LA Food Events in September 2026: The Full Calendar

Chef residencies, two wine festivals, the last of the ice cream and a free afternoon in the grass.

September is when the Los Angeles food calendar wakes back up. The summer markets wind down in the first week, the beach cities run their wine festivals mid-month, and the fall festival season starts stacking at the end. Here is the month in order, with what each one actually costs and where to park.

Through September 6

Ice Cream Alley at Smorgasburg LA

The 10th anniversary run of Smorgasburg's summer ice cream showcase closes out with two more Sundays, August 30 and September 6. The Alley works as a launchpad rather than a sideshow: Wanderlust Creamery, Kinrose, Happy Ice, Sad Girl Creamery, Moom Maam and Bernie's all started there before earning permanent spots. ROW DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St. Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission, first two hours of parking free. Dogs not permitted.

September 2

Chain opens a six-month residency at Topanga Social

B.J. Novak's Chain takes over a space inside Westfield Topanga's food hall for six months, the first long-term residency in the brand's history. Roy Choi, Mason Hereford, Mei Lin and Calvin Eng each contribute a signature dish built around nostalgic chain restaurant food. For the Valley it means nationally recognized chefs cooking in a mall food hall for half a year. Topanga Social, Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park. Opens September 2.

September 13

Americana in the Park, Santa Monica

Free, all ages, and next to a Metro stop. Grammy-winning guitarist Albert Lee headlines, with Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, Abby Posner and the Big Fall, Jason Luckett and the Bob Baker Marionettes. Food trucks on site. Presented by Santa Monica Cultural Affairs with McCabe's Guitar Shop and KCRW. Gandara Park, 1819 Stewart St. 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Free. Metro E Line stops at Bergamot Station, adjacent.

September 18 to 20

Malibu Food and Wine

Three days at Saddlerock Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains, pairing chefs with winemakers in a setting that is most of the appeal. Ticketing is by session rather than a single pass, so check which day suits before buying. Saddlerock Ranch, Malibu. Ticketed.

September 19

Thai Fest by the Beach

A day of Thai food, music and cultural programming on the Santa Monica Pier, which is one of the better free-to-enter settings on the calendar. Food is sold by vendor. Santa Monica Pier. From 11 a.m.

September 25 and 26

Manhattan Beach Food and Wine

Two days at westdrift Manhattan Beach, running tastings, chef demos and a grand tasting format. The South Bay's biggest food weekend, and it sells out most years. westdrift Manhattan Beach. Ticketed.

September 26

Indian Food Festival Los Angeles

The second annual edition, produced by Radio5 Events, moving to a larger outdoor site. Food vendors, DJ sets, a bar and a vendor marketplace across an afternoon. For a city with this much regional Indian cooking, a dedicated festival is overdue. The Compound Event Center. Noon to 5 p.m. Ticketed through Eventbrite.

Just past the line, and worth booking now

• October 2, San Gabriel's Dumpling and Beer Fest returns for its 11th year in the Historic Mission District. Free general admission, ticketed 21-plus beer garden. Tickets have sold out in past years.

• October 2 to 4, RELISH brings Geoffrey Zakarian, Scott Conant, Sherry Yard and Kat Turner to three Orange County venues across eight ticketed events, from a $200 cheese masterclass to a $750 dinner.

• October 4, the Los Angeles Chocolate Salon returns to the Pasadena Convention Center for its 18th year. Entry covers all tastings, $22.50 in advance.

• October 11, Off the Hook, the Santa Monica Seafood Festival, on the pier.

How to work the month

• Buy the sellouts early. Manhattan Beach Food and Wine and the Dumpling and Beer Fest beer garden both go before the date.

• The free ones are the good ones. Americana in the Park, Thai Fest and Smorgasburg cost nothing to enter, and you spend only on what you eat.

• Check transit before you drive. Gandara Park, the Santa Monica Pier and ROW DTLA are all reachable on Metro, which removes the single worst part of a Los Angeles festival day.

Dates, lineups and pricing are set by organizers and change. Confirm with the event before you go. FJM updates this calendar through the month.

For everything else on the calendar, browse food events in Los Angeles, or catch up on LA restaurant news and our guide to new restaurants in Los Angeles.