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May means LA County Fair season. Photo courtesy of the LA County Fair, Facebook
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4/30/23 - By Toby B

There is no shortage of things to do in Los Angeles in May. From Mother's Day to Memorial Day, we've got the best events happening all month—and May the 4th be with you!

You've won the blue ribbon, your ship has come in, and mamas, it's your day: May we introduce you to the jam-packed listing of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles this May! Fresh out the gate, we celebrate the annual return of the LA County Fair, complete with prize-winning critters, A-list concert headliners, and mouth-watering fair food. LA Fleet Week makes a splash as the Port of Los Angeles hosts active military ships.

Plus, we set aside a day to celebrate the superheroes in our midst. No, not Free Comic Book Day (though free comics are pretty cool)—the happy occasion we speak of is Mother's Day, our chance to enjoy gardens, flowers, the best brunches in Los Angeles, and delightfully quirky handmade crafts. 

Still need more fun things to do this May? How about Ways to Celebrate Star Wars Day on May the 4th or these Free Events and Activities in May in Los Angeles that provide fun that's easy on your wallet. You'll find all this and more in our Ultimate Guide to Spring Fun in Los Angeles for Kids. 

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Play the fiddle and step over to the dance barn. Photo courtesy of the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival
Play the fiddle and step over to the dance barn. Photo courtesy of the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival

Top Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids this May

SOAR: Tropical Butterflies at South Coast Botanic Garden

Palos Verdes - Opens Monday, May 1, 2023
South Coast Botanic Garden is soaring to great heights with the return of the butterfly experience, which features tropical butterflies in the garden's specially-built pavilion. New for 2023: a butterfly feeding experience. READ MORE

LA County Fair

Pomona - Starts Friday, May 5, 2023
The LA County Fair closes out its 2023 season on Memorial Day Weekend. READ MORE

Kibō Nobori 2023 — Children's Day Festival

Little Tokyo - Saturday, May 6, 2023
Free
Little Tokyo's second annual Kibō Nobori Children’s Day Festival is a free family-friendly event celebrating the Japanese holiday Kodomo No Hi. "Kodomo No Hi" means "Children's Day" in Japan and is a day to celebrate and wish for health and good fortune for all children. READ MORE

Historical Venice Cinco de Mayo Parade/Festival 2023

Venice - Saturday, May 6, 2023
Free
Venice's Historic Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival celebrates Mexican American Heritage and the city’s cultural diversity. The event is free and family-friendly. READ MORE

Rancho Days Fiesta

Lake Forest - Saturday, May 6, 2023
Free
The rich history of Orange County’s rancho era is explored through hands-on activities, crafts, music, and dance. READ MORE

Boat Cinema

Castaic - Screenings start Saturday, May 6, 2023
Boat Cinema is LA’s first movie experience where guests watch the movie from their own personal mini boat. Moviegoers can reserve a mini electric boat  or opt for beach seating (bring your own chairs/towels).  READ MORE

Free Comic Book Day 2023

Multiple Locations - Saturday, May 6, 2023
Free
Pow! Crash! Boom!  Getting comic books for free is...super! Free Comic Book Day returns to its usual "first Saturday in May" date. READ MORE

Great Big Family Play Day at The Autry in Griffith Park

Griffith Park - Saturday & Sunday, May 6 & 7, 2023
The Autry and PBS SoCal welcome the beloved curious monkey, Curious George, to this year’s Great Big Family Play Day! Great Big Family Play day enters its 8th consecutive year bringing fun experiences for families with kids of all ages to enjoy.  READ MORE

Pacific Islander Fest (Bowers)

Santa Ana - Sunday, May 7, 2023
Free
The Bowers Museum's free family festival for May celebrates Pacific Islanders.  The full day of fun includes complimentary face painting, art projects, live performances, and more. READ MORE

Pan Am Fiesta

Lakewood - Thursday - Sunday, May 11 - 14, 2023
The Pan American Fiesta returns to Mayfair Park in Lakewood on Mother's Day weekend. Festivities include a family-friendly mix of amusement rides, live music, crafts for sale, and food trucks. READ MORE

Happy Birthday, Monterey Park Play Days

Monterey Park - Thursday - Sunday, May 11 - 14, 2023
Monterey Park celebrates its 107th birthday with four days of fun in Barnes Park. READ MORE

Fire Service Day (Burbank)

Burbank - Saturday, May 13, 2023
Free
The Burbank Fire Department celebrates Fire Service Day with sidewalk CPR, station tours, a kids' obstacle course, photo opportunities with Lil' Squirt, bounce house, and live demonstrations. READ MORE

MOMentum Place

Topanga - Sunday, May 14, 2023
This Mother's Day, the annual MOMentum Place creates a fantastical world of aerial and circus performers, dancers and musicians in Theatricum Botanicum's rustic outdoor amphitheater. READ MORE

Locals’ Night at Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica - Thursday, May 18, 2023
Free
Santa Monica Pier is known as a tourist destination that attract guests from around the country and the world. But it's also a great place for locals to hang out! READ MORE

Monrovia Days

Monrovia - Friday - Sunday, May 19 - 21, 2023
The community of Monrovia celebrates its 137th birthday with three days of events. Highlights include games, carnival rides, food, live music, a meringue pie eating contest, and the annual Monrovia Days parade. READ MORE

Crawfish Festival

Fountain Valley - Friday - Sunday, May 19 - 21, 2023
Crawfish Festival is the largest Crawfish Festival outside Louisiana, attracting thousands of festival-goers each year. Families can enjoy Cajun, Zydeco, and New Orleans music plus tons of fresh crawfish, prepared Louisiana style, along with a wide selection of New Orleans’s most iconic dishes. READ MORE

Stars on Ice

Anaheim - Saturday, May 20, 2023
The crowd-pleasing Olympic-quality ice show returns to Orange County for one performance only, bringing a company of world-class champion skaters and ice dancers to Anaheim to strut their icy stuff. READ MORE

Bug Fair 2023

Exposition Park - Saturday & Sunday, May 20 & 21, 2023
There are bugs everywhere! No need to call the exterminator; it's Bug Fair 2023, the Natural History Museum's celebration of things winged and creepy-crawly. Bug Fair is the biggest bug festival in North America, and this year is celebrating its 37th year. READ MORE

California Strawberry Festival

Ventura - Saturday & Sunday, May 20 & 21, 2023
The 2023 California Strawberry Festival returns on Saturday, May 20 & Sunday, May 21 at its new location, the Ventura County Fairgrounds.  READ MORE

Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival

Agoura Hills - Sunday, May 21, 2023
Paramount Ranch plays host to an old-time bluegrass, folk song, folk dancing, and crafts festival. READ MORE

Museums of the Arroyo Day

Arroyo Seco - Sunday, May 21, 2023
Free
The annual Museums of the Arroyo Day treats LA families to free admission at five local museums. READ MORE

Camping in the City!

Irvine - Opens Friday, May 26, 2023
This summer, Pretend City presents Camping in the City!  Little ones get to experience the wilderness with opportunities to hike Pretend City trails, follow and trace footprints of the critters who live in the City, and even sit around a campfire listening to stories and learning how to make s’mores. READ MORE

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival 2023

Garden Grove - Friday - Monday, May 26 - 29, 2023
Garden Grove marks Memorial Day weekend for the 63rd year with its Strawberry Festival, the second largest city festival in the West. This year, the festival's theme is "Celebrating Kindness."  READ MORE

La Cañada's Fiesta Days

La Cañada Flintridge - Friday - Monday, May 26 - 29, 2023
La Cañada's weekend-long Memorial Day festivities celebrate their 50 year anniversary.  Activities throughout the weekend include a French toast breakfast, vintage car show, a summer picnic and "ukulele rendezvous", a family dinner with music, and fireworks. Monday's activities include a 5k/10k run, a Memorial Day service,  a grand parade down Foothill Boulevard, and music in the park. READ MORE

LA Fleet Week

San Pedro - Friday - Monday, May 26 - 29, 2023
Free
Your ship's come in—a whole bunch of 'em actually. Fleet Week returns to the Port of Los Angeles with pier-side ship tours, exhilarating aerial demonstrations and flyovers, live entertainment, live competitions, and family activities.  READ MORE

Community Day of Play

Pasadena - Saturday, May 27, 2023
Free
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Southern California Children’s Museum hosts its first-ever free community play day. At Day of Play, everyone is invited to engage with the power of play through arts-based activities, musical performances, and social services information from community service tabling partners. READ MORE

Fiesta Hermosa

Hermosa Beach - Saturday - Monday, May 27 - 29, 2023
Free
In 2023, Fiesta Hermosa skips its usual Labor Day edition in favor of a smaller festival at the end of September to be called “Locale 90254”. Hermosa Beach's semi-annual blowout combines hundreds of artisans and craftspeople with opportunities to swim, bike, fish, or just relax on the beach. READ MORE

Scottish Fair and Highland Games

Costa Mesa - Saturday & Sunday, May 28 & 29, 2023
Scotsfest returns for Memorial Day weekend in 2023! Scotsfest is a Scottish festival of Celtic entertainment, food, and Highland games. The two-day event showcases the best of the Scottish and Celtic heritage with sounds of bagpipes and drums, the smells of authentic Scottish foods, and the sights of the traditional tartan kilts. READ MORE

2023 Summer Concerts in the Park (Thousand Oaks)

Thousand Oaks - Starts Monday, May 29, 2023
Free
It may get a little chilly in the evenings, but the music at Conejo Community Park is hot!  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Oakwood Recreation and Park
Heritage Hill Historical Park
Library Park Memorial Fountain
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Ventura County Fairgrounds
Multiple Museums, including The Gamble House
Pretend City Children's Museum
Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center
Southern California Children's Museum
Orange County Fair & Event Center
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