Saturday 7/30

Midsummer Scream @ Long Beach Convention Center | Festival

Halloween comes a few months early with a weekend-long festival based on the holiday. Walkthrough attractions and a series of panels including the creative minds behind “American Horror Story: Hotel” and Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” fill the weekend with spooks.

$25-$45

11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday

300 E Ocean Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90802

Sunday 7/31

Summer Soda Tasting @ Galco’s Soda Pop Stop | Food

Though the idea of a soda sampling event may be strange in comparison to a beer or wine version, the soda tasting still offers a wide variety of sugary drinks from all over the world. For those who pride themselves on burping, there will be a ‘burp-off’ for kids ages 6 to 12 to find the best belcher.

$15

5 – 8 p.m.

5702 York Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90042

Monday 8/1

“Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters” Exhibit @ LACMA | Museum

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s gruesome visions of monsters, death and other horrors stake out a part of LACMA from August until the end of November.

$25

5905 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Wednesday 8/3

“Suicide Squad Rebirth #1” Signing @ Collector’s Paradise | Comics

Leading up to the theatrical release of “Suicide Squad,” comic book artist Philip Tan will sign copies of the “Suicide Squad” reboot series.

Free

6 p.m.

319 S. Arroyo Parkway

Pasadena, CA 91105

Thursday 8/4

CraftNight: Disguise & Performance, A Mask Making Workshop with Gronk” @ Craft & Folk Art Museum“

Chicano artist Glugio Nicandro, known as “Gronk,” hosts a mask making workshop that ties in with his current showing at the Craft & Folk Museum. With a background in performance art in addition to painting, Gronk shares his mask craftsmanship techniques he uses for set design.

$8

7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Los Angeles, CA

Friday 8/5

Ribs, Pigs and Watermelon @ Huntington Beach Pier | Food/Festival

A professional barbecue cook-off, watermelon eating competition and live music fill the Huntington Beach Pier in an effort to raise money for homeless veterans. Veterans and active military personnel get free admission.

$10

5 p.m.

315 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Huntington Beach, CA 92648