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Photo of Azuma Kotobuki Kai Dance Group courtesy of Nisei Week Japanese Festival
Photo of Azuma Kotobuki Kai Dance Group courtesy of Nisei Week Japanese Festival
8/15/19 - By Toby B

Things are about to change around here. Say goodbye to the nonstop fiesta filled with concerts, festivals, and movies. A huge chunk of kids in the LA area are going back to school sometime in the next week, and that means ...{checks notes} ...a continuation of the nonstop fiesta filled with concerts, festivals, and movies. Huh. Go figure.

This weekend, for instance: you can go full Little Tokyo at the closing weekend of the Nisei Week, with a gyoza eating contest and the Rubik's Cube Open. You can chow down on BBQ and tacos. You can take flight, soaring through the skies, or reaching for the space just beyond that. 

There's lots of music making and moving pictures.There may even be a chance to learn something as well, but we will call it entertainment. No need to put up a stink. It's just a typical weekend round these parts. Now that school is starting.

Keep reading for our not any different, totally back-to-school best picks for the weekend 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Hanging with the Marine crew. Photo courtesy of Camarillo Wings Association
Hanging with the Marine crew. Photo courtesy of Camarillo Wings Association

Things To Do All Weekend

Wings Over Camarillo

Camarillo
After a one-year hiatus, Wings Over Camarillo returns! With the feeling of an old-time barnstorming air show crossed with a big party, the annual air show features flight demos with aerobatic routines by dozens of aircraft including vintage planes, experimental crafts, and WWII fighters. READ MORE

Nisei Week Japanese Festival

Little Tokyo
Celebrating its 79th anniversary, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival offers two weekends of free, family-friendly cultural events, interactive and unique activations, delicious tastes, music, and more in the historic neighborhood of Little Tokyo. READ MORE

Kids Food Festival

Pasadena
Kidspace and The Creative Kitchen team up for an interactive weekend to inspire healthful living and balanced food choices. Families can launch the new school year with ideas for lunches and family cooking recipes. READ MORE

Echo Park Rising

Echo Park
Echo Park Rising is a neighborhood event in its 9th year that focuses on the music, creativity, diversity, and small businesses of Echo Park.  READ MORE

Getty Garden Concerts for Kids

West LA: The Lucky Band
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

2024 Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival

Griffith Park
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

Skirball Family Amphitheater Performances

West LA
A summer favorite at the Skirball returns, offering family-friendly entertainment in the amphitheater. This year’s series features artists who use the power of performance to enliven our city and the people who call LA home.  READ MORE

Kiddee Matinees

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

The Sierra Madre Shakespeare Festival

Sierra Madre
Not to make much ado about nothing, but this is the last weekend to see the Sierra Madre Shakespeare Festival's production of Much Ado About Nothing. READ MORE

Circus Vargas: The Greatest of Ease (Arcadia)

Arcadia
The Circus is in town! Circus Vargas is raising its tent at Santa Anita Park.  Circus Vargas’ 50th anniversary extravaganza is an homage to the golden era of circus in America. READ MORE

Things To Do Saturday, August 18

Rocket Fever!

Downey
The Columbia Memorial Space Center invites families to a fun-filled day of rocketing, with interactive exhibits, rocket flying fun, and more. The Space Center offers free admission all day. READ MORE

Jurassic Park in Concert

Hollywood
Life finds a way... and so does the music.  The LA Phil performs John Williams’ iconic Jurassic Park score live to picture READ MORE

LA Taco Festival

Downtown
The LA Taco Festival showcases some of East LA's tastiest tacos. Families can enjoy food, music, and togetherness in the heart of DTLA at the free, family-friendly event. READ MORE

Phineas Banning Birthday Concert

Wilmington
The Banning Mansion once again hosts its annual Phineas Banning Birthday Concert, celebrating “the father of the Los Angeles Harbor.” This year's event celebrates in 1970s style! DJ Quatre Cinq spins the decade’s many hits from rock to disco. READ MORE

Clear the Shelters

Multiple Locations
NBC and Telemundo stations all across the country team up with hundred of shelters across the country to host Clear the Shelters, a nationwide pet adoption drive. The goal is to match shelter pets with their forever homes. READ MORE

Nothin' But Sand Beach Cleanup

Hermosa Beach
Kids can get involved and help the environment by participating in this monthly beach cleanup. The first event in 2024 is held at Malibu's Zuma Beach. READ MORE

Saturday Morning Stories and More

West LA: Mista Cookie Jar
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

Cinemalibu

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

Warner Center's Movies on the Green

Woodland Hills: Mary Poppins Returns
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

Movies in the Park: Pacific Palisades

Pacific Palisades: Finding Nemo
I have seen gods fly. I have seen men build weapons that I couldn't even imagine. I have seen aliens drop from the sky. But I have never seen anything like this: Black Panther screening at Palisades Rec Center.  READ MORE

Marina Del Rey Summer Concert Series 2024

Marina Del Rey: Leela James (R & B)
The Saturday evening concerts at Burton Chace Park feature symphonic sounds and headliners from popular music. The waterfront park makes a lovely setting for a picnic; bring your blanket and low-back chairs and don't forget your jackets (it can get pretty chilly at night!). Performers this year include Houndsmouth, Musiq Soulchild, and Lila Downs. READ MORE

Street Food Cinema 2024

Pacific Palisades: Bridesmaids Arcadia: Pretty In Pink
Street Food Cinema goes on adventure with a screening of Up! at the LA Arboret--  squirrel!   READ MORE

Eat See Hear

Beverly Hills: Mrs. Doubtfire
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

Summer Fest - A Glowing Day of Fun

Commerce
Citadel Outlets hosts a neon-themed family-friendly block party, with more than 200 multi-colored slinkies suspended in mid-air, life-sized board games and live music at multiple DJ stations.  READ MORE

Yorba Linda Movies in the Park

Yorba Linda: How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World
Yorba Linda hosts free monthly movies in the park shown on a giant inflatable screen. The screenings begin at dusk at either Eastside Community Park or Hurless Barton Park. READ MORE

Free Outdoor Movie Night: Frozen

Westlake Village
The Shoppes at Westlake Village and TifaChocolateAndGelato present a free outdoor movie screening of Frozen .  Guests can enjoy treats by Tifa during the movie. as well as  a raffle, facepainting, and an Elsa-inspired braid bar by The Cove at Lighthouse Salon Suites. READ MORE

Shakespeare by the Sea 2024

Shakespeare by the Sea returns for another season of free outdoor theatre. The 2024 season opens with performances of Cardenio at Long Beach's Recreation Park. READ MORE

Things To Do Sunday, August 19

CicLAvia—Meet the Hollywoods

West Hollywood, Hollywood and East Hollywood
Hooray for Hollywoods! The latest CicLAvia ​transforms streets in West Hollywood, Hollywood, and East Hollywood into public recreational space for the day. READ MORE

826LA@Hammer: Little Chicken Explorers: A Picture Book Workshop

Westwood
Why did the chicken cross the road? Kids can find the answer in this picture-book workshop. Inspired by a tiny baby chicken toy model, participants create an illustrated story about a freshly hatched baby chick’s grand adventure.  READ MORE

Tail End of Summer Adoption Event

West LA
Wags and Walks hosts a special summer adoption event, with fun for the whole family. READ MORE

Fowler Families: Yoga for Little Travelers

Westwood
Little yogis and their families are invited to pack their bags and go on a whimsical journey to Guatemala during this year’s final yoga session.  READ MORE

Family Sunday/ Kids Run the Bases: Angels

Anaheim
Kids (ages 5 - 12) can run the bases at Angel Stadium following select Angels Sunday home games. For more fun at Angel Stadium, ticket holders can visit the Family Sunday area located beneath the Right Field Pavilion for interactive games, arts and crafts areas as well as visits from local mascots. READ MORE

Figure Sculpture Workshop

Exposition Park
CAAM holds a workshop in body sculpting (the artsy crafty way, not the mega muscles way). READ MORE

2024 Summer Sounds Free Concert Series

West Hollywood: Matt Politano Trio (Jazz / Standards)
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

Monrovia Summer Concerts in the Park: Sunday Concerts

Monrovia: Yachty by Nature, (Yacht Rock Band 70s & 80s)
On Sundays, Monrovia's Summer Concert Series is held at Library Park with an eclectic mix of bands. READ MORE

Concerts on the Green 2024

Woodland Hills: The Purple Xperience: Prince Tribute
The summer concert series at Warner Center Park returns for the 2024 season.  Swifties can unite at the penultimate concert, featuring Taylor Swift tribute Blank Space. READ MORE

Agoura Hills Summer Concerts in the Park

Agoura Hills: Captain Cardiac & the Coronaries'
The Agoura Hills free summer concerts are held mostly in Chumash Park. Highlights throughout the summer include tribute bands, a concert/jazz band, and a patriotic laser show! READ MORE

Huntington Beach Concert Band Summer Concerts in the Park

Huntington Beach: Ginger & The Hoosier Daddys — Music of the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1940’s*
The Summer Series is held at the Thomas Ridley Concert Bandstand behind Huntington Beach Central Library.   Free dance lessons are offered before select shows. Picnic dinners and beach chairs are welcome. READ MORE

Sizzlin’ Summer Nights

San Fernando: Street Corner Renaissance
The Sizzlin’ Summer Nights series offers free concerts in San Fernando Recreation Park with interactive JAM sessions for all. READ MORE

Movies on the Lawn at Irvine Spectrum

Irvine: Avengers Infinity War
Ohana means family.  Family means you take your kids to see Lilo and Stitch. Irvine Spectrum hosts family-friendly movies on the Giant Wheel Lawn on Sundays this summer.   READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Echo Park - Multiple Venues
Griffith Park - site of the Old Zoo
Numerous Shelters across Los Angeles and the Country
Rotating locations, including the Autry Museum
Rotating Locations: Santa Monica High School
Various Parks, including Hurless Barton Park
Multiple Hubs from West Hollywood to East Hollywood,
The California African American Museum