> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Things To Do This September in Santa Monica / The Westside - URL: https://www.smdp.com/things-to-do-this-september-in-santa-monica-the-westside/ - Published: 2026-09-02T18:59:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-02T18:59:02.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Events, West LA The Malibu Chili Cook-Off is back. The Palisades Village is open. And the highly anticipated “Ocean Way Festival”, a major music festival, arrives on Santa Monica beach. **Here is what is happening, when, and how to get in.** ## FEATURED: **Farmers Market at Palisades Village** Return to the newly opened Palisades Village for fresh produce and faire. **When:** Every Wednesday, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., through Dec. 30 **Where:** Palisades Village, Pacific Palisades **Cost:** Free The Pacific Palisades Farmers Market comes home following the re-opening of the Palisades Village. Run by Raw Inspiration, it now operates Wednesday afternoons so vendors can keep the Sunday morning markets they moved to during the closure; a Sunday return is the long-term goal. **More info:** [https://rawinspiration.org/locations/pacific-palisades-farmers-market/](https://rawinspiration.org/locations/pacific-palisades-farmers-market/?ref=smdp.com) ## **Malibu Chili Cook-Off** **When:** Sept. 4 to 7\. Friday 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 1 to 10 p.m.; Monday 1 to 8 p.m. **Where:** 23575 Civic Center Way, Malibu **Cost:** $34.96 Single Day, $110.79 Four-Day Pass. Online tickets only, parking not included The 43rd annual Cook-Off returns after a year off for fire recovery, with a judged chili competition, carnival rides, a skate contest, vendors and live music on a new stage curated by presenting sponsor Aviator Nation. Organizers expect 20,000-plus over four days, and 100% of net proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu. Kids 5 and under are free. **More info:** [malibuchilicookoff.org](http://malibuchilicookoff.org/?ref=smdp.com) ## **Abbot Kinney First Fridays** **When:** Friday, Sept. 4, 5 to 9:30 p.m. **Where:** Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice **Cost:** Free The monthly street party lands on Labor Day weekend. Dozens of food trucks line the mile between Venice Boulevard and Main Street, boutiques stay open late and the boulevard takes on a block-party feel. The Abbot Kinney Boulevard Association posts the truck lineup ahead of time. **More info:** [abbotkinneyblvd.com](http://abbotkinneyblvd.com/?ref=smdp.com) ## **"Antigone: In the Language of Kings" at the Getty Villa** **When:** Sept. 10 to Oct. 3\. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m.; previews Sept. 3 to 5. **Where:** Getty Villa Outdoor Theater **Cost:** $45 Thursdays ($40 students and seniors), $50 Fridays, $60 Saturdays; previews $30 The Getty Villa marks 20 years of outdoor classical theater with Latino Theater Company's reimagining of Sophocles, set in pre-conquest Tenochtitlan and performed in English, Spanish and Nahuatl with supertitles. Evelina Fernández adapts, Jose Luis Valenzuela directs. About 90 minutes, no intermission. Not recommended for under 13. **More info:** [getty.edu](http://getty.edu/?ref=smdp.com) ## **Locals' Night at the Santa Monica Pier** **When:** Thursday, Sept. 17, afternoon into evening **Where:** Santa Monica Pier **Cost:** Free, all ages The Pier's free community series opens its 2026-27 season on the third Thursday of September, as it does every year. Presented by Pacific Park, the night brings a classic car show, local DJs and bands, kids' activities and art to the Pier deck, and it is built for residents rather than tourists. **More info:** [santamonicapier.org/localsnight](http://santamonicapier.org/localsnight?ref=smdp.com) ## **Coastal Cleanup Day at Santa Monica Beach** **When:** Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to noon **Where:** Santa Monica Beach and 60-plus sites countywide; site assigned at registration **Cost:** Free Heal the Bay runs L.A. County's share of the world's largest volunteer environmental event, now in its 37th year, with 60-plus sites across beaches, rivers, parks and dive spots. Last year more than 6,700 volunteers pulled roughly 19,000 pounds of trash in a single morning. **More info:** [healthebay.org/coastalcleanupday](http://healthebay.org/coastalcleanupday?ref=smdp.com) ## **Mexican Ballet Folklórico at the Santa Monica Library** **When:** Saturday, Sept. 19, noon to 2 p.m. **Where:** Santa Monica Public Library, Main Branch **Cost:** Free The library kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with a live Mexican ballet folklórico performance, the traditional regional dances of Mexico in full color and full skirts. Last year's edition featured the Santa Monica Ballet Folklórico, the city's only folklórico dance company, founded by Gina de Baca more than 20 years ago in response to the loss of local cultural programs. All ages welcome. **More info:** [https://www.santamonica.gov/events/4j6frm206rv37yq7fmeq2bcvmy/202609191200](https://www.santamonica.gov/events/4j6frm206rv37yq7fmeq2bcvmy/202609191200?ref=smdp.com) ## **Thai Fest by the Beach at the Santa Monica Pier** **When:** Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19 and 20, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. **Where:** Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier **Cost:** Free admission; food and goods for purchase The Pier becomes a two-day Thai street market, produced by Buddy Production with the Royal Thai Consulate-General and supported by the City of Santa Monica. Expect a curated roster of Thai food vendors, Muay Thai demonstrations, traditional dance, live music and shopping from Thai makers, plus a performance troupe flying in from Bangkok. **More info:** [thaifestbythebeach.com](http://thaifestbythebeach.com/?ref=smdp.com) ## **Ocean Way Festival at Santa Monica Beach** **When:** Saturday, Sept. 26, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 27, noon to 10 p.m. **Where:** Santa Monica State Beach, on the sand between the Pier and Bay Street **Cost:** $229 for single-day general admission and $399 for two-day passes. Goldenvoice, the company behind Coachella, stages the first major ticketed music festival ever on Santa Monica's sand. The Killers headline Saturday and Olivia Dean Sunday, with Jack White, Khruangbin, Sublime, Alvvays and DJ Harvey among the acts on two stages. There is no on-site parking and beach lots south of the Pier will be closed. **More info:** [oceanwayfestival.com](http://oceanwayfestival.com/?ref=smdp.com); city logistics at [santamonica.gov/programs/oceanwayfestival](http://santamonica.gov/programs/oceanwayfestival?ref=smdp.com) ## **"Into the Woods" at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre** **When:** Sept. 26 to Oct. 18\. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. **Where:** Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica **Cost:** $29.00 - $39.00 including fees The Morgan-Wixson closes its 80th anniversary season with Sondheim and Lapine's Tony-winning musical, which sends Cinderella, Little Red, Jack and a Baker and his Wife into the woods after their wishes and then makes them live with the results. Elijah Green directs in his full-length debut at the theater, with choreography by Danielle Jensen and music direction by Will Nazareno. **More info:** [morgan-wixson.org](http://morgan-wixson.org/?ref=smdp.com) ## **Abbot Kinney Festival** **When:** Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. **Where:** Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice **Cost:** Free Venice's biggest Sunday returns after being canceled in 2024 and 2025\. The 40-plus-year tradition brings three stages of DJs and live music, more than 300 vendors, food trucks, beer gardens and a kids' area to the full length of the boulevard. It is run by the nonprofit Abbot Kinney Festival Association, with proceeds supporting Venice youth programs, arts and beautification. **More info:** [abbotkinneyfest.com](http://abbotkinneyfest.com/?ref=smdp.com)