ALL WEEKEND

34th Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival & Jazz Festival - Watts
The Watts Towers Campus comes alive to the beat of the drum! This free festival features world-class live music and drumming performances, drum circles, dancing, art exhibitions, arts and crafts for sale, international food, and crafts activities for kids, plus a day-long Jazz festival on Sunday.

Lobster Festival - San Pedro
Aye, Matey! It's a weekend full of music, lobster, and pirates at the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival.
 
Baja Splash Cultural Festival - Long Beach
The Aquarium of the Pacific celebrates Hispanic Heritage month with dance, music, and food.

Redondo Beach Lobster Festival - Redondo Beach
The Redondo Beach Lobster Festival serves up plenty of the crustacean delicacy, with live music and a kiddie area.

Festival of Children - Costa Mesa
Closing weekend fun includes a Read for the Record event and many performances.

Feast of San Gennaro Los Angeles - Hollywood
The Feast of San Gennaro brings a taste of Italian culture and cuisine to Hollywood, with live music, rides, and lots of good eats. Mangia!

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales - Hollywood
Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and friends help Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to get to their happily ever afters at the Dolby Theatre.

LA County Fair - Pomona
It’s the closing weekend of the County Fair! WAR, Jake Owen, Chicago, and Boz Skaggs make it a weekend to remember.

Nick, Jr Playdate - Culver City
Kids can meet Nick, Jr faves Dora the Explorer and Gil of Bubble Guppies at Westfield Culver City.
 
Latino Heritage Celebration - Griffith Park
The LA Zoo’s weekend festivities include live performances by the Mariachi Divas and Grandeza Mexicana folk ballet, as well as Latin American-inspired craft projects, animal spotlights, and meet and greets with Dora the Explorer.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks - the Great Outdoors
Looking to get out of town? Entrance at all National Parks is free today.

Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day - Multiple Locations
Numerous museums throughout the country open their doors for free. Simply go online to request a free ticket; each household can request one ticket good for 2 people. Most museums participate on Saturday; the Zimmer’s free museum day is on Sunday.

Barbie Rock N Royals Concert Experience - Hollywood
Kids can rock out, walk the pink carpet, learn dance moves and dress up in rockin’ styles, at this concert event hosted by Zendaya.

The Ancient Forest Opening - Arcadia
Descanso Gardens latest garden features plants that were around when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
 
Tongva Park Family Saturdays - Santa Monica
Michael Heralda uses stories, narratives, poetry, and interactive music to share Mexican/Aztec Culture with all ages.  

AMC Theatres Sensory Friendly Films - Multiple Locations
Select AMC Theatres show a sensory-friendly screening of Hotel Transylvania 2  for families affected by autism.
 
Lowes Build and Grow -  Multiple Locations
Do you have a fire truck? No worries, you can build one at the free workshop at Lowes.

Family Day at the Movies featuring 'Hotel Transylvania 2' (PG) - Downtown
Regal Cinemas at L.A. LIVE celebrates the opening of the movie with family fun, including a photo op with Dracula, Frankenstein, Murray, Johnny and Mavis, a Blobby Putty Station, a coloring station, and  giveaways.

Marzo's Variety Show for Kids - Hollywood
The variety show for kids has the magic of Funny Eddie, music from Mista Cookie Jar and puppetry with Elizabeth Luce.

Operafest! - Encino
Angel City Opera sponsors a family-friendly opera-themed park day with pizza, puppet shows, singing, games, face painting, a clown with a theramin, and an old-fashioned cake walk.

Potter the Otter Storytime - Santa Monica
Potter the Otter visits Santa Monica Pier Aquarium for a special Otter Week storytime.  

3rd annual m.a.r.y.'s day! - Encino
Making the Arts Real for Youth Foundation’s annual event features art and acting workshops, puppet making and a puppet show, block-car decorating and racing, a collaborative community art project, outdoor activities, and a drum circle.
 
Arcadia Moon Festival - Arcadia
Families can watch the moon rise over the The Los Angeles County Arboretum. This traditional Chinese celebration is observed when the full moon is at its brightest for the year.
 
Annual Chinatown Moon Festival - Chinatown
Live music, lion dancers, kung fu artists and storytellers are all part of Chinatown’s Moon Festival celebration.
 
Rooftop Cinema - Pasadena
Tron Legacy screens on the roof of Corporate Center Pasadena.
 
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27
Spider Pavilion Opening Day - Exposition Park
It’s just like the Butterfly Pavilion, only with spiders. Big hairy spiders. You’re not chicken, are ya? (Cause these spiders might swallow a chicken whole, so for your sake we hope you’re not.)
 
Abbot Kinney Festival - Venice
Abbot Kinney Blvd. overflows with vendors, performers, and tons of food. The Kidsquad offers endless sources of amusement, including bouncy houses, a climbing wall, crafts galore, and kid-friendly musicians.
 
Tiny Tot Olympics - Malibu
Who’s too little? At the Tiny Tot Olympics in Malibu Bluffs Park, preschoolers can run and jump and dodge their way to the gold.
 
Total Lunar Eclipse Full Moon Hike - Beverly Hills
Hikers can view the blood moon lunar eclipse on this moderately strenuous hike through Franklin Canyon Ranch.           
 
Wiggle Waggle Walk and Fair - Pasadena
The fun at this animal-friendly fundraiser starts with a 1 or 3 mile walk around the Rose Bowl, then continues with a family fair and pet expo, featuring vendors, games for kids, demonstrations, and performances.
 
Kids Koncerts at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum - Topanga
The headliner at Peter Alsop's Kids Koncerts at Theatricum Botanicum is none other than the founder himself, Peter Alsop.  The award-winning Alsop sings funny sing-a-long songs loved by kids and parents alike. 

16th Annual Mattel Party on the Pier - Santa Monica
It’s a party on Santa Monica Pier, with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Disney stars and other celebs, carnival games filled with Mattel toys and unlimited access to rides and more, all to benefit UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital
 
The BIG Squeeze 7th annual O.C. Accordion Festival - Costa Mesa
It’s not just for polka anymore! The Big Squeeze Accordion Festival aims to show the instrument’s diverse range.

LA Parent Magazine Shooting Stars 2015 Cover Kids Contest - Fairfax
LA Parent looks for its next cover star at the Original Farmers Market.
 
Family Day - El Segundo
ESMoA visitors can make and discuss art with artist-in-residence Jake Garfield.
 
Kids in the Courtyard: Clay Day - Westwood
Kids can make things out of clay at the Fowler Museum.

The Okee Dokee Brothers - Costa Mesa
The Grammy-winning duo performs folk-infused family music at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

SurfCity Surf Dog - Huntington Beach
We won't focus on the fact that some people find time to teach their dogs to surf; we'll just plan a family beach day around watching the pups hang ten.
 
Wild Kratts - Hollywood
The Kratt Brothers visit the Pantages Theatre to show off some amazing creature powers!
 
Public Viewing of the Total Lunar Eclipse  - Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory helps you watch the disappearance of the moon – then its magical return!

As always, there are many more activities listed on our Event Calendar, and if you didn't receive this info as a newsletter, you should sign up for our weekly events updates. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, we hope you have a terrific time!