Celebrate the art of puppetry at The Skirball. Puppet Festival photo by Ben Gibbs, courtesy of the Skirball Cultural Center
Disney on Ice, Arts & Literacy Festival, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend
Enjoy Mother's Day at the Getty Villa. Photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins
37 Things To Do on Mother's Day 2024 in Los Angeles
Strawberries are that much sweeter when you pick them yourself. Photo courtesy of the Carlsbad Strawberry Company, Facebook
Best Strawberry Picking Farms and Strawberry Festivals near Los Angeles
GUIDE
Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide
Treat mom to Mother's Day brunch on the coast. Photo courtesy of Terranea Resort
Best Mother’s Day Brunch in Los Angeles
Watch the puppet masters at Bob Baker Day. Photo by Chloe Rice, courtesy of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Best Free and Fun Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids April 2024
Amplify’s one-of-a-kind music and arts camp attracts deeply creative kids from California and around the world.
  VIDEO
This Top LA Area Music and Arts Camp Still Has Spots Open
Photo courtesy of The Flower Fields of Carlsbad
GUIDE
Spring Fun Guide for LA & OC Kids
Even in a dry year, California is bursting with gorgeous colors in the spring!
Stunning Spring Wildflower Hikes near Los Angeles
Dino Valley means jurassic fun in LEGOLAND for kids of all ages.
NEW Dino Valley in LEGOLAND is Open for T-Rex-Sized Fun
Where else are kids going to learn archery, besides summer camp? Photo courtesy of Tom Sawyer Camp
Best Summer Day Camps in Los Angeles
Wander to a local waterfall, with excited kids in tow.
Best Waterfall Hikes Near Los Angeles for Families
Get your game on at sports summer camps. Photo courtesy of Saken Sports Camp
Top Sports Summer Camps in Los Angeles: Soccer Summer Camps, Baseball Camps, and More
Photo by Bill Soistmann
GUIDE
Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families
Dive into fun at the Cayton Children's Museum. Photo by Matthew Tucciarone
Best Children's Museums in Los Angeles and Orange County
Right this way to all the free fun in LA, especially at the Griffith Observatory! Photo by Gina Ragland
100 Fun Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Everything at the Cayton has been carefully crafted with one goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.
Guide to the Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica–A Parent Review
Step into an
NEW American Girl Store Opens in Los Angeles
Imaginative play for preschoolers is music to our ears. Photo courtesy of Pretend City
39 Things To Do with Preschoolers in Los Angeles Before They Turn 5
This 3 day itinerary will make you fall in love with LA. Photo by Roberto Nickson, via Pexels
3 Days in Los Angeles with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Visit LACMA's Levitated Mass. Photo by Joey Zanetti
100 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before Kids Grow Up

Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Back to the Bowl & Free Days, June 29-July 3

6/29/15 - By Jacqueline Stansbury

Summer is expensive. There’s camp, and vacations, and a bazillion trips to the ice cream parlor (if you live in my house). Activities can also be costly: covering admission for an entire family to a museum is pricey, and don’t get me started on amusement parks.

Savvy Mommy Poppins readers already know that there is lots to do that is free, and many of our local theaters and museums offer free or discounted days throughout the month. This week the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and the Huntington in Pasadena both have free days. One place always worth the price of admission, though, is the Hollywood Bowl; this week the Bowl screens Back to the Future; hard to believe it’s been 30 years…

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Sometimes we have something we just want to do, and we're willing to pay for it. Wednesday the kids and I found ourselves enjoying an afternoon at the Annenberg Beach House, even though dollar splash days are on Mondays. It was a gorgeous summer afternoon and worth the extra few dollars. By the way, if your children are 12 or older, they do not need to be accompanied by an adult to the pool area, so it wasn’t as expensive as I thought it would be (adults pay $10 most days), and I was still able to keep an eye on things from the sundeck.

Be sure to check out our event calendar for more free and discounted activities.

1. Family Autism Event or Naval Ship Visit – Monday
Pretend City in Irvine closes to the public from 5:00pm-7:30pm to create a welcoming environment for children on the spectrum and their families. Free, but register online. If that doesn't speak to your family, try a free tour of the Mexican naval ship Zapoteco, only in port through Tuesday.
See all Monday events

2. Back to the Future 30th Anniversary – Tuesday
Everybody should make it to the Hollywood Bowl at least once per summer. This movie event should be fun, with cast and crew on hand and some real live DeLoreans, too.
See all Tuesday events

3. Santa Monica Pier Aquarium – Wednesday
This small aquarium has touch tanks, crafts, and sharks. It’s also just beneath the carousel and a stone’s throw from Hot Dog On A Stick. A perfect summer afternoon.
See all Wednesday events

4. Free Day at the Huntington – Thursday
A glorious Pasadena Institution, the Huntington has 13 gardens and quite a bit of aesthetically pleasing water play for kids. Be sure to reserve tickets in advance online.
See all Thursday events

5. 4th of July Parade and Pier Festival – Friday
Apparently the 4th of July is a three day event on the pier plaza in Huntington Beach. The big ticket activities (parade and fireworks) are saved for Saturday, but there is food and entertainment starting on Friday.
See all Friday events

There are always plenty more activities on our daily events calendar and in our monthly GoList. And if you don’t receive our newsletters full of suggestions for family fun, you really should subscribe…it’s free!