All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Lil’ Chef May Cooking Classes
MAY 8, 9, 10, 15 & 22: Strawberry Shortcake, Mexican Cuisine, Parent's Night Out, Mom & Me Brunch, Sushi Rolling & Cinco de Mayo! Kids, ages 3 and up, learn cooking fundamentals while having fun with a variety of recipes and tasting their treats! Sign up early!
Antique Truck Show | Southern California Railway Museum, Perris
Saturday, May 16, 2026 Step back in time and explore a massive collection of vintage trucks alongside historic trains at this one-day transportation showcase. Hosted with the American Truck Historical... View Article
Bug Fair | Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
May 16–17: Get hands-on with bugs, live shows, and science fun at this two-day insect festival.
Great Big Family Play Day | The Autry Museum, Griffith Park
May 3-4: Featured activities include character meet and greets, interactive play spaces, foam party, bike course, sports zone, face painting, family lounge, and carnival rides and inflatables.
California Strawberry Festival | Ventura
May 17-18: Strawberry shortcakes, live music, kids’ rides, and more—kick off summer at the California Strawberry Festival!
Long Beach Pride Festival | Marina Green Park, Long Beach
May 16–17: Celebrate Pride with live music, vendors, performances, and community events in Long Beach.
Free Miniature Train Rides at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa
THIRD WEEKEND OF EVERY MONTH: The Orange County Model Engineers offer public ride days every third full weekend of each month. To ride the trains, children must be able to walk and be at least 31" tall. A typical trip takes about 12 minutes and covers two loops of the park.
Comic Con Revolution | Ontario Convention Center
May 16–17: Meet celebrities, explore comics, cosplay, and fandom experiences at Comic Con Revolution.
Disney Jr. Play Cafe | Short Stories Hotel, Los Angeles
May 16-17: Disney Jr. Play Cafe is a 90-minute experience featuring complimentary dining, interactive play stations, crafts, and special Disney Jr. character meet-and-greets with photo opportunities.
Wurst Fest | Old World Huntington Beach
May 16–24: Enjoy bratwurst, live German music, and biergarten vibes at Wurst Fest weekends. FREE!
Impact Event | Discovery Cube, Sylmar
May 16: Help clean up the park, explore hands-on activities, and give back at this community impact event. FREE!
Lowe’s Kids Workshops
MyLowe’s Rewards Kids Workshops are free, hands-on DIY experiences designed just for kids. Feb 21: Birdhouse / Mar 21: Lawn Mower / Apr 18: Terrarium / May 16: Garden Basket / Jun 13: Trophy Cup / Jul 18: Mini Toy Box / Sep 12: Haunted House / Oct 17: Firefighting Plane / Nov 14: Holiday Engine / Dec 12: Holiday Trolley Car / Jan 16, 2027: Winter Play Lodge
Kids to Parks Day | Rancho Palos Verdes
May 16: Explore local parks with relay races, mural painting, kids yoga, and guided hikes during this free outdoor event. FREE!
Long Beach Adaptive Sports Fair | Long Beach City College
May 16: Try adaptive sports like basketball, soccer, and dance while connecting with community resources at this free inclusive event. FREE!
Water Festival | Santa Margarita Water District Headquarters
May 16: See birds of prey, touch a snake, build compost boxes, and try a zipline. FREE!
STEAM Fest 2026 | Discovery Cube LA, Sylmar
Saturday, May 16, 2026 Celebrate curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning at this interactive STEAM festival designed for students and families. STEAM Fest brings together schools, educators, and community partners for... View Article
Cypress Police Open House
May 16: SWAT demo, K9 demo, station tours, and more! FREE!
Robo-Bowl Jr. & TechFest
MAY 16: Join them on May 16 for the Robo-Bowl Jr. finale, featuring student showcases and interactive STEM booth activities for all ages. eRp! is for 4th and 5th grade students: their after-school robotics club inspires kids to experiment and grow their critical thinking, coding, and design skills through fun, hands-on STEM learning and robotics. This program is a team sport for the mind.
AnaCon: Comics & Sci-Fi | Anaheim Central Library
May 16: Meet comic creators, enjoy cosplay, trivia, and Star Wars storytime at this free library con. FREE!
Clarkia Flower Festival | UCLA
May 16: Celebrate flowers, nature, and community with crafts, music, and outdoor activities. FREE!
Discovery Zone | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Third Saturday: Explore a hands-on space where kids can touch feathers, match animal tracks, build food webs, and learn how wetlands support plants, animals, and people. Through simple science activities and real marsh artifacts, young explorers discover why protecting nature matters. FREE!
Star Wars Celebration | Yorba Linda Public Library
May 16: Make crafts, play games, and take photos at this all-ages Star Wars celebration. FREE!
Annual Literacy Fair: Reading in the LB SEA | MacArthur Park, Long Beach
May 16: Pick up free books, enjoy activities, and celebrate reading at this family literacy fair. FREE!
Anaheim Children’s Festival | Pearson Park, Anaheim
May 16: Create art, enjoy performances, and explore hands-on activities at this family festival. FREE!
Comic Orange | Aliso Viejo Library
May 10: A celebration of libraries, graphic novels, cosplay, animation and more! Activities include Cosplaying 101 where kids learn how to make their own cosplay and artist talks.
Beckman Arts & Science Family Festival | Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
May 16: The Beckman Arts & Science Family Festival invites innovators of all ages to explore the connections between science and the arts through fun and engaging performances, interactive exhibits, and hands-on activities along with other festival food and fun!
Red Bull Soapbox Race | Los Angeles
May 16: Watch wild, handmade cars race downhill at this high-energy Red Bull Soapbox event. FREE!
Lobsterfest | Peppertree Park, Tustin
May 16: Enjoy all-you-can-eat lobster, live music, and community vibes at Tustin Lobsterfest.
Family Science Sunday | Marine Mammal Care Center, San Pedro
Sundays: Hands-on marine science workshops let kids explore rescue techniques, ocean animals, dissections, climate science, and more at this MMCC family program.
Puppy Pals Live | Irvine Barclay Theatre
May 17: Watch rescue dogs perform stunts and comedy in this action-packed live show for families.
Balboa Island Artwalk | Newport Beach
May 17: Browse art, enjoy live music, and stroll the waterfront at the Balboa Island Artwalk. FREE!
AAPI LA Day at Smorgasburg | ROW DTLA
May 17: Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month with food, performances, and more. FREE!
Party for the Planet / Endangered Species Day | Santa Ana Zoo
May 17: Explore scavenger hunts and hands-on activities celebrating wildlife and endangered species.
CAMP CUP | CAMP Los Angeles
May 18 – July 19: Play games, earn punches, and unlock prizes at a summer-long soccer-inspired celebration. Collect punches to earn mini toys, full-size toys, collectible stickers, and a free Magic Door ticket. Some activities are free; others like the slime bar, maker studio, and splatter zone require a separate purchase. FREE!
Centennial Farm Discovery Days
September 30 - June 1: During a Discovery Day, “farmers” are stationed around the farm available to answer questions and provide information.
Grunion Runs | Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro
April 3 – June 30: Watch grunion come ashore during a staff-led beach observation at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Each evening includes entry to the aquarium, a short film, a hatching experience, and a beach-side grunion watch.
Field of Honor | Mission San Juan Capistrano
May 19-25: The Field of Honor display will consist of up to 400 American flags strategically placed on the grounds of the Mission in honor of military, veterans, first responders, including K-9 and equestrian heroes.
Tall Ship Mystic Whaler Visit | Ventura Harbor
May 20 – June 1: Climb aboard an 83-foot schooner for dockside tours, hands-on learning, and sea stories. Sign up for special family activities like plankton sampling and knot tying on select dates (RSVP required).
Art Days at the Japanese Garden | CSULB
Third Thursdays: Japanese Garden hosts self-led art evenings with monthly themes including Suminagashi (Japanese marbling) in February, pastel/crayon in April, and color pencil in May. Bring water-soluble art materials and create in the living museum setting. Registration opens 20 days in advance. $2.
Taste of Brea | Downtown Brea
May 21: Taste dishes from 100+ vendors and enjoy live music at this downtown food festival.
All-New Shark Encounter | SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego
May 22: Check out a redesigned walk-through shark exhibit with above-water and underwater viewing, interactive displays on shark behavior and habitats, and photo ops throughout. Walk through an underwater tunnel where sharks swim overhead.
Legacy Week | USS Midway Museum, San Diego
May 22–25: Honor service members with exhibits, ceremonies, and live performances aboard the USS Midway.
Tunes at the Dunes | Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina
May 22–24: Enjoy beachfront live music, food trucks, and sunset vibes by the bay. FREE!
OCLA Night Market & Natsu Festival | STC Rowland Legacy, Rowland Heights
May 22–24: Explore Japanese-inspired street food, live performances, cosplay, and games at this lively night market festival. FREE!
Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
May 22–25: Ride, eat, and celebrate at this four-day strawberry festival with parades, concerts, and carnival fun.
Caballero Circus | Lakewood Center, Lakewood
May 22–June 7: Watch acrobatics, comedy, and live circus acts under the big top.
Wild Tales at Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach
Every Friday: Wild tales is offered every Friday and include an outdoor story time in the newly-renovated amphitheater, an age-appropriate hike, and a craft project in the classroom. FREE!
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Pride in Irvine | Irvine Civic Center
May 22: Celebrate Pride with a flag raising, community resources, and family-friendly activities at this inclusive event. FREE!
Disclaimer: The Kidsguide team does their best to keep event details accurate at the time of posting, but information can change without notice! Be sure to double-check with the event organizer before heading out. Kidsguide is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or changes on our calendar—we’re just here to help you find the fun!
