Fun & Free Activities with LA Kids this Weekend: Big Parade, Flying Fish & Great Big Family Play Day: May 31 - June 1

5/29/14 - By Toby B

What's that you say? June? Why, yes please!  Bring on the summer! With Memorial Day come and gone, we are now officially in the summer season, which means an abundance of grade A, E-ticket activities. And what better to get you started than the Great Big Family Play Day at Pan Pacific Park? This thing has it all: music from the Beat Buds, Twinkle Time and Rhythm Child, a meet-and-greet with Anna and Elsa, a pump & splash zone, pamper & playtime, and hold the phone, some Weework crafting courtesy of you know us, you love us, Mommy Poppins - and, forget about those Frozen chicks; you can meet a Mommy Poppins blogger! (You can win cool stuff, too, if you're into that kind of thing.)

The summer season is also known as kids out of school season, which is to say, anyone want to watch my kids for me? Not that I've forgotten to schedule a summer full of engaging and enriching activities or anything, but if I had, I could totally check out our round-up of LA Summer Camps that still have openings. (Or I could go with my back-up plan and encourage them to run away with the circus).

And, of course, summer means more time outdoors, especially after that frigid winter we had. (Or maybe heard that other folks did). Luckily, we've rounded up some SoCal-centric fun in the sun. We've got the splash pads to keep you cool; we've got the hikes to help you get back to nature.

And we've got the activities to keep you going whatever the weather may be...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Last Weekends of the Month at the Skirball - Bel Air
In this month's "last weekend" event, visitors can make a window portrait collage inspired by the exhibit The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats.
 
The Big Parade  - Los Angeles
Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to explore the sights (and stairs!) of Los Angeles.

Flying Fish Festival on Catalina Island - Catalina Island
Sure, we all know about Capistrano and its swallows, but Catalina has flying fish! The Island celebrates the return of these soaring sea creatures with a weekend of festivities that include a kids' fishing derby, sand sculptures, hands-on science, and crafts.

SATURDAY MAY 31

LA Sanitation North Central Yard Open House  - Los Angeles
Kids and trash trucks go together like pigs and mud, so bring your little piggie to the open house at North Central District Yard.

AMC Theatres Sensory Friendly Films - Multiple Locations
Families affected by autism can watch Maleficent at sensory friendly screenings at select AMC Theatres.
 
Disney Store Grand Opening  - Brea
Woody and Jessie help with the opening of the Disney Store at Brea Mall.
 
Shushybye Live at Lovitz - Universal City
Shushybye Dream Band performs music in many genres; kids can sing and dance along.
 
Beat Buds -  West LA
The Beat Buds exercise kids' minds in a free Saturday morning show at Children's Book World.
 
Circus Vargas - Woodland Hills - Woodland Hills
The animal-free circus is bringing the big-top magic to Westfield Promenade.
 
Summer Reading Fair in the Park - The Grove
Let's get this summer started with some reading on the Green! The Grove's celebration includes storytime, an authors and illustrators corner, and crafts.

Movie on the Lawn - Irvine
There's a leek on the lawn! Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 screens at Orange County Great Park.

SUNDAY JUNE 1

Great Big Family Play Day - Mid-Wilshire
Whoo hoo, party in the park! There's Beat Buds, there's bubbles, there's fire trucks, there's Mommy-Poppins led crafts (say what!) and even a chance to meet a Mommy Poppins writer. Not only that, but if you stop by our booth, you could win either a Fisher Price Power Wheels Lil' Quad ride-on toy or a gift certificate for Paint:Lab in Santa Monica!
 
Free Day at the Bowers - Santa Ana
Bowers Museum celebrates Russian White Nights, with Russian themed crafts and performances.
 
Free Day at the La Habra Children's Museum  - La Habra
The Children's Museum at La Habra invites kids for a Railroad Round-up, with miniature train demos and a chance to tour the museum's historic caboose exhibit.
 
Lummis Day 2014 - Northeast Los Angeles
Historic Lummis House and Heritage Square Museum host the best of home-grown Northeast LA music, dance, and food.
 
Public Run Day Southern California Live Steamers - Torrance
Southern California Live Steamers offers rides on its miniature railroad twice a month.
 
Aesop's Fables - Topanga
Creative Playground is back for some summer fun at Theatricum Botanicum. Performers and audience work together to find the morals of classic Aesop tales.
 
Randy Kaplan - Santa Monica
Mommy Poppins fave Randy Kaplan performs at McCabe's biweekly kids concert.
 
Balboa Island Parade - Balboa Island
Star-spangled floats, festooned tricycles, marching bands, antique cars carrying local dignitaries, fire trucks, Keystone Cops, and gussied-up dogs march down Marine Avenue for this annual parade.

Andell Family Sundays - Dig It: Egyptian Art - Mid-Wilshire
Kids can make art like an Egyptian at LACMA's family program in June.
 
Kids Run the Bases - Dodgers Home Game - Echo Park
The Dodgers play the Pirates, and kids get a free batting helmet.
 
Sunday Studio at MOCA - Downtown
MOCA's largest all-ages program of the year allows families to explore the art on view with fun studio projects outdoors and lively conversations in the galleries with art students.

The Art of Disney Golden Books Event - Burbank
The art of Disney Golden Books and the artists who create it are celebrated at Center Stage Gallery.

Target Sundays at CAAM: CAAM's Music Madness - Exposition Park
The California African American Museum kicks off Black Music Month celebrating ASCAP's 100th anniversary.
 
Stories in the Afternoon - Pasadena
Budding artists can draw themselves into the art at the Norton Simon Museum.

Fairy Tales in the Park - Oxnard
Thumbellina and Tom Thumb's Voyage to Neverland are presented in a free performance at Harborview Park.

Zimmer Sunday Family Programs - Mid-Wilshire
Schmitty the Weather Dog sheds a little light on the weather at the Zimmer Children's Museum.

Concerts on the Green - Woodland Hills
Don't stop believing: DSB, a Journey tribute band, plays the free concert series at Warner Center Park.
 

As always, there are more activities listed on our daily events calendar, and if you don't already receive this post as a weekly email, you should totally subscribe. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, we hope you have an amazing time!