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Best Polar Express Train Rides & Christmas Trains in Los Angeles
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
'Tis the season for Polar Express train rides or Christmas trains! Los Angeles has plenty of holiday magic waiting on the rails, from a staple in Griffith Park to a movie-like adventure on the SoCal Polar Express. So, put on those matching family PJs and get ready to sing some carols, hear a story, and chow down on Christmas cookies, while embracing the holiday spirit. Kiddos may even get the chance to hand over those wish lists to Santa Claus in person.
There are seats available (so far!) on the Christmas train rides below that take place from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas. Reserve your spot ASAP because Polar Express trains are a hot ticket, and tend to book up fast.
Get in the holiday spirit with the best neighborhood holiday lights in Los Angeles, take your Christmas card to the next level with LA-only photo ops with Santa, and visit our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families for more holiday adventures.
Halloween Weekend 2024 in Los Angeles: Trick-or-Treat and More Things To Do with Kids
Submitted by Toby B on
Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles this Halloween weekend? Here are some events and activities to add to your list for Halloween 2024.
This weekend in Los Angeles, there is one trick and many treats. The trick? Halloween is next Thursday. The treats? Many of the most popular Halloween events are this weekend! Among the favorites is the Marina Spooktacular in Marina del Rey, two days of free fun for all ages, and all scare levels. The Anaheim Halloween Parade marks its Centennial. Babe Ruth was one of its first Grand Marshalls 100 years ago! Many Día de los Muertos events are held this weekend in Los Angeles, including the annual observance at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
These are only the beginning of Halloween weekend events. Los Angeles is flush with Halloween celebrations, and our event calendar, just like your kid’s goodie bag, is overflowing with Halloween goodness!
Don’t miss our roundup of free Halloween events in Los Angeles, the best pumpkin patches near Los Angeles, our favorite LA neighborhoods for trick-or-treating, and more Halloween activities on this wonderfully spooky weekend.
Best Train Rides and Model Trains for Kids in Los Angeles
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
All aboard for trains for kids in Los Angeles! There's something about the clickety-clack of the railroad tracks, the comforting bounce of the train cars, and that booming whistle that gives kids all the giggles and glee. If your kids love trains as much as mine, you are probably looking for the best places to take kids who love trains in Los Angeles. The good news is, that LA is packed with train-themed fun.
I've pulled together a list of all the places my train-loving littles enjoy to share with you all. If you're looking for ideas on trains for kids in Los Angeles, check out this Instagram Reel featuring five great trains in the LA area. Chugga chugga choo choo, here we go!
Looking for more family fun? Browse our list of the best playgrounds in Los Angeles, discover the best botanical gardens for LA kids, and find more fun in our Parks and Playgrounds of Los Angeles & Orange County Guide.
34 Things To Do to Celebrate Día de Los Muertos in Los Angeles
Submitted by Toby B on
Día de los Muertos in Los Angeles has vibrant celebrations across the city in many neighborhoods and cultural institutions that honor the Mexican tradition of remembering and celebrating loved ones who have passed away.
Spirited Day of the Dead celebrations are steeped in traditional arts and culture throughout Southern California. Children may be familiar with these celebrations from movies such as Coco and The Book of Life. Expect Aztec dancers, mariachi musicians, Calavera face painting, and sugar skull decorating. Ofrendas, or altars, are also created to remember loved ones and are often the centerpieces of Día de los Muertos events.
Take part in more fall traditions by finding the best pumpkin patches in Los Angeles, going apple picking near LA, and discovering fall fun in our LA Fall Day Trips Guide.
A Lite-Brite Experience Is Coming To Los Angeles
Submitted by Gina Ragland on
Lite-Brite: Worlds of Wonder will illuminate the way to nostalgia with an immersive experience at Santa Monica Place. Parents can relive joyful memories of a classic childhood toy, while kids can get introduced to the colorful Lite-Brite world.
The Lite-Brite experience will captivate with hypnotic color and technology. Step into a futuristic iteration of the simplistic toy beloved for generations. It should be no surprise that thousands of colorful lights will be part of the experience.
For more new interactive experiences in Los Angeles, dig into slime at Sloomoo Institute and visit Dino Valley at Legoland to relive prehistoric times.
26 Amazing Free Haunted Houses and Halloween Displays in Los Angeles
Submitted by Roberta B on
To get in the Halloween mood, nothing beats checking out the skeletons our neighbors have dragged out of the closets at these amazing (and free) haunted houses and incredible Halloween yard displays. One of the perks of living in the film capital of the world is that the people who make movies bring that same love of spectacle entertainment to their front yards. Some homes go all out with spooky, creepy, and cool Halloween decorations, while others create private haunted houses that rival the spectacles at big theme parks.
Immerse yourself in the spooky season by visiting one of these free house haunts or wandering through a street full of movie-ready Halloween decorations. For more Halloween fun, from the best Halloween events in Los Angeles to trick-or-treating in Los Angeles, check our Los Angeles Halloween Events and Activities Guide.
NEW Sloomoo Institute Opens in Los Angeles for Kids to Enjoy Slime Fun
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
The Sloomoo Institute in Los Angeles recently opened for all the gooey, slimy fun. No matter how you feel about slime, your kids likely love it. Even the biggest anti-slimers might have to admit that they like slime, just a little bit, after checking out this new family-friendly attraction for kids in Los Angeles.
Sloomoo Institute is a welcome relief for parents who have watched their kitchens transform into slime laboratories. At the Sloomoo Institute, kids can squish, stretch, smash, shoot, stand under, stand on, and smell slime without making a mess at home.
For more interactive entertainment, bookmark these crafts for kids, visit the best children's museums in Los Angeles and Orange County, and discover more fun in our Museum Guide for Kids in Los Angeles and Orange County.
37 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles October 2024 with Kids
Submitted by Toby B on
There are tons of things to do in Los Angeles for ghouls and gals, but Halloween is the name of the game in October. Los Angeles comes alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and, of course, trick-or-treating—so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!
Major treats are in store for things to do in Los Angeles for families this October. Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA clowns around at the Santa Monica Pier, boats dress up in their Halloween finery for Marina del Rey's 3rd Annual Halloween Boat Parade, and wheeled gourds speed to the finish line at Manhattan Beach's Pumpkin Race Festival.
Favorite frightful Halloween activities include the chance to boo at the zoo, remember Coco along with a live orchestra in a live-to-film concert at the Soraya, view Carved jack-o-lanterns in La Canada-Flintridge, walk through immersive pumpkin houses at Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in Culver City, and so much more.
These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles in October—we're adding more events to the Los Angeles Family Event Calendar daily. Keep reading for the very best things to do in Los Angeles this October, and don't forget to check back weekly for our picks for the best things to do in Los Angeles each weekend.
