Eventhough the observatory is closed until 2005, this still looks really interesting to me. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I'd suggest checking this out.

“A special Mars party will be held on the night of Tuesday, August 26th to celebrate when Mars is closest to earth. On the night of the closest approach the Observatory will provide all-night (10 p.m. - 1 a.m.) viewing and celebration from the south lawn of the Autry Museum of Western Heritage at 4700 Western Heritage Way - adjacent to the Griffith Observatory Satellite. Telescopes will be provided by Celestron, Jeff Schroeder (11-inch refractor), the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, and the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers.”

Griffith Observatory Mars 2003