Fun & Free Things to Do This Weekend with LA Kids: Breakfast, Boat Parades and Hanukkah! Dec 10 - 11.

12/8/11 - By Toby B

It is a well-established fact that two weeks before Christmas is the start of boat season. At least, it would seem that way, given the number of Boat Parades floating through the Southland this weekend.  We’ve got five Christmas Boat Parades this week alone, and another four coming along next week.

Other running themes this weekend are Breakfasts with Santa (he eats his way across Los Angeles), snow (blanketing the city), Nutcrackers (trust us, there are a lot), and reading to dogs.  Actually, there’s only one reading to dogs, but how cool is that?

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks this weekend and to learn how Mommy Poppins can score you a discount to infinity… and beyond!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Santa & Mrs Claus at The Paley Center - Beverly Hills
Mrs. Claus takes you on a rollicking trolley ride to visit Santa at the Paley Center. Cookies and cocoa for everyone!

Christmas Tree Train & North Pole Express - Fillmore
Board a vintage train to choose your own Christmas tree or for a visit to the North Pole.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 10

Snow Day in Glendora - Glendora
Fancy a little snow? How about 50 tons of it? (That’s right: five – oh!)

Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade and Fireworks - Marina del Rey
This stunning boat parade starts with fireworks!

Target Free Family Saturday: That's a Wrap - Downtown
Enjoy a free day at the Japanese American National Museum learning all about the amazing art of origami.

Winter Holiday Festival - Downtown
Pershing Square's Winter Holiday Festival features skating, snow, puppets, and crafts.

The Nutcracker Tea - Pasadena
Young dancers perform favorite excerpts from The Nutcracker while guests sip tea and sample sandwiches.

A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens - San Marino
Imagine A Christmas Carol read by Charles Dickens himself!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 11

Hanukkah Family Festival - West Los Angeles
The Skirball offers a full day of Hanukkah activities…

Hanukkah Festival - Mid-Wilshire
…Or you could head over to the Zimmer for Hanukkah festivities. Free admission all day.               

Venice Canals Boat Parade - Venice
Watch the bedecked boats from Venice Canal’s bridges.

Santa’s Workshop Craft Fun - Pasadena
Your kids can work their own elf magic, making Christmas crafts that can double as holiday gifts.

MONDAY DECEMBER 12

Mommy Monday - Santa Monica
Leave the kids at home; it’s Momma’s turn for a little pampering at Bubbles Playspace. UPDATE: This event has been POSTPONED until December 19.

BARK! Kids Read with Dogs - Los Angeles
Kids can practice their reading aloud skills with the best listeners ever: dogs!

And now for that discount: Mommy Poppins readers can get discount tickets to Southern California performances of Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3.  We've got all the details for you here.

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