7 awesome Bay Area things to do Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-5

Whether you plan to cozy up with an air conditioner or embrace the heatwave, we have some cool ideas for great weekend, from fun movies and shows to bodacious beer gardens. And “Xanadu!” So let’s get busy, eh?

And if you’re going out to a show, festival or meal, be sure to check the venue or restaurant website for the latest COVID safety updates or heat advisories before you go.

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1 WATCH: A very cool movie. Literally.

On a scorching hot weekend like this, a good thing to remember is most movie theaters are air conditioned. Plus, on Sept. 3, many chain and independent theaters are taking part in a nationwide $3 movie ticket special. So, here are some of your best new movie options, including the satire “Honk for Jesus,” starring Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown.

2 SIP: Have a blast at a beer garden

Yep, Bay Area folks love their beer. And their beer gardens. We checked out some of the many new brewery beer gardens that have opened up recently in the Bay Area (it’s a tough job but someone has to do it) and here are seven of our favorites.

3 SEE & HEAR: Spend a night with the Goo Goo Dolls

The hugely talented Buffalo, N.Y. rock band led by singer John Rzeznik has a new album out and plays Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheatre on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know — and it includes our chat with Rzeznik.

4 PLAY & SIP: Check out Clarksburg

The charming Yolo County town is just an hour or so’s drive from the Bay Area and is home to some terrific wineries and lots of hiking trails. Here’s a guide. (Psst, it includes a barbecue stop for lunch, too.)

5 PLAY: Great shows and festivals abound

From the ever-popular Scottish Games in Pleasanton to the eclectic pop star known as Joji, there’s a lot of fun stuff to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend. Here’s a look.

6 MUNCH: The perfect summer cake

Feel like making a cake but dread turning on the oven on a 105-degree day? We feel your pain. But this no-bake “Lazy Cake” deliciously solves the problem. 

7 SEE & HEAR: Surrender to ‘Xanadu’

The surreal movie that blends romance, rock music and roller skating was so deliciously awful, it helped spawn the annual Raspberry Awards honoring the worst in cinema. The stage musical version is no less cheesy, and just as lovable. And it’s playing on a San Jose rooftop.