Welcome, listeners, to “Things to do in Los Angeles” with your globe-trotting, sport-loving, absolutely bonkers host Oly Bennet! It’s Saturday, October 18, 2025, and Los Angeles is ready to rock your world with everything from K-pop to soul food, haunted hayrides, and enough high-energy happenings to make even a caffeine-fueled squirrel jealous.
The city’s vibe today? Crisp, classic California sunshine—think low 80s, blue skies, a light breeze, and that “let’s be outside all day” magic in the air. Energy is crackling thanks to a wave of big events and a crowd of folks catching the last sweet gasp of summer. The mood is part festival, part fall—so charge your devices, pack your shades, and buckle up!
First up, the Taste of Soul Family Festival on Crenshaw is throwing the city’s biggest party for its milestone 20th anniversary. This free, all-day event boasts more than 300 vendors, live music, celebrity guests, and enough food—from smoked ribs to vegan cupcakes—to power a minor league football team. According to Westside Today, it’s officially recognized as the largest one-day street and food festival in California, and, yes, there’s free shuttle service to keep you moving between soul food paradise and the Metro.
If magical masks and mariachi speak to your wandering spirit, the Dia de los Muertos celebration on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade is the place to be. Expect live music, giant catrina sculptures, a KCRW DJ dance party, altars decorated with love, face painting, and crafts that will enthrall kids and the pickiest tías alike.
For families, the LA Zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo” has animal pumpkin feasts, Halloween story times, and enough spooky set pieces to keep everyone in costume-photo heaven, all with Metro-access convenience. If you want even more family fun, the Fall Festival at The Original Farmers Market has petting zoos, pumpkin games, and equestrian demos—nostalgia plus farm animals, what’s not to love?
Music lovers, prepare to swoon with Los Fabulosos Cadillacs storming the Walt Disney Concert Hall, celebrating 40 years of genre-blending brilliance—think ska, salsa, punk, and pure joy, all under one iconic LA roof. Meanwhile, for night owls and dancefloor gladiators, Night Trip is lighting up Exchange LA with a house music secret lineup, and drum and bass legends Chase & Status bring the bass thunder to City Market LA.
Craving culture or activism? The “No Kings” protests are in full force, with more than 80 gatherings across Greater LA, including a major rally at Grand Park and smaller events in Culver City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and beyond. It’s protest meets street festival—expect creativity, chants, and a high dose of spectacle. Organizers recommend arriving early, staying hydrated, and sticking with your crew for a safe experience, as covered by Time Out LA and Culver City Crossroads.
In the world of news, Metro is spotlighting its expanded service for event-goers—many major happenings are a hop away on E, K, or D lines. This weekend, LA also welcomes new restaurant openings, like a buzzed-about vegan taquería in Echo Park reported by Eater LA, and public transit adjustments due to the day’s rallies, so double-check routes before zipping downtown.
Can’t-miss activities? Snap a selfie with dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, ride the vintage carousel at Griffith Park, go pumpkin-picking at Tina’s Pumpkin Patch in Sherman Oaks, or let the kids unleash their inner engineers at the Petersen Automotive Museum’s “Little Sparks: Cars and Color” workshop.
Oly’s LA tip of the day: Want an ultra-local lunch? Skip the touristy lines and hit up the taco stands by Echo Park Lake—locals say the birria will change your life, and you can kayak off the calories straight after.
Tomorrow promises more family action with the Larchmont Family Fair, a Chargers home game with high-stakes playoff feels, and the lead-up to Halloween’s weirder side, complete with haunted hayrides and, yes, pumpkin patches on water. Don’t miss our next episode for fresh adventures—it’s a city that never stops, and neither do I.
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