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33 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles September 2023 with Kids

Enjoy vibrant Venice Beach celebrations! Photo courtesy of the Abbot Kinney Festival
Enjoy vibrant Venice Beach celebrations! Photo courtesy of the Abbot Kinney Festival
9/1/23 - By Toby B

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!

September starts with Labor Day weekend, marking the end of summer and the gateway to Halloween and spooky season. LA's favorite venues, like Underwood Farms and Irvine Park Railroad, are kicking off the fall fun in Los Angeles this month. The Spider Pavilion creeps and crawls back to the Natural History Museum. There is also a wagonload of incredible fall festivals coming to Los Angeles this September, including dinos, lobsters, the Maritime Festival in Dana Point, the Malibu Chili Cook-Off, and the Abbot Kinney Festival in Venice. 

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles this September—we're adding more events to the Los Angeles Family Activity Calendar every day. Keep reading for the very 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. 

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Dive into the Baja Splash Cultural Festival. Photo courtesy of the Aquarium of the Pacific
Dive into the Baja Splash Cultural Festival. Photo courtesy of the Aquarium of the Pacific

Best Things To Do in LA with Kids in September 2023

A Goofy Movie at the El Capitan

Hollywood - Starts September 1, 2023
A Goofy Movie is presented as a special engagement at the El Capitan READ MORE

Orange International Street Festival

Orange - Friday - Sunday, September 1 - 3, 2023
Free
Head down to Old Town Orange to try out a wide range of international cuisines. The event promotes diversity with 15 ethnic streets to peruse and enjoy, allowing guests to get a taste of Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Thailand, and more. READ MORE

Annual Malibu Chili Cook-Off

Malibu - Friday - Monday, September 1 - 4, 2023
The Malibu Chili Cook-Off, a much-loved Malibu Labor Day Weekend community tradition, returns for another year. If your family really loves chili (or you just like a night off from making dinner!), this fest is for you. READ MORE

Long Beach Comic Con

Long Beach - Saturday & Sunday, September 2 & 3, 2023
Long Beach Comic Con returns, giving San Diego a run for its money with its very own Comic Con. Fans of comics, animation, and all forms of pop culture can enjoy educational and entertaining programs, a costume contest, guest signings, and meet & greet sessions with celebrities at this two day festival. READ MORE

Long Beach Greek Festival By the Sea

Long Beach - Saturday - Monday, September 2 - 4, 2023
The Long Beach Greek Festival and Cultural Event is a community celebration of Greek culture as the grounds of Assumption Church transform into a Grecian Village packed with activities for the whole family. READ MORE

Americana in the Park Concert Series 2023

Santa Monica - Starts Sunday, September 3
Free
Santa Monica partners with McCabe’s Guitar Shop for another season of this concert series in Gandara Park. The Americana in the Park series explores the arc of Americana music from its roots in traditional African, Appalachian, roots, blues, bluegrass, and folk to the modern forms of folk and country music. READ MORE

Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party

Anaheim - Starts Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Trick-or-treating at Disneyland - what could be better? This year's spooooookiest Halloween celebration is a villainous bash at Disney California Adventure Park. Update: Not to scare you, but this event is sold out. Never fear, though, there is still plenty of frightful fun to be had during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. READ MORE

Family Days@LA Plaza: Fiestas Patrias

DTLA - Sunday, September 10, 2023
Free
September 16 marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. LA Plaza visitors can learn more about the day with activities for the entire family at this festival celebrating Mexican Independence. READ MORE

Maritime Festival (Formerly the Tall Ships Festival)

Dana Point - Friday - Sunday, September 9 - 11, 2023
The Ocean Institute on Dana Point hosts the annual Maritime Festival (you probably used to know it by the name Tall Ships Festival!). Kids can tour tall ships, experience a mermaid breakfast, meet pirates, hear sea chantey concerts (and other live music), take part in cannon battles at sea, and more. READ MORE

Original Lobster Festival

Fountain Valley - Friday - Sunday, September 8 - 10, 2023
Everyone’s favorite crustacean is celebrated this weekend at the Original Lobster Festival. A master chef steams up live Maine lobsters flown in daily for the event. READ MORE

24th Street Theatre’s Saturday Explorer Series

University Park - Starts Saturday, September 9, 2023
24th Street Theatre’s “Saturday Explorer Series” for young audiences  features professional storytellers who share tales from around the globe. READ MORE

Los Angeles Union Station Train Festival 2023

DTLA - Saturday & Sunday, September 9 & 10, 2023
Free
All aboard for a family-friendly celebration of the past, present and future of train travel! The free event features activations and programs throughout the iconic Los Angeles landmark  READ MORE

Moompetam: Celebrating Coastal Native Americans

Long Beach - Saturday & Sunday, September 9 & 10, 2023
Aquarium of the Pacific hosts its 19th annual Moompetam Festival, celebrating the indigenous California maritime cultures, includingTongva, Chumash, Acjachemen, Costanoan, Luiseno, and Kumeyaay. READ MORE

Open Main Street 2023

Santa Monica - Saturday & Sunday, September 9 & 10, 2023
Free
A stretch of Santa Monica's Main Street closes off to traffic for a monthly family-friendly Open Streets event. In September, Saturday's activities include Day of the Dog pet festival; on Sunday there is open pickleball play. READ MORE

Disney's Aladdin

Hollywood - Starts Tuesday, September 12, 2023
A whole new world...Disney's Aladdin takes a magic carpet ride to the Pantages Theater. READ MORE

The Sound of Music Sing-a-Long at the Bowl

Hollywood - Saturday, September 16, 2023
These are a few of my favorite things: raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, and the Sound of Music Sing-a-Long at the Hollywood Bowl. Where else do you get to work your inner Julie Andrews under the stars? READ MORE

Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch

Orange - Starts Saturday, September 16, 2023
Irvine Park Railroad and the Pumpkin Patch once again open for the season with the Pumpkin Train, a moon bounce, hayrides, and haunted house.  Other daily fun includes panning for gold, carnival games, face painting, cookie decorating, and more.  READ MORE

Bob Baker’s Halloween Spooktacular

Highland Park - Starts Saturday, September 16, 2023
A beloved Bob Baker tradition returns! The Bob Baker Marionettes presents Halloween Spooktacular, a family-friendly musical revue, set to haunting and jazzy holiday-themed tunes celebrating nearly every decade. READ MORE

Brick or Treat

Carlsbad - Starts Saturday, September 16, 2023
Legoland offers a festive kid-centric Halloween celebration on select weekends this fall. The fun includes tons of candy, an all-new show lineup, never-before-seen exclusive Lego characters, and more. READ MORE

Coaster Campout

Buena Park - Saturday, September 16, 2023
Families can camp out for a night at Knott’s Berry Farm. The Coaster Campout package includes parking, two-day admission for each camper to enjoy both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark on September 16 and 17, a camp spot for a tent*, parking for one vehicle, and a continental breakfast on September 17. Each campsite can accommodate up to 4 people. READ MORE

Spider Pavilion

Exposition Park - Starts Saturday, September 17, 2023
The spiders return to The Natural History Museum, in the improved Spider Pavilion that debuted a few years ago. Guests have the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the spiders’ habitat and witness the day-to-day lives of these often misunderstood, but uniquely talented creatures. READ MORE

Tiny Tot Olympics

Malibu - Sunday, September 17, 2023
It's never too early to go for the gold! Kids as young as two can participate in this fun-filled event. Opening ceremonies are followed by the running of the torch and a group stretch. Little athletes can then participate in a variety of athletic events. READ MORE

Westchester Arts & Music Block Party

Westchester - Saturday, September 23
Free
This free, day-long, family-friendly celebration features live music and dance performances, vendors & community booths, kids' activities, garden tours, and food trucks – plus a beer and wine garden. READ MORE

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Multiple Locations - Saturday, September 23, 2023
Free
It's National Public Lands Day, and that means your admission is FREE! On select days throughout the year, all national parks are open to the public with no admission fee. READ MORE

Baja Splash Cultural Festival

Long Beach - Saturday & Sunday, September 23 & 24, 2023
The Aquarium  of the Pacific celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with the 21st  Annual Baja Splash Festival. Where else can you see ancient Aztec dance performed in the shadow of a shark tank? READ MORE

Dino Fest

Exposition Park - Sunday, September 24, 2023
Who ya callin' extinct? Dino Fest comes roaring back to the Natural History Museum. The Natural History Museum hosts a festival celebrating dinosaurs, their prehistoric past, and the science that brings their world back to life.  READ MORE

Abbot Kinney Festival

Venice - Sunday, September 24, 2023
Free
Vendors line both sides of Abbot Kinney at the annual Abbot Kinney Festival - many with a decidedly green edge (this is Venice, after all).  An eclectic range of musicians is scheduled to perform on multiple stages along the 3/4 mile stretch, and food trucks aplenty satisfy every gastronomical whim. READ MORE

Knott's Spooky Farm

Buena Park - Starts Thursday, September 28, 2023
Knott's Berry Farm invites kids to a non-scare Halloween celebration that's about cheer, not fear. Kids can dress in all their Halloween finery to go trick-or-treating around the town of Calico’s shops and buildings. READ MORE

Boney Island

Exposition Park - Starts Thursday, September 28, 2023
Boney Island is back this Halloween season! One of the LA area's most popular family-friendly haunts for decades, the former lawn haunt from Sherman Oaks has joined forces with the Natural History Museum to stage a spookily exciting comeback. READ MORE

Pacific Airshow

Huntington Beach - Friday - Sunday, September 29 - October 1, 2023
Free
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird, it's a plane ... it's a Thunderbird! The annual show flies into Huntington Beach. Featured flyers include the US Air Force Thunderbirds, Canadian Forces Snowbirds, and F-22 Raptor Demonstration team, with more to be announced. READ MORE

Autry 35th Anniversary Celebration

Griffith Park - Saturday, September 30, 2023
Git along little dogies - to the Autry's 35th anniversary celebration! The full day of fun offers activities for families and kids of all ages, including food trucks, live music, carnival games, Native Voices Performances, a special PBS character meet and greet inside the museum, and more. READ MORE

26th Annual Fall Harvest Festival

Moorpark - Starts Saturday, September 30, 2023
Underwood Family Farms' annual Fall Harvest Festival features pig races, animal shows, a corn maze and gourd tunnel, a combine slide, tractor rides, Farmer Craig’s Chicken Show, hay pyramids, and animals to feed, as well as a gigantic pumpkin patch. READ MORE

The Port of Hueneme Banana Festival

Port Hueneme - September 30, 2023
Free
The Port of Hueneme Banana Festival is back and going bananas at the annual Port of Hueneme Banana Festival. Guests can enjoy a variety of delicious foods, including banana empanadas, banana splits, banana funnel cakes, banana lumpia, banana cream pie melts, banana Italian ice, banana popcorn, banana cupcakes and chocolate covered bananas. Both parking and admission are free. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Long Beach Convention Center
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
National Parks - Multiple Locations
Boney Island at the Natural History Museum