Fun & Free Things to Do with LA Kids this Weekend: Monsters University, CicLAvia & LAX Appreciation June 22 - 23

6/20/13 - By Toby B

Okay,  I know I said it was summer last weekend, but now it's really summer. Official like. The whole summer solstice, northern hemisphere most inclined toward the sun*, first-day-of-summer summer. So now you really ought to go out and do summer things. Go on a picnic. (We can help you with that). Go berry picking. (Covered). Frolick outdoors and pop some ollies and grinds on your skateboard,** (you're a bit old for frolicking, don't you think? But we can help with the skateboarding).

In fact, it is so very summer that we are already talking about the Fourth of July.  Did you know you can watch fireworks from boats? Well, you can, and we can help you set sail everywhere from Dana Point to Lake Arrowhead to watch them bright sparklies.

One of my favorite perks of the summer is the many ways to see a movie for free. (Besides sneaking in the exit door, that's not playing fair). We can fill you in on the free (or almost free) kids' matinees, free movies under the stars, in the parks, at the beach and more. There are so many freebies you almost have to wonder why anyone would pay to see a movie. Scratch that, I know why: because Mike and Sully are back!

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for the weekend ....

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Monsters University (G)  - Hollywood
The most anticipated movie of the summer (at least in my household) opens this weekend at El Capitan Theatre, complete with a monstrous pep rally before each show.

Lowes Build and Grow - Monsters University  - Multiple Locations
Celebrate Mike & Sully’s opening weekend with a free Monsters University craft at Lowe's.

Grand Opening of Westfield Culver City's New Kids' Playspace  - Culver City
Westfield Culver City has a new playspace for kids, and they’re celebrating with fun, crafts, and games throughout the weekend. Highlights include Touch and Play Storytime with Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and a Finding Nemo party with Radio Disney.

The Amazing Bubble Man - Santa Monica
What kid doesn't love bubbles? They love them even more when they're square, fog-filled, or big enough to fit a person inside.

Family Amphitheater Performances - West Los Angeles
The summer family entertainment series at the Skirball Cultural Center gets off to a great start with two fun shows. On Saturday, kids can meet animals from around the world with Wildlife on Wheels. On Sunday Adunni & Nefertiti introduces kids to the music of Nigeria.

Long Beach Bayou Festival - Long Beach
Rainbow Lagoon Park presents the finest in New Orleans cuisine and culture. The kids' stage features all-day children’s entertainment, including puppets, magic, live animals, and games, plus face painting and balloon twisting.

SATURDAY JUNE 22

LA Sanitation Harbor Yard Open House - San Pedro
Harbor District Yard is the latest refuse yard to open up for some fun discovery about recycling and sanitation.

LAX Appreciation Day - Westchester
The public can get a sneak peak at the New Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX and meet the critters from the Pets Unstressing Passengers program.

A Faery Hunt - Griffith Park - Griffith Park
After the morning’s faery hunt, kids can have fun at the Fairy Birthday Party, with dancing, fairy unicorn readings, and fairy face painting.

Signing Storytime with Miriam Cantor - West LA
The signed storytime at Children's Book World is fun for both hearing and hearing-impaired kids.

Celebrate Global Smurfs Day at the Grove - The Grove
Papa Smurf, Clumsy Smurf, and Smurfette pay a visit to the Grove to celebrate Global Smurfs Day. The Smurfs' movie screens on the Grove Lawn at 8pm.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jazz Band - Downtown
It’s a kids’ club at FIGat7th Plaza. First up, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band plays tunes that make families get up and boogie. Then kids can construct and decorate a funky old time washboard to play a tune.

Baby Loves Disco LA - Downtown
Moms and Dads can dance alongside kids at Baby Loves Disco’s newest location, 333 Live.

Family Day at Pasadena Museum of California Art - Pasadena
The whole family can participate in fun art projects based on the museum’s current exhibitions.

Oscars Outdoors - Hollywood
Beetlejuice!  Beetlejuice!  Say it one more time to see it at the Academy of Motion Pictures Hollywood Campus.

Cinespia - Hollywood
Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day star in the Hitchcock classic The Man Who Knew Too Much, in a screening under the stars at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

SUNDAY JUNE 23

CicLAvia - Iconic Wilshire Blvd  - Downtown to Miracle Mile
The Kids Hub is at Miracle Mile for this go round, as CicLAvia presents its most walkable route yet.

Family Music Festival - Arcadia
If you Stand By Me (and Ben E. King), I’ll Twist Again, (with Chubby Checker) and, it’ll be a Magic Moment ( with Jay and the Americans).  The 21st Annual Family Music Festival at the Los Angeles County Arboretum promises memorable entertainment.

Velveteen Rabbit - Topanga
Creative Playground brings to life the timeless classic Velveteen Rabbit, exploring themes of friendship and what it means to be “really real.”

Kids in the Courtyard: Daylight Photo Lab - Westwood
Kids can learn about the science of photography and photosynthesis, and then use the outdoors as a personal photo studio to make Cyanotype sun prints. And I, um, totally know what that is.***

LevittLA Summer Concert Series - Children's Concerts in MacArthur Park - Downtown
The Funky Punks entertain kids with their high-energy, interactive circus acts.

Manhattan Beach Summer Concerts in the Park - Manhattan Beach
The Manhattan Beach Summer Concert Series in Polliwog Park kicks off its 2013 season with the Dixieland sounds of the Hyperion Outfall Serenaders.

Concerts on the Green - Woodland Hills
Country-rock group The Marshall Tucker Band, (“Can’t You See?”), performs a free concert at Warner Center Park.

Sierra Madre Concerts in the Park - Sierra Madre
The concert series settles into its Sunday evening timeslot with Cowbop, performing Cowboy Jazz/ Western Bebop.

Sunday Movie Nights - Beverly Hills
Beverly Canons Garden hosts a free outdoor screening of the film starring our other favorite Poppins, Mary Poppins!

As always, there are many more activities listed on our daily events calendar. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, we hope you have marvelous time!

* Thanks, Wikipedia!

**Thanks, Wikipedia!

*** a simple process that produces blue (“cyan”) prints, previously used by engineers to make “blueprints.”  Thanks, Wikipedia!