Welcome to Almost-Halloween weekend, which is definitely chock full of spooky (and other) fun.
First on Saturday morning, this week’s taking-care-of-business opportunity is the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, in which you can turn in your unused, unwanted or expired medications for safe disposal at the LAPD Hollywood station parking lot, 1358 N. Wilcox Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Next, the LA Public Library also has a couple of non-Halloween-related events that are definitely worth investigating.
First up, at the Downtown Central Library, is a “Money Matter$/L.A. Financial Planning Day,” from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be free one-on-one consultations, along with workshops about investing, credit and debt, retirement and more. You can sign up at FinancialPlanningDays.org or call 1-877-861-7826 for more information. Also, our friends at our local John C. Fremont branch library, 6121 Melrose Ave., are displaying a number of books related to the workshop content, and invite you to stop by that location and check them out if you’d like even more information on money and financial planning.
Also, while you’re at the Fremont Library, you can stay for a free 2 p.m. workshop on Genealogy: Finding Your Roots.  Researching your family tree is now easier than ever, and History/Generalogy Librarian Julie Huffman will show you how to navigate the library’s databases for help in discovering the details of your own heritage.
Later in the afternoon, from 4 to 8:30 p.m., the seasonal spookiness begins with the 8th Halloween Haunt in the Wilshire Park neighborhood (an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone area bordered by Wilshire, Crenshaw, Wilton and Olympic). Over the years, the event has morphed from a simple front-yard get-together into the neighborhood’s biggest social and fundraising event. It will take place on Bronson Avenue, between Wilshire and 8th Street, and will include both old favorites and new fun, including carnival games, zombies, a “Where the Woodbine Twineth” haunted house, the Kramer Ghost Train, a Little Free Library ribbon cutting, fortune teller, face painting, pinata, bounce houses, dance party, silent auction, food and costume contests. For more information, or to donate, see the event link above.
Also on Saturday night is one of the city’s biggest Halloween-season events, the 18th annual Dia de los Muertos festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  This huge arts and culture extravaganza features live performances, traditional rituals, more than 100 ceremonial altars, Aztec ritual dancers, a costume contest, and Mexican arts, crafts and food for sale. This year, the festival tips its “feather and flower adorned hat” to the Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada, who created “many of the foundational images of Dia de los Muertos that are still venerated today and which have become treasured images of Mexican culture and identity.” Tickets are available at https://hollywoodforever.ticketfly.com/event/1526932-dia-de-los-muertos-day-los-angeles/
On Sunday morning, car enthusiasts can enjoy the monthly Cruise-In event, starting at 8 a.m. at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Enjoy strolling through rows of classic, custom, and exotic cars, trucks motorcycles and more on the third floor of the museum’s parking structure. Complimentary parking, coffee and bagels are provided to all who attend.
Later, starting at noon, the LAPD Wilshire Division station, 4861 Venice Blvd., will host its huge annual Open House event from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., featuring food, games, a bounce house, LAPD exhibits, neighborhood contacts, LA city resources, guided tours of the station, face painting, and a special appearance by R&B star Jesse Campbell.
And also starting at noon, the biggest event of the year on our own Larchmont Blvd, the annual Larchmont Family Fair, runs on Larchmont Blvd. between Beverly and First Street from noon to 5 p.m. Neighbors and friends, families, adults and children will all find something to enjoy at this annual extravaganza. It features booths with games, food and more from local schools and community non-profits, a huge talent show and, of course, the traditional children’s Halloween costume contest. There will also be bounce houses, a petting zoo, pony rides (but no camel rides this year)…as well as the now-traditional pie-baking contest. (Note that because of the Fair, there will be no Larchmont Farmers’ Market this week.)
Also getting in on the seasonal fun, Big Sunday will host its 8th annual Spooky Sunday event, starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday at its headquarters at 6111 Melrose Ave. Volunteers will staff this huge party for disadvantaged kids and their families, which includes “Trunk or Treating,” a costume giveaway, haunted house, carnival games, arts and crafts, face painting, pumpkin carving, treat bag decorating, and cookie decorating. See the links above to sign up for your favorite activity if you’d like to help out as a volunteer.
And what better way to end your pre-Halloween weekend than with a classic spooky fun movie – the original Ghostbusters – at 7:30 p.m. at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood (6712 Hollywood Blvd.)Â The film stars Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd as a wacky ghost removal team who contend with gobs of green ectoplasm…and a climactic encounter with the Stay-Puft marshmallow man.
Finally, and perhaps most frightening of all, be sure to note that there will be a full closure of Wilshire Blvd. at Western Ave. this weekend. From 9 p.m. last night (Friday) through Monday, October 30 at 6 a.m., workers will be doing utility work and pile activities related to Metro subway construction. Northbound and southbound Western Ave. will remain open to thru traffic.
Have a great weekend!
