Critical 5 things to do in L.A.: festivus for the rest of us, August 24-26

During the summer in Los Angeles, people love to do everything outdoors. Angelinos dine al fresco, spend time hiking (a.k.a. celeb sighting) in Runyon, and lounge by the pool. But, the best outdoor events of the summer are always the slew of festivals that L.A. hosts. This weekend, seize your opportunity to indulge in some of tinsel town's best festivals, before the summer ends.

LA Bizarre Film Festival
Kick off your weekend of festivals on Friday with a celebration that promises to live up to its name, the L.A. Bizarre Film Festival. Dedicated to showing the strangest and most outlandish new and underground films in order to "shock and entice" audiences, this event is sure to be something you won't want to miss. In a town where most things tend to be just a bit bizarre, a festival that claims to feature the weirdest of the weird is a must-see. Who knows, you might just discover the next cult classic while you're there.

Echo Park Rising Festival
If you prefer things that tow the line between outside of the box and the conventional, without going straight to the bizarre, you'll want to attend the Echo Park Rising Festival, all about the alternative music scene. Starting at noon on Saturday, a robust lineup of alternative bands will flood Sunset Boulevard to play to massive crowds. Kind of like the more well known Sunset Strip Music Festival, but on the east side.  Venues all over the Echo Park area will open their doors to artists and fans for a long day of music, food and drinks.

The Los Angeles Epicurean Festival
Sure, most festivals offer food in the form of trucks or street vendors, but only one festival this weekend can say that food is the main event. This Sunday the Los Angeles Epicurean Festival brings together the art of food with the craft of winemaking in Downtown L.A. At this festival people can mill about, noshing on great food and finding even better wines to pair them with. Bring your appetite and your refined pallet to this fancy festival, and don't expect to see any food trucks parked outside.

Downtown Pomona Art Walk
Rather attend something a bit more free-spirited? Try the Downtown Pomona Art Walk this Saturday. An astounding 36 galleries open their doors to the public to host receptions for their latest exhibits. Hundreds of local artists are featured and of course, there's always a bevy of food and drinks to enjoy. The best part? It's free.

Streety Food Cinema
Not quite a festival, but still pretty festive, the Streety Food Cinema is a great way to spend a Saturday night. This Saturday, they're showing the classic feel-good films, Weird Science and The Breakfast Club. Grab a picnic blanket, some 80's film enthusiasts, and even your dog and set up outside of the LA Coliseum to partake in this fun double feature. No need to worry about the hassle of packing your own food either; this event is always surrounded by food trucks.