13 End-of-Summer Fairs & Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss!
Updated for Summer 2024
Step right up and join in on the festive farewell to summer! August is a whirlwind of nostalgic fairs and cultural festivals. Celebrate history and heritage, explore different cultures, or celebrate the sea! Don’t miss these events that’ll make the last days of summer unforgettable.
Sawdust Art Festival
Sawdust Art Festival, Laguna Beach
Now through September 1, 2024
sawdustartfestival.org
The Sawdust Art Festival brings together art-lovers of all types for a summer celebration of art, music, food, and community. The iconic event features over 180 artists, 3 stages of live music, free art classes, live art demos, local food favorites, beer and wine.
Festival of Butterflies
Los Rios Park, San Juan Capistrano
Saturday, August 3, 2024
www.goinnative.net
Celebrate butterflies with live demonstrations, butterfly-themed arts and crafts, kids golf lessons, a kids butterfly parade, butterfly headpiece contest, live entertainment, and a beer and wine garden.
Brick Fest Live
Long Beach Convention Center
August 3-4, 2024
brickfestlive.com
See life-size models made from tens of thousands of bricks. Enjoy hands-on activities, meet contestants from the LEGO Masters show and cosplayers, dive into the giant brick pit for a photo op, check out the Minecraft Zone, Glow Zone, Graffiti Wall, Mosaic Gallery, and a whole lot more.
OC Fair
OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa
Now through August 18, 2024
ocfair.com/oc-fair
The OC Fair is back for a “Always A Good Time” theme this summer. Enjoy your favorite carnival rides, fair foods, special exhibits, and live performances. See headlining acts at the Pacific Amphitheatre, tribute bands at The Hangar, and monster trucks, demo derby, and BMX at the Action Sports Arena. Take advantage of the Read & Ride deal where kids (ages 5-11) can ride two free rides in Kidland!
Paramount Heritage Festival
Downtown Paramount
Saturday, August 3, 2024
www.paramountcity.com
Paramount’s history from the hay and dairy days to the community of today will be put on display at the annual Heritage Festival. The event features food vendors, teen challenge zone, games, musical performances, plus kids zone with inflatables and activities. Join Petunia’s Barnyard for a petting zoo, cow milking demonstrations, and milk sampling.
American Jazz & Blues Festival
Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
Sunday, August 4, 2024
www.bowers.org
Listen to the cool jazz and blues sounds of the Orange County Boys, Gavin Braun, and Denny T and the Soul Patrol. Enjoy a full day of fun for the entire family including complimentary face painting, art projects, live performances, and more. Festival is free. Santa Ana residents also get free admission into the museum.
Toro Nagashi Festival
Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego
August 9-10, 2024
www.niwa.org
Toro Nagashi (floating lanterns) is a ceremony done in honor of those who passed. Guests will be able to float their LED candle-lit lanterns in the lower garden stream. Starting Friday, August 9, a limited number of lanterns will be available for purchase and decorated in the Inamori Pavilion. Lantern presale is now available.
Nisei Week Japanese Festival
Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
August 10-18, 2024
niseiweek.org/festival
Join the downtown Los Angeles community for Nisei Week Japanese Festival in historic Little Tokyo. Enjoy Japanese cultural food and entertainment for the entire family, the grand parade, queen coronation, car show, and Taiko drum performances.
Natsumatsuri Family Festival
Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles
Saturday, August 10, 2024
www.janm.org
Join the Japanese American National Museum for the Natsumatsuri Family Festival, an annual summer celebration featuring free cultural performances, interactive story times, souvenir photos, summer-themed crafts and origami, scavenger hunt, and free admission to the museum’s exhibitions.
Fiesta Music Festival
Avenida del Mar, San Clemente
Sunday, August 11, 2024
business.scchamber.com
This family fun festival features live entertainment on three stages, contests for all ages, arts and craft exhibit, Kids’ Zone with jumpers and face painters, and more. Free shuttle from San Clemente High School and free trolley from the Outlets at San Clemente.
Fiesta La Ballona
Veterans Memorial Park, Culver City
August 23-24, 2024
www.fiestalaballona.org
Take your family to Fiesta La Ballona, a Festival of the People! This event includes food vendors, rides, live performances, karaoke, and other sorts of entertainment! Plus, Aquacade is part of the fiesta featuring recreational swim, splash n’ dive movie, inner tube fun, and more.
Sea Country Festival
Dorine & El Lazo, Laguna Niguel
August 23-25, 2024
cityoflagunaniguel.org
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. Food will be available for purchase. The Sea Country Festival will be located on Dorine and El Lazo, in between the Laguna Niguel Design Center and the Chet Holifield Federal Building.
Sea Fair
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro
Saturday, August 31, 2024
cma.recreation.parks.lacity.gov/events/sea-fair
Celebrate the bounty of the sea with fun-in-the-sun games, activities, music, and hometown spirit. Kids and families can enjoy ocean-related activities throughout the day including face painting, ocean crafts, education tables, learn how to cast a fishing rod, attend animal feedings, and dance to live bands. Free and open to all.
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
