Día de los Muertos: A cornucopia of altars and performances honoring Day of the Dead will flower, like a chrysanthemum or marigold, in the days ahead around Southern California, but one of the largest, and liveliest, unfolds at Hollywood Forever on Saturday, Oct. 24. Elaborately designed altars — and an alter contest — and extraordinary calaca make-up on attendees, and hair flowers and hats, too, imbue the ethereal gathering with much beauty. As do the dancers and singers; look for Lila Downs on stage, and Edna Vazquez, and a host of haunting musical and movement-based interludes? The party lasts for twelve hours, from noon to midnight.
Every Angeleno Counts: Homeboy Industries has been instrumental in helping thousands of Angelenos discover a fresh path, and the community-cool organization is about to throw its "largest event ever." Every Angeleno Counts will include a 5K, a Thousand Friend Brunch presented by Homegirl Cafe, a signing of "Prison Ramen" by author and actor Clifton Collins, Jr., and an art show. KPCC is presenting and the place? The Homeboy Industries HQ at 130 S. Bruno Street.
IndieCade: You can leave your controller and headset at home as you make for Culver City and this mega gamer happening, the oft-billed "Sundance" of the gaming industry. Independent games are the theme, and not only can you try some out, you can see the cutting-edge-y stuff that is going down behind the screen. What will you be playing next year? And what leaps-and-bounds are coming to a joystick near you? The fun and panels and discussions and socializing and game-trying is on through Sunday, Oct. 25. Do check the schedule to make sure the thing you want to do is happening when you want to do it.
Anaheim Fall Festival & Halloween Parade: Lots and lots of towns host an autumn shindig that's been around since your mom and dad were kids, but few places can say that your great-grandparents might have been in attendance. A certain OC burg can, and its long-running, costume-tastic, small-town-meets-bigger-town to-do is about to hit year 91 on Saturday, Oct. 24. A parade, a doggie costume showdown, Day of the Dead sights, and more macabre (but family friendly) merriment fill out the not-too-fearsome festivities. Anaheim Fall Fest, you're less than a decade from your centennial. Congrats (and best start preparing).
Return to Foreverhouse: Machine Project, that Echo Park-based, oh-so-mirthful collective of quirky-notioned artists, has a knack for doing some off-the-beaten-path stuff, like the convenience store installation that looked very much like a convenience store only with a lot of slightly warped products. The fall treat for 2015 is a journey through a fur-covered waiting room into a weird world of "vampiric furniture" and "an extensive rotating cast." If you prefer your Halloween thrills to come with a lot of art, and some participation, too, this could be the eerie experience you crave.
DTLA Oyster Festival: You could spend a whole lot of cash zipping around the country to try a host of briny oysters at a plethora of famous oyster farms, or you could make for Grand Central Market on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25, where representatives from several famous farms, and their ready-to-eat oysters, will be in the house. Best show with some singles, as each oyster is two bucks, and best show with a readiness to learn all about oyster shucking, oyster preparation, and oyster sustainability issues. But to use a dab of hot sauce or not? Debate that, oyster aficionados.
