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Photo courtesy of UCLA Fowler Museum
Photo courtesy of UCLA Fowler Museum
2/5/20 - By Toby B

We put our faith in him, but it’s time we admit, that varmint is a no good liar. Either that, or he’s just bad at his job. How hard can it be? Stick your head out, see no shadow and…. eternal winter!?! Is he a groundhog, or Elsa?! With that in mind, this weekend might be a good time to explore some warmth-generating activities like biking and bouncing. Might be a good time to explore heat-adjacent topics like cooking and volcanoes.   

The camellias are in bloom this weekend, unless they are freezing their pitooties off like the rest of us Southern California lightweights. Aha! The turtles! New turtles are hatching and thriving and venturing out to sea. Scratch that; they're in Australia. It's summer there now. Must be nice.

Luckily a number of local events this weekend can warm your heart, if not your frostbitten extremities. Love is in the (bitter, frigid) air. With Valentine's Day fast approaching, you can sip the tea, dress up fancy, tour the manor, and make Valentines for deserving souls. 

Keep reading for our most chill picks for the weekend...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Celebrate the Lunar New Year. Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood
Celebrate the Lunar New Year. Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood

Things To Do All Weekend

Big Bounce America (Orange County)

Silverado
Gotta bounce:  The Big Bounce America is returning to So Cal! READ MORE

Temporary Closure: Turtle Odyssey 3D (IMAX film)

Exposition Park
UPDATE:  As of Monday, March 16, the California Science Center will be closed until further notice.  Small turtle, big adventure. The California Science Center dives in to explore some of Earth’s most ancient and majestic creatures in Turtle Odyssey 3D. READ MORE

49th Annual Camellia Show

San Marino
Hundreds of gorgeous blooms compete for top honors at The Huntington’s annual Camellia Show, co-sponsored by the Southern California Camellia Society. READ MORE

Cartoon Club

Hollywood
Cartoon Club celebrates the art and history of animation with Saturday morning screenings of rare cartoon gems.  READ MORE

Temporary Closure: Exhibit: Vanity Fair: Hollywood Calling

Century City
UPDATE:  The Annenberg Space for Photography is temporarily closed through the end of March. Annenberg Space for Photography's latest exhibit looks at Hollywood stars, the parties, and the powerbrokers through photos that appeared in the magazine Vanity Fair. READ MORE

Asian Cultural Festival

Irvine
Orange County is home to the third largest Asian population in America. Pretend City celebrates and honors Asian culture at this festival. 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

Lunar New Year at Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal City (LAST WEEKEND!)
Aw rats!  This is your last weekend to catch the Lunar New Year themed extras at Universal Studios. READ MORE
Photo courtesy of African American Arts Festival
Photo courtesy of African American Arts Festival

Things To Do Saturday, February 8

African American Arts Festival

Culver City
Students, performers, and local artists honor African American history through exhibits, poetry, dance, singing, and drumming at the 20th annual STAR African American Art Festival. READ MORE

DC Presents: Reading with Zoo-per Heroes at the LA Zoo

Griffith Park
It’s a bird! It’s a meerkat! It’s DC Super Heroes! The LA Zoo partners with DC for a “superhero” day of learning and fun. READ MORE

Wags Kids! Paws and Pajamas

West LA
It's storytime for the dogs, and your kid can do the reading! READ MORE

BHCP Kids Club

Baldwin Hills- Crenshaw
  The BHCP Kids Club is held on the second Saturday of the month, offering a variety of free activities for children aged 3 - 13 and their families.   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

Saturday Mornings At The Opera

Downtown
LA Opera thinks you're never too young to enjoy the classics, offering Saturday morning, hour-long, interactive performances.  From a bed of pillows, children enjoy an interactive, family-friendly opera under the glittering chandeliers of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.   READ MORE

Lowes Build and Grow

Multiple Locations
In August, kids can embark on a magical journey into the treetops with the Mini-Treehouse workshop. Kids participating in the store can use tools to assemble their craft. Each participant receives a free apron, goggles, a project-themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion. 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

Zombies 2 Event

Torrance
Change is coming to Seabrook, and a Zombies 2 themed event is coming to Del Amo Fashion Center. READ MORE

Viver Brasil: Celebrating Samba

Santa Monica
Celebrating Samba is Viver Brasil’s signature family program that takes audiences on a cultural journey to Salvador, Bahia, with electrifying Afro-Brazilian dance and music. READ MORE

San Gabriel Lunar New Year Festival

San Gabriel
The City of San Gabriel presents its annual Lunar New Year Festival in the historic Mission District between Broadway and Santa Anita Blvd. Radio and tv stars are in attendance at the two-day event, which also includes a Kids Zone where kids can get free lanterns (while supplies last). READ MORE

Temporarily Canceled: Reed Park Pop-up Programs

Santa Monica
UPDATE:  The Reed Park Pop-ups are canceled at least through March. Why give them a toy when you know they just want the box?  Reed Park offers  interactive play with recycled materials. READ MORE

Monster Jam (Anaheim)

Anaheim
Monster trucks smash, crash, and battle their way through Angel Stadium.  READ MORE

FIGat7th Kids Club

Downtown
There are no Kids Club events scheduled at this time. Kids Club will return at a future date. READ MORE

Family Night Hike

Arcadia
Families are invited to experience the Arboretum at night, on a program that begins with a storytelling session, followed by a hike through the gardens with interactive botanical explorations along the route. READ MORE

Watson Adventures’ Wizard School Scavenger Hunt

West LA
Watson Adventures leads a Harry Potter-themed scavenger hunt for kids ages 10 & up. Participants follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the Getty Center in search of art that echoes characters, places, and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. READ MORE

Unrolling the Past: Vesuvius and the Villa dei Papiri

Pacific Palisades
Getty Villa visitors can discover how ancient Romans used the papyrus plant to make paper—then write, roll, and seal their own messages on papyrus for future generations. READ MORE
Photo courtesy of USC Pacific Asia Museum
Photo courtesy of USC Pacific Asia Museum

Things To Do Sunday, February 9

Big Sunday’s Valentine’s Day Spread the Love Event

Hollywood
In 2024, Big Sunday celebrates Valentines Day with its first ever Valentinemania, held at Big Sunday HQ. READ MORE

Valentine's Day themed Kidical Mass

Santa Monica
Santa Monica's 2020 Valentine's Day Kidical Mass Family Ride is a group bike ride that's feelin' the love. READ MORE

Family & Me - Sunday Morning Storytime

Bel Air
March's stories are themed to Purim. Note: New event starting time of 11am.  READ MORE

A Faery Hunt’s Fairy Valentine Tea Party!

Tarzana
A Faery Hunt celebrates Valentine's Day with a Fairy Tea Party (catered by Faeries of course!). READ MORE

Victorian Valentine's Day Tour

Westlake
Families can celebrate the holiday with a tour of the Victorian house at the Grier Musser Museum, all decked out for Valentine's Day. Antique Valentines, teddy bears, and kewpie dolls are on display for the annual event. READ MORE

Westside JCC Tu B'Shevat Festival

Mid-Wilshire
In 2023, the WJCC is now known as J Los Angeles. 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

Books and Cookies Fancy Dress Valentine's Party

Santa Monica
Books and Cookies celebrates a fancy Valentine's Day at Hatch Brentwood. READ MORE

Pop-up Studio: Old Stuff for a New Painting

Westwood
How many technologies are obsolete, and how many can we not yet imagine? Hammer visitors use paint and other traditional materials to create a collaborative, technology-inspired mural with artist Isabel Beavers. READ MORE

Sundays in the Park with Camp Alonim and AJU

Brandeis
Sundays in the Park returns to the Brandeis-Bardin Campus, a 2,700-acre playground in Simi Valley. The fun-filled day includes a wide range of activities including riding horses, feeding the goats, climbing the Alpine Tower, exploring STEAM (Science, Teva, Earth, Animals, Mensches), arts and crafts, and playing on the swings. READ MORE

Fowler Families: Stories and Self-Portraits

Westwood
What would you like to tell the world? During this imaginative, hands-on art workshop, children of all ages are invited to answer this question while making self-portraits infused with their own creative writing. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, & Botanical Gardens
San Gabriel Mission District
Reed Park, just north of Miles Memorial Playhouse
Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden
American Jewish University's Burton Sperber Jewish Community Library
Tarzana Community and Cultural Center