This weekend has it all—from the return of a beloved fair to blooming gardens, drive-in movies, and a National Ice Cream Day celebration thrown in there for good measure, check out all the fun things to do with kids in Los Angeles below.
photo: iStock/yacobchuk
Time for Fun at the OC Fair
It’s Time For Fun! The OC Fair is excited to welcome you back! Rides, concerts, fair food, games, animals, entertainment, & so much more! OC’s favorite family summer tradition is better than ever! Tickets must be purchased online in advance and will not be available for purchase at the gate. Fri.-Sun. Event details.
Marina Drive-In Movies
The Marina Drive-In movies mean old-school entertainment in the comfort and safety of your own car! Gather with your family and friends to watch movies on the big screen by the sea in Marina del Rey. Some of the best family classics will be shown like Jurassic Park, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Goonies, and Trolls! Local restaurants nearby are open for outdoor dining, so come early and have dinner with a waterfront view or place a takeout order. Order food from gourmet food trucks on-site or bring your own food and drinks. Fri. Event details.
Grand Park’s Portraits of Freedom: Building a Life in L.A.
The month-long public art installation, Grand Park’s Portraits of Freedom: Building a Life in L.A. will feature photography and video exhibitions as well as a nighttime projection installation, illuminating Los Angeles through civic pride, identity and engagement while narrating cornerstone stories of the American experience. Fri.-Sun. Event details.
Summer Fridays at ROW DTLA
ROW DTLA has launched their Summer in the City campaign—get ready to hang all summer long with after-hours shopping, food trucks galore, live music and more! Fri. Event details.
Los Feliz Flea
Organized by The Odd Market (the same group that hosts Odd Nights at the Autry), the Los Feliz Flea is a curated market with over 100 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, and more. Boasting plenty of shady areas and socially distanced tables for kids to sit and eat at, this free-to-park and free-to-enter is by far the best value for treasure hunting. Sat. Event details.
Summer at Descanso Gardens
Check out what’s blooming and read why we love Descanso Gardens so much with kids. Expect to see roses, summer annuals and perennials, crape myrtle, and cassia! Special event alert: This Fri., check out and enjoy the sound of live music from Paul Livingstone Ensemble wafting through the garden as you enjoy the summer blooms— included in the price of admission, no reservations required. Fri.-Sun. Event details.
Spiky, Hairy, Shiny: Insects of LA
Every day, thousands of vibrantly colored insects whiz by under our noses. Some are furry and some are prickly, but most of the time their spectacular features are barely visible to the human eye. For almost 10 years, people all over Los Angeles have helped staff from the Natural History Museum gather samples of these insects as part of the Museum’s BioSCAN project, resulting in a collection that will help track changes to L.A.’s climate. Along the way, we’ve captured images of startling beauty and rich textures. Come visit Spiky, Hairy, Shiny and take a peek at this hidden world. Fri.-Sun. Event details.
What’s Her Story: Women in the Archives
In honor of the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote, What’s Her Story: Women in the Archives reveals compelling stories of women found in the Autry’s collections. This exhibit will showcase Assistance League of Los Angeles, Caroline Boeing Poole, Gladys Knight Harris, Native Voices theatre ensemble, and Women’s March participants as 20th and 21st-century women who documented their activities and created archives as a way to preserve a legacy in their own voice. Fri.-Sun. Event details.
Open: Neon Retro Arcade
After being closed due to COVID, Neon Retro Arcade is reopening! This old-school arcade has all your favorite retro games from back in the day. Visit Neon to take a totally awesome journey back to the 80s and 90s, share the games of your youth with your kids, or reconnect with buddies through some friendly competition. Fri.-Sun. Event details.
Family Beach Cleanup
Join the community for a beach cleanup while promoting “collaboration over competition.” Swag bags and family entertainment will be provided to all those with a ticket, as well as gloves and bags for your clean-up. Sat. Event details.
Smorgasburg LA
Sunday Funday is back! In addition to getting back open for all of you to enjoy your longtime Smorgasburg favorites every single Sunday, we also look forward to introducing you to the next crop of LA’s new and exciting food concepts, many of which launched during the pandemic. Each Sunday, find dozens of exciting food vendors plus sophisticated shopping from the realms of design, craft, style, vintage, wellness, and more. Cultural events, pop-ups, and other surprises transform the ROW DTLA. Sun. Event details.
National Ice Cream Day
Ice cream makes everything better! Today we are celebrating one of the yummiest days of the year! It’s a sweet day to play and learn through engaging activities that are sure to be the cherry on top of this delicious celebration. Ice cream makes everything better! Today we are celebrating one of the yummiest days of the year! It’s a sweet day to play and learn through engaging activities that are sure to be the cherry on top of this delicious celebration. Sun. Event details.
Plan Ahead:
Immersive Van Gogh: Tickets on Sale
You will be immersed in Van Gogh’s works – from his sunny landscapes and night scenes to his portraits and still life paintings. The installation includes the Mangeurs de pommes de terre (The Potato Eaters, 1885), the Nuit étoilée (Starry Night, 1889), Les Tournesols (Sunflowers, 1888), and La Chambre à coucher (The Bedroom, 1889), and so much more. Experience the organic landscapes of Van Gogh’s imagination, and journey through his brilliance and madness. Astonishing in scale and breathtakingly imaginative, you will experience Van Gogh’s art in a completely new and unforgettable way. Buy your tickets now before it’s all sold out. Event details.
Tickets for Banksy Exhibit Released
Banksy: Genius or Vandal? The renowned Exhibition, which was presented with unprecedented success in 15 cities around the world, comes to Los Angeles! Dedicated to the famous and enigmatic British artist, the exhibit lets visitors dive into the controversial artistic universe of the most influential creator of present time and features more than 80 genuine, authenticated artworks by Banksy from private European collections. The exhibit is expected to open Aug. 2021. Event details.<
L.O.L. Surprise Concert Tour
Fans of the global sensation L.O.L. Surprise!
will finally be able to rock out in real life with their favorite characters when the hologram concert hits the stage at Microsoft Theater on Friday, November 26. “L.O.L. Surprise! Live – Calling All B.B’s” will feature fan favorites and best sellers Lady Diva, Royal Bee, Neonlicious, and Swag in the first-ever family spectacular with original music, dancers, a DJ, and never-before-seen live holograms. Event details.
—Andie Huber
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