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Weekend Fun for LA Kids: Orange County Fair, Kidspace Birthday, and Mud Mania

Mud Mania! Photo courtesy of Rancho Los Cerritos
Mud Mania! Photo courtesy of Rancho Los Cerritos
7/11/19 - By Toby B

Congratulations! You are the winner of one mint-condition, limited edition, superior quality weekend.  Your prize includes a County Fair, manic mud, free outdoor theatre (day and night), children's museums new and celebrating, and big worldly fun. And talk about stellar: the excitement for the Apollo 11 anniversary is starting to ramp up: to infinity and the moon!

If winning is your style, Mommy Poppins is ready to go one further. Not to give anything away, but we are. Giving things away.  ALL. SUMMER. LONG.  This week we are offering up Boredom Busters, which you would only need in the unlikely event that your offspring claim to have nothing to do. You've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, Mum? (If so you really should enter.)

Spin the wheel (or keep reading) to luck onto our most winning picks for the weekend...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Photo courtesy of OC Fair & Event Center
Photo courtesy of OC Fair & Event Center

ALL WEEKEND

Orange County Fair

Costa Mesa
The Orange County Fair is back, and this year's theme is "Always a Good Time!" Highlights of the fair include animals, tons of food, carnival rides, art exhibits, and more. Carnival ride tickets are $1 each, and unlimited-ride wristbands are available for $44 for Wednesdays or Thursdays at the fair.  READ MORE

42nd Lotus Festival

Echo Park
Every year the Lotus Festival highlights a different Asian or Pacific Island country to promote and educate the community about the country and its culture. This year, the event celebrates the people of The Philippines. Families enjoy the dragonboat races, children's area, food court, lantern launches, handcrafted artwork, and more.  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

40 Days of Fun!

Pasadena
Bubble, bubble, toil and ... more bubbles!  Kidspace's 40th birthday celebration nears its close, with tons of bubble fun, including a foam pit to play in!  READ MORE

CCPT Children's Theatre in the Park: Gideon and the Blundersnorp

Culver City
Culver City Public Theatre's annual children's production in the park is performed on Saturdays and Sundays from July 13 to August 4. This year's production is Gideon and the Blundersnorp, a unique and inventive family musical which was a hit at the Hollywood Fringe Festival several years ago. READ MORE

TMNT Shell-Shocked Screenings

Beverly Hills
Make mine pepperoni: the TMNT screenings at the Paley close out with pizza-inspired episodes. 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

Cayton Children's Museum Half Price Admission

Santa Monica
The Cayton's Children's Museum is offering half price admission for a limited time. (That's all the fun for half the price!) READ MORE

South Bay Greek Festival

Redondo Beach
Opa! The South Bay Greek Festival offers a weekend of Greek music, dancing, and food. READ MORE

Toy Story 4 (G)

Hollywood
Play time is almost over: Toy Story 4 leaves the El Capitan after this weekend. 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
Didn't get enough fireworks last week? Here's your chance again. Photo courtesy of Angels Baseball
Didn't get enough fireworks last week? Here's your chance again. Photo courtesy of Angels Baseball

SATURDAY, JULY 13

Big World Fun

Hollywood
Leela Dance Collective perform kathak, classical dance from North India, to tell the story of India – her history, struggles, spiritual discoveries, and evolution. READ MORE

Celebrate Pippi's Birthday

Montrose
 Once Upon a Time Bookstore celebrates the store's cat, Pippi. She's turning 9! READ MORE

Cartoon Club

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

Lucas Museum at Leimert – Family Art Day

Leimert Park
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art may not be open yet,  but the creativity has already begun! 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

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11

Santa Monica
Fifty years ago this July, the United States achieved what had once seemed impossible, sending three American astronauts to the moon. NASA Solar System Ambassador Rosanne Sachson visits the Fairview Branch Library to share some of the history of the Apollo missions.  READ MORE

Meet Me at Reed

Santa Monica
Santa Monica’s outdoor cultural and recreational program features free Saturday events. Guests should bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs, and food, or enjoy rotating food trucks throughout the season. Pre-concert activities for all ages begin at 3 pm Upcoming: Sept 21: Bruns Collective with Kevin Baché Sept 28:  Eco Friendly Day/Music by Todd Washington (TMax) Trio Rain may affect programming; call for more info during bad weather. READ MORE

Books n' Bunnies Festival for Kids

Newport Beach
The Newport Beach Public Library holds its 6th Annual Books and Bunnies Festival, with favorite children's authors as well as  bunny crafts, games and a balloon artist on the Civic Green.  READ MORE

Grand Opening: The Dolly Llama - Sherman Oaks

Sherman Oaks
The Dolly Llama celebrates the Grand Opening of its Sherman Oaks location. The first 100 guests in line get a free Bubble Waffle. READ MORE

Family Fun: The Collaboratory presents Hero's Journey

Torrance
A young hero teams up with new friends on her journey through a storybook world of princesses, ogres, and dragons. The interactive  Hero's Journey is a free family event at the Wilson Park Amphitheater. READ MORE

Eat See Hear

Griffith Park
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

Angels Post-Game Fireworks

Anaheim
The Angels' game ends with a bang on select Saturday nights—a fireworks kind of bang.   Some games may include additional promotions. READ MORE

Concerts by the Sea on the LA Waterfront

Wilmington
The Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas return to the LA Waterfront for a one-night performance at Wilmington Waterfront Park. 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

Movies on the Lawn

Irvine
Families can enjoy an outdoor movie experience under the stars at the Orange County Great Park. Bring your own low-back beach chair, blanket, and snacks. Food and light refreshments are available for purchase. READ MORE

Marina Del Rey Free Movie Nights

Marina del Rey
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

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

Griffith Observatory Tribute to Apollo's 50th Anniversary

Griffith Park
The weekend's events include a range of talks about our past, present and future on the Moon.   READ MORE

Park After Dark: The Stars of Paramount Ranch

Agoura Hills
Half the park is after dark! Intrepid explorers can go behind the scenes with a ranger and explore Paramount Ranch at night. Families can see the eerie remains of Western Town., stand on a dangerous, abandoned racetrack, and gaze into the sky to see the stars. READ MORE

Chinatown Summer Nights

Chinatown
Part food event, part summer party, Chinatown Summer Nights presents an exciting hot spot for Angelenos this summer. READ MORE
Dana Point Summer of Music Concerts in the Park. Photo courtesy of Dana Point
Dana Point Summer of Music Concerts in the Park. Photo courtesy of Dana Point

SUNDAY, JULY 14

Mud Mania

Long Beach
Kids can squish some history between their toes at this delightfully muddy festival. Activities include adobe brick-making, plastering the horno, constructing a mini-adobe home, running mud relay races, throwing a clay pot, and examining critters that live in mud.  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

From Dinosaurs to People

Santa Ana
Heritage Museum of Orange County invites families to relive Orange County's past, all the way back to the time of the dinosaurs! The day is filled with roaming dinosaur characters, Jurassic Park Jeeps, fossils, paleontologists, archaeology, crafts, Blacksmith shop demos, immersive education stalls, food/dessert trucks and booths, gold panning, tortoise racing and themed photo ops. READ MORE

Pop Art at CMATO

Thousand Oaks
In this family program, young artists are encouraged to think about the items lurking in their kitchens and pantries and transform them into Pop Art masterpieces that they can take home. 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

Wiltern Kids' Classic Summer Movie Series

Koreatown
Steal from the rich, give to the poor, take the kids to the movies.  The animated version of Robin Hood screens at the Wiltern. READ MORE

Book Event: Teen Titans: Raven

Fairfax
New York Times bestselling author, Kami Garcia, and illustrator, Gabriel Picolo, visit Barnes & Noble at the Grove to celebrate the first graphic novel in the Teen Titans series, Teen Titans: Raven. READ MORE

Open House: Summer School at ICA LA

Downtown
The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles celebrates the launch of Summer School at ICA LA, a new initiative of special exhibitions and programs designed to spark visitors' imaginative creativity. READ MORE

Movie Night at Heritage Square

Montecito Heights
Lights, camera, Los Angeles!  Heritage Square screens movies that spotlight Los Angeles as a location. READ MORE

Cinespia (Ford Theatres)

Hollywood
Welcome, young Skywalker, I have been expecting you. The original Star Wars trilogy ends with Return of the Jedi. READ MORE

Concert: A Maya Q’anjob’al Fiesta

Westwood
Fowler visitors can enjoy a special performance in the Art Council Amphitheatre by folkloric dance group Maya Xumak and musical group Eb’ Aj’son. These groups perform the dance traditions of Jolom Konob, the traditional name for the community of Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango, Guatemala—one of only six towns where the Mayan language Q’anjob’al is spoken. READ MORE

Dana Point Summer of Music Concerts in the Park

Dana Point - first one!
Dana Point's free summertime series is held in Sea Terrace Park. Each concert features two acts.  This weekend features tributes to ABBA and Earth, Wind and Fire. READ MORE

Manhattan Beach Summer Concerts in the Park 2024

Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach's concerts in Polliwog Park come to a close with the Blue Breeze Band, playing Motown, R&B, Jazz, funk and more. READ MORE

Laguna Beach's 2024 Music in the Park

Laguna Beach - first one!
Bluebird Park in Laguna Beach offers free family-friendly concerts on Sundays throughout the summer.   READ MORE

Concerts on the Green 2024

Woodland Hills
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

South Pasadena Summer Concerts

South Pasadena
The City of South Pasadena hosts open-air concerts on select Sundays in Garfield Park.  READ MORE

La Cañada Flintridge Music in the Park 2024

La Cañada Flintridge
La Cañada Flintridge's Music in the Park Summer Concert Series is held at Memorial Park during the summer on Sunday evenings. Featured bands play a variety of music including rock and roll, blues, reggae, and country. The series opens on Memorial Day Monday with Captain Cardiac & The Coronaries and continues through Labor Day weekend. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Orange County Fair & Event Center
Kidspace Children's Museum
Griffith Park - site of the Old Zoo
Once Upon A Time Bookstore
Los Encinos State Historic Park
Reed Park, just north of Miles Memorial Playhouse
Newport Beach Public Library
The Dolly Llama - Sherman Oaks
Rotating Locations: Santa Monica High School
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Wilmington Waterfront Park
Heritage Museum of Orange County
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA)