SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes Day of the Dog, Dia de Los Muertos, & Off the Hook Seafood Festivals, and much more!
Locals’ Night on the Pier: Gather your friends and family and head down to the Santa Monica Pier for youth activities, a car show, local DJs and live music from local bands, art exhibits, and so much more. Thursday, Oct. 16, 3:30 - 10:30p.m. santamonicapier.org/localsnight
Annual 3rd St. Promenade Día de los Muertos Celebration: Expect public art by Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero 💀🌼, live performances 🎤💃🏻, kid and pet-friendly activities, a Latinx pop-up market hosted 🛍️, competition for the best dressed catrina / catrin, and community altars, and more. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2 - 7p.m. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-dia-de-los-muertos-celebration-in-downtown-santa-monica-tickets-1514147719589
The US Open of Paddle Tennis Venice Beach: The annual paddle tennis doubles tournament brings together players from across California and around the world to the boardwalk courts next to Muscle Beach. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18 and 19 https://www.venicepaparazzi.com/2025/09/17/paddletennis/
Gather & Grow: Vinyl Vibes: This biweekly series at Christine Emerson Reed Park invites families to enjoy hands-on artmaking, live music and interactive performances. Saturday, Oct. 18, 4p.m., 1130 Lincoln Blvd. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vinyl-vibes-tickets-1475463935349
Main St. Day of the Dog Block Party:🐶Main St. will close the streets to cars for a lively community festival, featuring al fresco dining, a beer garden, live music, local vendors, and kids’ activities. Don’t forget to bring your dogs to the party because Day of the Dog returns this year with a wild and free, pet-friendly festival filled with pool parties, dog surfing, foam parties, pup yoga, weiner races and more. FREE. 🏄♂️ Sunday, Oct. 19, 12 - 7p.m. all along on Main St. https://www.facebook.com/events/401809352920859/
The Artist Fair Santa Monica:This outdoor gallery market showcases all different types of artists like painters, woodworkers, jewelry, clothing, sculptures and music! Bringing the community together to enjoy the park in this family dog friendly event! Come enjoy some cool tunes and meet the artists. 🎨👨🎨 FREE. Sunday, Oct. 19, 10a.m. - 5p.m., near Tower 25 in Ocean Park (2410 Ocean Front Walk) https://www.instagram.com/theartistfair
Santa Monica History Museum History is Not Trivial Gala: Come together not only to mark Santa Monica’s 150th birthday, but also to honor our History Museum that has preserved its stories, safeguarded its heritage, and connected generations through history. $150. Sunday, Oct. 19, 4:30p.m., SaMo Bay Woman’s Club, 1210 4th St. https://santamonicahistory.ejoinme.org/2025Gala
Cinema Sundays at Sunset on the Promenade: Ghostbusters: 📽️Third Street Promenade transforms into Santa Monica's most charming outdoor movie theater every weekend. Sunday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m., in front of the Apple Store, 1415 3rd Street Promenade https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cinema-sundays-at-sunset-tickets-1588204385069
ONGOING: “Two Bit Circus” Pop-Up; LiteBrite Experience; Weekly Western Wednesday Line Dancing (through 10/29); Penmar Sunset Sessions (through 10/31)
What to Eat & Drink?
Sunset Jazz & Pizza Night at The Lobster: Featuring Sonrisa Puerto Rican Rum, enjoy an extended happy hour with their unique Fiery Spiny Lobster Pizza. This event promises complimentary rum sips, $8 mojitos, and live music. We will fill up, so come early and grab your spot or bar stool. Thursday, Oct. 16, 6 - 9p.m. 1602 Ocean Ave. instagram.com/thelobstersm
Wags & Witches at Fairmont Miramar Hotel: Join a howling good time sipping on spooky cocktails, showing off your most creative Halloween looks, and taking part in a spirited costume contest with prizes for the best dressed. Thursday, Oct. 16, 6 - 8p.m., 101 Wilshire Blvd. https://www.fairmont-miramar.com/explore/event-calendar/#!/e/wags-witches-with-wags-walks-07f1cd11
Sipasana Yoga & Wine: Come join us for a rejuvenating day of yoga in the park led by Sipasana founder Katherine Moore, followed by an indoor wine tasting at AJA Vineyards. Sunday, Oct. 19,
Oktoberfest at the Fairmont Bungalows: At this beachside biergarten bash, guests can revel in the lively spirit of Germany’s most famous festival while sipping Paulaner and Hofbräuhaus beers and feasting on authentic Bavarian fare such as artisanal bratwurst, warm pretzels, delicate apple strudel, live bands, traditional Polka tunes, classic folk games with cash prizes, and more. Friday, Oct. 17 – Sunday, Oct. 19, 101 Wilshire Blvd. https://www.fairmont-miramar.com/explore/event-calendar/#!/e/oktoberfest-at-the-miramar-285a74cc
Dost Feast Diwali Dinner: Celebrate the spice of life at a festive five-course Diwali dinner, all about planting friendships and sharing stories. Saturday, Oct. 18, Venice partiful.com/e/ENCI9anEGFcYnQrzjI44
Off the Hook SaMo Seafood Festival: This ocean-inspired tasting event brings together the city’s top chefs and restaurants to showcase their favorite underwater ingredients. Attendees will enjoy seafood tastings, beer gardens, wine tastings, live music, oyster shucking and eating competitions, games, and more fun in the sun with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop. $75 for GA and $150 for VIP Sunday, Oct. 19, Santa Monica Pier https://offthehookseafoodfest.com
Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar Drink The Cellar Event: Life is short, let's drink the cellar. Come share some of the wines we've been dying to open with great food and great company. Executive Chef Wesley Barden is making a 4-course dinner including caviar and foie gras. Kathryn and Randall are opening cellar bottles to pair. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6:30p.m., 1314 7th St. https://resy.com/cities/los-angeles-ca/venues/esters-wine-shop-and-bar/events/drink-the-cellar-2025-10-15
Red Car Winemaker Dinner at Local Kitchen: Red Car Winemaker Tanner Scheer will guide you through a specially curated Taste of Fall Winemaker dinner thoughtfully paired with Red Car Wines. $125 per person includes 4 course menu & wine pairing. Thursday, Oct. 23, 1736 Ocean Park Blvd. https://localkitchenandwinebar.com/red-car-winemaker-dinner/
Not No Bar Listing on The Infatuation's "The Most Fun Dinner Spots In LA" List: "A night at No Bar Bar is frenetic and a bit lawless. Walk into this pizzeria-cocktail bar from the Dudley Market people in Santa Monica and you’ll find dates smooshed up against the bar and groups packed into booths. On Friday and Saturday nights, you’ll probably have to wait in line for a little bit while DJs spin throwback Euro disco over the hi-fi. A spacious table is never a guarantee, but the reward is excellent tiki-inspired cocktails and bubbly-crusted pizza that goes toe-to-toe with the best on the Westside." 2424 Main St. https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/the-most-fun-dinner-spots-in-la
Further Afield:Yelp’s Carn-Evil which benefits the local nonprofit ONEgeneration Adult Daycare & Childcare: LA’s foodie community will gather for an unforgettable evening featuring 50+ local businesses. Guests will enjoy spooky bites, creative cocktails, and entertainment that’s sure to thrill, all for a great cause! The event is free to attend (with a suggested donation) and open to anyone 21+ with a Yelp profile. Wednesday, Oct. 22, Van Nuys https://faire-handshake.my.canva.site/carn-evil/
Looking Ahead: LA Wine & Food Festival (11/7-9)
If there’s something you think is worth highlighting, you can reach out directly to me at sean@smdp.com. Here are my past columns and let me know if you have any feedback on Around Town: Day of the Dog, Dia de Los Muertos, & Off the Hook Seafood Festivals!