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Summer Games in the City! Event photo courtesy of Pretend City
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7/19/24 - By Meghan Rose

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.

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Dino Quest at Discovery Cube OC. Photo by Kylie Williams
Dino Quest at Discovery Cube OC. Photo by Kylie Williams

Great Museum Exhibits for Kids in Los Angeles

Butterfly Pavilion at the NHM

Exposition Park
Open through August 25, 2024
It's time to emerge from our chrysalis! The Natural History Museum welcomes butterfly lovers back to the Butterfly Pavilion and Nature Gardens. Get up close to beautiful butterflies at this seasonal exhibit. READ MORE

The Messi Experience: A Dream Come True

Glassell Park
Open through August 31, 2024
The Messi Experience: A Dream Come True is inspired by Leo Messi's life and career. The immersive multimedia exhibit features nine thematic installations, including digital and physical games to learn soccer tricks from the GOAT. Fans journey through Messi’s most iconic career moments firsthand, from the details of his youth in his hometown to winning the World Cup in Qatar. READ MORE

Exhibit: Wild Things are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak

West LA
Open through September 1, 2024
The Skirball Cultural Center announces the West Coast debut of Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak, celebrating the work of Jewish American artist Maurice Sendak, creator of the acclaimed children’s books Where the Wild Things Are (1963), In the Night Kitchen (1970), and Outside.  READ MORE

Leonardo da Vinci at the California Science Center

Exposition Park
Open through September 2, 2024
Inventor. Artist. Dreamer.  Leonardo da Vinci was a true Renaissance man! The latest exhibit at the California Science Center brings some of his greatest inventions to life, with models by contemporary Italian artisans according to da Vinci’s drawings. READ MORE

Summer Games in the City!

Irvine
Open through September 2, 2024
Let the Games begin! The training ground at Pretend City is ready for the smallest athletes to test their athletic skills over the next three months. Kids can dive into adventurous play, competition, and hands-on learning experiences that celebrate the vibrant spirit of the Olympics. READ MORE

Exhibit: Defending America and the Galaxy: Star Wars and SDI

Simi Valley
Open through September 8, 2024
In the 1980s, "Star Wars" had two meanings: the beloved sci-fi film trilogy, and SDI: the Strategic Defense Initiative, a proposed ground- and space-based missile defense program. The latest exhibit at the Reagan Library explores both aspects of Star Wars,  the real-world technology of SDI, as well as items from the movie phenomenon. READ MORE

HYBE: We Believe In Music

DTLA
Open August 2-September 15, 2024
K-Pop music company HYBE takes center stage at the GRAMMY Museum. The special interactive exhibit spotlights the spotlights the company's legacy of unparalleled innovation and creativity as a trend-setting global entertainment brand and home to the likes of BTS, SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, and many more.  READ MORE

Kidspace Campout

Pasadena
Open through September 15, 2024
Kidspace kicks off summer with Kidspace Campout, a summer-long celebration of the best of summer, nature, and exploration, sized just right for kids and families to share. READ MORE

Dino Quest at Discovery Cube OC

Santa Ana
Open indefinitely
Discovery Cube OC visitors explore the ancient mysteries of Dinosaurs in a very modern way!  The newly  reimagined exhibit Dino Quest sends visitors on a  brand-new hand-held interactive adventure, with an interactive dinosaur fossil excavation site, interactive missions, and colossal life-sized dinosaurs.  READ MORE
Ventura County Fair brings all the fair fun to the seaside. Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Fair
Ventura County Fair brings all the fair fun to the seaside. Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Fair

Shows & Festivals for Kids in Los Angeles

Pixar Fest at Disneyland

Anaheim
Through August 4, 2024
You've got a friend at Disneyland—in fact, you've got two parks full of favorite Pixar Pals!   Pixar Fest, the latest limited time event at the Disneyland Resort, is a celebration of friendship and beyond. READ MORE

Cirque du Soleil KOOZA Laguna Hills

Laguna Hills
Through August 4, 2024
Cirque du Soleil returns to the Southland! KOOZA combines acrobatic performance and the art of clowning, while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power.  READ MORE

Ventura County Fair

Ventura
Daily through August 11, 2024
Ride 'em, Cowboy!  Ventura County Fair rides off into the sunset with the PRCA Rodeo all weekend.The "country fair with ocean air" is back for 11 days of magic for summer 2024. 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

The Comedy of Arrs

Culver City - FREE
Saturdays & Sundays August 3-25, 2024
Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors gets the swashbuckle treatment courtesy of the Actors Gang! The Culver City troupe puts their signature spin on Shakespeare, this year presenting a production populated with mermaids, pirates and under the sea creatures. READ MORE

Nisei Week Japanese Festival

Little Tokyo - FREE
August 10-18. 2024
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

BBQ Music Fest

Fountain Valley
Friday-Sunday, August 16-18, 2024
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

Fiesta La Ballona

Torrance - FREE
Friday-Sunday, August 23-25, 2024
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

Pageant of the Masters

Laguna Beach
Daily through August 30, 2024
Actors, designers, and a full orchestra recreate great works of art as living pictures in a hillside amphitheater under the stars in the Pageant of the Masters, Laguna's signature nightly summertime event. READ MORE

2024 Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival

Griffith Park - FREE
Wednesday-Sunday through September 1, 2024
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 one show: As You Like It.   READ MORE

Bob Baker Marionette Theater's Enchanted Toyshop

Highland Park
Through September 14, 2024
Bob Baker Marionette Theater celebrates its 60th birthday with an imaginative visit to a fantastical toyshop! Originally staged in 1958, Enchanted Toyshop has been restored to all its enchanting glory.  The audience is invited to fly away to Toyland, where toys come to life in song and dance. Everyone can march along with Baby Drum, Candy Dandy, and a hundred handcrafted marionettes straight into a spectacular of color, sight, sound, and fun. READ MORE

State Fair Santa Anita

Arcadia
Thursday-Sunday through August 20
The State Fair at Santa Anita returns for a second summer, billing itself as the official summer fair of LA. Filling the hole left in summer by the LA County Fair's move to May, the State Fair serves up carnival rides and games, local and national entertainment, a social media stage, fair foods (read: artery-clogging deliciousness), adult beverage sampling, and a special area just for kids. READ MORE
Meet the stars of tomorrow! (And see a great game for $2.) Photo courtesy of mlb.com
Meet the stars of tomorrow! (And see a great game for $2.) Photo courtesy of mlb.com

Sporting Events for Kids in Los Angeles

Quakes Minor League Baseball - Fireworks Nights

Rancho Cucamonga
Select dates through September 7, 2024
Take me out to the (minor league base)ball game! For young baseball lovers, minor league games are a wonderful opportunity to see future (and sometimes even current) major league players, for a fraction of the ticket price. On select nights, the Quakes will light up the sky with a fireworks display after the game.  READ MORE

Inland Empire 66ers Games

San Bernardino
Select dates through September 8, 2024
Take your whole fam out to a ball game to cheer for the Inland Empire 66ers at the San Manuel Stadium. This Minor League Baseball team makes every game fun with special promotions and lots of interaction. Best of all, tickets are typically under $10 and there are special deals on food certain nights of the week. It's the perfect, affordable night of family summer fun. READ MORE

Los Angeles Sparks Games

DTLA
Select dates through September 11, 2024
The girl power is fierce at Los Angeles Sparks WNBA games at the Crypto.com arena. Get all the thrills of a game at Crypto.com without having to pay an arm and a leg. The arena is kid-friendly, and there's plenty of food and drink vendors when your little ones start to get the mid-game munchies. Check the Sparks' website calendar for the specific dates and times of home games.  READ MORE

Kids Run the Bases - Dodgers Home Game

DTLA
Select Sundays through September 22, 2024
Kids ages 5-14 get to run the bases after most daytime Dodger home games on Sundays.    READ MORE

Angels Post-Game Fireworks

Anaheim
Select Saturdays through September 28, 2024
The Angels' game ends with a bang on select Saturday nights—a fireworks kind of bang.   Some games may include additional promotions. READ MORE

Polo Matches at Will Rogers

Pacific Palisades
Saturdays & Sundays through September 29, 2024 Free
Catch a (free) polo match weekends this spring and summer at the Will Rogers polo field. Don't know what a chukker is? No need to know anything to enjoy a day of polo. Just bring a picnic and relax while watching magnificent horses pound up and down the field right in front of you. READ MORE

LAFC Soccer Matches

Exposition Park
Select dates through October 19, 2024
Soccer moms, take a break from slicing oranges and washing soccer jerseys, and take your kiddos to a real game at the beautiful BMO Stadium. The Los Angeles Football Club starts each match with its signature falcon release, where a celebrity guest releases a live falcon for a flight around the venue. After that, it's game time!  July 26's game is vs Tijuana! READ MORE

Angel City Football Club Matches

Exposition Park
Select dates through October 20, 2024
Show your kiddos that women kick it playing pro soccer by taking them to an Angels City Football Game at the stunning BMO Stadium in Exposition Park. These fun-filled, family-friendly football matches inspire young soccer players and give them a goal to reach for at those Saturday morning AYSO games.  READ MORE
Catch a movie in the park. Photo courtesy of OC Regional Parks
Catch a movie in the park. Photo courtesy of OC Regional Parks

Outdoor Movies and Concerts in Los Angeles To Catch Before Fall

Skirball Sunset Concerts

West LA - FREE
Through Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Skirball’s summertime Sunset Concerts are held in the Museum's courtyard. The 26th season celebrates music’s unique power to bring people together and forge cultural bonds. This year’s lineup features artists from Jewish, African, and Cuban diasporas, reflecting music’s connective threads to the past and its ability to forge cultural bonds and inspire hope for the future. READ MORE

Getty Garden Concerts for Kids

West LA - FREE
Saturdays & Sundays, August 3-18, 2024
The Getty Center's Garden Concerts for Kids returns this August with three weekends of shows. The free outdoor music series for kids and their families features some of the best children's musical artists from across the nation. Kids have a blast rolling in the grass and running through the garden, as well as dancing and singing along with the music. READ MORE

Dana Point Summer of Music Concerts in the Park

Dana Point - FREE
Sundays through August 18, 2024
Dana Point's free summertime series is held in Sea Terrace Park. Each concert features two acts.  This weekend features tributes to ABBA and Earth, Wind and Fire. READ MORE

Sun Sets Concert Series at Calabasas Lake 2024

Calabasas - FREE
August 11 & 25, 2024
Families set up and picnic before concerts on the Calabasas Lake Greenbelt adjacent to the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center. READ MORE

Thursday Night Summer Music Series at the Farmers Market

Mid-City - FREE
Fridays through August 29, 2024
The annual Summer Music Series at the Original Farmers Market features a different band every Thursday evening on the Farmers Market Plaza near the Clock Tower. READ MORE

OC Parks Sunset Cinema Movie Series 2024

Various parks in OC - FREE
Fridays through August 30, 2024
OC Parks summer movie series closes out with The Goonies in Dana Point. OC Parks screens free family-friendly movies at rotating locations on Fridays this summer. This year's selections include recent releases Wonka, Barbie, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as well as classics such as 13 Going on 30 and The Goonies READ MORE

Beach Movie Nights

Playa del Rey - FREE
Fridays through August 30, 2024
On the sand, by the waves, under the stars: Dockweiler Youth Center screens free family movies all summer. For the last screening, the trolls band together for Trolls Band Together. Films for 2024 include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem​, Migration, Lilo and Stitch, and Wish. READ MORE

Warner Center's Movies on the Green

Woodland Hills - FREE
Saturdays in August 2024
Dive in!  Warner Center's last movie of the summer is Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. Films are presented on a 30-foot theatrical screen with digital projection, surround sound, and high-resolution digital picture.  Other selections this year include Wish, Elemental, and Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom READ MORE

Manhattan Beach Summer Concerts in the Park 2024

Manhattan Beach - FREE
Sundays through September 1, 2024
Manhattan Beach's concerts in Polliwog Park come to a close with the Blue Breeze Band, playing Motown, R&B, Jazz, funk and more. READ MORE

La Cañada Flintridge Music in the Park 2024

La Cañada Flintridge - FREE
Sundays through September 1, 2024
La Cañada Flintridge's Music in the Park Summer Concert Series is held at Memorial Park during the summer on Sunday evenings. Featured bands play a variety of music including rock and roll, blues, reggae, and country. The series opens on Memorial Day Monday with Captain Cardiac & The Coronaries and continues through Labor Day weekend. READ MORE

Jazz at LACMA 2024

Mid-City - FREE
Fridays through September 27, 2024
LACMA's Friday night Jazz series returns with free weekly performances celebrating L.A.'s finest jazz musicians. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Pretend City Children's Museum
Kidspace Children's Museum
Under the Big Top Laguna Hills Mall
Griffith Park - site of the Old Zoo
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
The Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center
The Original Farmers Market
Various OC Parks, such as Craig Park