Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best things to do in Pasadena & San Gabriel Valley the weekend of Oct 2–4, 2026: 17 picks, refreshed weekly.
17 picks · checked Sep 21
Historic Mission District, San Gabriel, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyRobert A. Estremo · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFree to walk in: a San Gabriel night market organized entirely around dumplings.
Historic Mission District, San Gabriel, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyRobert A. Estremo · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFree to walk in: a San Gabriel night market organized entirely around dumplings.
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Mount Wilson Observatory — 100-inch Telescope Dome, Mount Wilson, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyDoc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHear Mahler and Brahms piano quartets inside Mount Wilson’s 100-inch telescope dome, with a reception between performances.
Mount Wilson Observatory — 100-inch Telescope Dome, Mount Wilson, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyDoc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHear Mahler and Brahms piano quartets inside Mount Wilson’s 100-inch telescope dome, with a reception between performances.
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Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena, Old Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyIrie Taco takes over food duty at Stone’s Pasadena tap room for a Friday evening pop-up.
Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena, Old Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyIrie Taco takes over food duty at Stone’s Pasadena tap room for a Friday evening pop-up.
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Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyFlickr user Canon in 2D · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA sharp, dark fable about what a town will do for money; weekend shows are selling fast.
Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyFlickr user Canon in 2D · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA sharp, dark fable about what a town will do for money; weekend shows are selling fast.
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Pasadena City College, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyMichael Wu · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFree entry to 400-plus vendors, with 50-plus record sellers and proceeds fund scholarships.
Pasadena City College, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyMichael Wu · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFree entry to 400-plus vendors, with 50-plus record sellers and proceeds fund scholarships.
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Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyPinguino Kolb · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWalk through glowing pumpkins and illuminated art as Carved opens at Descanso Gardens, with new Alexander Reichstein sculptures.
Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyPinguino Kolb · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWalk through glowing pumpkins and illuminated art as Carved opens at Descanso Gardens, with new Alexander Reichstein sculptures.
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Pasadena Center Conference Building, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyArtisan chocolatiers offer tastings, demonstrations and talks at Pasadena Center.
Pasadena Center Conference Building, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyArtisan chocolatiers offer tastings, demonstrations and talks at Pasadena Center.
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Pasadena Center Conference Building, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyA three-day Scream fan convention brings celebrity guests, panels, photo ops and cosplay.
Pasadena Center Conference Building, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyA three-day Scream fan convention brings celebrity guests, panels, photo ops and cosplay.
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Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyA free K–12 family expo with hands-on learning, speakers and college and career resources.
Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyA free K–12 family expo with hands-on learning, speakers and college and career resources.
Add to calendarL.A. Taco's birria event takes over Santa Anita Park, starting Saturday at noon.
L.A. Taco's birria event takes over Santa Anita Park, starting Saturday at noon.
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Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyBoothsift · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsKidspace opens a free Friday afternoon window in Pasadena, with advance reservations required.
Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyBoothsift · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsKidspace opens a free Friday afternoon window in Pasadena, with advance reservations required.
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Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyNorton Simon Museum Free Friday Evening has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyNorton Simon Museum Free Friday Evening has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyLive Racing at Santa Anita Park has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyLive Racing at Santa Anita Park has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyPinktober benefitting the American Cancer Society has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyPinktober benefitting the American Cancer Society has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyLego Monster Build has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyLego Monster Build has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Good Alley Reserve, Arcadia, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyGood Alley Reserve has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Good Alley Reserve, Arcadia, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyGood Alley Reserve has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Robinson Park Recreation Center, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyNeighborhood Walk and Roll has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Robinson Park Recreation Center, Pasadena, Pasadena & San Gabriel ValleyNeighborhood Walk and Roll has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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