Sign up for our free newsletters.
FOLLOW US FOR ACTIVITY PICKS, DEALS, AND GIVEAWAYS
31 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles September 2024 With Kids
Submitted by Toby B on
September kicks off with loads of long Labor Day weekend events and keeps it going with some early Halloween activities, plus so many more things to do in Los Angeles with kids!
Fall fun is officially upon us! LA's favorite venues, like Underwood Farms, Legoland, and Irvine Park Railroad, are kicking off the festivities in Los Angeles this month, and the Spider Pavilion creeps and crawls back to the Natural History Museum. There's also a wagon-load of incredible fall festivals coming to Los Angeles this September: dinos, the Maritime Festival in Dana Point, and the Malibu Chili Cook-Off. Plus, Santa Monica Pier, the stars of the US Gymnastics team, and Batman celebrate landmark anniversaries and achievements.
These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles this September, and more events are added to the Los Angeles Family Activity Calendar each day. Keep reading for the best things to do in Los Angeles this September.
If you're eagerly waiting for all things fall, see where to leaf peep near Los Angeles, where to go apple picking near LA, and plan more autumn adventures in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids.
Labor Day Weekend in Los Angeles: Festivals, Malibu Chili Cook-Off, and More Things to Do with Kids
Submitted by Toby B on
Looking for things to do this Labor Day Weekend 2024? Add these fun things to your list of what to do with kids in Los Angeles this Labor Day weekend.
Labor Day weekend marks the end of a jam-packed Los Angeles summer. This weekend brings some summer favorites to a close, such as Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's Sea Fair, the Leimert Park Jazz Festival, and Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party in Ontario. Crank up the volume on Labor Day weekend with festivals like the Annual Malibu Chili Cook-Off, the Long Beach Greek Festival, and the Orange International Street Festival.
There's still time for summer fun, so head to the best beaches in Los Angeles over the long Labor Day weekend or take a family road trip from Los Angeles. Make those end-of-summer memories with ideas from our Ultimate Los Angeles Kids Summer Vacation Guide.
Apple Picking near Los Angeles: Best Orchards for Apple Picking with Kids
Submitted by Deborah on
Apple picking near Los Angeles? Your Northwest/Midwest/East Coast friends might scoff, but absolutely! While it may not feel like fall in Los Angeles, where autumn temps can still tip into triple digits—there is a fabulous apple-picking day trip from Los Angeles.
Oak Glen is a little mile-high town that is spitting distance from the pools in Palm Springs, but where the mountains get snow in the winter and the crisp air produces incredible apples. It’s perfect for a Los Angeles apple-picking adventure. And when your bag runneth over, check out these tempting apple recipes!
For more fall festivities, see where to find fall foliage near Los Angeles, get gourds at the best pumpkin patches near LA, and discover more seasonal adventures in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids.
24 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles August 2024 with Kids
Submitted by Toby B on
Summer is not over yet, and there are so many things to do in a Los Angeles August! It's a great time to enjoy outdoor movies & concerts, summer festivals, and the best beach days.
A Los Angeles August is that crazy time of year when the height of heat and summer fun collides with back-to-school, and parents need to turn the dial up on the end-of-summer fun. Luckily, the events and outings in Los Angeles this month do not disappoint, and there are loads of amazing activities to do before the school bell rings, and many of them are free.
This Los Angeles August sees the return of several favorites, including the Getty Center's Garden Concerts for Kids, the Actors' Gang's wildly creative Shakespeare in the Park for Kids, and the Japanese American National Museum's annual summer celebration, the Natsumatsuri Family Festival.
These are just a few of our favorite things to do in August—there's so much more! When the heat is too much to grin and bear, we've got 77 Places to Beat the Heat in LA. When your credit card says to take it easy, we've got 71 Free Things To Do In Los Angeles This Summer with Kids. And don't forget to check back weekly for our picks for the best things to do in Los Angeles each weekend.
Universal Studios Hollywood: Tips for a Perfect Day with Kids
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
Ahhh, Universal Studios Hollywood. Everyone knows that when you drive down the 101, you see LA’s beloved one-eyed Minion peeping at you from across the road. You notice Hogwarts, rising into the sky on a hill, and you may have asked yourself (probably countless times) “Should we take the kids there? Is it worth it?” As a local mom of four, I’m here to tell you, yes, Universal Studios Hollywood is absolutely worth a trip.
We took our boys and a buddy, ages 5, 7, and 8, for a birthday celebration and had the most memorable day. We want to make your day memorable too, so read on for a local’s tips and tricks to maximize your day at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Be prepared to visit any LA-area theme park with this guide to all the best Los Angeles theme parks!
Heat Wave Hot List: 77 Cool Things to Do in Los Angeles With Kids
Submitted by Matt Matasci on
As summer heats up, these cool things to do in Los Angeles will help provide respite from those lasting sun rays. It can be hard to soak up that sun for more than a few minutes when temperatures climb to triple digits. When it's too toasty to play at the park, ride bikes outside, or go for a walk, we've got answers and lots of ideas for cool things to do in Los Angeles.
From pools and splash pads to bowling alleys and cool museums, we've gathered the best indoor and outdoor activities to beat those summer—or even rare fall or winter—heat waves, as well as those unfortunate smoky haze days. Plus, you can always head to the beach! There are even more cool things to do in Los Angeles this summer in our Ultimate Los Angeles Kids Summer Vacation Guide.
39 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before School Starts
Submitted by Meghan Rose on
Quick: It’s time to shoehorn all these last favorite things to do in Los Angeles before school starts up!
Is it me, or did this summer go by extra fast? I feel like we didn’t get to do half of our usual summer traditions, and now school is about to start. Hopefully, you at least got in a few day trips, visited a few beach towns, and got to go swimming in a lake or two.
But perhaps you haven’t made it on as many outings this summer? Well, there's still time to check out some really cool museum exhibits (like the Maurice Sendak Wild Things Are Happening exhibit at the Skirball) and shows for kids (The Actor’s Gang Shakespeare in the Park is back in Culver City, matey!) that truly should not be missed—they won’t be here when the next school vacation rolls around and are easy to squeeze in between your Target run for notebooks, and last-minute doctor’s appointments...
Check out more end-of-summer fun in our Summer Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids. And if school is starting soon for your family, our Back-to-School Guide has pretty much everything you need.
21 Teen Birthday Party Ideas in Los Angeles: Cool Party Places for Teens
Submitted by Matt Matasci on
Planning for any child’s birthday party can be a trying task, but finding teen birthday party ideas that your snarky teens won't deride is practically impossible. Teenagers are a particularly tough group to plan for—and you have to account for the fact that tastes vary wildly and what is exciting for one teen is a total bore for another. Luckily, Los Angeles is jam-packed with things to do with tweens and teens, and that includes places where you can hold teen birthday parties that your celebrant will truly adore.
From comedy clubs to private pool cabanas and tech wonderlands to falcon flying fetes, we've rounded up 21 teen birthday party ideas (even sweet 16 birthday ideas) that are tried and true for teens. To get more ideas for your party, like where to get the best birthday cakes in LA, visit our Guide to Birthday Party Ideas in Los Angeles for Kids. Because big kids love birthday cake, too.
