Fun & Free Things to Do with LA Kids this Weekend: Getty Fest, Paddleboard Races & Free Donuts! June 8 - 9

6/6/13 - By Toby B

Summertime, and the living is easy! (Said no parent ever). Most of the school districts in the Los Angeles area either are on break or will be before you know it. That leaves you with a lot of hours to fill. Oh no, who can you turn to for help?! Where will you find a hand-picked guide to berry picking? Will a guide to easy beaches just wash ashore? Is someone trumpeting about the coolest outdoor summer concerts series across the Southland?  Seriously. Let me know when you find out because I have no idea.*

If your thoughts turn to travel in the summer months, be sure to pay a visit to one of our sister sites. They can fill you in on the Mommy Poppinest events and activities in their necks of the woods.  (I'm totes jealous of the Dan Zanes concert I saw listed on Mommy Poppins New York, and thinking I might just have to board a plane and a ferry to sample the Nantucket fun Mommy Poppins Boston writes about.) You'll  probably want to check out each of the Mommy Poppins city sites, especially now that there are seven of us and... oops.  Did I just let the cat out of the bag? Well, you were going to find out sooner or later...

...Mommy Poppins has a new addition! Our new addition is a new edition, Mommy Poppins Westchester (the one in New York, not the home of LAX). It launched this week, and we couldn't be prouder! Why not pop on over and take a peek? We think you'll agree it's the most precious site ever, (or maybe we just think so because we haven't slept in a week). Naw.  It's a cutie!

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for the weekend ....

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

FRIDAY JUNE 7

National Doughnut Day - Multiple Locations
I scream, you scream we all scream for … donuts!  Especially when they’re free Krispy Kremes.

CelebrateLA - Downtown
Party with Bill Clinton and Ryan Seacrest, as well as LA’s Mayors (incoming and outgoing) at the ultimate LA block party on the steps of City Hall at Grand Park.

ALL WEEKEND

Opening Weekend of the Da Vinci Exhibit - Santa Ana
Discovery Science Center’s newest exhibit explores the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, a true Renaissance man if ever there was one.

Circus Vargas - Irvine
The animal-free circus is at the Irvine Spectrum this weekend. (Check out our review.)

Street Food Cinema - Grand Hope Park (Sat); Exposition Park (Sun)
Families can enjoy a movie under the stars in these family screenings of Escape from Planet Earth

Palos Verdes Street Fair and Music Festival - Palos Verdes
This annual festival is the largest carnival in the South Bay. The Ferris wheel is 65 feet tall, and the pony rides are free.

Lowes Build and Grow - Monsters University - Multiple Locations
Lowes scares up a little fun with a free Monsters University project.

SATURDAY JUNE 8

Good To Go From Head To Toe Family Fun and Wellness Fair - Irvine
Kids can get a range of free health screenings while enjoying food and entertainment. Families who participate in three or more screenings get a free admission to Pretend City.

Getty Family Festival: Gardens of the Renaissance - West LA
Getty Center celebrates the gardens of the Renaissance in this free, day-long family festival.

Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race & Ocean Festival - Santa  Monica
The fun isn’t just on the water. In addition to the races, there are beach games and races for the kids, a lifeguard and surf history pop-up museum, live music, and hula dancers.

LA Sanitation South Central Yard Open House - Downtown
Trek on over to the latest Sanitation Yard to open up for families to tour.

Stephanie's Day Resource Fair - Studio City
Stephanie's Day is a free resource fair for families with children impacted by autism and other special needs.

National Geographic Little Explorers World Oceans Day Celebration - Multiple Locations
Kids can learn about whales, dolphins, and other marine animals at this free program at Pottery Barn Kids.

World Oceans Day - San Pedro
The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium celebrates World Oceans Day with arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, animal stories, a guided beach walk, and a close-up look at baby animals.

Summer Learning Event - Multiple Locations
The theme is summer learning at this event at Lakeshore Learning. Kids can enjoy storytelling and sand & water play, in addition to the weekly crafts project.

Target Free Family Saturday: Summer Fun - Downtown
This month's fun free day at the Japanese American National Museum helps families get ready for summer.

Summer Reading Kickoff with The Amazing Chris - Santa Monica
Santa Monica Library kicks off its summer reading program with a physical comedy show featuring amazing acrobatic feats.

Eat See Hear - Pasadena
Bueller?  Bueller?

SUNDAY JUNE 9

100th Birthday Bash - Exposition Park
The Natural History Museum is 100 years old; that calls for a party! There are kid-friendly activities and music by day; the evening’s events include a concert by DEVO.

Los Angeles River Ride and Family Ride - Griffith Park
Big folk can ride alongside the LA River, but the action is in Griffith Park for the under 7 set. Kids can ride an enclosed 2k path and participate in fun games and activities.

Aesop's Fables - Topanga
Creative Playground brings its mash-up of Aesop’s Fables to Theatricum Botanicum. And the moral of the story is… well, you’ll have to come to the show to find out!

Fairplex Garden Railroad Open House -Pomona
The oldest and possibly the largest miniature railroad holds its monthly public run/family day.

Hammer Kids: Character Buildings - Westwood
You know what they say, you are where you live.  Or maybe it’s location, location, location. Either way, kids can create characters by describing and building the places they live. Also at the Hammer, a free screening of the film My Uncle.

1st Anniversary of the Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center - Calabasas
The Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center celebrates its first year with guided hikes, scavenger hunts, and Junior Ranger activities.

Kids Run the Bases - Dodgers Home Game - Dodger Stadium
It’s the Dodgers vs the Braves,  and kids get to run the bases after the game - plus a free kids’ compression sleeve for kids 14 and under.

Zimmer Sunday Family Programs - Mid-Wilshire
Can you feel the rhythm? Come join the drum circle at the Zimmer Children's Museum .

Concerts on the Green - Woodland Hills
Go on a Surfin’ Safari as the Beach Boys cover band plays a free outdoor concert at Warner Center Park.

As always, there are many more activities listed on our daily events calendar. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, we hope you have marvelous time!

* Just kidding. We can point you to all that and a free Krispy Kreme donut!