
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.
Petals & Pistons Car Show | Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar
August 15: See up to 30 classic, vintage, European, and luxury cars at Sherman Library & Gardens. 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
Family Fun Day: Bob Baker Marionettes | The Autry, Los Angeles
August 15: See Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s Traveling Jamboree and make your own puppet at The Autry.
Little Tikes Sweet Spaces Pop-Up | The Grove, Los Angeles
August 15–16: Little Tikes celebrates its new Sweet Spaces collection with immersive play kitchens, café and picnic zones, photo ops, keepsake aprons, and hands-on pretend play at The Grove. FREE!
Natsumatsuri Family Festival | Terasaki Budokan, Los Angeles
August 15: Celebrate Natsumatsuri with bon odori dancing, taiko, origami, crafts, and live performances. FREE!
Thomas Family Day | San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego
August 15: Thomas-themed model trains, crafts, activities, and a scavenger hunt at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum.
Lemon Festival | Third Avenue, Chula Vista
August 15: Celebrate citrus with live music, photo ops, kids activities, and more at the Lemon Festival in Downtown Chula Vista.
Ferragosto at Helms | Helms Design District, Culver City
August 15: Celebrate Ferragosto with Italian food, live music, tortellini making, gelato, and kids activities. FREE!
Dance Fest | Cesar E. Chavez Park, Long Beach
August 15: Watch live dance, martial arts, and drumming performances from Long Beach cultural groups at this free evening celebration.
Pioneer Living Day | Heritage Park, Santa Fe Springs
August 15: Enjoy pioneer demonstrations, crafts, games, family activities, and an outdoor showing of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. FREE!
KCRW Summer Nights with Metro Art ft. RIO KOSTA | Union Station, Los Angeles
August 15: RIO KOSTA and KCRW DJs J.Rocc and LUXXURY take over Union Station for a free, all-ages dance party. FREE!
Community BBQ | Palm’s Park, Lakewood
August 15: Enjoy free food (while supplies last), fun games, contests, and other attractions. Vendors and giveaways on site as well. Fun for the whole family!
AAPI Heritage Night with Orange County SC | Championship Soccer Stadium, Irvine
August 15: Cheer on Orange County SC at AAPI Heritage Night with cultural performances, AAPI food vendors, kids’ inflatables, balloon artists, face painting, and more.
50th Anniversary Gala Concert | Musco Center for the Arts, Orange
August 15: Celebrate Relámpago del Cielo’s 50th anniversary with Mexican folklórico dance and live mariachi music.
Kids Run the Bases | Dodger Stadium, LA
Select Sundays, June 21 - September 20: Kids Run the Bases gives children (ages 5-14) the chance to run the bases after most Sunday afternoon games.
Nisei Week Japanese Festival | Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
August 16–23: Celebrate Nisei Week in Little Tokyo with the Grand Parade, Japanese festivals, performances, food, karate, and traditional Ondo street dancing. FREE!
Academy Museum Free Day | Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles
August 16: Celebrate the Academy Museum’s fifth anniversary with free museum admission, movie-inspired crafts, line dancing, and a 35mm screening of Munich. FREE!
Sunday Sessions at Grand Park | Gloria Molina Grand Park, Los Angeles
July 19 & Aug 16: A free outdoor house music series with DJs, a maker’s market, and beer garden. FREE!
Family Night Sunday | The Ranch Saloon, Anaheim
August 16: Learn new line and partner dances, then hit the floor for a night of country music at The Ranch Saloon’s Family Night.
Summertime Sailor Days at the Maritime Museum of San Diego
July 7 – September 2: Step into the role of a traditional sailor aboard the Maritime Museum’s historic fleet. Families can enjoy maritime activities, sailor skills, shipboard discovery along the San Diego Waterfront.
Summertime Sailor Days at the Maritime Museum of San Diego
July 7 – September 2: Step into the role of a traditional sailor aboard the Maritime Museum’s historic fleet. Families can enjoy maritime activities, sailor skills, shipboard discovery along the San Diego Waterfront.
Kids Club | The Grove, Los Angeles
June 3–24: Enjoy weekly kids shows with music, puppets, and storytelling at AMC theaters.
Little Earth Kids Summer Film Series | Art Theatre, Long Beach
June 17–Aug 19: Watch weekly animated films with environmental themes at this summer movie series for kids and families.
Summer Stroll Food Fest | Belmont Shore
June - August: Stroll Belmont Shore, sample food from 30+ spots, and enjoy live music and shopping.
Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean in Concert | F&M Bank Amphitheater, Long Beach
August 20: Watch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl under the stars as Long Beach Symphony performs the film’s iconic score live, plus enjoy pre-concert activities for families.
Sea Country Festival | Laguna Niguel
August 22-24: Bring your friends and family to experience this end-of-summer event with music, rides, games, food, and more. The festival is a free entry event, with nominal fees for attractions and games. FREE!
La Habra Corn Festival | El Centro-Lions Park, La Habra
August 21-23: Celebrate 77 years of the La Habra Corn Festival with carnival rides, corn and festival food, a parade, kids’ and adult corn-eating contests, live music, shopping, and family fun. FREE!
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!
Summer Street Fest | Mines Avenue, Pico Rivera
August 14 & 21: Summer Street Fest brings live music, food trucks, a marketplace, and family Fun Zone to Mines Avenue, with Mariachi Los Camperos on August 14 and Exposé on August 21. FREE!
Melon Moon Market | Tanaka Farms, Irvine
July 17 - August 21: A lantern-lit night market on summer Fridays with vendors, melons, and farm fun.
Parents Night Out – Cooking Classes for Kids at Lil’ Chef
JUNE 21, JULY 31, AUGUST 21 & SEPTEMBER 25: This is a great workshop for the parents to go out and let their children (ages 3+) have a fun-filled Friday evening! Each month features a different “themed” Friday Night with food that your Lil’ Chef will make from scratch, and provide drinks and a game or movie to end the evening.
LAZERDOME: KPop Demon Hunters & Mousical Movie Magic | OCC Planetarium, Costa Mesa
August 21: See songs from KPop Demon Hunters, Encanto, Frozen 2, Moana, The Lion King, and more come to life with dazzling laser effects during a double-feature LAZERDOME show.
Summer Movie Night: The Sandlot | LBX Hangar, Long Beach
August 21: Bring blankets and chairs to LBX for a free outdoor screening of The Sandlot. Grab a bite from nearby eateries before the movie starts at 8:30 PM. FREE!
Annual Friendship Pow Wow | Fedde Sports Complex, Hawaiian Gardens
August 22-23: Celebrate culture and tradition with vibrant dancing, powerful drumming, and a welcoming community gathering in Hawaiian Gardens. FREE!
ANIME Impulse + K-PLAY! FEST | Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim
August 22-23: Anime and K-pop collide at ANIME Impulse and K-PLAY! FEST with voice actors, cosplay, Artist Alley, K-pop random dance play, photocard trading, vendors, live entertainment, and more. One ticket also includes Collectors Expo.
Letterpress Surplus Sale & Wayzgoose at the International Printing Museum
August 22: Explore printing history with live demos, hands-on activities, and a surplus sale of vintage printing treasures.
The Carnegie Comic Collective | Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center, Anaheim
August 22: Meet local comic artists, shop from retailers, make comic-inspired crafts, watch demonstrations, and join panels at Muzeo’s 2nd annual comic book celebration.
Plum Fest | Old World Huntington Beach
August 22-23: Huntington Beach's Plum Fest features live performances and everything PLUM! Take your family and friends to experience a fruit-filled Sunday!
Touch-A-Truck & OCSC Match Day | Championship Soccer Stadium, Irvine
August 22: Climb aboard trucks and vehicles from first responders, construction crews, sanitation departments, and more at Touch-A-Truck, then stay to cheer on Orange County SC at the 7 PM match.
Taste of Downtown x KCRW Summer Nights | Pine Avenue & The Promenade, Long Beach
August 22: Taste your way through Downtown Long Beach with local food and drinks, then dance into the evening with KCRW DJs. FREE-ish!
5K & Family Fun Run 1K | Discovery Cube LA, Sylmar
August 23: Lace up for a morning 5K or bring the family for a shorter 1K Family Fun Run in Sylmar. Registration required.
Kids Run the Bases | Dodger Stadium, LA
Select Sundays, June 21 - September 20: Kids Run the Bases gives children (ages 5-14) the chance to run the bases after most Sunday afternoon games.
LA Kids Book Festival | West Hollywood Park, West Hollywood
August 23: Celebrate books and early learning at the FREE LA Kids Book Festival with Blippi and Meekah, The BeatBuds, storytimes, performances, an Epic Foam Party, and more at West Hollywood Park. FREE!
Gardena Jazz Festival
August 23: Enjoy a day of live jazz performances at the 22nd Annual Gardena Jazz Festival.
Dana Point Car Show | Lantern District, Dana Point
August 23: Stroll and enjoy classic cars, food trucks, entertainment, vendors, and more. FREE!
Chicano Heritage Festival | Centennial Park, Santa Ana
August 23: Celebrate Santa Ana’s Mexican American heritage with a car cruise and show, kids zone, food, and live performances. FREE!
Summertime Sailor Days at the Maritime Museum of San Diego
July 7 – September 2: Step into the role of a traditional sailor aboard the Maritime Museum’s historic fleet. Families can enjoy maritime activities, sailor skills, shipboard discovery along the San Diego Waterfront.
Summertime Sailor Days at the Maritime Museum of San Diego
July 7 – September 2: Step into the role of a traditional sailor aboard the Maritime Museum’s historic fleet. Families can enjoy maritime activities, sailor skills, shipboard discovery along the San Diego Waterfront.
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!



