Fall Fun: Celebrate October Near The Pearl
October is here, with a riot of fall colors and the sweet scent of autumn. There’s a cornucopia of fun things to celebrate this month: Oktoberfest is in full swing, the apple harvest is underway, and Halloween is right around the corner. Ready to do some leaf peeping? Big Bear Lake’s breathtaking fall foliage is one of the highlights of the season. Closer to The Pearl, the highly-anticipated Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is now open. So get ready for Fall Fun and celebrate October near The Pearl. Check websites for opening hours and health & safety protocols.
345 N La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, California 90036
Oktoberfest is in full swing at Wirtshaus, a traditional German restaurant and biergarten specializing in authentic German food, freshly tapped beer, over 35 imported German beers, and a schmecken selection of German and Austrian wines. Every Friday and Saturday night until the end of October, get your “gemütlich” on with Oktoberfest music, Dirndl and Lederhosen, Stein holding contests, and free giveaways. The menu boasts various versions of schnitzel, sausages, pretzels, and imported German Oktoberfest drafts. Reservations are highly recommended.
206 N. Western Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
This year, Biergarten celebrates Oktoberfest every weekend. The menu includes a rotating Wurstplatte of the week, such as Bockwurst (pork & veal), Debreczinger (smoked beef & pork), and Cured Smoked Bratwurst w/ Cheddar. Featured on The Food Network’s Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, this hip gastropub offers Korean and German fusion food, along with other great bar food items. Biergarten’s extensive draft and tap list offers a vast selection of beers and ales from Germany, Iceland, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, as well as domestic brands.
Lake Arrowhead Village
28200 CA-189
Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352
If you’re looking for a real Alpine experience, Lake Arrowhead Oktoberfest can’t be beat. The event is held inside the Lake Arrowhead Village, a replica of an authentic waterfront Alpine Village, with over 250 shops and restaurants. Admission into the event is free, however if you want to drink beer or wine you must buy the event “Starter Package” first, which includes a commemorative Oktoberfest mug and your first beer or wine ticket. Food vendors are offering a wide variety of traditional German food such as German potatoes, bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerkraut, pretzels, coleslaw and more. Festmeister Bill will be leading you in song, dance, games.
One of the most scenic spots in Southern California, Oak Glen is nestled in the heart of Apple Country, located in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. Fall harvest is underway and most orchards are open for you to pick your own mountain tree fresh apples, raspberries and pumpkins. Explore and hike the vast and beautiful offerings of nature at The Wildlands Conservancy and marvel at fall colors as brilliant as those of New England. Afterwards, enjoy homemade cider, hot apple pie, and other fresh baked apple treats at one of the family restaurants.
40824 Big Bear Blvd.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Autumn in Big Bear Lake – the self-proclaimed Falltacular Season – is a truly magical time in the grassy expanse known as Bear Valley. The breathtaking fall foliage is the highlight of the season, with aspens, maples, oaks, and elms proudly displaying their crimson, yellow, and orange hues against the evergreen forest. Discover numerous ways to take it all in, from guided Segway tours to horseback riding, mountain biking, and even a simple walk through the neighborhood. And for beer lovers, Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is on for 2021. More info HERE
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
6067 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the largest institution in the United States devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking. Designed by Pritzker Prize—winning architect Renzo Piano, the Academy Museum’s seven floors feature exhibition spaces, education and special event spaces, a conservation studio, a café, and a museum store. In addition, the museum’s 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater and 288-seat Ted Mann Theater will present a year-round calendar of screenings, film series, member programs, panel discussions, family programs, and symposia.
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
Halloween Horror Nights is back with a vengeance at Universal Studios Hollywood. You’ll want to bring plenty of friends with you to share the screams and watch your back as you all make your way through terrifying mazes, face nightmarish creatures in sinister scare zones, lose yourselves in outrageous live entertainment, and escape to some of the park’s most exhilarating attractions. Just as in horror films, where the first to wander off meets a terrible fate, there’s one thing to remember at Halloween Horror Nights: Never Go Alone.
Strange Science 2021: Into the Shadows
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Rd.
San Marino, CA 91108
Enter a dark Victorian landscape and explore peculiar pastimes and creepy characters through live theatrical performances, electrifying presentations, and special displays of rarely seen objects from The Hungtonton’s vaults. LA Opera performs highlights from Stephen Sondheim’s macabre musical, Sweeney Todd. Spine-tingling tales and poems are brought to life by the Guild of St. George in the Edgar Allan Poe Theatre. Thrill to Steam, Dreams, & Screams: The ‘Dreadful’ Collections, featuring unusual Victorian-era objects, books, and prints from the Library Vaults. Dine (if you dare) in the Blood and Velvet Lounge and be mesmerized by a magical performance by CirqueSanity.
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr.
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Descanso Gardens is aglow with festive pumpkins this fall. For three weeks in October, hundreds of carved pumpkins are lining a 1-mile walk through the Camellia Forest and Oak Grove. Along with pumpkins, you’ll see exciting new oversized sculptures made of sticks and other natural materials. The popular Pumpkin House, a hay maze, and themed food and beverages will all help to create a fun harvest festival ambiance.
Photo credits:
Photo #1: Visit Big Bear
Photo #2: Wirtshaus
Photo #3: Biergarten LA
Photo #4: Lake Arrowhead Oktoberfest
Photo #5: Stone Soup Farm & Heritage Orchard
Photo #6: Visit Big Bear
Photo #7: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Photo #8: Halloween Horror Nights
Photo #9: The Huntington Library
Photo #10: Descanso Gardens