Labor Day is just around the corner, and Southern California has a few events lined up to celebrate the holiday founded on workers’ rights.
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Several celebrations are free to attend and family-friendly, with activities including food vendors, live music, arts and crafts and more.
Here are 16 events happening across Southern California over Labor Day weekend.
Los Angeles County
The Malibu Chili Cook-Off: If chili is your favorite BBQ food, you’ll love the four-day Malibu Chili Cook-Off. The event features award-winning chili, live performances on a new Aviator Nation Dreamland Music Stage, carnival rides, a skate contest, local artists, and more to celebrate Labor Day weekend. 4-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4; 1-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6; 1-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. 23575 Civic Center Way, Malibu. malibuchilicookoff.org.
EndOfSummerSkateXShop: Head over to Crenshaw Square this Labor Day for a free one-day event that features an outdoor roller skate floor, live music, a basketball and domino tournament, arts and crafts, raffles, over 50 vendors and more. Noon-6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 7. 3860 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles.
Cinecon 62 Classic Film Festival: Cinecon is celebrating 62 years of its film festival and bringing archivists, authors, collectors, and cinephiles for five days of classic film, TV screenings, celebrity guests, and special programs. Tickets and the schedule will be announced soon on the event’s website. Thursday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 7. Landmark’s Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. cineconfilmfest.org.
Fiesta Hermosa: One of Southern California’s largest free beachside arts and crafts festivals is taking over Hermosa Beach. The upcoming Labor Day edition features the Makers Mercado with more than 240 artisan and vendor pop-ups featuring hand-crafted goods, jewelry, and art, a food fair, a beer garden, a mini carnival, live music and more. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 6; 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 7. Downtown Hermosa Beach. fiestahermosa.net.
Orange County
International Street Fair: Every Labor Day weekend for the past four decades, this free-attendance event has brought international foods to Downtown Orange for friends, families and neighbors to get together and experience a wide variety of food, music and dance from cultures and ethnicities around the world. Foods range from Philly cheesesteaks and Italian sausages to Greek Loukoumades and more. Profits from the street fair also go to nonprofit charities that help people in the community. The street fair is located in a four-square block area centered on Orange Plaza, at the intersection of Chapman and Glassell. 5 p.m.- 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5; Sunday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. optevents.org.
Laguna Art-A-Fair: The fair is celebrating 60 years and will be in its final days for the season on Labor Day weekend. The Laguna Art-A-Fair features award-winning fine artists and artisans from around the world. Two-dimensional artworks featured at the fair include oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, encaustic, pastel, charcoal, colored pencil, photography, and printmaking. Three-dimensional artworks include jewelry, ceramics, glass, mirrors, fiber art, woodcraft, sculpture, gourds and more. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4 through Sunday, Sept. 6. 777 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. art-a-fair.com.
Knott’s Berry Farm Summer Nights: The last weekend of Knott’s Summer Nights will wrap up over Labor Day weekend. The event focuses on nighttime festivities that fill Knott’s midway from Calico Square to Charleston Circle with live music and DJs, unique summer food offerings, Instagram-able photo opportunities, interactive experiences and family-friendly games. 8039 Beach Blvd. Buena Park. sixflags.com.
Huntington Beach Civil War Days: The Huntington Beach Historical Society is hosting its 31st annual Civil War Days Living History Event in Huntington Beach Central Park during the 160th anniversary of America’s Civil War. The free event is staffed by volunteers who portray people from all walks of life and lets spectators experience vivid recreations of life in the Civil War era. 1:30 and 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 6. 18002 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach. hbhistory.org.
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Riverside County
End of Summer Cookout: South Coast Winery Resort is putting on a barbecue with smoked brisket and chicken skewers at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. There will be a full bar, DJ and lawn games. 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula. southcoastwinery.com
Inland Empire Water Lantern Festival: Attendees will design their own lanterns to set afloat with their hopes, dreams and letters to loved ones after dark on Saturday, Sept. 5. The event will include food trucks. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. at Rancho Jurupa Regional Sports Park, 5249 Crestmore Road, Jurupa Valley. waterlanternfestival.com
Labor Day Rock The Weekend: Two bands, Rock Stallion and Those Guys, will perform at The Vibe Live Music Venue, beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6. Tickets are $12.51 at Eventbrite. 28636 Old Town Front St. No. 102, Temecula.eventbrite.com
Norco Fair: This longtime Horsetown USA tradition includes rodeo and bull-riding events, music, food and vendors. It takes place Friday through Monday, Sept. 4-7. Presale admission buttons are available through several local businesses for $15 through Sept. 3. Admission at the gate will be $20. Children 10 and younger are free. Carnival rides and games will cost extra. Parking is $20 per car. Ingalls Event Center. 3737 Crestview Drive, Norco. norcofair.org
San Bernardino County
Big Bear Rodeo and Carnival: This is Big Bear’s inaugural Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association-sanctioned rodeo. It takes place at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4-5, with bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and team roping. The weekend opens with a carnival on Friday, Sept. 4, which includes a concert by Brian Gaylord, local country singer and professional cowboy. Rodeo tickets are $35 plus fees each day but include three-day carnival access. A weekend pass costs $70. 103 Sandalwood Drive, Big Bear Lake. bigbearrodeo.com
Corks & Hops Mountain Beer Festival: This event takes place throughout Crestline in the San Bernardino Mountains from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5. Participants wander through the community to visit pour stations representing craft breweries throughout Southern California. The event will include pop-up vendors and music. Pre-sale tickets are $40 and $55. Check-in is at Higher Grounds, 23776 Lake Drive, or Hearth & Sage General Store, 23443 Crest Forest Drive. corksnhops.com
Hot Wheels Monster Truck Glow ‘n Fire: This Toyota Arena show features monster trucks performing pyrotechnic stunts. Trucks depict tie-in Hot Wheels toys such as Rhinomite. Shows are at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6. Tickets start at $25 in advance. Parking is $25 in advance, $35 on event day. 4000 Ontario Center, Ontario. https://www.toyota-arena.com/
Lake Arrowhead Village Summer Concert Finale: Tickets are scarce for the last three shows of the season. They include ’80s covers, Friday, Sept. 4; a Van Halen tribute, Saturday, Sept. 5; and an ABBA tribute, Sunday, Sept. 6. Shows start at 7 p.m. with check-in at 5:30 p.m. Prices range from $25-$30 for standing room to $100-$120 for picnic tables. 28200 State Highway. Lake Arrowhead. lakearrowheadsummerconcerts.com
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