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Fun & Free Things to Do with LA Kids this Weekend: Ocean Appreciation, Shakespearean Superheroes and Ventura County Fair, Aug 3

8/1/13 - By Toby B

Oh, summer! I like having you around. Your weather is inviting, and our dance cards are filled with one fun activity after another. But I’m a little unsettled: with the arrival of August, does that mean our time together is half over? Or is it really half just-begun?

Perhaps I shouldn't worry. Some of the best activities of the season don't even start until August. This weekend we have the premiere of an all-new Shakespeare production that's free, outdoors, geared for kids and has -- wait for it I can't wait any longer -- superheroes!  The Getty's Garden Concerts for Kids start this weekend as well, and they're free, outdoors,  geared for kids (this is starting to sound familiar) and -- alas - no superheroes -- but who needs superheroes when you have those awesome views at the Getty that you get to by riding a train up from the parking lot!

And if you like superheroes and vehicles, boy are you going to love this next thing. It's actually many things, over 15,000 of them across the country in fact. Next Tuesday's National Night Out celebrates our communities, and gives families a chance to say hi to their neighbors, their police officers, and their fire fighters. And if your kid gets to pet a police horse or climb into a helicopter, all the better. We have a few local celebrations listed (Beverly Hills, Burbank, Santa Monica, and Studio City), but if those aren't near you, poke around a bit and odds are good you could find one closer to you. (We'd list them all but, you know, 15,000).

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this summer-in-full-swing weekend...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Family Amphitheater Performances - West Los Angeles
This weekend’s offerings at the Skirball include the music and puppetry of Groovy David on Saturday and magician Arthur Trace on Sunday.

Twelfth Night (The Superhero Edition) - Culver City
It’s a bird!  It’s a plane!  It’s a comedy of mistaken identity! And holy superheroes, Batman, this outdoor production by the Actors Gang is free!

Ocean Appreciation Weekend - Santa Monica
Let’s hear it for the ocean! Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s tribute to our neighborly body of water includes plankton racing, fishing games, and costume photo ops.

Garden Concerts for Kids - West Los Angeles
The Okee Dokee Brothers perform their signature blend of bluegrass and rock for the opening weekend of the Getty Center’s Garden Concerts for kids.  

Monsters University (G) - Hollywood
Scare up a little love for the monstrous duo: it’s Mike and Sully’s last weekend at El Capitan.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built to Amaze! - Anaheim
The famed circus bids adieu to the LA area with one last weekend in Anaheim. (Check out our review.)

Ventura County Fair  - Ventura
The Ventura County Fair opens this week, with everything from carnival rides and corndogs to motor sports and concerts.  Headliners this year include Styx, Hall & Oates, Hunter Hayes, and the Plain White T’s.

International Surf Festival - Redondo Beach
Cowabunga, dudes!  Hang ten over to Redondo Beach to watch some totally rad surfing!

Tafesilafa’i Festival - Long Beach
This free festival on the lawn of the Aquarium of the Pacific invites guests to reflect on personal experience. Pacific Islanders perform song, dance, and a fire knife show.

Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival 2013 - Griffith Park
Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It joins the rotation at this free outdoor festival at Griffith Park.

Cinderella & The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe - Santa Monica
The classic stories are told in audience interactive, kid-friendly productions at Promenade Playhouse.

SATURDAY AUGUST 3

Home Depot Kids Workshops - Multiple Locations
The free project for kids this month is a Home Depot Load N' Go.

Big!World!Fun! - Hollywood
Vibrant colors and dynamic tales highlight the performance of the Pacifico Dance Company presenting exuberant dances from Mexico.

Fishing Frenzy - Thousand Oaks
Hundreds of magnetic fish have been released into the creek, and it’s up to intrepid young anglers to catch them!  (With magnetic worms perhaps?)

Drum Downtown - Downtown
Drummers young and old are invited to make music at the Fountain Overlook in Grand Park. This week the drum circle plays with pulse and pitch.

Old Navy's Rockin' Runway Event - Santa Monica
Budding fashionistas can work the runway at the Old Navy on 3rd Street Promenade, and meet Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande of Nickelodeon’s Sam and Cat.

Family Day at the Movies - Downtown
Planning on catching Smurfs 2?  The Regal Cinemas at LA Live ups the ante with an afternoon of free festivities, including Smurf appearances, a magician, balloon artists, and face painting.

Silk Road Story Time - Pasadena
The traveler’s tent at Pacific Asia Museum is the place to be to hear stories from the Silk Road; in August kids are treated to fairy tales from China.

Animal Crackers: Animal Tales from Around the World with Ina Buckner-Barnette West LA
Actress and storyteller Ina Buckner-Barnette shares some amazing, interactive animal tales from around the world.

Splash & Surprises - Downtown
The first Saturday morning surprise at the Grand Park splash fountains is revealed: “A Day in the Park” Art Contest + Face Painting.

Movies in the Park - Downtown
Fire up the DeLorean for a trip Back to the Future at Grand Park.

Redondo Beach Summer Music Festival - Redondo Beach
Dazed and Confused brings the sounds of the 70s to Redondo Pier.

Marina Del Rey Summer Concert Series: Pop Saturdays - Marina Del Rey
Tell it to my heart! Taylor Dayne performs under the stars at Marina Del Rey's Burton Chace Park.

Movies on the Green -Woodland Hills
Check into a free screening of Hotel Transylvania at Warner Center Park.

Cinespia – Hollywood
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal screens at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

SUNDAY AUGUST 4

Free Day at the Bowers - Santa Ana
Admission to the Bowers Museum is free for the Pacific Islands Family Festival.

Free Day at the La Habra Children's Museum - La Habra
The Children's Museum at La Habra sends kids on a Critter Quest! Museum goers can meet exotic animals from around the globe and make a buggy creation to take home.

Mark Lewis at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum - Topanga
Story-teller, songwriter, Theatricum Botanicum actor, and Topanga local Mark Lewis plays fun kids' music for all ages.

Andell Family Sundays - Memory and Storytelling from Africa - Mid-Wilshire
This month at LACMA families can view rare African art and then design personal memory boards and royal objects. 

An Afternoon with Miffy at Zimmer Children's Museum - Mid-Wilshire
The smart little bunny comes to the Zimmer for some back-to-school fun.

Birthdaypalooza- Mar Vista
The Mar Vista Farmers Market celebrates its 7th anniversary with some country fair-style fun.

American Indian Culture Day for Families - Griffith Park
Navajo flutist Tso Yanez performs at the Autry.

Target Sundays at CAAM: Hot Fun in the Summertime! - Exposition Park
The California African American Museum heats up the summer with a block party, featuring a guest DJ and lots of dancing!

LevittLA Summer Concert Series - Children's Concerts in MacArthur Park - Downtown
Youth Talent Night is a showcase of LA’s talented youth.

An assortment of under-the-stars concerts awaits you on Sunday:

Manhattan Beach Summer Concerts in the Park - Manhattan Beach
Barley Legal plays Surf Music at Polliwog Park Amphitheater.

Jazz on the Lawn - Santa Monica
With jazz and frozen treats, the free concerts at Stewart Street Park are sure to please the whole family. This week: Conganas.

Playa Vista Concert in the Park - Playa Vista
The Kelly Rae Band plays chart topping tunes.

South Pasadena Summer Concerts - South Pasadena
Riders of the Purple Sage play Country Western at Garfield Park.

Concerts on the Green - Woodland Hills
Robby Krieger, legendary guitarist of The Doors, performs with jam band JAM KITCHEN.

Sierra Madre Concerts in the Park - Sierra Madre
The Undercover Girls bring the Rock & Roll to Memorial Park Bandshell.

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!