20 Things To Do in Southern California Before Summer Ends
Updated: August 2026
Summer is winding down but the fun isn’t. Southern California still has a solid lineup of exhibits, festivals, and limited-time experiences spread across LA and OC — some closing this week, others running through September. We’ve sorted them by end date so you can figure out what to hit first.
OC Fair
OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa
Ends August 16, 2026
The OC Fair closes this Sunday, which means this is your last shot at rides, livestock shows, fair foods, giant prizes, and the kind of summer chaos that’s hard to replicate any other time of year. It’s been a SoCal staple for over 130 years, and the final weekend always draws a crowd. Plan to arrive early and wear comfortable shoes.
Disneyland’s Paint the Night Parade
Disneyland, Anaheim
Ends August 20, 2026
Paint the Night is Disneyland’s fan-favorite LED parade featuring Disney and Pixar characters lit up with millions of lights — it runs after dark and is a big deal for little ones who have never seen it. It wraps up August 20, so this week is the last chance.
☝️ Kidsguide Tip: Catch the second show for less crowds and find a spot near Small World to see the projections too!
Melon Moon Market at Tanaka Farms
Tanaka Farms, Irvine
Ends August 21, 2026
The Melon Moon Market at Tanaka Farms is a late-summer market experience with farm-fresh melons, food vendors, and a low-key outdoor atmosphere that’s a nice change of pace from theme parks and museums. It’s ticketed and runs through August 21, so this weekend is your window. Grab tickets online before heading out.
Sea Country Festival in Laguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Laguna Niguel
August 21–23, 2026
The Sea Country Festival is a free community festival with live music, food, games, and activities spread across a beautiful regional park over three days. It’s an easy outing that works well for all ages and doesn’t require advance tickets or a big budget. Head out this weekend before summer wraps up.
La Habra Lions Corn Festival
El Centro-Lions Park
August 21–23, 2026
Celebrate the city of La Habra with the annual La Habra Corn Festival, a free community tradition hosted by the La Habra Host Lions Club. What started in 1947 as a neighborhood gathering has grown into a beloved weekend celebration filled with carnival rides, food, games, and hometown pride. This year’s festival features a parade, live entertainment, corn-eating contests, and plenty of sweet corn on the cob.
Ocean Encounter
Discovery Cube OC, Santa Ana
Ends August 23, 2026
Ocean Encounter is a large-scale interactive exhibit at Discovery Cube OC that takes families through all five ocean zones, from the sunlit surface down to the deep-sea trenches. Giant LED walls, massive inflatables, and hands-on demo labs make up the experience, with a focus on marine life and how human activity affects ocean ecosystems.
Butterfly Pavilion at Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum, Los Angeles
Ends August 23, 2026
The NHM Butterfly Pavilion is a live walk-through enclosure where dozens of butterfly species fly freely and occasionally land on visitors. It’s a seasonal exhibit that only runs through summer, and this year it closes August 23. Included with museum admission.
Nisei Week in Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles
Ends August 23, 2026
Nisei Week is one of LA’s longest-running Japanese American cultural festivals, with a grand parade, live performances, food, and community events spread throughout Little Tokyo. It’s been running since 1934 and is a great excuse to explore the neighborhood with kids. Check the calendar on the website for specific event times before you head down.
Beauty and the Beast The Musical at The Pantages
Pantages Theatre, Hollywood
Ends September 6, 2026
Beauty and the Beast The Musical is at the Pantages through September 6 with full Broadway production — costumes, sets, the ballroom scene, all of it. It’s a solid pick for families with kids who are into theater or Disney, and the Pantages is a great venue for a first live show experience. Book early for better seats.
Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach
Sawdust Art Festival, Laguna Beach
Ends September 6, 2026
The Sawdust Art Festival runs every summer in a shaded outdoor venue in Laguna Beach, where over 200 local artists sell original work alongside live music and craft demonstrations. It’s walkable, uncrowded compared to most summer events, and a nice outing for kids who like hands-on art activities. Closes September 6.
Maestro of the Movies: A Tribute to John Williams
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
September 4-6, 2026
End summer on a high note with a family night at the Hollywood Bowl! The LA Philharmonic and conductor David Newman bring John Williams’ most famous movie music — Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and more — to life, alongside epic film clips on the big screens. Grab the kids, pack a picnic, and get ready for a blockbuster evening under the stars.
Orange International Street Fair
Old Town Orange
September 4-6, 2026
Wrap up summer at this three-day celebration of food, music, and culture from around the globe. Enjoy themed streets, food and drink booths, community booths, local vendors, and live entertainment.
Long Beach Greek Festival
5761 E. Colorado Street, Long Beach
September 5-7, 2026
Spend Labor Day weekend soaking up Greek culture with three days of authentic food, live music, dancing, and cooking demos. Browse unique shopping, let the kids enjoy games and bounce houses, and take advantage of free parking and shuttle service.
Scooby-Doo: Mansion Mayhem at Discovery Cube OC
Discovery Cube OC, Santa Ana
Ends September 7, 2026
Scooby-Doo: Mansion Mayhem is an interactive exhibit where kids follow along with the Mystery Inc. gang to solve clues and uncover what’s haunting a spooky mansion. It’s hands-on, not actually scary, and geared toward the elementary-age crowd. Runs through September 7 at Discovery Cube OC.
Wonder Studio at Pretend City
Pretend City Children’s Museum, Irvine
Ends September 7, 2026
Wonder Studio is a special art and imagination exhibit inside Pretend City, with hands-on creative activities and sensory play designed for younger kids. It’s a good add-on to a regular Pretend City visit and closes September 7. Included with museum admission.
Mummies of the World at California Science Center
California Science Center, Los Angeles
Ends September 7, 2026
This global exhibition features real human and animal mummies from ancient Egypt, South America, and Europe, alongside burial artifacts, mummification tools, and interactive displays.
Note: Due to the presence of real mummies, bones, and skulls, some content may feel intense or unsettling for younger children.
Kidspace Campout
Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena
Ends September 13, 2026
Kidspace Campout is a summer-themed takeover at Kidspace Children’s Museum with camping, fishing, campfire songs, and craft activities woven throughout the museum. Kids can splash through the Arroyo stream, ride trikes across a replica Golden Gate Bridge, and explore the native ecosystem of the Arroyo Seco in the Arroyo Pequeño water exhibit. Included with regular admission
Wild Kratts: Creature Power! at Discovery Cube LA
Discovery Cube LA, Sylmar
Ends September 13, 2026
Wild Kratts: Creature Power! is based on the PBS Kids show and lets kids activate creature powers, explore animal adaptations, and interact with exhibit stations built around the characters and concepts from the series. It’s a good fit for fans of the show and runs through September 13 at Discovery Cube LA.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express Adventure
Southern California Railway Museum, Perris
Ends September 27, 2026
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express Adventure is a themed train experience at the Southern California Railway Museum, where a vintage train is transformed into the Hogwarts Express with storytelling and wizarding world details throughout the ride.
SOAR: Tropical Butterflies
South Coast Botanic Garden, Rancho Palos Verdes
Ends September 30, 2026
SOAR: Tropical Butterflies is a walk-through enclosure at South Coast Botanic Garden where hundreds of tropical butterfly species fly freely around visitors in a warm, lush space. It’s one of the calmer summer outings on this list and runs through September 30 — a bit more breathing room if the earlier dates don’t work out. Timed entry tickets required.
A few of these close this week, so start at the top of the list and work your way down. Summer’s not done yet.
Categories: Blog, Blog Latest
This post was written by Kidsguide
