Fall Weekender: Dogs, Disco & Downtown Fairs – Your South Bay Guide

Hey South Bay,

Fall's here and the South Bay's doing what it does best: giving you zero excuses to stay home. This weekend's stacked with hometown fairs, haunted mazes, and beer gardens by the beach.
We filtered through everything happening from Manhattan to PV and pulled the good stuff.

Let’s get into it 👇

🗓️ This Week in the South Bay

Friday, October 3
🎾 BTA Masters Doubles Tournament @ Hermosa Beach
🎉  St. Joseph Parish Fiesta (Opening Day) @ Hawthorne
🩰 Kent Club Pilates Pop-Up Event @ Manhattan Beach

Saturday, October 4
🎡 Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair (Day 1) @ Manhattan Beach
🍻 Smacktoberfest Beach Party @ Seaside Lagoon, Redondo Beach
🐶 Dogtoberfest (Opening Weekend) @ South Coast Botanic Garden
👻 Scaredown in Downtown + Spooky Trails Maze @ Old Torrance
🎸 80s Kids Synthpop Show @ Armstrong Theatre, Torrance
🛹 Anatomy of a Skateboard Family Workshop @ Hermosa Beach Museum
🖼️ Tour d’Art (Day 1) @ Palos Verdes Art Center & Artist Studios
🎾 BTA Open Doubles Tournament @ Hermosa Beach
🎉  St. Joseph Parish Fiesta (Day 2) @ Hawthorne

Sunday, October 5
🎡 Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair (Day 2) @ Manhattan Beach
🐾 Furbaby Lovefest @ Gardena City Hall Lawn
🐶 Dogtoberfest (Day 2) @ South Coast Botanic Garden
🖼️ Tour d’Art (Day 2) @ Palos Verdes Artist Studios
🎾 BTA Mixed Doubles Championship @ Hermosa Beach
🎉  St. Joseph Parish Fiesta (Day 3) @ Hawthorne

🎡 Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair

📍 Live Oak Park, Dorsey Field & Joslyn Center – Manhattan Beach
🕒 Saturday & Sunday, October 4–5 | 10AM-6PM | Parade starts at 10 AM on Sat
💰 Free to attend (food, drinks, and attractions available for purchase)

Since 1972, this beloved community tradition has brought Manhattan Beach together for a weekend of old-school fun and local pride. Expect parades, live music, artisan vendors, games, and plenty of comfort food.

🔹 Parade kicks off Saturday with bands & classic cars
🔹 200+ booths with food, games, and handmade goods
🔹 Beer & Wine Gardens = the ultimate local hangout 🍷
👉 Explore the Fair

👻 ScareDown in Downtown Torrance + Spooky Scavenger Hunt

📍 1313 Sartori Ave, Old Torrance
🕒 Saturday, October 4 | 4–9 PM
💰 Free admission | $25 for scavenger hunt

Downtown Torrance transforms into a Halloween block party with live music, games, contests, and plenty of spooky surprises. Families can enjoy Trunk or Treat and crafts earlier in the evening, while thrill-seekers can brave the haunted maze or test their wits in the late-night scavenger hunt.

🔹 Family-friendly fun with live bands, vendors, and Trunk or Treat
🔹 Brand-new haunted maze and “Vampire Club” car show 🧛
🔹 Optional scavenger hunt challenge through Old Torrance ($25)
👉 Event Info

🩰 Kent Club Pilates Pop-Up Class

📍 8th St Lifeguard Tower, Manhattan Beach
🕒 Friday, October 3 | 7:45–9 AM
💰 Free | RSVP required

Kick off your Friday with an athletic mat pilates flow on the sand, led by Olivia Victoria from Kent Wellness Club. This isn't your typical beach workout, expect a full 50 minutes of core-focused movement with ocean views, followed by complimentary matcha from their salty sea & sweet cream bar.

🔹 Athletic mat pilates session designed for all levels
🔹 Complimentary salty sea & sweet cream matcha after class 🍵
🔹 BYO mat, water, and towel (ankle weights optional but recommended)
👉 RSVP Here

🍺 Smacktoberfest @ Seaside Lagoon

📍 Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach
🕒 Saturday, October 4 | 11:30 AM–6 PM
💰 From $44.52 | 21+ only

A beachside beer, wine, and spirits fest mixed with a volleyball tournament and epic DJ sets? Yes, please. This one’s a South Bay staple — even if you're not playing, come for unlimited tastings, food vendors, and sunny vibes.

🔹 20+ drink vendors pouring beer, wine, seltzers & spirits
🔹 Live DJ sets + dunk tank, mini golf, and games
🔹 Volleyball optional — costumes encouraged!
👉 Get Tickets

🎉 St. Joseph Parish Fiesta in Hawthorne

📍 St. Joseph Church, 11901 Acacia Ave, Hawthorne
🕒 Friday–Sunday, October 3–5
💰 Free entry | Raffle tickets $5

A three-day parish tradition packed with food, games, live entertainment, and a community raffle with some seriously big prizes. It’s one of Hawthorne’s most beloved fall gatherings — and a great spot for families.

🔹 Live music, dancing, and performances all weekend
🔹 Carnival games, food booths, and parish community fun
🔹 $5 raffle tickets with prizes including $5,000 cash, a PS5, and an iPhone
👉 Event Info

🐾 Furbaby Lovefest

📍 Gardena City Hall Lawn
🕒 Sunday, October 5 | 1–6 PM
💰 Free to attend | Donations appreciated

A heartfelt day supporting homeless animals — with or without a furry friend in tow. Expect a costume contest, raffles, vendors, adoptions, and free/low-cost pet services.

🔹 “Under the Sea” pet costume & K–5 art contest
🔹 Free nail trims, adoptions, and local vendors
🔹 Family- and pet-friendly fun for a cause
👉 Event Info

🎶 80s Kids – Live SynthPop Concert

📍 Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr, Torrance
🕒 Saturday, October 4 | 8 PM
💰 $30–$40

Get your nostalgia fix with a high-energy tribute to Depeche Mode, OMD, Pet Shop Boys and more. Live synthpop + crowd singalongs = a feel-good '80s night for all ages.

🔹 Live synthpop concert packed with iconic anthems
🔹 All-ages show with tiered seating
🔹 A neon-fueled night of fun in Torrance
👉 Get Tickets

🛹 Anatomy of a Skateboard – Family Workshop

📍 Hermosa Beach Museum, 710 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA
🕒 Saturday, October 4 | 11 AM (arrive by 10:45 AM)
💰 $10 per child (ages 7–13) | Guardians free

Kids (and parents) can explore vintage skateboard design, then build and decorate their own fingerboard in this hands-on family workshop.

🔹 See classic skateboards from the ‘50s–’90s
🔹 Each kid gets a mini board kit to take home
🔹 Limited spots — RSVP required
👉 Reserve a Spot

🐶 Dogtoberfest at South Coast Botanic Garden

📍 South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula
🕒 Every Saturday & Sunday in October | 8 AM–5 PM
💰 $18 general | $5 per dog | VIP: $38

A pup-friendly Oktoberfest celebration with live oompah bands, dog races, craft beer, doggy splash zones, and more — every weekend in October.

🔹 VIP perks: free beer tastings, pupuccinos & pretzel necklaces
🔹 Dog races, Disc Dog shows & costume contests
🔹 Morning crafts + photo ops with Terri the Squirrel 🐿️
👉 Get Tickets

🎨 Tour d’Art 2025

📍 Palos Verdes Art Center + 6 local studios
🕒 Saturday & Sunday, October 4–5 | 11 AM–5 PM
💰 $20 for adults | Kids under 18 free

Explore 7 unique studios across the Palos Verdes Peninsula on this self-guided weekend tour. Meet the artists and shop handmade jewelry, sculpture, photography, and more.

🔹 Includes admission to 7 art-filled locations
🔹 One ticket valid for both days
🔹 Discover and support local creatives
👉 Buy Tickets

🎾 9th Annual BTA Beach Tennis Championships

📍 14th St & The Strand, Hermosa Beach
🕒 October 3–5 | Times vary
💰 Registration fees apply

A full weekend of competitive beach tennis, from Masters and Open Doubles to Intermediate and Mixed brackets. All levels welcome — no partner needed in some divisions.

🔹 $200–$300 prize money for top divisions
🔹 Games run Friday through Sunday
🔹 Registration deadline: October 1
👉 Register Here

📸 South Bay Snapshot

👋 That’s it for this week

Another weekend in the books and another reminder why living here is pretty great. If you know someone who would love the fair, a haunted maze, or just dogs in costume, pass this along and let them in on the fun.

See you out there,
Jaime
Chief Editor @MySouthBay

P.S. Want to sponsor a future issue?
Email [email protected] — let’s talk.