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Watch the puppet masters at Bob Baker Day. Photo by Chloe Rice, courtesy of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater
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3/31/24 - By Toby B

From Earth Day to Passover and a solar eclipse, ring in spring this April with tons of things to do in Los Angeles for kids. Don’t miss our favorite activities taking place in Los Angeles this month.

Los Angeles' April showers bring many exciting things to do this month (and hopefully, lots of wildflowers, too). Springtime festivals galore are in full bloom in Los Angeles throughout April, from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books to the California Poppy Festival.

Plus, the sun (partially) disappears, which you can safely view at a Solar Eclipse Party at Cal Tech. The sun returns and leaves us fully illuminated to celebrate Earth Day at Heal The Bay. Things get really wild with the opening of the Skirball's newest exhibit, showcasing the art of Maurice Sendak. 

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles this April—we're adding more events to the Los Angeles Events Calendar every day.

More Things To Do in Los Angeles This April With Kids: 

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Celebrate Earth Day with science and nature. Photo courtesy of the Natural History Museum of LA County
Celebrate Earth Day with science and nature. Photo courtesy of the Natural History Museum of LA County

The Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids in April

Bloom! at South Coast Botanic Garden

Palos Verdes
Opens Monday, April 1, 2024
Awaken your senses at this seasonal exhibit highlighting the stunning blooms of spring at South Coast Botanic Garden. Over 21,000 bulbs were planted to bloom in spring 2024, resulting in a visually stunning display of color. Flowers to look out for include freesia, five spots, blue eyes, peonies, and petticoat daffodils.  READ MORE

Kidstock Family Friendly Music & Arts Festival

Irvine
Wednesday - Sunday, April 3 - 14, 2024
Kids are invited to rock, roll, sway, sing, and bop at the Kidstock Music & Arts Festival! Pretend City visitors can enjoy live musical performances throughout the week and explore different musical stylings, instruments, and sounds. READ MORE

City of STEM Festival & LA Maker Faire

Chinatown - FREE
Saturday, April 6, 2024
City of Stem and LA Maker Faire combine forces to create an interactive event designed to inspire Los Angeles’ next generation of scientific leaders, makers, and creative thinkers! READ MORE

Renaissance Pleasure Faire

Irwindale
Starts Saturday, April 6, 2024
M'Lords. M'Ladies. The Renaissance has returned to the Southland! Medieval costumes and mugs of mead are the stuff that Renaissance Pleasure Faire is made of. The day promises continuous entertainment in 12 performance areas, with live jousting tournaments, comedy shows, magic, music, swashbuckling, and occasional sightings of Queen Elizabeth I in her Royal Parade as the Faire celebrates its Diamond Jubilee year. READ MORE

Chumash Day Powwow and Inter-Tribal Gathering

Malibu - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7, 2024
Native Americans will gather at Malibu Bluffs Park for a festive cultural celebration honoring Malibu’s original residents and First Americans, the Chumash. The community is encouraged to attend this two day event featuring a variety of Native American arts and crafts, Native American tribal ceremonies, dances, special guest performances, and Chumash history storytelling.   READ MORE

Japanese Cherry Blossom Family Festival

Santa Ana - FREE
Sunday, April 7, 2024
The Bowers Museum welcomes spring with a Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival. Highlights of the free event include Taiko drums, Japanese music, traditional dance, and candy sculpting.  Guests can ring in the spring season with cherry blossom art projects, Japanese food samplings, and blossom face painting. READ MORE

Family Festival: Celebrating Getty Gardens (Getty Center)

West LA - FREE
Sunday, April 7, 2024
The Getty hosts a fun-filled festival inspired by its very own gardens!  Families can celebrate spring at the Getty Center with this vibrant and interactive family festival. Guests can explore the fabulous gardens in full bloom with an artist-designed map. READ MORE

April 2024 Solar Eclipse Viewing Event (CalTech)

Pasadena - FREE
Monday, April 8, 2024
A total solar eclipse passes over North America the morning of Monday, April 8 2024. In our neck of the woods, it appears as a partial solar eclipse, where the shadow of the moon covers a little under 50% of the Sun over the course of 2 hours. CalTech is hosting a solar telescope viewing event at Cahill Astronomy and Astrophysics Building and the adjacent space. The event features solar telescopes,  free eclipse glasses (as supplies last), and astrophysicists on hand to help everyone get the most out of this rare experience. This free event open to everyone (including... READ MORE

Meet the Grunion

San Pedro
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Families can spend a night sitting on Southern California's sandy shore waiting for the legendary grunion run to begin. The activities start with an auditorium presentation about the mating rituals of this unique fish, after which visitors are guided down to the shore to see the famed fish run for themselves. READ MORE

PaleyFest LA 2024

Hollywood
Select dates from April 12 - 20, 2024
PaleyFest returns in person to the Dolby Theatre, offering a behind-the-scenes perspective from the stars and creators of favorite television shows. Presentations that may be of interest to families include Loki, Young Sheldon and Avatar: The Last Airbender. READ MORE

Whale of a Day (New Date)

Rancho Palos Verdes - FREE
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Palos Verdes' annual festival celebrating the migration of the Pacific gray whale is held on the main grounds of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center and at the adjacent lighthouse.  Activities for children include inflatables, face painting, crafts, and games, along with informative exhibits and live music.  Guests can tour the Interpretive Center’s museum and the grounds of the Point Vicente Lighthouse. READ MORE

OC Fair Imaginology

Costa Mesa - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, April 13 & 14, 2024
Have you ever wondered how marine mammals survive in cold water, wanted to make your own kazoo, or tried to craft a rocket using a 3D printer? OC Fair’s Imaginology can help lead the STEAMy way! READ MORE

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

Bel Air
Opens Thursday, April 18, 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

California Poppy Festival

Lancaster
Friday - Sunday, April 19 - 21, 2024
Every spring Lancaster celebrates the vibrant orange poppy, California's state flower. This year the festival returns to the AV Fair & Event Center. Families can enjoy 3 entertaining days amidst the sunshine and colorful flowers. READ MORE

Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

Long Beach
Friday - Sunday, April 19- 21, 2024
Turbocharged cars and stars charge through the city streets, hitting up to 200 mph along Shoreline Drive, in the annual Grand Prix that captivates Long Beach. READ MORE

Heal the Bay Aquarium Earth Day Celebration

Santa Monica
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Heal the Bay Aquarium celebrates Earth Day with indoor and outdoor activities throughout the day. Activities include crafts, chalk art, and face painting,  California Poppy Kits, and an Earth Month Scavenger Hunt, as well as Fun, educational exhibits & live demonstrations. READ MORE

Keep it Green, Keep it Clean Earth Day Celebration

Manhattan Beach - FREE
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Roundhouse Aquarium celebrates Earth Day with "Keep it Green, Keep it Clean." The aquarium partners with local community groups and school organizations to provide fun, interactive, and hands-on activities that promote  ocean conservation and sustainable living. READ MORE

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Exposition Park - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, April 20 & 21, 2024
Books, books, everywhere, and lots of authors, too. The LA Times Festival of Books is LA's biggest and best-known book festival. The schedule for 2024's Festival of Books features children's events with David Shannon, Blippi, Lois Lowry, Phillipa Soo, Lance Bass, Rampage and Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders, Dan Santat, Emily Arrow, Allison Holker Boss, Barney Saltzberg, Tiffany Haddish, Melissa de la Cruz, and Los Angeles Public Library Librarians -- and that's just the beginning!   READ MORE

Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival

Santa Clarita - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, April 20 & 21, 2024
Saddle up for a good time at this annual Cowboy Festival. Santa Clarita’s rich Western heritage takes center stage each year at the Cowboy Festival, which features a multi-day lineup of music, food (including cowboy cobbler!), entertainment, and activities for Western enthusiasts of all ages.  READ MORE

Bob Baker Day

Chinatown - FREE
Sunday, April 21, 2024
The Annual Bob Baker Day celebrates the life and legacy of LA's iconic puppeteer. The event is once again held at Los Angeles State Historic Park. This year's event celebrates Bob Baker’s 100th Birthday and BBMT’s 60th Anniversary,  READ MORE

Earth Day at NHM

Exposition Park
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and helps the Natural History Museum celebrate Earth Day? The Natural History Museum's Earth Day event includes special themed programming.  Nickelodeon is also on hand sharing the Science of Spongebob, and with a character visit from the beloved series in celebration of the cartoon’s 25th anniversary this year. READ MORE

Passover Family Fun Day

Lakeview Terrace - FREE
Sunday, April 21, 2024
The Shalom Institute celebrates Passover with a variety of family-friendly activities. READ MORE

Disney on Ice: Mickey's Search Party (Long Beach)

Long Beach
Thursday - Sunday, April 25 - 28, 2024
Mickey Mouse and his pals explore fantastic worlds as they search for Tinker Bell in this new Disney on Ice show. Their search takes them on an icy adventure through the spirit realm of Coco, the pacific waters of Moana, Elsa's Frozen wonderland and more. READ MORE

Arts & Literacy Festival

Santa Monica - FREE
Saturday, Apr 27, 2024
Beep bop book: this year's Arts & Literacy Festival is robot-themed! READ MORE

The Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival Family Day

DTLA - FREE
Saturday, Apr 27, 2024
The Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival Family Day is an annual event celebrating the artistic achievements of students of all ages and abilities. The free, inclusive community festival allows Angelenos of all abilities and ages and their families to celebrate the artist in all of us through free performances and family-friendly art making activities READ MORE

American Girl Shop & Sail Event with City Cruises

Century City
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Make an unforgettable memory at this shop and sail event, perfect for girls and their beloved American Girl dolls. The fun begins with a shopping spree at the American Girl Store in the Westfield Century City. Then, shoppers will be transported by Shuttle Bus to Marina del Rey to embark on a brunch cruise with City Cruises around the harbor. READ MORE

South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival and Art Walk

South Pasadena - FREE
Saturday, April 27, 2024
The South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival and Art Walk brings music and art to the streets of South Pasadena. READ MORE

Cherry Blossom Festival (Monterey Park)

Monterey Park - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, April 27 & 28, 2024
Monterey Park's Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Barnes Park for its 24th year, offering attendees the chance to see, hear, and taste a bit of Japanese and Japanese American culture. READ MORE

Cinco de Mayo Family Day

DTLA - FREE
Sunday, April 28, 2024
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes celebrates Cinco de Mayo with a fun and free family day featuring theatrical performances, music, hands-on workshops, and more. Guest performers include DJ Ani & DJ Sol. READ MORE

Puppet Festival

Bel Air
Sunday, April 28, 2024
The Skirball celebrates the art of puppetry during this festive day of performances, art making, and new and classic tales told through marionettes, shadow, and full-body puppets. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Pretend City Children's Museum
Heal the Bay Aquarium at Santa Monica Pier
Old Town Newhall, Multiple Venues
Los Angeles State Historic Park
Virginia Avenue Park
Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center