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Weekend Fun for LA Kids: Tall Ships, Lobsters, Touch a Truck, Hammer Family Day

Photo courtesy of COAST
Photo courtesy of COAST
9/4/19 - By Toby B

Summer's over, and we're back in school doing some serious nose-to-the-grindstone big fat textbook learning, so it's time we talk about...

VACATION!!!!

Seriously, two weeks of reading, writing, and getting up on time to go to school are enough. We think you've earned the right to throw your feet up, eat mints off your pillow, and enjoy a $1000 vacation package to... [drum roll]... Smugglers Notch! It's our final giveaway package of the summer, and it is our biggest and bestest yet.

Even if you're not our big winner, you're a big winner! Because you are the recipient of a fun-filled weekend in Los Angeles (home to the stars!) packed to the rafters with tons o' things to do! We've got big boats and tasty critters and truck touching and sky booming. You can celebrate the cultures of Germany, the Philippines, and Mexico, of unicorns, faeries, and monsters. We've got free movies galore. We're turning friends into trading cards, the baseball diamond into our playground, and finding common ground in the boundaries that separate us. No doubt about it, just by living in Los Angeles, we are winning.

Keep reading for our prize-winning picks for this weekend...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Learn the ropes onboard a tall ship. Photo by Jim Graves for the Ocean Institute
Learn the ropes onboard a tall ship. Photo by Jim Graves for the Ocean Institute

Things To Do All Weekend

Ocean Institute Maritime Festival

Dana Point
The Ocean Institute on Dana Point hosts the 40th annual Maritime Festival. Kids can tour tall ships, experience a mermaid breakfast, meet pirates, learn about marine life and pan for gold, enjoy carnival games and bounce houses, take part in cannon battles at sea, and more. READ MORE

LA County Fair

Pomona
The Los Angeles County Fair returns for the 2024 season, once again held  in the cooler month of May. This year's theme is “Stars, Stripes & Fun." READ MORE

Original Lobster Festival

Long Beach
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

Science Fiction Film Festival

El Segundo
The Old Town Music Hall presents a collection of sci-fi flicks of the 1950s: the “classic era” of sci-fi cinema.  READ MORE

El Capitan Theatre Fall Family Favorites: Tarzan

Hollywood
Me, Tarzan; you, going to see the Fall Family Favorite screening of Disney's animated Tarzan at the El Capitan. 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

COAST Free Drop-In Art Workshops

Santa Monica
However you plan to get around COAST, these workshops can help you go in style! In preparation for COAST 2019: Santa Monica's Open Streets Celebration, a series of workshops are being held around town enabling participants to create and decorate their wheels, shoes, or self. READ MORE

Exhibit : DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers

Santa Ana: CLOSING WEEKEND
Oh no!  It's curtains for our heroes after this weekend! READ MORE

Exhibit :Wild Kratts: Creature Power!

Sylmar: CLOSING WEEKEND
Activate ... er, make that de-activate creature power!  The Wild Kratts themed exhibit at Discovery Cube LA  closes this weekend. READ MORE
Photo courtesy of The Hammer Museum
Photo courtesy of The Hammer Museum

Things To Do Saturday, September 8

Family Day: Art Beyond Borders

Westwood
The Hammer Museum hosts an afternoon of socially engaged art, music, performances, and more at this year’s Family Day: Art Beyond Borders. READ MORE

Buy Local Health & Fitness Festival

Santa Monica
The Buy Local Santa Monica Health & Fitness Festival is a free community event. READ MORE

Autism Family Morning

Long Beach
The Aquarium of the Pacific hosts a special morning exclusively for families with adults or children with autism. READ MORE

Conejo KidFest & Family Wellness Day

Westlake Village
Conejo KidFEST & Family Wellness Day brings families together for a day of fun, wellness, and learning in Mae Boyar Park in Oak Park.  Highlights of this community celebration include vendors, glitter tattoos, a super hero & princess party, storytime, craft stations, lawn games, spinning wheels, and fitness demos & challenges. 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

Barnes & Noble Weekly Storytime

Multiple Locations
Barnes & Noble hosts Saturday storytimes at most of its locations. READ MORE

Tiny Porch Concert Series

Agoura Hills: Goodnight, Texas w/ The Deltaz
The Tiny Porch Concerts' tradition of sending live music singing through the Santa Monica Mountains continues this summer at the Peter Strauss Ranch. READ MORE

Home Depot Kids Workshops

Multiple Locations
Home Depot offers a free monthly workshop for kids ages 5 - 12. The workshops teach basic DIY skills and tool safety. Kids go home with their craft and a free Kids Workshop apron, commemorative pin, and certificate of achievement.    Kits are available first come first serve.  READ MORE

Planes of Fame Hangar Talk and Flying Demo

Chino
The featured plane in January is the Curtiss P-40N Warhawk. READ MORE

Unicorn Fest

San Clemente
You'll believe in unicorns... Outlets at San Clemente hosts its first Unicorn Fest featuring centerwide activities and entertainment.  READ MORE

Redondo Beach Pier Free Family Movie Nights

Redondo Beach: School of Rock
Sunset and a movie: the Redondo Beach Pier screens free movies on Thursday nights in September. READ MORE

Junior Chef Classes

Multiple Locations
Here's something to talk about:  this weekend's project is Valentine’s Day Conversation Heart Cookies.  Class fee includes a cookie set. READ MORE

Fiestas Patrias: Mexican Independence Day Celebration

Buena Park
The Source OC celebrates Mexican Independence Day with live performances including mariachi, Chinelos and folkloric dancing. Other festivities include tacos, face painting and balloons.     READ MORE

Sign & Tell Stories with Charles Katz

Santa Monica
Educator and storyteller Charles Katz visits the Fairview Library for a special story time in American Sign Language (ASL). READ MORE

Norton Simon Family Day: Summer at the Seaside

Pasadena
Hot enough for you?  Norton Simon visitors can beat the summer heat while viewing artworks that capture majestic views of the beach and sea. Participants then create artworks of their own in the lower-level courtyard, with inspiration from seaside paintings by artists like Louis-Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. 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

Movie in the Park (Agoura Hills)

Agoura Hills: Captain Marvel (last one!)
Agoura Hills gets Independence Day weekend started with a free screening of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker in Chumash Park Guests can dress up as their favorite Star Wars characters for a chance to win a prize. READ MORE

Public Star Party

Griffith Park
The sky... it's full of stars! The lawn... it's full of telescopes!   ​The Observatory's free public star party offers a chance for the whole family to look at the sun, moon, planets, and other objects with the assistance of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society. READ MORE

Pacific Symphony: Tchaikovsky Fireworks Spectacular

Costa Mesa
The summer ends with a bang at the Pacific Amphitheatre as Pacific Symphony performs Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, complete with live cannons and fireworks. READ MORE

Cinespia at Hollywood Forever

Hollywood: Blade Runner
Hollywood Forever Cemetery offers a unique location to see outdoor movies, as Cinespia presents classic films on select days throughout the summer. The films are projected onto the walls of a mausoleum, which houses the earthly remains of departed Hollywood luminaries. READ MORE

Helms Sunset Cinema

Culver City: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
I'll be right here. At the Helms Bakery. Watching a free screening of E.T. READ MORE

Marina Del Rey Free Movie Nights

Marina del Rey: Wizard of Oz
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
Kinderfest at Old World's Oktoberfest. Photo courtesy of the festival
Kinderfest at Old World's Oktoberfest. Photo courtesy of the festival

Things To Do Sunday, September 9

Alpine Village Oktoberfest All- Ages Sundays

Torrance
Alpine Village celebrates Oktoberfest. Sunday is an all-ages event, with traditional Bavarian fun supplied by Oom Pah Pah party bands. READ MORE

Kinderfest at Old World's Oktoberfest

Huntington Beach
Old World in Huntington Beach turns Oktoberfest activities into a family event with Kinderfest every Sunday through November 3. The highlight of the day is the wiener dog racing at 3pm, as dachshunds go head to head in a double elimination competition. READ MORE

Free 2nd Sunday at PAM: Silk Road

Pasadena
Pasadena's museum honoring all things Asian opens its doors for free on the second Sunday of every month. November's event marks its fourth annual celebration of the Silk Road. This year's event highlights the importance of food and spice trade along the ancient route. READ MORE

Kids Koncerts at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum

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

East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade & Festival

East LA
The East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade is the oldest and largest Hispanic parade in the country. The family-oriented event offers the opportunity to learn about many Mexican states' cultures, enjoy traditional food, listen to cultural music, appreciate beautiful traditional dances, and interact with many fun exhibitors. 2024's Grand Marshall is El Hijo de el Santo. READ MORE

$10 Music Lesson Day (South Pasadena)

South Pasadena
Green Brooms Music Academy holds its bi-annual $10 Lesson Day in South Pasadena.  Thirty minute private music lessons are only $10 each. READ MORE

Ferdinand the Bull

Topanga
Ferdinand does not wish to fight. But he does want to see a play under the oaks! READ MORE

Kids Run the Bases - Dodgers Home Game

Echo Park
Kids ages 5-14 get to run the bases after most daytime Dodger home games on Sundays.    READ MORE

Artistic Trading Cards

Exposition Park
Participants in this free workshop design and make a unique set of trading cards like the ones on display in Ernie Barnes: A Retrospective that show him as a Denver Broncos team member. The cards can highlight the strengths and special things about friends and other admired people. READ MORE

Mothra vs. Godzilla at the Vista Theatre

Los Feliz
Mothra Vs. Godzilla introduces us to Mothra, a huge butterfly moth that hails from a difficult-to-reach island. READ MORE

A Faery Hunt - Crestwood Hills Park

Brentwood
Looking for the faeries?  You can once again find them—in person!—at Crestwood Park. READ MORE

Performance on the Frog

Pasadena
Let the rhythm move you!  Rhythm Child helps kids find their inner percussionist. READ MORE

Crayon Collection Celebrates Back-to-School

Pacific Palisades
Crayon Collection celebrates Back-to-School with a fun event at Palisades Village. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Planes of Fame Air Museum
Pacific Amphitheatre at the OC Fair
The California African American Museum