and walk in.
• Is Fall-O-Ween open on Sunday? No. This year it runs Friday the 16th and Saturday the 17th only, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Sunday the pumpkin plans are Calabasas or Manhattan Beach.

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SOURCES CHECKED ON OCTOBER 15, 2026ocfair.com · getty.edu · lasentinel.net · beverlyhills.org · farmersmarketla.com · griffithobservatory.lacity.gov · cityofcalabasas.com · mommypoppins.com · eventsincalifornia.com