All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Snowfest | Lake Forest
January 10: Slide into the new year with Snowfest. Enjoy the snow, games, and a sled ride down Mount Pittsford. The event starts at 10:30am and offers 3 sessions for families.
Family Hike at Black Star Canyon | Irvine Ranch Open Space
March–April (Saturdays): Take a guided 3–4 mile family hike along a flat canyon trail with wildlife spotting and interpretive stops. Registration may be required.
Night Hike | Madrona Marsh Preserve, Torrance
2nd Saturday: Visit the Madrona Marsh Preserve as the sun sets, and day turns into night. Observe and listen to the sounds of animals and insects as they begin their nightly activities.
North Pole Plunge | Verdugo Aquatic Facility, Burbank
January 10: Make a splash at Burbank’s heated-pool North Pole Plunge with music, games, hot chocolate, and a meet-and-greet with Burr Bear.
Adventure Sail | Ocean Institute, Dana Point
January 10: Hoist the sails, learn navigation, and watch a live cannon demo aboard the Spirit of Dana Point.
Reptile Super Show | Pomona Fairplex
January 10-11: See and learn about your favorite reptiles, from slithering snakes to shell-dwelling tortoises and lots more. Kids will get to see animals up close, talk to professional breeders, and you may even bring home a new pet.
The Little Mermaid | Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
January 10-11: See a re-imagined Little Mermaid filled with soaring movement, magical visuals, and all your favorite songs. Perfect for families and fans of the classic tale.
Making Scents of the Ancient World: Pylos Perfume Workshop at the Getty Center
September 21 - January 10: In this free, drop-in, perfume-making workshop, you can create your own perfume inspired by an ancient recipe from Pylos, in southern Greece.
Storytime Adventures | Lakeshore Learning (Multiple Locations)
January 10 & 24: Make story-themed crafts, explore hands-on activities, and spark imagination at this free walk-in event for little learners. FREE!
Whale Watch Festival | Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego
January 10: Celebrate whale season with crafts, exhibits, expert talks, and guided gray whale viewing at Cabrillo National Monument.
SNOW Much Fun! | Rivian Laguna
January 10: Make snowy creations while learning how heat, ice, and salt work together in this kid-friendly winter science workshop. FREE!
Sensory Friendly Saturdays | GRAMMY Museum, LA
2nd Saturdays: Explore the GRAMMY Museum in a calmer, sensory-friendly environment with softer lighting and reduced noise levels.
Movies in the Park: Disney’s Frozen 2 | Plummer Park, West Hollywood
January 10: Enjoy winter crafts, hot chocolate, and a cozy indoor screening of Frozen 2 at this family-friendly movie afternoon.
Kpop + Pop Family Dance Party | House of Blues Anaheim
January 10: Dance to Kpop hits, enjoy face jewels and photos, and party with the whole family at this high-energy Kpop event.
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 free MMCC family program. FREE!
Silk Road Day | USC Pacific Asia Museum & SoCal Children’s Museum
January 11: Explore hands-on art, culture, and music during a free family day celebrating the Silk Road across two Pasadena museums. FREE!
Lunar New Year Festival | Torrance Cultural Arts Center
January 11: Celebrate Lunar New Year with lion dances, food vendors, cosplay, and family fun at this all-day cultural festival. FREE!
Oshogatsu Family Festival | Japanese American National Museum, LA
January 11: Make mochi, see candy art demonstrations, craft Year-of-the-Horse keepsakes, and enjoy a day of cultural performances at this free New Year festival. FREE!
Orange Unified School District New Student Enrollment Begins!
JANUARY 12: New and open enrollment begins for OUSD. The District offers parents a range of educational options for children of all ages including dual-language programs in Spanish/ English and Mandarin/English. They have also received many awards, including Golden Bell Awards from the California School Board Association, National Forum Schools to Watch, California Civic Learning Awards, 25 Gold Ribbon and 23 Distinguished School Awards from the California Department of Education.
Mermaid Story Time with Once Upon an Island in Newport Beach
Nov 5 - Jan 28, 2026: Enjoy mermaid story time with bubbles, puppets, and story time magic, plus a free latte for moms. RSVP required. FREE!
Lights of Korea: Jinju Silk Lanterns | Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles
Jan 15 - Feb 28: Explore luminous Jinju silk lanterns inspired by Korean heritage and the iconic twelve-panel skirt. FREE!
Westerly School Community Tour | Long Beach
January 15: Tour the Westerly campus and experience their learning spaced during the school day!
Experience The Dream: MLK The Musical | Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
January 16-18: Follow the moving love story of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King in a new musical that blends history, song, and powerful storytelling.
San Diego Rodeo
Janaury 16-18: Get ready for three days of action-packed, family-friendly excitement featuring the world's top rodeo athletes. Presented by C5 Rodeo Co. and Outriders Presents in partnership with the Padres, this unforgettable event brings an authentic rodeo experience to the heart of downtown San Diego.
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!
Wild Tales | Upper Newport Bay, 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!
Family Hike at Black Star Canyon | Irvine Ranch Open Space
March–April (Saturdays): Take a guided 3–4 mile family hike along a flat canyon trail with wildlife spotting and interpretive stops. Registration may be required.
Lunar New Year in Rancho Cucamonga
January 17-18: Enjoy a day of cultural celebration with lion dances, martial arts performances and more! The event features foods from local vendors and carnival rides. Check out the Artisan Marketplace and where local artisans showcase their crafts.
Asian American Expo | Pomona Fairplex
January 17-18: Explore lion dances, taiko drumming, and 1,400+ vendors at America’s biggest Lunar New Year festival.
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.
LEGO NINJAGO Weekends | LEGOLAND, Carlsbad
January 17 - February 16: Families can step inside the world of NINJAGO with high-energy shows, interactive challenges, hands-on LEGO building activities, Path of the Ninja Scavenger Hunt, Ceremony of the Ninja, and fan-favorite attractions.
Solar System Encounter | Discovery Cube Orange County, Santa Ana
January 17 – February 22: Explore 360° planet models, meteorite labs, and rover adventures at this immersive space exhibit.
MLK Day Parade & Celebration | Gardena
January 17: Celebrate Dr. King with a lively community parade and festival featuring bands, entertainment, booths, and food trucks. FREE!
OCSA Connects Community Arts Festival | OCSA Campus, Santa Ana
January 17: This free, annual community festival, hosted on the campus of Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), offers arts-minded children a full day of play! Kids (ages 5-11) and their families are invited to come take part in arts play areas and experiences while enjoying live performances by OCSA's talented students.
Martin Luther King Jr. Parade | Long Beach
Saturday, January 17: The parade kicks off at the intersection of MLK and Anaheim St., followed by a park celebration with performances, kid zone, food and merchandize vendors, and more. FREE!
Symphonies for Youth: Sensory Symphony | Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA
January 17 & 24: Experience a sensory-forward concert where kids feel sound through rhythm, light, and a 6,000-pipe organ.
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac | The Wallis, Beverly Hills
January 17: Discover how zodiac animals earned their place through movement, music, and martial arts.
Family Fest: Lunar New Year | The Wallis, Beverly Hills
January 17: Enjoy lion and dragon dances, martial arts demos, and hands-on crafts celebrating the Year of the Horse. FREE!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration | Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Culver City
January 17: Celebrate MLK’s legacy with live performances, community exhibits, and a day of service-focused activities. FREE!
Swan Lake, Jr. at La Mirada Theatre
JANUARY 17: Introduce children to the magic of ballet and the story of Swan Lake in a reimagined way that kids can relate to! Designed for young audiences, this shortened and simplified adaptation of the classic fairy tale invites them to experience selected excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s famous composition and the beauty and diversity of dance.
MLK Jr. Concert | Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles
January 17: Don't miss the return of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles—the largest Black majority orchestra in the nation—performing their MLK Jr. tribute concert.
The Peking Acrobats | CSULB Carpenter Center, Long Beach
January 17: Marvel at gravity-defying stunts and centuries-old acrobatic artistry with The Peking Acrobats.
Slack Key Festival in Redondo Beach
JANUARY 18: Enjoy Hawaiian music, food, and shop island themed goods at the Island Marketplace.
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 free MMCC family program. FREE!
Dancing in the Light: Healing with the Arts | Debbie Allen Dance Academy, LA
January 18: Take free dance classes, enjoy an aerial demo, and join a live sculpture talk at Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s MLK community celebration. FREE!
Kidical Mass Bike Ride | Bixby Knolls
January 18: Kidical Mass returns! Join us as we celebrate what “community” looks like and enjoy a fun neighborhood bike ride this Sunday, January 18.
LA Kites and Friends | Long Beach
January 18: Watch kites fill the sky and join a casual community fly-day with LA Kits and Friends. FREE!
CAAM Scavenger Hunt: King Day | California African American Museum, LA
January 18: Hunt for clues through CAAM’s galleries in a King Day–themed scavenger challenge, with prizes for the first teams to complete their boards. FREE!
January Sunset Sail with Los Angeles Maritime Institute
January 18: Sail the San Pedro Bay and watch the sunset from the deck of a tall ship. Sit back and relax or become part of the crew – your choice!
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!
