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Summerfest! Photo courtesy of the City of Fountain Valley
Summerfest! Photo courtesy of the City of Fountain Valley
6/19/19 - By Toby B

Here it is folks: summer all legitimate and official-like—not just that the kids are home from school, but the actual sun being at its greatest distance from Earth’s celestial equator, full-on summer solstice, resulting in our longest day of the year. That's the most daylight hours to be filled by our beloved little ones, who are home from school and demanding our attention. All is good. Especially if someone has any idea what to do with the precious angels.

Oh, look at that! It's us, your pals at Mommy Poppins, here with a calendar full of ways to entertain your sweet mini-beings. We've got you covered in the summer kicking off on land and sea and space (museum). We have seals and Star Wars, sanitation and Shakespeare, a free fan frenzy, and Fullerton flight.

If a fork can be a toy and that guy from Grey's Anatomy can sing, then surely there is something on our calendar that will keep your kid from being "bored, Mom."  

Right? Right? (Please someone tell me I am right.)

Keep reading to find the events that will spare you and your offspring from a summer-long pit of nothing to do...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Toy Story 4 (G)

Hollywood
Play time is almost over: Toy Story 4 leaves the El Capitan after this weekend. READ MORE

Pier 360 Summer Kick-Off!

Santa Monica
Santa Monica Pier kicks off the summer with a celebration of beach life on the pier, in the water, and on the beach. READ MORE

Fountain Valley Summerfest

Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley's Summerfest is back, featuring carnival rides, games, food vendors, a beer garden, and a full schedule of entertainment that includes tribute bands and local performers.  On Friday and Saturday nights, Summerfest concludes with a drone light show presented by Hyundai.  READ MORE

Marina Fest

Marina del Rey
PLEASE NOTE THAT MARINA FEST IS NOT HAPPENING IN 2021. The next Marina Fest will be in 2022.   The two-day boat show at Burton Chace Park features an in-water boatshow, tall ships, historic water tours, vendors & exhibitors, and kids' activities.  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.  Guests ages 12 and under get a free bag of popcorn. READ MORE

LAPD West LA Division Carnival 2019

West LA
The community and police of the West LA Area get together for a big carnival held at the corner of Iowa and Purdue. The street is closed off to traffic as revelers enjoy food, games, entertainment, and carnival rides. 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
Photo courtesy of Pasadena Pops
Photo courtesy of Pasadena Pops

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

Lift Off to Learning: 5th Annual Summer Learning Day

Downey
PBS SoCal celebrates the joy of family reading with a free day of entertainment, activities, learning resources, information on summer programs, and access to the Columbia Memorial Space Museum. READ MORE

Seal Day

San Pedro
The Marine Mammal Care Center hosts its annual Seal Day, offering visitors the rare opportunity to view seals and sea lions as they rehabilitate from their injuries or illnesses. READ MORE

Airport Day

Fullerton
The Fullerton Municipal Airport opens its doors to the public, allowing the community to tour the airport and see, first hand, the important role it plays. READ MORE

Star Wars Day

Orange
The Force is strong at the OC Zoo. Families can enjoy a day of Star Wars fun that includes crafts, games, and photo opportunities. Zoo animals receive special treats and there are animal meet-and-greets throughout the day. READ MORE

LA Sanitation & Environment Harbor Yard Open House

San Pedro
The wildly popular Sanitation Yard Open Houses return!  This weekend the Harbor Yard invites families to see the trucks, facilities, and enjoy a free lunch at the smallest sanitation yard in Los Angeles. Sanitation truck operators give demonstrations and tours, and guests can learn about residential recycling through fun family-friendly games. READ MORE

TOCApalooza (South Bay Festival of The Arts)

Torrance
TOCApalooza, the bigger and better version of The South Bay Festival of the Arts, returns with a day-long festival experience. The celebration of all things arts offers free entertainment on three stages all day long. In addition, guests can enjoy art exhibitions and vendors. READ MORE

BET Experience Free Fan Fest

Downtown
The BETX Fan Fest is a free component of the BET Experience music event, which culminates in the BET Awards.  The event is returning after a 4 year hiatus. BETX Fan Fest is free, but registration is required..   READ MORE

Palisades Village Summer Block Party

Pacific Palisades
Palisades Village welcomes summer with a free Block Party featuring live music, carnival games, crafts, face painting, and more. 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

A Faery Hunt in Sherwood Forest - Simi Valley

Simi Valley
Faery Trail Theater's interactive children's show leads audiences through trails and groves in Sherwood Forest (where the classic movie Robin Hood was filmed) on a fun and gentle quest in Fairyland.  READ MORE

Theresa Thorn Launch Party & Book Signing

West LA
"Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between." Theresa Thorn visits Children's Book World to celebrate the publication of her first book for children, It Feels Good to be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity. READ MORE

Family Camp Out in the Park

Simi Valley
Families can camp in a local park at this special event. Bring your own tent; registration includes dinner, s'mores, camp activities such as crafts, nature exploration stations and more.  READ MORE

Family Evening: Night Owls

San Marino
Night owls can learn about the animals that call The Huntington home in this special after-hours family evening that concludes with a flashlight tour of the Desert Garden. 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

Shakespeare by the Sea 2024

San Pedro
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

Cinespia at Hollywood Forever

Hollywood
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

NoHo Summer Nights: Concerts

North Hollywood
Free concerts are held in North Hollywood Park every other Saturday this summer.  READ MORE

Street Food Cinema 2024

Pasadena
Street Food Cinema goes on adventure with a screening of Up! at the LA Arboret--  squirrel!   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
Dance Jams at Discover Marina Del Rey day. Photo courtesy of Visit Marina del Rey
Dance Jams at Discover Marina Del Rey day. Photo courtesy of Visit Marina del Rey

SUNDAY, JUNE 23

Summer Soulstice

Santa Monica
Santa Monica's Main Street welcomes summer with the 20th Anniversary Summer Soulstice. Multiple stages along Main Street offer live music performances throughout the afternoon and early evening. The day also includes activities for kids, a pop-up art gallery,a pet zone, and a skate pop-up. READ MORE

Family Flicks at the Hammer

Westwood
UCLA's Hammer Museum presents a free family screening each month.  In January guests can celebrate the Lunar New Year with Over the Moon. In this 2020 animated film , a young girl, Fei Fei, is determined to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess, Chang’e. Fei Fei builds a rocket ship and takes viewers on a musical expedition beyond the stars.   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

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Hollywood
Close encounter of the first kind: sighting a UFO. Close encounter of the second kind: physical evidence. Close encounter of the third kind: contact. Richard Dreyfus experiences Close Encounters of the Third Kind in this 1977 classic. READ MORE

Playa Vista Concert in the Park

Playa Vista
  Playa Vista hosts its free summer concerts in the bandshell, featuring cover bands of different genres. Gourmet food trucks are on site. 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

Huntington Beach Concert Band Summer Concerts in the Park

Huntington Beach
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

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

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:

Corner of Iowa Ave and Purdue Ave
Torrance Cultural Arts Center
Los Angeles Convention Center
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Rotating locations, including the Autry Museum
Main Street Santa Monica - multiple locations, including Edgemar Courtyard