Walktober Events Kickoff

Good afternoon, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. It’s October! That means, cooler weather for walking.
Just kidding—it’s 100 degrees and there’s an extreme heat warning in place for this weekend. Stay cool out there!

In this weekend’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena Is Spending October on Foot

• Events this Weekend

• The Pasadena Playbill: plays this weekend

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

THE DIGEST

Pasadena Is Spending October on Foot

Walktober is back for its ninth year with a month of free walks, tours and activities across Pasadena. The annual event is organized by the City’s Department of Transportation with Day One and the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, and the lineup goes well beyond getting a few extra steps in.

There are architecture tours, neighborhood walks, local history, gardens, birding and even a deep dive into Route 66. Pasadena Heritage will lead tours through both the north and south sides of Old Pasadena, while other walks explore historic Oak Knoll, East Washington Village and the former 710 stub.

A few that caught my attention: Roots, Removal, Renewal, which looks at the history of Japanese Americans in Pasadena; Arroyo’s Edge, an architecture-focused walk; and a Caltech Mostly Modern Campus Tour on Halloween.

Events run throughout October, with several happening this weekend. Everything is free, but many walks have limited capacity, so registering ahead of time is recommended.

See the full Walktober calendar and register here.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

This Weekend

🎃 Carved: A fall evening event at Descanso Gardens with carved pumpkin displays throughout the grounds. Runs until Nov 4. Descanso Gardens | Friday | October 2 | 6–10PM

Friday (10/2)

🔪 Return to Woodsboro: A Scream 30th-anniversary reunion celebrating 30 years of terror. 300 E Green Street, Pasadena | Friday | October 2 | 5PM

🎭 Something Rotten! JR.: Young Stars Theatre performs the musical comedy about two brothers who try to out-Shakespeare Shakespeare by inventing the musical. Fremont Centre Theatre | Friday | October 2 | 7PM

🥋 Caltech Tai Chi Club: The on-campus tai chi club meets at Caltech's Hameetman Center. Caltech's Hameetman Center 220 – Multipurpose Room | Friday | October 2 | 7PM

🎭 Outside Mullingar: John Patrick Shanley's play about two Irish neighbors navigating family land, stubborn pride, and long-unspoken feelings. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Friday | October 2 | 8PM

🎭 The Visit: A production playing at The Pasadena Playhouse, though no additional details were provided. The Pasadena Playhouse | Friday | October 2 | 8PM

Saturday (10/3)

🚶 Greater Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk: The American Heart Association's annual fundraising walk circles the Rose Bowl to support cardiovascular research and CPR training programs. Rose Bowl Stadium | Saturday | October 3 | 8AM

🌽 Pasadena Farmers' Market at Victory Park: A certified market with about 60 vendors selling farm-fresh produce, fish, jams, and other farm products. Victory Park | Saturday | October 3 | 8AM–12PM

🐦 Walktober 2026: Pasadena Audubon Bird Walk at the Gamble House with CM Tyron Hampton: A guided bird walk around the Gamble House grounds led by Pasadena Audubon and Council Member Tyron Hampton. The Gamble House | Saturday | October 3 | 8–9:30AM

🌹 Burbank Tournament of Roses Craft Faire: Shop crafts, browse food trucks, enter raffles and enjoy free painting during the BWP Open House. Centennial Courtyard, Burbank Water and Power Yard | Saturday | October 3 | 10AM

🚶 Neighborhood Walk and Roll: A morning walk and roll event starting at Robinson Park Recreation Center. Robinson Park Recreation Center | Saturday | October 3 | 9–11AM

🎓 Black Education Expo K-12: A K-12 education expo connecting families with schools, resources, and opportunities. Pasadena Convention Center | Saturday | October 3 | 9AM–2PM

🛒 La Canada Farmers' Market: Weekly outdoor market running along Rinetti Lane next to the La Cañada Flintridge Post Office. Rinetti Lane (Next to LCF Post Office) | Saturday | October 3 | 9AM–1PM

🚶 Walktober 2026: Environmental Justice Element Neighborhood Walk: A guided neighborhood walk exploring local environmental health conditions like street safety, green space, and air quality. Robinson Park Recreation Center | Saturday | October 3 | 9–11AM

🎭 Bob Baker Marionettes Hallowe'en Spooktacular Show: The legendary Bob Baker puppet troupe performs a Halloween-themed marionette show in an open-air courtyard. One Colorado Courtyard | Saturday | October 3 | 10AM & 1:30PM

🧱 LEGO Monster Build: Kids build monster-themed LEGO creations at this all-day drop-in event. Kidspace Children's Museum | Saturday | October 3

🏠 2026 AIAPF Birdhouse Competition: Architects compete in a birdhouse design challenge held in Vroman's outdoor courtyard. Vroman's Paseo Courtyard | Saturday | October 3 | 10AM–12PM

🌱 Waverly School Farm Open House: Families can tour the working school farm where students from preschool through upper grades do hands-on work in soil science and sustainability. The Waverly School Farm | Saturday | October 3 | 10AM–12PM

🧶 Crafting Meet-Up: Bring a portable project — knitting, watercolor, collage, or similar — and work on the lawn under the Gamble House's big oak tree. The Gamble House | Saturday | October 3 | 12PM

📖 Pakistani Arts Council presents Salima Hashmi discussing her new memoir "Waiting in the Wings": Pioneering Pakistani painter and activist Salima Hashmi, eldest daughter of poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, discusses her memoir co-written with Maryam Hasan. Lamanda Park Branch Library | Saturday | October 3 | 2–3PM

🎨 AC Hotel: Paint & Sip: Snow Fox Given: Guests paint a snow fox scene while sipping drinks at this hotel-hosted art session. AC Hotel Pasadena | Saturday | October 3 | 2PM

🚶 Walktober ¡Vamos a caminar!: A community walk ending at Mijares Restaurant. Mijares Restaurant | Saturday | October 3 | 3:30–6PM

🍔 Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena 19th Annual Black Tie & Burgers: The club's long-running formal fundraiser pairs black-tie attire with casual burger fare. Raymond Theatre | Saturday | October 3 | 6PM

🎸 Singer-Songwriter Sarah McQuaid: British-American folk artist Sarah McQuaid performs an acoustic set. Knox Presbyterian Church | Saturday | October 3 | 7:30–9:30PM

🍂 Autumn Festival: A seasonal festival at The Huntington's Japanese Heritage Shoya House. The Huntington's Japanese Heritage Shoya House | Saturday | October 3 | 12–4PM

Sunday (10/4)

🛍️ PCC Flea Market: Over 400 vendors sell antiques and collectibles ranging from high-end pieces to rummage-sale finds in the PCC parking lots. Corner of Hill and Del Mar | Sunday | October 4 | 8AM–3PM

🚶 Walktober Urban Hike: A guided urban hike starting from the lawn south of the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center parking lot. Lawn South of Rosebowl Aquatic Center Parking Lot | Sunday | October 4 | 8–10AM

🍫 2026 Los Angeles Chocolate Salon & Festival: Artisan chocolatiers and confectioners offer tastings, demos, and chef talks at this 18th annual show. Pasadena Convention Center | Sunday | October 4 | 10AM–3:30PM

🎵 "Tehrangeles Vice" Listening Session: A curated listening session focused on Iranian diaspora pop recorded in Los Angeles between 1983 and 1993. The Rose Hills Foundation Garden Court | Sunday | October 4 | 10–11:30AM

🎹 Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome: Piano Quartets: Pianist David Kaplan joins Ambroise Aubrun, Ariana Solotoff and Cécilia Tsan for Mahler and Brahms inside Mount Wilson Observatory’s historic 100-inch telescope dome. Mount Wilson Observatory | Sunday | Oct. 4 | 3PM & 5PM

🎻 PCO Chamber Music Recital: Pasadena Community Orchestra musicians and friends perform an afternoon of chamber music, with proceeds supporting the orchestra’s Young Artist Competition winners. Pasadena Conservatory of Music, Barrett Hall | Sunday | Oct. 4 | 3PM

🎭 Lineage Performing Arts Center to Celebrate 27th Season with Gala 2026: A fundraising gala marking the dance company's 27th season, held at the Gamble House. The Gamble House | Sunday | October 4 | 4–6PM

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events are added to the News N’ Roses events page. Check them out!

*Nothing in this section is sponsored. These are just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know if something is sponsored!

THE PASADENA PLAYBILL

🎭 On Stage This Weekend

Something Rotten! JR. — Fremont Centre Theatre
Young Stars Theatre takes on the musical comedy about two brothers trying to out-Shakespeare Shakespeare by inventing the musical.
Friday, October 2 | 7PM

Outside Mullingar — Sierra Madre Playhouse
John Patrick Shanley’s romantic comedy follows two stubborn Irish neighbors caught between family land, old grudges and long-unspoken feelings.
Friday, October 2 | 8PM

The Visit — Pasadena Playhouse
A wealthy woman returns to her struggling hometown decades after leaving, bringing an extraordinary offer—and a devastating condition. Last weekend!
Friday, October 2 | 8PM

Hallowe’en Spooktacular — One Colorado Courtyard
Bob Baker Marionette Theater brings its Halloween puppets to Old Pasadena for a pair of open-air performances.
Saturday, October 3 | 10AM & 1:30PM

WEATHER

Friday

98 🌡️ 69 |☀️| 💨 S 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 63 (Moderate)
💧Humidity: 22%

Saturday

99 🌡️ 76 |☀️| 💨 S 8 mph

Sunday

98 🌡️ 75 |☀️| 💨 S 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎶 Chloe Perrier: French jazz singer Chloe Perrier performs jazz standards, bossa nova, French songs and original music. Edwin Mills | Friday | October 2 | 7PM

🎶 DARKSIDE: DARKSIDE brings its 2026 touring residency to Los Angeles with a live performance at Lodge Room. Lodge Room (Highland Park) | Friday | October 2 | 7PM

🎤 Live Tribute to Depeche Mode with MODE 101: MODE 101 performs a live Depeche Mode tribute featuring the full Violator album, followed by a dance party with music videos. The Mixx Pasadena | Friday | October 2 | 8PM

🎙️ Ed Romero: Jazz vocalist Ed Romero performs music inspired by the Great American Songbook. Edwin Mills | Saturday | October 3 | 7PM

🎸 Singer-Songwriter Sarah McQuaid: British-American folk artist Sarah McQuaid performs an acoustic set. Knox Presbyterian Church | Saturday | October 3 | 7:30–9:30PM

🎵 "Tehrangeles Vice" Listening Session: A curated listening session focused on Iranian diaspora pop recorded in Los Angeles between 1983 and 1993. The Rose Hills Foundation Garden Court | Sunday | October 4 | 10–11:30AM

🎻 PCO Chamber Music Recital: Pasadena Community Orchestra musicians and friends perform an afternoon of chamber music, with proceeds supporting the orchestra’s Young Artist Competition winners. Pasadena Conservatory of Music, Barrett Hall | Sunday | Oct. 4 | 3PM

🎹 Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome: Piano Quartets: Pianist David Kaplan joins Ambroise Aubrun, Ariana Solotoff and Cécilia Tsan for Mahler and Brahms inside Mount Wilson Observatory’s historic 100-inch telescope dome. Mount Wilson Observatory | Sunday | Oct. 4 | 3PM & 5PM

🎷 Ken Song: Ken Song performs an evening of jazz. Edwin Mills | Sunday | October 4 | 6PM

🎤 Charlie Burg: Charlie Burg performs live at Lodge Room. Lodge Room (Highland Park) | Sunday | October 4 | 7PM

THANKS!

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