Fun & Free Events for LA Kids this Weekend: Cinderella, Robots & Dinosaurs: August 18 - 19

8/15/12 - By Toby B

Cinderella, a robot, and a dinosaur walked into a bar… it sounds like a joke but it’s just business as usual here in LA, where the air is so thick with things to do that they’re calling in a smog alert. Seriously, you can follow two different roads to Oz,  embark on cultural expeditions to learn about Hopi art, Korean dance, or crafts from Papua New Guinea,  build a school organizer, a crawly caterpillar, or a chalk work of art. You’ll be so busy, you won’t even notice that school is starting… NYAH NYAH NYAH I CAN’T HEAR YOU MY FINGERS ARE IN MY EARS, NO SCHOOL HERE.

After all, maybe it’s true. Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who has one or two or maybe even three weeks of summer break remaining. (If you’re not sure, check here). Maybe you don’t need our tips on how to keep the summer going because for you, summer’s still in full swing.  Maybe you’ll glance at our back to school guide with polite interest, instead of the frenzy of a drowning man reaching for a life preserver.

Whatever your story, remember this: they may rule your Monday through Friday, but the weekend is all yours, baby. And with that in mind, may we suggest our favorite picks for your weekend...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Cinderella (G) - Hollywood
Look what your fairy godmother has brought you: Cinderella returns to the big screen for a two-week run at the El Capitan Theatre.

Free Shows: Dorothy's Adventures in Oz - Santa Monica
No tornado-blown house needed to take this trip to Oz: performances this weekend at the Santa Monica Playhouse are free!

Dinosaur Days at Kidspace - Pasadena
It’s the next best thing to Jurassic Park; budding paleontologists can learn all about dinosaurs and fossils at Kidspace Children's Museum.

Family Amphitheater Performances - West Los Angeles
Skirball Cultural Center keeps the fun coming!  This weekend families can enjoy Ballet Folklorico Ollin with folk dances from Mexico, (Saturday) and Wildlife On Wheels with animals from around the world (Sunday).

Garden Concerts for Kids - West Los Angeles
Bill Harley closes out the Getty Center’s free summer concert series.

SATURDAY AUGUST 18

Big!World!Fun! Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy - Hollywood
This week kids can explore the big fun of Asian dancing and drumming, with traditional Korean dancing, Japanese Taiko drumming and traditional Chinese folk dance.

10th Annual Chalk Art Festival - Redondo Pier
Chalk this one up to fun!  Redondo Pier becomes a giant canvas for chalk artists young and old.

Robotics by the Sea - San Pedro
It’s so hot this weekend even the robots are heading to the beach. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s annual event looks at robotics used in underwater exploration.

The Face of WeMo Baby Casting Call - Culver City
Move over Gerber baby: there’s going to be a new spokesbaby in town! Head over to Westfield Culver City to if you think your baby has the right stuff.

Saturday Film Series - Teen Movies - Malibu
Malibu Library screens The Hunger Games for teens.

Watson Adventures’ Wizard School Scavenger Hunt - West Los Angeles
It’s elementary my dear Watson: the Hogwarts-influenced items you seek can be found at the Getty Center in this muggle-friendly scavenger hunt.

Street Food Cinema- Downtown
Dude, it’s totally the 80s in Exposition Park! The double-feature includes Sixteen Candles and Valley Girl (gag me with a spoon!).

Oscars Outdoors - Hollywood
We’re off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful, Sing-a-long Wizard of Oz!

SUNDAY AUGUST 19

Dan Crow - Topanga
Dan Crow brings his silly songs to the Kids Koncerts at Theatricum Botanicum

Water Day - West Los Angeles
What better way to spend an August weekend then playing with water? Skirball Cultural Center’s annual event celebrates water with interactive play, bubble art, watercolors, and learning.

Western Heritage Family Day: Explore Katsina in Hopi Life - Griffith Park
Ramson Lomatewama, a Hopi poet and artist, teaches Autry visitors about Hopi art and culture.

Meet the Smurfs - Culver City
Smurfy smurfness! The loveable blue creatures are at Westfield Culver City for a smurfalicious meet and greet.

Summer Family Fun Series - Fairfax Farmers Market
Farmers Market closes out its summer series with face painting, decorate your own conductors hat, and a performance by the Conductors.

Kids in the Courtyard: EmBARK on a BARKcloth Journey  - Westwood
Kids can use the patterns in nature as inspiration for their own designs on paper at the Fowler Museum.

LevittLA Summer Concert Series - Children's Concerts - Downtown
You’ve heard that America’s got talent, and most of it is in our own backyard! Check out our talented kids in the LevittLA Summer Concert Series Youth Talent Night in MacArthur Park.

As always, there are many more activities listed on our daily events calendar. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you have a summer-worthy weekend!