Tequila & Mezcal Pop-Up Fest in Marina del Rey

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and one of the more grown-up options on the list of Things Happening In Los Angeles that day starts well before the costume parties. The Tequila & Mezcal Pop-Up Fest takes over Baja Cantina in Marina del Rey from 4 to 8 PM on October 31, hosted by the Los Angeles Tequila Club.

What the afternoon looks like

This isn't a wristband-and-plastic-cup crawl. The organizers pitch it as a slower, conversational tasting, where you work through a spread of tequila and mezcal brands and actually talk about what's in the glass. How it's made. Where the agave grew. Why one pour tastes like cooked sweet potato and the next like campfire smoke.

That pace suits agave spirits. Mezcal in particular rewards sipping, and four hours gives you room to compare a few side by side instead of knocking them back. If you've only ever met tequila as a shot with lime and salt, it's a cheap way to find out what the good stuff tastes like.

The crowd skews toward people who already care about this stuff, so expect to hear opinions about highland versus lowland tequila. Ask questions. That's the whole point of the format.

The venue

Baja Cantina sits at 311 Washington Boulevard in Marina del Rey, on the stretch of Washington that runs down toward the Venice Pier and the beach. The organizers describe the room as warm and relaxed, which is the right setting for lingering over a pour instead of rushing through a line of booths.

Practical info

• When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 4 to 8 PM (doors listed at 3:50 PM)
• Where: Baja Cantina, 311 Washington Boulevard, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
• Tickets: Eventbrite lists tiers from $0.00 up to $87.21. Check which tiers are still available before you go.
• Age: 21+, so bring ID
• Parking: The listing says free parking
• Refunds: Available up to 7 days before the event

If you're rounding up LA events this weekend and want something that isn't a haunted house, this fits neatly before a Halloween night out. It ends at 8, which leaves the evening open.

Since you'll be tasting spirits for a few hours, plan a rideshare home rather than driving. Venice and the rest of the Westside are a short hop away if you're continuing the night.

For more food and drink picks and other things to do in Los Angeles, browse the food and drink events section or see what's coming up across Los Angeles.

Times, pricing, and parking details come from the Eventbrite listing. Confirm with the organizer before heading out.