ALL WEEKEND

JPL Open House - La Cañada Flintridge
It’s back! NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory once again welcomes kids of all ages to explore the universe, with the men and women who are exploring the universe for reals. (With rockets and spaceships!)

The Ugly Duckling - Beverly Hills
The performers of New Orleans’ Lightwire Theater, who shot to fame after appearing on America’s Got Talent, tell the classic tale of the Ugly Duckling, utilizing full-body, electroluminescent puppetry.

Hocus Pocus (PG) - Hollywood
El Capitan begins a month of spooktacular throwback classics. First up, 1993’s Hocus Pocus, which stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy as witch-trial era witches up to mischief in modern day Salem.

Disney's The Lion King - Costa Mesa
I just can’t wait to be king and see the Tony award-winning production of The Lion King at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Seaside Highland Games - Ventura
Once in the Highlands, the Highlands of …Ventura? Families can play the Scottish way, with Highland dancing, sheep herding, warrior re-enactments, a Children's Glen (complete with bonny wee calves to pet), bagpipes, and big men in kilts throwing things.

Underwood Family Farms' 18th Annual Fall Harvest Festival - Moorpark
The Fall Festival continues at Underwood Family Farms. Farm Country Weekend is filled with country and bluegrass music and a giant pumpkin contest.

Popol Vuh: Heart of Heaven - Downtown
Chicano theater company El Teatro Campesino tells the story of the Mayan creation myth with an LA twist, through towering puppetry, music, and dance, in free performances at Grand Park.

Kiddee Matinees - Hollywood
Who’s on first? Frankenstein! Comedy classic Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein screens at the New Beverly Cinema.

Boo at the LA Zoo - Griffith Park
Even the animals get in on the fun with the LA Zoo’s annual Halloween event.

Knotts Spooky Farm - Buena Park
Knott's Berry Farm daytime celebration is great for the younger Halloween enthusiasts. Come in costume to enjoy Peanuts themed rides and shows.

Pumpkinliner - Fillmore
All aboard! A vintage train takes families to the pumpkin patch, where Jolly Jumps, a carousel, crafts, and the perfect pumpkin await.

Absolutely Halloween - Santa Monica
The Santa Monica Playhouse’s seasonal production features a girl named Candy who must save Halloween (with a little help from the audience).

Circus Vargas presents ArleQuin! - Sherman Oaks
The delightful, animal-free circus returns to Westfield Fashion Square for fun under the Big Top.

The Marinsky Ballet & Orchestra Cinderella - Downtown
St. Petersburg’s world–renowned Marinsky Ballet (formerly the Kirov Ballet) opens the Music Center's season with Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 10

Target Free Family Days: What's Cookin'? - Downtown
I’ll tell you what’s cooking: another fun free family festival at the Japanese American National Museum, this one a day of food and fun with a green/sustainability theme. And cupcake shaped balloons!

Dollar Dance Week - Burbank
RC Dance Center closes out a week of dollar dance classes.

Aquarium Kids Fun Run - Long Beach
Who needs a marathon? Kids can get moving at this one-mile run starting at the Aquarium of the Pacific. (Runners get free entry into the Aquarium, too!)

Star Wars Reads Day - Multiple Locations
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Barnes & Noble celebrated Star Wars Reads Day. Scratch that. It’s this Saturday, at a whole bunch of Barnes & Nobles in LA.

Pottery Barn Kids: Star Wars Reads Day - Multiple Locations
The Force is strong at Pottery Barn Kids as well.

Re:Imagine Garden Grove - Garden Grove
Three miles of Downtown Garden Grove streets close to all cars so people can walk, bike, run, skate, play and enjoy the public space in a safe and comfortable way. This year’s event includes night-time hours, the better to glow-in-the-dark by!

Story Pirates - Malibu
We saw these guys last weekend, and we’re still singing their fun, silly songs. Story Pirates bring their kid-inspired show to the Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University.

What is a Western? Film Series - Griffith Park
Autry National Center screens Civil War drama Glory.

Kip's Toyland's 70th Anniversary Celebration - Fairfax
The Original Farmers Market toy store celebrates its 70^th anniversary with a photo booth, giveaways, and special guest appearances.

KMA Safety Club: Safety & Awareness Session - Sherman Oaks
Role playing scenarios and interactive discussions are used to help kids develop smart safety rules.

Junior Chef Classes - Multiple Locations
In keeping with the season, Williams-Sonoma demonstrates ways to bake with pumpkin.

Free Cumbia Dance JAM Session at Downtown Pomona Arts Walk - Pomona
The Cumbia originates in Colombia’s Caribbean coastal region and Panama. Families can take to the dance floor with free lessons at the Downtown Pomona Arts Walk.

Santa Monica Symphony - Santa Monica
The Santa Monica Symphony returns for another season of free concerts. The opener features pieces by Rimsky Korsakov, Wieniawski, and Tchaikovsky.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 11

Discover Marina del Rey Day - Marina del Rey
The Marina provides a beautiful backdrop for this annual, kid-centric festival at Burton Chace Park, with bouncers, puppets, and a pumpkin patch.

Archaeology Day - Calabasas
Can you dig it? Families can learn about archaeology at the Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center.

Free Day at PAM - Pasadena
Pacific Asia Museum celebrates Korean culture with Korean classical music, drumming and dance, as well as storytime, crafts, and a film screening.

Taste of Encino - Encino
Highlights of this annual festival include local restaurants, a health and wellness pavilion, a disaster prep area, live music, and a kids' zone.

Target Sundays at CAAM - Exposition Park
Ease on down to Exposition Park: The California African American Museum screens The Wiz at dusk.

Hammer Kids: Close Encounters: Picturing Nature: Our Environment, Our Actions - Westwood
Kids work together to create a landscape inspired by our environment at the Hammer Museum.

Velveteen Rabbit - Topanga
Creative Playground explores what it means to be “really real,” in a stage version of The Velveteen Rabbit at Theatricum Botanicum.

Second Sunday Concert Series - Mid-Wilshire
Kids can enjoy music by Nathalia Palis at the Zimmer Children's Museum.

Sunday Concerts in the Park - Agoura Hills
An LA youth jazz band and a youth rock band from Heart of LA (HOLA) entertain in a free outdoor concert at Peter Strauss Ranch.

Young Artists Symphony Orchestra - Westwood
Young musicians earn a spot in this orchestra through a rigorous audition process.

As always, there are many more activities listed on our Event Calendar, and if you didn't receive this info as a newsletter, you should sign up for our weekly events updates. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, we hope you have a terrific time!