Big Festival Weekend

'Tis the weekend for festivals across the city; most are cheap or even free. You hitting any of them? Here are some of the bigger ones:


The brand-new Swerve Festival celebrates "West Coast creative culture and its community inspired by art, film, music and action sports."

Events take place at the Barnsdall Art Park, the Vista Theatre and the Echoplex; highlights include free music performances by DeVotchKa, The Black Angels and Bonde Do Role, Foreign Born, Oh No! Oh My!, Snowden, Illinois, Thee More Shallows and more; the U.S. premiere of the doc "Surfwise" and the West Coast premiere of the Joy Division-themed biopic "Control"; and a closing night party featuring We Are Scientists ($5).

Swerve Festival
September 28-30 (various times)
Barnsdall Art Park, Vista Theatre and Echoplex
www.swervefest.com


Launched six years ago by Jimmy Kimmel and others (it even takes place behind Kimmel's Hollywood talk show studio), the Feast of San Gennaro (based on the New York tradition) has turned into a rather large L.A. celebration of all things Italian.

Hosted this year by Kimmel and Adam Carolla, the event will celebrate Italian culture, food and entertainment, featuring live music, street performers, strolling musicians, a kid’s corner, rides and games."

Feast of San Gennaro
September 28-30, 2007 (11am-10pm)
1651 N. Highland Ave. (South of Hollywood Blvd.)
$5 Admission - kids under 12 free, student discounts.
www.feastofla.org


Thrown by Steve Aoki's Dim Mak label and Stake Productions, the Neighborhood Music Festival -- held Saturday in Exposition Park -- features Mickey Avalon, Spank Rock, DJ AM, Chromeo, Aoki and others.

Neighborhood Music Festival
September 29 (3pm-2am)
Exposition Park in Downtown Los Angeles
3911 S. Figueroa St.
www.neighborhoodmusicfest.com


The fourth annual one-day Grand Avenue Festival features musical performances inside Walt Disney Concert Hall, dance at the Colburn School, free admission, guided tours and art-making at The Museum of Contemporary Art, art-making on the Music Center Plaza, family musical programs at the Los Angeles Public Library, a drum circle and flute choir along Grand Avenue, "A Taste of Downtown" (featuring food from downtown eateries) and more. The Cathedral, L.A. Phil, and other orgs are also participating.

Grand Avenue Festival
Sunday, September 30, 2007 (11am-5pm)
Grand Avenue (between Temple and 5th Street)
www.grandavenuefestival.org