Earn those Thanksgiving pies! Photo courtesy of Turkey Trot Los Angeles
Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2024 in Los Angeles: Parades, Turkey Trots, and More Things To Do
Stroll through vibrant foliage and gardens. Photo courtesy of Descanso Gardens
What's Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles? Places Open for Family Fun
Dine in or take out some of the best turkey in Tinseltown. Photo courtesy of the Huckleberry Cafe
Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles
GUIDE
LA Fall Day Trips Guide: Farms, Festivals, and Family Getaways 2024
Try sock skating at Kidspace Winter Frolic. Photo by Jamie Pham courtesy of the Museum
16 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Los Angeles for Kids
LA Zoo Lights dazzle. Photo by Jamie Pham
14 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles November 2024 with Kids
Embrace the mess! Sloomoo Institute photo by Kylie Williams
NEW Sloomoo Institute Opens in Los Angeles for Kids to Enjoy Slime Fun
Photo by Bill Soistmann
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Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families
Photo courtesy of Underwood Family Farms
31 Fall Day Trips from Los Angeles—Plus Weekend Getaways
Dino Valley means jurassic fun in LEGOLAND for kids of all ages.
NEW Dino Valley in LEGOLAND is Open for T-Rex-Sized Fun
Dive into tons of fun in Long Beach. Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific
39 Things to Do With Kids in Long Beach
Dive into fun at the Cayton Children's Museum. Photo by Matthew Tucciarone
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Right this way to all the free fun in LA, especially at the Griffith Observatory! Photo by Gina Ragland
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Everything at the Cayton has been carefully crafted with one goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.
Guide to the Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica–A Parent Review
This 3 day itinerary will make you fall in love with LA. Photo by Roberto Nickson, via Pexels
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Imaginative play for preschoolers is music to our ears. Photo courtesy of Pretend City
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Visit LACMA's Levitated Mass. Photo by Joey Zanetti
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All aboard The Polar Express! Photo courtesy of The Southern California Polar Express Train Ride
LA Auto Show, Winter Fest OC, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend

Weekend Fun for LA Kids: Post Parade, Oshogatsu, American Girl Doll Reveal, January 2 - 3

12/31/15 - By Toby B

2015, what's that? Like, the year it used to be or something? I wouldn't know, because I am super immersed in 2016 culture, the fashion trends, the catch phrases, the emojis... I'm so into 2016, I'm practically 2017 or maybe even 2018. (In hindsight, perhaps I should have said 2020.)

With the New Year, comes a brief slowdown in the pace (just until everyone gets a 2016 calendar, so we're all on the same page). This is not to say there isn't plenty to do. Whether you're playing catch up, last hurrah, or hold the phone what is this new joy, you can entertain yourself twenty ways to Monday and still have more to fill your week.

So sit back, relax, and let the 2016 times roll as you get started on this year's Christmas shopping.  (Or is it just at my house that the new list is already forming? Anyone? Anyone?)

Keep reading for more on all the fresh-off-the-presses awesomeness that is this weekend…

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Post Parade: A Showcase of Floats - Pasadena
You saw the parade; now get an up-close view of the floats.

Discover the Dinosaurs - Downtown
The Convention Center comes alive with prehistoric activity, with all things dino, including a dino dig, dino theater, dino coloring area, and dinosaur rides, plus mini golf and inflatables.

American Girl "Girl of the Year 2016" Debut - Fairfax
Who will she be? The American Girl “Girl of the Year” for 2016 makes her debut at this free in-store event. 
 
Disney on Ice Presents Frozen - Long Beach
New year, new venue, same ice-tastic show! Elsa and Anna bring their party on ice to the Long Beach Arena, the last of the show’s area engagements.

Winter Wonderfest - Santa Ana
Because snow is science! Discovery Cube Orange County has sledding, tubing, and snowplay.

Kiddee Matinees - Hollywood
The New Beverly welcomes 2016 with a taste of 1969: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes screens all weekend.
 
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Hollywood
We can finally reveal, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is REDACTEDxxxREDACTEDxxxREDACTEDxxxREDACTED.

Peter Pan and Tinker Bell A Pirate Christmas - Pasadena
Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy, and the Lost Boys get up to winter mischief in Neverland (aka Pasadena).
 
Let's Make a Comet - Griffith Park
Last chance to catch this fun demonstration program at the Griffith Observatory: watch how a comet can be made using common household ingredients, and learn about water’s role in life on Earth.

Cirque du Soleil - KURIOS - Echo Park
They never cease to amaze! The latest Cirque du Soleil at Dodger Stadium puts the awe in awesome.

Reindeer Romp and  Zoo Lights  - Griffith Park
Last chance to see the reindeer before they head north for the winter: this is the closing weekend for both holiday celebrations at the LA Zoo.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - West LA
It’s never too late to discover the true meaning of Christmas.

Bob Baker’s Nutcracker - Downtown
Still feeling Nutcracker-y?  The Bob Baker Marionette Theater continues with its seasonal favorite.

SATURDAY JANUARY 2
 
Home Depot Kids Workshops - Multiple Locations
Skadoosh! Kids can make a Kung Fu Panda 3 Spinning Box at Home Depot.

Saturday Morning Stories and More - West LA
Ilene Cohen and her puppet friends come to Children’s Book World with stories to tickle your funny bone.

Young Explorers Academy: Buoyancy and Submarines - Downey
Young scientists can learn about buoyancy and submarines at Columbia Memorial Space Center.

Creation Station - Long Beach
Kids can make a snowman, knit a bracelet, create a seasonal decoration, and more at Rancho Los Cerritos’ Winter Wonderland.
 
Indiana Jones Trilogy - Hollywood
In his early career, Han Solo was an archaeologist.  The Indiana Jones Trilogy plays at The Egyptian.

SUNDAY JANUARY 3

Oshogatsu Family Festival - Downtown
Prepare for Year of the Monkey! Craft projects highlight the Japanese American National Museum's annual celebration of the start of the New Year.

Free Day at the La Habra Children's Museum - La Habra
The Children's Museum at La Habra celebrates Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cultures with folk crafts and special performances, including Chinese cultural dancers, the Jung Im Lee Korean Dancers, and Japanese Taiko Drummers.

Free Family Festival at the Bowers - Santa Ana
The Bowers Museum celebrates Kwanzaa with African and African American art, spoken word, music, and dance.

Binh Pho in Residence - Mid-Wilshire
For the closing day of the exhibition Binh Pho: Shadow of the Turning at the Craft and Folk Art Museum, the artist is on site demonstrating several of the techniques used in the production of his works on display.

Stories in the Afternoon - Pasadena 
Norton Simon Museum invites kids to consider dog- and cat-like qualities.

Batman / Munster, Go Home! - Hollywood
It’s 60s sitcom madness!  Films based on Batman and The Munsters screen at The Egyptian Theatre.

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!