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Fun & Free Things to Do This Weekend with LA Kids: Kites, CicLAvia, and Chumash Powwow: April 14 - 15

4/11/12 - By Toby B

This weekend it’s a little hard not to feel overcome by a sense of doom. We’ve got Friday the 13th.  We’ve got April 15th, which, though it isn’t Tax Day this year, is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. And then, on April 17th, we’ve got Tax Day. (They say 17 is the new 15). Luckily, we’ve found family events filled with fun to brighten your outlook and lift your spirits, and even score you some free food.

If your tax bill has been a burden, maybe it’s time for your kids to learn a trade. You don’t have to pull them out of school just yet; you can wait until summer. Our intrepid camp researchers have found Sewing  Camps and Classes for LA Kids.

You know what I’d like to tell the tax guys?  Go fly a kite!  Seriously, they must be way overworked this time of year, putting in long hours, and nothing is quite as relaxing as sending a fluttering kite aloft to drift on the breeze. Luckily, Mommy Poppins has the lowdown on the way up there activity. Check out our list of Kite Festivals and Places for LA Kids to Fly Kites.

All things considered, this weekend might be a good time to go to a galaxy far, far away. And you’d better go now, because this is the closing weekend for Discovery Science Center's exhibit Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.

And finally, since every tax cloud has a silver lining, we’ve found a few tax day freebie offers to soften the blow.

Keep reading for our favorite picks for the weekend, and to find out about the freebies.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Renaissance Pleasure Faire - Baldwin Park
Huzzah! Young lords and ladies of the realm hie to Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire!

Dream Carver - Costa Mesa
This delightful bilingual puppet show teaches kids that imagination can become a compelling force for change (we saw an early version of the show and loved it!).

14th Chumash Day Powwow and Inter-Tribal Gathering - Malibu
Malibu Bluffs Park is home to a two-day celebration of Chumash heritage and culture. The Powwow event features Native American foods, crafts, storytelling, children’s activities, music, and dancing.

First Annual Otis Kite Festival - Santa Monica
Kites fill the skies above Santa Monica Beach; families can make their own kites and join in the fun!

SATURDAY APRIL 14

Burbank on Parade - Burbank
Burbank’s annual parade has an aviation theme this year.

TSFY: Minimalist Jukebox - Downtown
The latest installment in the popular Toyota Symphonies for Youth series examines the  musical style of minimalism and how it uses patterns to create an energetic and vibrant sound.

Target Free Family Saturday: Monster Mash - Downtown
The scary little creatures in your family are sure to delight at this free day at the Japanese American National Museum, filled with activities about monsters.

Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival - Pasadena
Pasadena gets the Earth Day ball rolling, with live music, an interactive drum circle, a "public fruit jam," and a bicycle tour of Pasadena's sustainable sites. Kids can participate in Earth-friendly arts and crafts.

Kids' Nature Days: Whales - Malibu
Kids can participate in whale-themed activities and crafts and maybe even spot a few from the beach at this free event at Leo Carrillo State Park.

SUNDAY APRIL 15

CicLAvia - Downtown
Downtown Los Angeles becomes one big bike path. Families can bike, walk, skateboard, or push a stroller to discover our beautiful city at non-motorized speeds.

Hammer Kids: (Mini) Words, Spoken - Westwood
Kids can learn to harness the power of the word in this free workshop at the Hammer Museum.

Kids Run the Bases - Dodgers Home Game - Echo Park
Kids get Jackie Robinson sweatbands and can run the bases after the Dodgers/ Padres game at Dodger Stadium (and cross #68 off our 100 Things To Do with LA Kids bucket list!).

Kids in the Courtyard: Lanterns for Japan - Westwood
Families can share hopes of renewal for Japan with the making of paper lanterns and paper cranes at this free event at the Fowler Museum.

Pasadena Symphony Musical Circus - Glendale
No spectators here: kids can join in the musical fun at this free concert at the Americana at Brand.

Multilingual Education Fair - El Segundo
Parents can explore options for foreign language instruction at a free fair sponsored by the Parents Education League.  

Western Heritage Family Day: Celebrate Earth Day! - Griffith Park
The Autry monthly Family Day has an Earth Day theme.

Looking for those Tax Day Freebies? We've assembled a list of scrumptious goodies that are yours for the asking. (Two words:  Cinna. Bon.)

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!

photo: Gary Leonard