Fun Things To Do This Weekend in Southern California — May 8-10, 2026
Photo by South Coast Botanic Garden
Fun Things To Do This Weekend in Southern California — May 8-10, 2026
Got weekend plans? We do! Whether you’re looking for a family adventure, a budget-friendly outing, or just something fun to do, we’ve rounded up the best events happening this weekend. Check out what’s going on!
✍️ Bookmark this page and check back every week!
🚗 Know Before You Go: Confirm details with the event organizer before making plans. We’re here to help you find the fun, but changes, cancellations, and mistakes can happen!
Happening All Weekend – May 8–10
FREE! Star Wars: Where’s The Wookiee? Art Exhibition
Gallery Nucleus, Alhambra
View original ink drawings and spreads from the seek-and-find book Where’s The Wookiee? Hunt for hidden Wookiees throughout the gallery and help complete a community coloring page.
The Invisible Boy
Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
A high-spirited musical about Brian, a boy who’s never noticed, and Justin, the new kid who changes everything. Arrive an hour early for free pre-show activities including a scavenger hunt and friendship bingo. Recommended for ages 5–10.
Lil’ Chef May Cooking Classes
Lil’ Chef School, Irvine
Kids ages 3 and up learn cooking fundamentals while having fun with a variety of recipes and tasting their treats.
Play Days Carnival
Barnes Park, Monterey Park
Four days of rides, live music, food trucks, and carnival fun at Monterey Park Play Days.
Saturday – May 9
FREE! Youth Fishing Derby
Alondra Park (Lawndale), Lawndale
Kids cast a line, learn fishing skills, and compete for prizes at this morning derby.
FREE! Eco-Fun Faire
Oak Canyon Nature Center, Anaheim
Get creative with crafts, music, and eco-friendly fun at the Eco-Fun Faire.
FREE! Special Needs Awareness & Resource Fair
Apollo Park – Downey, Downey
Explore resources, enjoy games, performances, and food trucks at this inclusive family event.
FREE! LAFD Fire Service Day | Citywide Open Firehouse Celebration
County of Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles
Visit local LAFD fire stations citywide with trucks, demos, and meet-your-firefighter moments.
FREE! Taste of Able ARTS Work
Achieving Results Together (ARTS Center), Long Beach
Create, connect, and enjoy art, music, and giveaways at Able ARTS Work’s free community event.
FREE! Clockshop’s Kite Festival
Los Angeles State Historic Park, Los Angeles
Fly kites, make art, and enjoy music at Clockshop’s colorful community Kite Festival.
FREE! Mother’s Day Concert in the Park
Haster Basin Recreation Area – Garden Grove, Garden Grove
Celebrate Mother’s Day with Selena and Taylor Swift tribute bands, food trucks, and family fun.
FREE! Mariachi Festival
Artesia Park – City of Artesia, Artesia
Enjoy mariachi music, folklórico dance, food trucks, and family fun at Artesia Park.
Forever K-Pop: A Family Concert Celebration
Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
Experience high-energy K-pop performances with dancers, vocals, and nonstop concert vibes for all ages.
Nikkei Children’s Book Festival
Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles
Meet authors, enjoy storytimes, and celebrate culture at the Nikkei Children’s Book Festival.
Open Farm Tour
Oasis Camel Dairy, Ramona
A two-hour encounter includes a tour of the farm, a bird and camel live show, plus an hour to enjoy favorite farm attractions.
FREE! NCL Sea Craft Hour
Roundhouse Aquarium, Manhattan Beach
Get crafty with free hands-on projects for kids and families during this creative afternoon at the aquarium.
Skirball Noah’s Ark Pop-Up
Southern California Children’s Museum, Pasadena
Meet puppets and create together at this Noah’s Ark-inspired pop-up for little learners.
Open Garden Day
Santa Ana
Tour 9 private gardens, enjoy live art, music, and workshops at this self-guided garden day.
Downey Street Faire & Car Show
Downey
Explore cars, live music, food vendors, and family fun at the Downey Street Faire.
The Sleeping Beauty Ballet
Long Beach Terrace Theater, Long Beach
Watch The Sleeping Beauty ballet with Tchaikovsky’s score and a global cast of dancers.
Sensory Friendly Saturdays
Grammy Museum, Los Angeles
Explore the GRAMMY Museum in a calmer, sensory-friendly environment with softer lighting and reduced noise levels.
Sunday – May 10
FREE-ish! Mother’s Day at California Botanic Garden
California Botanic Garden, Claremont
Moms get free admission for a day filled with crafts, a café pop-up, a photo station, an afternoon artisan market, and milkweed plant sale.
FREE-ish! A Day for Mom: Free Admission
Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
Moms get free museum admission plus shopping perks at Bowers Museum for Mother’s Day.
FREE! Antique Aircraft Display Days at Fullerton Airport
Fullerton Airport, Fullerton
Owners of classic aircraft display their planes and visitors are invited to view the displays.
Mother’s Day at South Coast Botanic Garden
South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Celebrate Mother’s Day with roses in full bloom, live butterflies, picnics, a VIP experience, and Thomas Dambo’s Twelvelings across 87 acres.
Mother’s Day: Blooms, Butterflies & Bouquets
The Flower Fields, Carlsbad
Celebrate Mother’s Day with butterfly releases, bouquet making, live dance, and blooming flower fields.
Mother’s Day at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia
Watch horse races, enjoy dining, and explore a family fun zone at Santa Anita Park’s Mother’s Day celebration.
Mother’s Day Whale & Marine Life Tour
Ocean Institute, Dana Point
Spot whales, dolphins, and sea lions on a guided ocean tour with muffins and family-friendly fun.
Mother’s Day Hilltop Luncheon
Tanaka Farms, Irvine
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a buffet-style luncheon featuring farm-fresh ingredients, scenic hilltop views, and lawn games for the family.
Mother’s Day Brunch at Aquarium of the Pacific
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
Enjoy a waterfront picnic, explore sea life, and treat Mom at the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Mother’s Day Sunset Sail
Los Angeles Maritime Institute, San Pedro
Sail the San Pedro Bay and watch the sunset from the deck of a tall ship on Mother’s Day.
🪁 Ongoing Events
March 13 – May 17: Butterfly Season
Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena
Dress up with monarch wings, explore bug safaris, and adopt live caterpillars during this spring pollinator celebration. Included with admission.
April 3 – June 30: Grunion Runs
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro
Watch grunion come ashore during a staff-led beach observation; each evening includes aquarium entry, a short film, a hatching experience, and a beach-side grunion watch.
March 28–May 10: Berries & Blooms Season
Mellano Farm Stand, Oceanside
Pick berries, explore flower fields, and enjoy tractor rides and kids’ activities at this seasonal farm stand.
April 23–May 16: Universal Fan Fest Nights
Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City
Step into Harry Potter, ONE PIECE, Nintendo, and more with immersive shows, themed food, cosplay, and after-hours park access. Select nights only.
May 7–31: LA County Fair
Pomona Fairplex, Pomona
The LA County Fair features over 60 carnival rides, 30 games, kid zones, a Stunt Dogs show, petting zoo, roller skating rink, concert series, and more.
April 28–June 9: Hyperspace Mountain
Disneyland, Anaheim
Blast off on a Star Wars adventure aboard Space Mountain’s limited-time galactic overlay featuring X-wing starfighters and TIE fighters.
📚 Local Library Events
- LA County Libraries (88 branches)
- Long Beach Public Libraries (12 branches)
- OC Public Libraries (27 branches)
- Anaheim Public Library (7 branches)
- Irvine Public Library (3 branches)
🔍 Looking for more fun things to do?
👉 Check out the full Kidsguide Calendar
👉 Don’t miss these Limited-Time Events & Experiences
👉 Mark your calendar with even more upcoming Free Events
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!
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
