Best Things to Do in SoCal and LA: October 27-November 2, 2025
Dig into the past and party for the future
Witness the poetic power of historical fragments and cultural layering as tools to recover lost narratives and bring forward new futures. Curated by LACE, A Tender Excavation opens at Luckman Gallery in Cal State LA where a group exhibition featuring fifteen artists from Afro-Latinx, Asian American, Indigenous, immigrant, and diasporic backgrounds re-imagines the photographic archive as a site of healing, reclamation and possibility. Uncover overlooked stories and celebrate memory and identity through a bold mix of photography, collage, and visual storytelling.
5151 State University
Peel back the layers
Experience the intriguing complexity of identity at the opening reception for Layers of Self, hosted by the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art. This group exhibition brings together five visionary artists to probe the many facets of selfhood through painting, sculpture, assemblage, and installation. Think color, chaos, and creative self-discovery all colliding under one roof and expect works that challenge assumptions and reveal the invisible threads of our inner world. Meet the artists and explore how we build (and rebuild) who we are through art.
117 N Sycamore St
Celebrate life, love, and legacy
Celebrate life, love, and culture at Self Help Graphics & Art’s 52nd Annual Día de los Muertos, East LA’s most iconic community party at the East LA Civic Center. This free festival lights up the night with live music, dancing, art installations, face painting, a colorful Muertos market, and altars honoring those we’ve lost and the legacies that live on. Explore art and culture with friends and family at one of L.A.’s most meaningful and inclusive ways to mark the season.
4801 E. 3rd. St.
Creativity crashes the coastline
Join Laguna Art Museum’s Art + Nature Block Party at the Main Beach cobblestones for a free outdoor festival that brings together live music, art-making stations, tasty eats, and chill seaside vibes as thousands gather to kick off the museum’s 13th annual Art + Nature week. Whether you’re drawing in the sand, discovering pop-up installations, or just hanging with friends, this is a perfect way to combine creativity and coastal energy.
101 S Coast Hwy
Surf and sand meet film and live music
Catch the ultimate coastal vibe at the Coast Film & Music Festival, a nine-day takeover of Laguna Beach where surf and sand meets indie film and live music. Think documentary premieres, beach-front screenings, DJ sets, outdoor installations, and creator talk-backs. It’s your chance to discover the kind of stories and sounds that spark inspiration and good times. Whether you’re a film buff or music lover, this event delivers surf vibes, story-telling, and social shifts all at once.
162 S Coast Hwy