Get slimey on New Year's Eve! Photo by Elaina Bellis courtesy of the Sloomoo Institute
12 New Year's Eve Fireworks, Noon Year's Eve, and Other Los Angeles Celebrations for Kids
Start the New Year with an iconic LA event. 2024 Rose Bowl Parade photo by dbking via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
New Year's Day in Los Angeles: 15 Fun Things To Do with Kids
Welcome the Year of the Snake at the Oshogatsu Family Festival. Event photo by Doug Mukai for JANM
Fun Free Activities for Kids in January 2025: 12 Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Photo courtesy of Surfing Santa Contest via Facebook
GUIDE
Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families
Get into some slime over Christmas vacation. Event photo courtesy of the Sloomoo Institute
Christmas Vacation in Los Angeles: 22 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do with Kids
Embrace the mess! Sloomoo Institute photo by Kylie Williams
NEW Sloomoo Institute Opens in Los Angeles for Kids to Enjoy Slime Fun
Dive into tons of fun in Long Beach. Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific
39 Things to Do With Kids in Long Beach
Photo by Bill Soistmann
GUIDE
Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families
Dive into fun at the Cayton Children's Museum. Photo by Matthew Tucciarone
Best Children's Museums in Los Angeles and Orange County
Dino Valley means jurassic fun in LEGOLAND for kids of all ages.
NEW Dino Valley in LEGOLAND is Open for T-Rex-Sized Fun
Right this way to all the free fun in LA, especially at the Griffith Observatory! Photo by Gina Ragland
100 Fun Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Everything at the Cayton has been carefully crafted with one goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.
Guide to the Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica–A Parent Review
This 3 day itinerary will make you fall in love with LA. Photo by Roberto Nickson, via Pexels
3 Days in Los Angeles with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Imaginative play for preschoolers is music to our ears. Photo courtesy of Pretend City
39 Things To Do with Preschoolers in Los Angeles Before They Turn 5
Visit LACMA's Levitated Mass. Photo by Joey Zanetti
100 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before Kids Grow Up
Climb inside an allosaur head. Photo courtesy of Jurassic Quest
Jurassic Quest, Oshogatsu Festival, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend

Things To Do in LA this Weekend: Mexican Independence, Chinatown Moon, and Coast

Pose in a spider's web. Photo courtesy of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Pose in a spider's web. Photo courtesy of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
9/12/19 - By Toby B

They're going to try to tell you it's pumpkin season, but it's not, not matter what the seasonal aisle at Trader Joe's may be implying. It's just plain old September, a neither here nor there month, but clearly not fall and  in no way Halloweeny.

You know what it is? Fiestas Patrias, aka Mexican Independence Day. No hay calabazas ahora.

You know what it is? Talk like a Pirate Day, so shut yer gourd about Jack-o'-lanterns afore we make ye walk the plank.  

You know what it is? Coast Open Streets, a day we get out and walk our way through Santa Monica. You're going to use your feet to get around, not some bippity boppity boo'ed pumpkin.

You know what it is? Opening day of the Spider Pavilion, an arachnology themed exhibit without any seasonal connotation to speak of.

To review: this weekend is many things, but pumpkiny it is not. Sorry to squash your hopes.

Keep reading for our spiciest picks for this big orange weekend....

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Celebrate Mexican Independence Day in East LA. Photo courtesy of Comite Mexicano Civico Patriotico
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day in East LA. Photo courtesy of Comite Mexicano Civico Patriotico

Things To Do All Weekend

The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG)

Hollywood
Jack Skellington returns for his annual appearance at the El Capitan: how spooky is that! The El Capitan adds ookie-spooky 4D effects to screenings. Plus, guests can enjoy specialty concession items, a display of props from favorite Halloween movies,and a themed photo op. The classic animated short The Skeleton Dance is shown before the movie. READ MORE

Mexican Independence Day

Downtown
Families can join the celebration of Mexican Independence from Spain with popular and traditional entertainment, children's workshops, cultural activities, historic displays, food, artisan exhibits, and more along Olvera Street. READ MORE

Simi Valley Days

Simi Valley
The Simi Valley Days Parade & Carnival 2019 has expanded to include a children's area for the littles to enjoy, in addition to live entertainment, carnival rides and games, good food, and merchants to shop inside a cooling area.  READ MORE

Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch

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

The Great Pumpkin Hunt

Palos Verdes Peninsula
A fall tradition returns to the South Coast Botanic Garden. Guests search for pumpkins while enjoying the Garden’s 87 acres. READ MORE

Kiddee Matinees

Hollywood
On Saturdays and Sundays, families can catch a matinee screening of a kid-friendly movie at the New Beverly Cinema.   READ MORE

Santa Ana Fiestas Patrias Festival and Parade

Santa Ana
The City of Santa Ana celebrates Fiestas Patrias with a parade and weekend-long festival. The traditional El Grito Ceremony led by the Mexican Consulate takes place on Saturday night, and the cultural parade marches down Main Street on Sunday afternoon. READ MORE
Hispanic Heritage Festival. Photo courtesy of City of Inglewood
Hispanic Heritage Festival. Photo courtesy of City of Inglewood

Things To Do Saturday, September 14

Pasadena Loves YA

Pasadena
This annual YA book event features panels, signings, giveaways, and the opportunity to meet the authors. READ MORE

Kidical Mass - Talk Like a Pirate MASS-ive ride

Santa Monica
Arrrrrh you going to the pirate-themed family bike ride? READ MORE

A Faery Hunt's Amazing Adventure - Los Encinos State Historic Park

Encino
Faery Trail Theater's interactive children's show leads audiences through trails and groves in the park, in search of fairies who appear at every turn. The show is upbeat, whimsical, and not remotely scary. READ MORE

Hispanic Heritage Festival (Inglewood)

Inglewood
The city of Inglewood celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with an annual festival. Guests can enjoy a classic car show, health and community services, live bands, children's activities, vendor booths, and a food court. READ MORE

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Edition Marathon

Santa Ana
One marathon to rule them all...The Frida Cinema screens the Extended Editions of all three The Lord of the Rings films, on 4K digital prints, back-to-back, for a single ticket price of $25. READ MORE

Open Arts & Music Festival

Glendale
The city block in front of the Alex Theatre is closed for the Open Arts & Music Festival.  READ MORE

Angels Game with Lauryn Hill Concert

Anaheim
Saturday's Angels game against the Tampa Bay Rays features an added event that is designed to draw attention to the issue of human trafficking and modern slavery. READ MORE

Southern California Children's Museum's Touch-a-Truck Month

Pasadena
A month of truck touching comes to a close with one last session at the Southern California Children's Museum. READ MORE

Cartoon Club

Hollywood
Cartoon Club celebrates the art and history of animation with Saturday morning screenings of rare cartoon gems. December's event is holiday themed! READ MORE

Saturday Morning Stories and More

West LA
Erin go bookstore! Luke Robertson visits Children's Book World for a St. Patrick's Day storytime. Every Saturday morning Children's Book World offers free children's entertainment March 2020 schedule:      March 7: Andrew & Polly Mini-Concert (all ages) March 14: St. Patrick’s Day Storytime with Luke Robertson (ages 4 – 7) March 21: Kevin Noble Maillard Storytime & Signing (ages 3 – 7) March 28: Roda Ahmed Launch Party & Signing (ages 4 –... READ MORE

American Girl's Free Fall Festival

Fairfax
American Girl hosts a free Fall Festival. Guests can play a round of Blaire Bingo, inspired by 2019 Girl of the Year Blaire Wilson. At “Guessing Station” folks can wager on the weight of a plump pumpkin, or the number of candy corns in a jar. READ MORE

Eat See Hear

Pasadena: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Eat See Hear screens favorite films on the "largest outdoor movie screen West of the Mississippi," featuring the only 52-foot wide image on an outdoor screen in LA, with full digital, high-definition projection and audio every week. This year's film selections include Jurassic Park and Ratatouille. READ MORE

Saturdays Off the 405

West LA
The Getty Center offers outdoor music and evening views of the city at its signature Saturdays Off the 405. The summer evening concerts feature performances by emerging bands and DJs. READ MORE

Annual Chinatown Moon Festival

Chinatown
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular harvest festival celebrated in China for over 3,000 years.  READ MORE

Street Food Cinema 2024

Griffith Park: The Little Mermaid Downtown : Fight Club
Street Food Cinema goes on adventure with a screening of Up! at the LA Arboret--  squirrel!   READ MORE

Helms Sunset Cinema

Culver City: Labyrinth
I'll be right here. At the Helms Bakery. Watching a free screening of E.T. READ MORE

Pasadena Pops Summer Concert Series

Arcadia
Pasadena Pops takes audiences on musical tours, from Harlem Nights to California Dreamin', and much more with these open-air summer concerts at the LA Arboretum. READ MORE

Marina Del Rey Free Movie Nights

Marina Del Rey: Mean Girls
Free outdoor movie nights return to Marina Del Rey's Burton Chace Park. The waterfront park makes a lovely setting for a picnic to watch films under the stars. Fire up the DeLorian for the opening night film, Back to the Future 2. READ MORE

Cinemalibu

Malibu: Frozen
Cowabunga! Cinemalibu closes out the summer with a screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Malibu Bluffs Park. READ MORE

Queen Mary's Doggie Paradise

Long Beach
The Queen Mary hosts a paw-fect afternoon celebrating our four-legged family members of any size or breed.  READ MORE
Photo courtesy of COAST
Photo courtesy of COAST

Things To Do Sunday, September 15

Coast: City of Santa Monica Open Streets Event

Santa Monica
Coast is Santa Monica’s open streets event. Families can enjoy two miles of car-free streets and discover local food, music, shops, culture, dance, and interactive installations along the route.  READ MORE

Spider Pavilion

Exposition Park
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

Kids Koncerts at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum

Topanga
The summer series closes out with a performance by Mista Cookie Jar. READ MORE

Family Days@LA Plaza: Fiestas Patrias

Downtown
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

Gallery Games

Westwood
The Hammer offers 45-minute guided sessions that combine family-friendly tours with easy-to-play games. READ MORE

Kidspace Spirit Day: Pirates

Pasadena
Avast, me hearties! Kidspace is calling all pirates, buccaneers, privateers (and mermaids too) to celebrate the International Talk Like a Pirate Day with a day of pirate play and adventure READ MORE

2019 PaleyFest Fall TV Previews: Nickelodeon

Beverly Hills
Nickelodeon’s The Casagrandes makes its Paley Festival debut. The animated show highlights the culture, humor, and love of growing up in a multi-generational Mexican-American family. READ MORE

2024 Summer Sounds Free Concert Series

West Hollywood
West Hollywood's free summer concert series opens with an early evening featuring Blanco y Negro, Andre Cruz and Chris Lujan, DJ Monalisa.  All concerts are held at Plummer Park this year. Picnics, blankets, and low chairs recommended. Seating is not provided. READ MORE

Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party

Anaheim
Trick-or-treating at Disneyland - what could be better? This year's spooooookiest Halloween celebration is a villainous bash at Disney California Adventure Park. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Los Encinos State Historic Park
American Girl Store at the Grove
Rotating Locations: Santa Monica High School
Rotating locations, including the Autry Museum
Santa Monica along Ocean, Main & Colorado, eg
Kidspace Children's Museum