ALL WEEKEND

D23 Expo Anaheim
Love all things Disney? This weekend long fanfest might just send you into sensory overload. Disney-philes can hear from creators, designers, performers and artists, and get the latest inside scoop on movies, shows, games and products. There’s even a waffle-inator.  (I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.)

Dino Days at Kidspace – Pasadena
Roar! Stomp! Learn!  Kids can dig for fossils and build dinosaurs at Kidspace’s annual celebration.

Planes (PG) - Hollywood
Kids love cars and planes. Your kid loved the movie Cars. And now your kid is going to love the movie Planes. 

Lowes Build and Grow - Multiple Locations
You’ve seen the movie, now it’s time for the project! Lowes’ free projects in August have a Planes theme.

Annual "Back to School & More" Autism/Asperger's Conference – Pasadena
Autism experts help families get ready for back-to-school time.

81st Annual Great Sand Sculpture Contest - Long Beach
Sand artisans make museum-worthy sculptures in this weekend’s competition at Granada Beach, to this year’s theme “Sculpting Literacy in your Community."

Twelfth Night (The Superhero Edition) - Culver City
Shakespeare. With Superheroes. It’s like being a Shakespeare play is its secret identity when it’s not saving the world. (By being awesome and free and for kids.)

Garden Concerts for Kids - West LA
Recess Monkey is a) three school teachers from Seattle b) one of the hottest kindie-rock bands around c) playing free concerts at the Getty this weekend, or d) no fair asking multiple choice questions, just sit down and let me enjoy the music.

SATURDAY AUGUST 10

Back-To-School Saturday with Teen Vogue  - The Grove
Teen Vogue helps kids get in the back-to-school groove at the Grove, with a fashion show, celebrity appearances, makeovers, treats and more. (Some events are on Friday.)

Big!World!Fun! - Hollywood
Mostly Kosher celebrates Jewish culture with songs and stories from across the globe.

AMC Theatres Sensory Friendly Films - Multiple Locations
Families affected by autism can enjoy a sensory-friendly screening of Smurfs 2 at participating AMC Theatres.

Target Free Family Saturday: Natsumatsuri Family Festival - Downtown
Another fun free day at the Japanese American National Museum! Families can celebrate summer with origami crafts, taiko drums, airbrush tattoos and traditional Japanese dance.

Summer Star Festival - Agoura Hills
Astronomers help park visitors look at the Moon, Saturn and more.

Saturday Morning Concerts at Books and Cookies -  Santa Monica
The Ukulady and her band, The Evil Sandwiches bring a super upbeat and energetic concert to Books and Cookies,

Back to School Songs and Stories with Grace Lee - West LA
Grace Lee joins in the back-to-school theme with songs and stories at Children's Book World.

Splash & Surprises - Downtown
This week’s surprise at the splash fountain in Grand Park: a gardening workshop.

Family Day at the Movies – Downtown
Family Day at the Regal Cinema at LA Live turns a trip to the movies into an event. This week, they go all out for Saturday's screenings of Planes.

Movies in the Park - Downtown
Marty McFly goes Back to the Future by way of a DeLorean and Downtown’s Grand Park.

Redondo Beach Summer Music Festival - Redondo Beach
Peace, man.  The Woodstock Tribute Band plays hits from the 60’s.

Movies on the Green -Woodland Hills
Talking to dead people, ancient curses, the dead rising…it’s a cartoon! ParaNorman screens under the stars at Warner Center Park.

Movies in the Park: Pacific Palisades - Pacific Palisades
If Dr. Seuss is more to your liking, how about a free screening of The Lorax?

SUNDAY AUGUST 11

Family Amphitheater Performances - West LA
This Sunday at the Skirball, kids can get moving to Jambo, with music that’s one part Mississippi Delta, one part New Orleans street corner, and one part Chicago juke joint.

Dudamel conducts Verdi's Aida - Hollywood
Gustavo Dudamel brings Aida, Verdi’s beloved story of ill-fated lovers in ancient Egypt, to the Hollywood Bowl with a larger-than-life performance by the LA Phil, an internationally renowned cast and the L.A. Master Chorale.

Family Picnic Day and Concert Featuring Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - Palos Verdes Peninsula
Start with a picnic at the South Coast Botanic Garden then stick around for the hip-shaking, head-bopping, all-out-dance-party performance from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band.

Annual Children’s Festival of the Arts - Hollywood
Kids can walk the red carpet and climb into a fire truck as they enjoy a free day of art, music and fun at Paramount Studios.

Mud Mania - Long Beach
Throw a little mud on your kids and they’ll be happier than, well, kids in mud. “Mud-tastic" activities include adobe brick-making, mud relay races, clay sculpting, and archaeology adventures. Word to the wise, leave your Sunday best at home!

Kids in the Courtyard: Teddy Tea Party  - Westwood
Fowler Museum hosts a tea party for kids…and their teddy bears!

American Girl and Saige: An Afternoon of Horses and Art at the Autry - Griffith Park
The Autry partners with American Girl to celebrate Saige, the 2013 Girl of the Year, whose stories show her love for horses and the arts.  

Summer Block Party - Malibu
Malibu Country Mart throws a summer block party with petting zoo, balloon art, face painting for kids. Other activities include tarot card readings, caricature portraits, airbrush and henna tattoos.  And they’re serving up sno cones! Stick around for a free screening of the Goonies

Grand Performances: Sock Puppet Sitcom Theatre presents Cinderella - Downtown
If the shoe fits…well, it should, seeing as Cinderella is a sock.

Children's Garden Workshops - Irvine
The theme of this month’s free workshop at Orange County Great Park is “Recycling for the Garden: Turning Your Trash into Garden Flash.”

Free Day at OCMA - Newport Beach
Museum-goers can take a trip from coast to coast and enjoy live music from Pacific Trio, representing Hong Kong, Taiwan and Northern China.

Red Grammer at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum - Topanga
Renowned children's entertainer Red Grammer performs at the Kids Koncerts at Theatricum Botanicum.

Summer Family Fun Series - Farmers Market
Kids can make a Farmers Market-themed Puppet, then see Scott Land Marionettes perform.

Author Event: Chris Colfer  Pasadena
Glee’s Chris Colfer shows his literary side, signing copies of his latest book at Vroman's Bookstore.

LevittLA Summer Concert Series - Children's Concerts in MacArthur Park - Downtown
This weekend’s children’s concert in MacArthur Park features the Underground, a street dance company with members from all across the country.

Jazz on the Lawn - Santa Monica
Santa Monica’s Stewart Street Park showcases the jazz stylings of the Elliot Caine Quintet.

Manhattan Beach Summer Concerts in the Park - Manhattan Beach
Let me take you down, because I’m going to Polliwog Park Amphitheater to see Beatle tribute band Hard Day’s Night.

Concerts on the Green - Woodland Hills
Warner Center Park has Beatles Tribute band Ticket to Ride, and she don’t care. (But do you think she cares about that other Beatles tribute band?)

Sierra Madre Concerts in the Park - Sierra Madre
Memorial Park Bandshell does not have a Beatles Tribute band tonight. Instead they have the Big Band sounds of Gem City Jazz Cats… and free popsicles!

Sunday Movie Nights - Beverly Hills
Want to end with a happily ever after? Beverly Canons Garden has a free screening of Enchanted.

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!

1 Trust me, I did.
2  Wronger is not a word. I need to get me some learnin’.
3  I guess I should go, too.  (See above footnote)
4  Or unlucky ones, depending on your perspective.
5 Also known as Some People Don’t Understand the Definition of Summer. Perhaps they need to go back to school as well.
6 I’m looking at you LAUSD
7 Thank you, Torrance.
8 What are you feeding ‘em?  Miracle Grow?!
9 I know, I know, wrong opera. School can't start soon enough for me!