All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Movie Night in the City at Pretend City
AUGUST 5: Join Pretend City for a featured movieย The Land Before Time in Orange Plaza. Bring your own snacks, blanket and chairs to enjoy a movie celebrating their resident dino friends.
Night in the Museum at Pretend City
AUGUST 11: Spend time after hours exploring the seven dinosaurs in their newest exhibit and collect Dino Trading Cards. Bring a flashlight, binoculars, and dress up to go on a hunt for dinos at night.
Tooth Fairy Day at Pretend City
AUGUST 23: The tooth fairy will be handing out toothbrushes, posing for photos, and interacting with children. Get free dental screenings, enjoy story time and puppet show, play with different types of toothpaste, and visit with pre-dental undergraduate students from UCI.
Pretend City’s Birthday Bonanza
AUGUST 27-28: Celebrate Pretend City's birthday with cake crafts, color your own party hat, explore a flour sensory bin, story time, music, and birthday scavenger hunt. Enjoy chocolate or vanilla cake after the birthday song.
Dinos in the City at Pretend City
NOW - SEPTEMBER 5: Learn how paleontologists unearth dinosaur bones, dig in the dinosaur pit, and get a chance to collect several dinosaur trading cards.
October Events at Pretend City
Oct 5: Career Day โข Oct 6: Mad Hatter Day โขย Oct 9: Sukkot Begins โข Oct 12-16: Fire Prevention Week โข Oct 13: Hispanic Heritage Month โข Oct 15: White Cane Safety Day โขย Oct 23: Diwali โข Oct 26-29: Costume Week โข Oct 27: Read for the Record โข Oct 29: Dia de los Muertos โข Oct 30: Halloween
Trick-or-Treat Through the City at Pretend City
OCTOBER 30: Come in costume and trick-or-treat thru the city. Make a pumpkin and a monster, enjoy themed story times, and a Halloween-themed sensory activity.
November Events at Pretend City
Nov 11: Veterans Day โข Nov 12: Native American Storytelling โข Nov 13: World Kindness Day โข Nov 13: Baby Steps โข Nov 16: America Recycles Day โข Nov 17: Family Autism Night โข Nov 23: Celebrate Thanksgiving โข Nov 26: Family Friday
Holiday Events at Pretend City
Dec 11: Baby Steps โข Dec 16: Las Posadas โข Dec 18: Hanukkah โข Dec 21: Winter Solstice Celebration โขย Dec 22: Family Autism Night โข Dec 23: Christmas Celebration โขย Dec 27: Kwanzaa
Noon Year’s Eve at Pretend City
DECEMBER 31: Join Pretend City for multiple confetti countdowns as the time turns midnight in different countries, and fun New Year's art and activities.
Lunar New Year at Pretend City Children’s Museum
JANUARY 21-22: Celebrate Lunar New Year at Pretend City. Kids can make their own lantern, learn calligraphy, and make pretend dumplings. Enjoy a special performance from Kishin Daiko Drummers and Ane Thanh Lion Dance.
Easter Celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum
APRIL 8: Make egg carton creations, play with pastel-colored crayons to make your own Easter basket, enjoy story time, and an Easter-themed sensory table.
Mother’s Day Celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum
MAY 13: Spend the day at Pretend City for some special mommy bonding and enjoy arts and activities.ย Make a special card, enjoy painting and sensory table activities, and participate in a Mommy and Me Yoga session.
Camping in the City – Summer Exhibit at Pretend City
MAY 26 - SEPTEMBER 4: Get ready to explore trails, trace the footprints of critters who call our City home, and gather around the campfire for stories and sโmore-making lessons.
Bugs in the City at Pretend City
AUGUST 20: Visit Pretend City for a "touch table" event featuring Doodlebugs Animal Adventures. Meet a real tarantula, vinegaroon, frog, cockroaches and more.
Pretend City’s Wild Birthday Party
AUGUST 29: Get ready to go wild at Pretend City's Wild Birthday Bash! Explore special art techniques, Birthdays Around the World story time, and check out an educational reptile show.
Cafe Grand Opening at Pretend City
SEPTEMBER 28: Grand opening of a groundbreaking mini pretend Japanese Cafe featuring Japanese cuisine, varieties of miso, and modern dancing from Nadeshiko kai.
Neurodivergent Family Night “Halloween” at Pretend City
OCTOBER 26: Celebrate Halloween by visiting stations for goodies. Event is specifically for families with children of all ages from the neurodiverse community and with other disabilities. Pretend City will be closed to the public.
Dรญa de los Muertos at Pretend City
OCTOBER 28: Create arts and crafts for loved ones. This enchanting celebration is all about honoring and remembering our loved ones in a joyful and meaningful way.
Noon Yearโs Eve at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine
DECEMBER 31, 2023: Countdown around the world and welcome the new year early with Pretend City.
January Events at Pretend City Children’s Museum
Jan 7: Bubble Bath Day โข Jan 9: Neurodivergent Family Night โข Jan 11: Cooking in the City โข Jan 12: Way to Play Day โข Jan 14: Baby Steps โข Jan 13: Lohri โข Jan 14: Martin Luther King Jr. Day โข Jan 17: Kid Inventors' Day โข Jan 20: STEM It Up Challenge โข Jan 25: Neurodivergent Family Night โข Jan 27: National Puzzle Day Celebration
Free Day at Pretend City
JANUARY 26 - Explore the Museum for free on Friday, January 26!
February Fun at Pretend City Children’s Museum
Feb 1: Black History Month | Feb 8: Cooking in the City | Feb 9: Way to Play Day | Feb 10-11: Lunar New Year | Feb 11: Baby Steps "Baby Bowl!" | Feb 13: Neurodivergent Family Night | Feb 14: Valentine's Day | Fed 17: STEM Up to the Challenge | Feb 22: Neurodivergent Family Night | Feb 24: Reading with Jas Kaur
Valentine’s Day Celebration at Pretend City
FEBRUARY 14: Join in on a special Valentine's Day themed story time and make gifts for loved ones.
March Events at Pretend City
March: Meet the Instrument (3/1) | Ramadan Author Reading (3/1) | Hinamatsuri Celebration (3/2) | Baby Steps (3/4, 3/9) | Run Club (3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26) | Neurodivergent Family Night (3/11, 3/27) | Caregiver Anti-Bias Training (3/6) | STEM Up to the Challenge (3/8) | Gabbyโs Dollhouse Meet & Greet (3/9) | Cooking in the City (3/13) | Way to Play Day (3/14) | Holi Celebration (3/14) | Immuno-Safe Morning (3/18) | Spring Equinox (3/21) | Nowruz Celebration (3/22) | Grand Opening of the HOME Exhibit (3/26)
School Readiness Fair at Pretend City
MARCH 2: Free health screenings, activities, and entertainment, as well as valuable resources for parents and children to assure they're ready for Kindergarten.
Earth Day at Pretend City
APRIL 21: Celebrate Earth Day as we gather and take a moment to appreciate the caretaking of our planet, our home. Join Pretend City for recycling activities, Earth science, and art!
May the Fourth Be With You at Pretend City
MAY 4: Join Pretend City for a spaced-out day of Star Wars activities.
Summer Games in the City at Pretend City Children’s Museum
MAY 24 - SEPTEMBER 2: Pretend City Children's Museum turns into a training ground ready for young athletes to test their athletic skills over the next three months. Special programming includes fitness training, martial arts, soccer, and acrobat performance.
World’s Ocean Weekend at Pretend City
JUNE 8-9: Experience an exciting weekend of exploration and discovery with their World Oceanโs Weekend event.
Solar Car Derby at Pretend City
JUNE 29: Kids of all ages can build their own solar car and test it at the Solar Car Races. Watch your car cross the finish line powered by the sun's rays.
Teddy Bear Picnic at Pretend City
JULY 10: Bring your favorite cuddly friend and join Pretend City for a fun-filled adventure that combines art, play, and the joy of picnicking with your furry companions.
Shark Day at Pretend City
JULY 27: Itโsย Shark Day at Pretend City! Join us for aย fintasticย week filled with jaw-dropping activities, fascinating facts, and interactive experiences that will leave you in awe of these magnificent creatures.
Quinceaรฑera Birthday Celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum
AUGUST 31: Celebrate Pretend City's 15th birthday with a quinceaรฑera! Enjoy mariachis, folklorico dancing, cake cutting, pop-up book sale, and more.
Halloween at Pretend City
OCTOBER 31: Whether youโre a tiny trick-or-treater or a daring ghost hunter, this event is packed with spooky surprises and fun-filled activities.
Multicultural Holiday Events at Pretend City in Irvine
DECEMBER 1-31: Celebrate the magic of the holidays all month long at Pretend City. Engage in fun holiday traditions from around the world. Las Posadas (12/18), Hanukkah (12/26), Kwanzaa (12/27)
January Events at Pretend City in Irvine
JANUARY: Join Pretend City this month for plenty of fun events like Cooking in the City (Jan 9), Bubble Bath Day (Jan 11), Lohri Celebration (Jan 12), Lunar New Year (Jan 19), MLK Day (Jan 20) and more.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Pretend City
January 20, 2025: Pretend City Children's Museum will be open! Celebrate the legacy of Dr. King with special activities and thoughtful discussions. Honor Black leaders, artists, and innovators throughout the day.
Lunar New Year at Pretend City in Irvine
January 26, 2025: Ring in the Year of the Snake with taiko drumming and an exciting lion dance performance at Pretend City. A festive, family-friendly celebration!
Valentine’s Day at Pretend City
February 14, 2025: Join Pretend City for a Very Special Valentine story time and making valentine gifts for a loved one.
April Events at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine
April 2025: Join Pretend City this month for plenty of fun events like Kidstock Music Festival (4/16-4/19, 4/23-4/27), Good to Go Fair (4/5), Cooking in the City (4/10), STEM Up to the Challenge (4/12), World Dolphinโs Day Celebration (4/13), and more.
Good to Go Fair at Pretend City
April 5: Participate in free health screenings, educational activities, and resources for early childhood development at Pretend Cityโs Good to Go Fair!
Kidstock – Family Music and Arts Festival at Pretend City
April 16-19 & 23-27: Get ready to rock, roll, sway, sing, and bop! Enjoy live musical performances throughout the week and explore different musical stylings, instruments, and sounds.
June Pretend City Events
June 1-30: Celebrate, play, and learn with Pretend Cityโs June lineup of events!
Juneteenth at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine
June 19: Kids learn about Juneteenth through storytelling and a watermelon salad demo at Pretend City. Enjoy a fun, food-filled celebration led by author Bianca Rose.
4th of July Celebration at Pretend City in Irvine
July 3: Enjoy patriotic activities and stroller parade.
16th Birthday Celebration at Pretend City Childrenโs Museum in Irvine
August 29: Celebrate Pretend Cityโs 16th birthday with music, dancing, activities, and special surprises for the whole family.
Grands and Littles Day at Pretend City Childrenโs Museum in Irvine
September 7: Celebrate National Grandparents Day with dance parties, creative art activities, and family fun at Pretend City.
Si Sabo Kids Fiesta at Pretend City in Irvine
October 4: Celebrate Hispanic culture with story time, music, and paletas at Pretend Cityโs Si Sabo Kids Fiesta.
Mid-Autumn Festival with Mommy & Me Vietnamese at Pretend City
October 5: Sing, dance, and taste mooncakes at a Mid-Autumn Festivalโthemed family event.
Disclaimer:ย 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 calendarโwe’re just here to help you find the fun!
