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18 Summer Festivals and Fairs in 2025 in Los Angeles for Families

Kick off summer fun with carnival rides. Photo courtesy of the Fountain Valley Summerfest
Kick off summer fun with carnival rides. Photo courtesy of the Fountain Valley Summerfest
5/16/25 - By Kylie Williams

Fairs and summer festivals in Los Angeles are an essential SoCal tradition. A good festival has something fun for kids of all ages: rides, interesting foods, live music—all this at an event that parents are genuinely excited about. 

Summer and fairs go hand-in-hand, and a take place near Los Angeles. Choose the Orange County Fair or the Ventura County Fair, "a country fair with ocean air." If you've had your fill of fried fair food, grab a slice a sweet slice of summer's favorite fruit at the California Watermelon Festival in Lakeview Terrace. 

For more summer fun, check out our Summer Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids, which includes the best beaches in LA, favorite water parks in SoCal, and everywhere you can jump in a lake in Los Angeles.

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Race over to FuelFest this summer. Photo by Kylie Williams
Race over to FuelFest this summer. Photo by Kylie Williams

June Summer Festivals near Los Angeles

41st Annual Montrose Arts & Crafts Festival

Montrose - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, June 7 & 8, 2025
The Montrose Arts & Crafts Festival is one of the oldest events of its type in California. Montrose Shopping Park Association sponsors this two-day festival. More than 250 fine artists, crafters, food vendors are on-site for this charming festival. A lively kids zone features inflatables, pony rides, and more.  READ MORE

California Watermelon Festival

Lakeview Terrace
Saturday & Sunday, June 7 & 8, 2025
Enjoy a slice of happiness (and unlimited slices of watermelon!) at the California Watermelon Festival.  READ MORE

Pacific Islander Festival

Long Beach
Saturday & Sunday, June 7 & 8, 2025
The Aquarium of the Pacific hosts its twenty-second annual Pacific Islander Festival, celebrating the rich and diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands. READ MORE

9th Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival

Newport Beach
Saturday, June 14, 2025
The 9th annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival celebrates the maritime heritage of Newport Harbor and wooden boats past and present. The weekend is filled with maritime craftsmanship, art, exhibits, food, music, and a boat parade. READ MORE

Pasadena Chalk Festival

Pasadena - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, June 14 & 15, 2025
Billed as the world's largest street painting festival, the 32nd Annual Pasadena Chalk Festival features more than 500 artists and 200 murals adorning the sidewalk outside of the Pasadena Convention Center.  READ MORE

Fountain Valley Summerfest

Fountain Valley
Thursday - Sunday, June 19 - 22, 2025
Fountain Valley's Summerfest is back, featuring carnival rides, games, food vendors, a beer garden, and a full schedule of entertainment that includes tribute bands and local performers.  On Friday night, Summerfest concludes with a fireworks show presented by Hyundai.  READ MORE

2025 Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival

Griffith Park - FREE
Starts Wednesday June 25, 2025
All the world's a stage, including Griffith Park. Free Shakespeare returns to Griffith Park for a full summer of theater under the stars. This year the festival puts on two shows: Love's Labour's Lost (starting June 25) and Doctor Faustus (opening August 6).  READ MORE

Sawdust Art & Craft Festival

Laguna Beach
Starts Friday, June 27, 2025
The Sawdust Art & Craft Festival, which dates back to the 1960s, offers a chance to enjoy the fine arts and crafts of Laguna Beach artists.  READ MORE

FuelFest x Jada 2025

Pomona
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Do you have a child who loves all things cars? FuelFest is a day-long celebration of all things fast with live music, drag racing, interactive exhibits, sponsor showcases, and an incredible display of rare vehicles. Little gearheads can check out all the fun on a real racetrack at the Fairplex in Pomona.  Kids under the age of 12 are free with a paying adult.  READ MORE
It's not a SoCal summer without the Ventura County Fair. Photo by Kevin Wilt, courtesy of the Fair.
It's not a SoCal summer without the Ventura County Fair. Photo by Kevin Wilt, courtesy of the Fair.

July Summer Festivals near Los Angeles

44th Lotus Festival

Echo Park - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, July 12 & 13, 2025
Every year the Lotus Festival highlights a different Asian or Pacific Island country to promote and educate the community about the country and its culture. This year, the event celebrates the people of the Republic of Korea. Families enjoy the dragonboat races, children's area, food court, lantern launches, handcrafted artwork, and more.  READ MORE

Orange County Fair

Costa Mesa
Starts Friday, July 18, 2025
The Orange County Fair is back, and this year's theme is "Find Your Happy!" Highlights of the fair include animals, tons of food, carnival rides, art exhibits, and more. Carnival ride tickets are $1 each, and unlimited-ride wristbands are available for $44 for Wednesdays or Thursdays at the fair.  READ MORE

10 Years of Love Long Beach

Long Beach
Saturday & Sunday, July 19 & 20, 2025
This two-day festival celebrates all the things that make Long Beach lovable. Highlights include DJs, music, arts and crafts, food court, vendors, yoga, sound healing, massage, and chill areas.This year, Love Long Beach celebrates it's 10th anniversary.  READ MORE

Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival

Long Beach - FREE
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Dragon boats—long, sleek, and powered by many rowers with oars—are raced competitively in events like the Asian Games. Families can see their beauty and majesty, and watch the power and vigor of the athletic oarsmen at the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival. A schedule of races will be found on the website as the event approaches. READ MORE

BBQ Music Fest

Huntington Beach
Friday - Sunday, July 25 - 27, 2025
BBQ chefs from around the country gather to grill ribs, chicken, sausage, pulled pork, and other succulent delicacies at this three-day festival. Award-winning pitmasters battle local barbecue gurus to see whose ribs are the most irresistible. READ MORE

Ventura County Fair

Ventura
Starts Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Ride 'em, Cowboy! The "country fair with ocean air" is back for 11 days of magic for summer 2025. Kids can ride the many carnival rides and play games on the midway, watch the Alaskan pig races, meet some animal friends at the petting zoo, tour the livestock areas, and more.  READ MORE

International Surf Festival

Manhattan Beach
Starts Wednesday July 30, 2025
Hang ten in Manhattan Beach for the International Surf Festival. The three signature events for the festival are the Judge Taplin Lifeguard Medley Relay, the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim, and the Charlie Saikley Six-Man Volleyball Tournament.  Other events include a surfing contest, a body surfing contest (great for kids), a beach run, paddleboard races, a dory race, and other youth events. READ MORE

August Summer Festivals near Los Angeles

Nisei Week Japanese Festival

Little Tokyo - FREE
Saturday - Sunday, August 9 - 17, 2025
Learn about the rich cultural heritage of Japan during Nisei Week in Little Tokyo. Nisei Week is one of the longest-running ethnic festivals in the United States. Guests can try Japanese cuisine, watch the gyoza eating contest, marvel at the vehicles in the car show, wave at the floats during the Grand Parade, and enjoy a Taiko drumming performance.  READ MORE

Fiesta La Ballona

Culver City - FREE
Friday - Sunday, August 22 - 24, 2025
Culver City's premier community event, Fiesta La Ballona, treats families to outdoor concerts, carnival rides (wristbands available for purchase), a petting zoo, K-9 demonstrations, and pony rides all weekend long. Other highlights include a pancake breakfast and a magic show.  READ MORE

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About the Author

Kylie Williams
Kylie Williams is a mom of four who loves exploring Los Angeles with her kids and reporting back about the exciting events, attractions, and hidden gems she discovers. When she's not schlepping the kids around the city, she's probably at the gym, reading a book, or putting together snack bags for one of the kids' sports teams. If you know of a place she should check out, drop a line at Kylie@MommyPoppins.com.
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