All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Lunar New Year Festival | Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
February 1: Celebrate Lunar New Year with a Dragon Dance, crafts, face painting, and treats at this free family festival. FREE!
International Winter Holidays | Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
December 7: Around the world music, dance and art bring joy to families gathering to celebrate this special time of the year and performances like the Dickens carolers and Ballet Folklorica. This free family festival includes complimentary face painting, art projects, live performances, and more.
Mexican Day of the Dead Family Festival at Bowers Museum
November 2: Enjoy live performances, art making, face painting and complimentary treats at every festival.
Asian Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at Bowers Museum
October 5: Celebrate with live performances, art making, and a taste of mooncake. FREE.
Mehregan Persian Festival at Bowers Museum
September 7: Celebrate Iranian culture with dance, music, food, and family activities at the Mehregan Festival.
Rock’n Blues Festival at Bowers Museum
August 3: Enjoy free art-making, face painting, and live music at Bowers Museum's First Sunday Festival.
Pacific Islands Festival at Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana
July 13: Celebrate island culture with hula, Polynesian dance, art projects like fish printing and lei-making, and frozen tropical fruit bars. Free family fun at Bowers Museum.
Reggae Family Festival at Bowers Museum
June 1: Make a tie-dye kerchief, enjoy Caribbean treats, and watch dance performances, fire eating in the courtyard, and more.
Cinco de Mayo at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
May 4: Celebrate early with mariachi, folklorico, student art, crafts, and more at this Cinco de Mayo-themed family festival.
Storytime in the Galleries at Bowers Museum
April 26: Celebrate Earth Day with a kid-friendly reading about Yosemite’s endangered mountain frogs, conservation, and the power of resilience.
Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival at Bowers Museum
April 6: Celebrate spring with Japanese dance, taiko drumming, candy sculpting, art projects, and mochi samples.
Sparkling Watercolor Creations at Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana
March 16: Make your own art inspired by the colorful flowers and playful animals in The Eternal Garden: Titanium Art by Aka Chen.
Celtic Festival at Bowers Museum
March 2: Experience live bagpipes, Irish dancing, Celtic music, and hands-on art activities at this free family festival!
Renaissance Chocolate Faire at Bowers Museum
February 2: Indulge in chocolate tastings from local chocolatiers while enjoying Renaissance-era entertainment, craft demonstrations, and live music.
Magic at Bowers Game Night
NOVEMBER 8: Walk through the the new "Fantasy: Realms of Imagination" exhibit and enjoy an evening of Commander games where you're surrounded by history and art. Featuring artist vendors and pizza for purchase.
“The Scary Night” Art Workshop at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
OCTOBER 13: This Vincent van Gogh-inspired art project is sure to get you in the Halloween spirit! Teaching artist Erna van Dyk will guide you through creating your own spooky masterpiece using watercolors and markers.
Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
MARCH 9 - SEPTEMBER 8: See the largest ever selection of original artworks from Asian comics, displayed alongside their printed, mass-produced forms. From its historical roots to the most recent digital innovations, the exhibition looks to popular Japanese manga and beyond.
Wayang Indonesian Shadow Puppet Workshop with Is Yuniarto at Bowers Museum
AUGUST 18: Participants will learn to draw and make South East Asia's traditional decorative pattern, and explore their creativity in making the paper based shadow puppet.
Jazz and Blues at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
AUGUST 4: The Orange County Boys will entertain you with oldies, but goodies! Party of Three, featuring Denny Tate and his hot guitar, will play it smooth and cool. Bring friends and family to dance, make art, have their faces painted, and enjoy a food sampling.
American Blues and Jazz Festival
AUGUST 4: Listen to jazz and blues and enjoy a full day of fun for the entire family including complimentary face painting, art projects, live performances, and more.
Celebration of India at Bower’s Museum
JULY 14: The entire family is invited to enjoy free face painting, art projects and a sampling of an Indian sweet. Listen to the sounds of a Sitar musician and embark on a musical journey with techno and traditional music.
Celebration of Indian Culture at Bowers Museum
JULY 14: Celebrate Indian culture with family-friendly activities including face painting, art projects with Indian textile prints and mandala making, Indian sweet sampling, and musical and dance performances.
Comic Art Expo at Bowers Museum
JUNE 15-16: Gather with comic enthusiasts, artists, and collectors alike, in celebration of their current exhibit, Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form. Enjoy live DJ performances, family-friendly activities, and more.
Buddha’s Birthday Celebration at Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana
MAY 18-19: Explore the teachings of Buddhism through interactive board games and performances. Enjoy family friendly activities, guided meditation, Sutra transcription, floral arranging, tea ceremony, and more.
Chinese New Year Festival at Bowers Museum
FEBRUARY 4: Enjoy free art activities, face painting, complimentary treats, and exhilarating dance and music performances.
Chinese New Year at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
FEBRUARY 4: Celebrate the year of the Dragon with free art activities, treats, and live performances.
Saturday Morning Cartoons at The Bowers Kidseum
NOVEMBER 4 & DECEMBER 9: Drop in for a free drawing lesson for all ages! Watch a selection of cartoons and learn how to draw a Looney Tunes character - a different one every session - taught by skilled teaching artists.
After-Hours Film Screening & Gallery Access at Bowers Museum
AUGUST 12: Stay up late with Bowers to watch a film screening of Kung Fu Panda, then explore the exhibition Ancient Arts of China: a 5000 Year Legacy. Talk to docents and participate in a special art project the whole family will enjoy.
Madagascar: Family Film Screening at Bowers Museum
JULY 15: Enjoy a film screening of Madagascar and access to featured exhibition Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence.
Shaolin Cultural Day at Bowers Museum
MAY 28: Learn from kung fu masters, follow Zen meditation to practice Buddhist well-being, experience Zen arts firsthand, and enjoy more interactive Shaolin activities.
Asian & Pacific Islander Fest at Bowers Museum
MAY 7: Enjoy a full day of fun for the entire family! In addition to live performances, this month's festival includes fish prints and shell necklace art projects, an Island fruit treat, and the Mobile Learning Adventure.
Drawing Workshop at Bowers Museum
APRIL 23: Create a blue vase still life with markers and tissue paper inspired by Bower's Ancient Arts of China exhibition. Suitable for ages 6 and up.
Japanese Cherry Blossom Family Festival at Bowers Museum
APRIL 16: Enjoy Japanese music, dance, Taiko drums, candy sculpting, art, food samplings, and blossom face painting.
Chuck Jones Center for Creativity at Bowers
APRIL 8: Drop in and draw for free! Watch cartoons and learn how to draw a Looney Tunes character taught by skilled teaching artists from the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. All ages welcome. A ticketed art class for kids (ages 8-16) will be held after.
St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Bowers Museum
MARCH 19: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with popular Celtic band, Craic in the Stone. Enjoy a special bagpipe presentation and lively folk dances.
‘Over the Moon’ Movie Screening at Bowers Museum
JANUARY 7: In this animated musical, a girl builds a rocket ship and blasts off, hoping to meet a mythical moon goddess. This film features costume designs by Guo Pei. You can also see Guo Pei's dazzling designs up-close and personal.
How to Build a Snowman with Erna van Dyk at the Bowers
DECEMBER 18: Join local artist Erna van Dyk as she shows you how to build your own snowman using different sizes of different shapes. Practice going from big to small shapes stacking and layering them so that they appear 3-dimensional. Participants can then add fun accessories to create a unique snowman.
KUSC presents Classical California Kids Discovery Day at the Bowers
DECEMBER 4: Kids and their families will experience the joys of live classical music and a wide array of hands-on musical activities. They’ll visit an instrument petting zoo, try out the mic at the “Be a Classical DJ” booth, make musical puppets, and even explore how a violin is made.
Mexican Day of the Dead Festival at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
NOVEMBER 6: Enjoy live performances, art making, face painting and more.
International Noodle Festival at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
OCTOBER 2: Enjoy live performances, art making, face painting and more.
Autumn Moon Festival at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
SEPTEMBER 11: Enjoy live performances, art making, face painting and more.
Caribbean Summer Festival at the Bowers Museum
AUGUST 7: Enjoy live performances, art making, face painting and more at the Bowers Museum
Children’s Program: Art Inspired by Life at the Bowers Museum
JULY 23: California Art Club artists teach young budding artists about art forms as they create their own masterpieces.
American Blues ‘n Jazz Festival at the Bowers Museum
JULY 10: Enjoy live performances, art making, face painting and more at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana.
Last Saturday Storytime in the Galleries at Bowers Museum
EVERY LAST SATURDAY: Join Bowers Museum's monthly storytime followed by engaging art projects that kids will love!
Summer Solstice Festival at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
JUNE 19: Bowers Museum brings Summer Solstice Festival which includes art projects, face painting, food tasting, and more!
Free Open House for Santa Ana Parents and Children at the Bowers Museum
JUNE 12: Bowers Museum is proud to host an open house for Santa Ana parents and children where they can enjoy creating art projects, watch live performances, and more!
International Mother’s Day Festival at Bowers Museum
SUNDAY, MAY 8: Bring your mother to this special celebration where she will be serenaded by live music and performances. Make a red carnation hand bouquet and a gem brooch.
Family Events at Bowers Museum – Storytime & Winter Festival
NOVEMBER 27, DECEMBER 18 & 19: Join them every last Saturday of the month for story book reading in the galleries followed by a simple, fun art project that kids will love. On December 19, enjoy the Winter Festival with complimentary face painting, art projects, live performances, and a unique treat!
Halloween Storytime at Bowers Museum
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30: Join local children’s author Stefanie Annis for a special reading of her newest book Coco the Chameleon, followed by a simple art project. Costumes encouraged!
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!
