The Special Olympics continue this week at multiple venues. You can celebrate these gifted athletes any day this week by checking out one of their events, all of which are free.

Los Angeles lives up to its reputation as entertainment capital during the summer months in particular, when movies and music play indoors and out. And there’s the weather: while many of us may have been shell shocked by last week’s rain in July (really, after the garage sale was all set up?), the weather has been otherwise glorious. This week should be a perfect one for splashing at the Annenberg, checking out the surfers in the South Bay, enjoying an outdoor concert in the Marina, or stargazing at the Garvey Observatory. Let’s not knock the rain, though, and let’s certainly not assume that the drought is over. We still have a long way to go before our parched state quenches its thirst. So while we are all crossing fingers for rain, and making plans to be outdoors most of the summer, let's not forget that Mommy Poppins also has a handy guide to indoor activities, for days when it is too hot, too cold, or even too wet to be outside.

Be sure to check out our Event Calendar for more free and discounted activities; here are our five favorites for the week.

Hard to believe, but we are halfway through the summer. The weeks are packed full of movies, concerts, and theater. Just take a look at our Event Calendar, if you don’t believe me. Minions opened this weekend; your kids are definitely going to want to see that. While “entertainment” has its place (especially here in Hollywood), we sometimes want our children engaged in activities that are educational: still fun, but maybe with a little learning thrown in. In Studio City, kids can learn about coding at the library; and in Santa Monica, the Pier Aquarium is hosting a live talk with a scientist from Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in honor of NASA’s flyby of our dwarf planet Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. Neil deGrasse Tyson would surely approve, especially since the connection between Deep Sea and Deep Space continues next week.

Teens may be interested in the Frontline Movie about Nelson Mandela that is screening for free at the California African American Museum. Race is a heated topic these days, and sometimes a movie is a good way to get the kids talking and thinking. And in case you haven’t made it to a Grunion Run yet, the Cabrillo Beach Marine Aquarium hosts its final program of the summer this week.

There’s an important new development for LEGO fans: the Monthly Mini Model Build now lasts two days instead of one! That’s right, the free LEGO signature event is on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and you can reserve a model in advance. In fact, you must reserve; walk-ins will no longer be admitted.

Meanwhile, pet lovers have the 9th annual Dog Day Afternoon to look forward to at the Cathedral; Santa Monica’s Twilight Dance Series (and Tongva Park after Dark) commence for the summer, and the Natural History Museum revels in the warm summer evenings with a Friday night garden event.