Weekend Fun for LA Kids: Hogwarts Hamlet, Getty Garden Concerts, & SurfFest, August 1 - 2

7/30/15 - By Toby B

Wow. August. I don't want to freak you out about the summer being half over or anything, because if you think of it in terms of when your kid goes back to school we're well past the half way mark. We're down to weeks, people!

But the summer still has a few tricks up its sleeve. Some of our favorite summer events wait until August to begin: the Getty's Garden Concerts, for one. Kids can roll on the giant lawn, explore the grounds and the views, and dance to some seriously good music (this year's acts are Jazzy Ash & The Leaping Lizards,  Lisa Loeb, and The Not Its).

The Actors' Gang's annual kid-friendly Shakespeare production in the park is always something special. We thought last year's My Little Pony version of Midsummer Night's Dream was going to be hard to beat, til we heard this year's theme: Hamlet by way of Harry Potter. You're a wizard, Hamlet!

In case that's not enough, we've got the circus and the OC Fair,  the Special Olympics continues through the weekend, Burbank's got classic cars and the South Bay has surfers. There are books in Baldwin Hills and fish in Thousand Oaks and you should really get a move on with your back-to-school shopping because, you know, tick tock.

Keep reading for our most there's-still-some-summer-left picks for this weekend...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Special Olympics - Multiple Venues
World class athletes, venues all around town, and it’s all free to watch. Go cheer on some awesome competitors.

Harry Potter Hamlet - Culver City
To be or not to be….Gryffindor?  The Actor’s Gang does Hamlet in Harry Potter style.

Garden Concerts for KidsWest LA
One of our absolute favorite summer events:  free kids concerts on the lawn at the Getty Center (or inside if it rains).  This weekend:  Jazzy Ash & The Leaping Lizards.

Family Amphitheater PerformancesWest LA
The Skirball's musical road trip heads to New Orleans this weekend, with The California Feetwarmers on Saturday and The Dustbowl Revival on Sunday.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Xtreme!Anaheim
Gotta get your circus on! The latest edition of the Ringling Brothers' show takes spectacle to the Xtreme.

Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival 2015 - Griffith Park
Much Ado About Nothing debuts at the free Shakespeare festival,  with a free performance by MKM Bollystars Dance Co before the Saturday show.
 
Inside Out (PG) with Light Show - Hollywood
This Disney-Pixar flick has given my family a new shorthand for talking about feelings. (For example:  the 3D, live dance/multi-media preshow at the El Capitan is pure Joy!)
 
Kiddee Matinees - Hollywood
The Rankin-Bass animated film The Last Unicorn features the voices of Christopher Lee, Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges and Angela Lansbury.

International Surf Festival - Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach
Cowabunga, dudes!  Hang ten over to the South Bay to watch some totally rad surfing!

Orange County Fair - Costa Mesa
The OC Fair has racing pigs, a tractor pull, Peking acrobats, and more. This weekend, the Action Sports Arena has the Monster X Tour (tickets include Fair admission).

SATURDAY AUGUST 1

Leimert Park Book Fair - Baldwin Hills
Book lovers, families, and fans of all ages converge to celebrate the writings of great authors, poets and artists during this day long festival at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

Fishing Frenzy - Thousand Oaks
Hundreds of magnetic fish have been released into the creek, and it’s up to intrepid young anglers to catch them! 

Hot Wheels Garage  - El Segundo
Kids can get a kiss from the Love Bug at this month’s Hot Wheels event at the Automobile Driving Museum, (don’t worry, Mom.  It’s the chocolate kind)
 
Kids Club - Multiple Locations
This week’s craft at Michaels is a Rain Stick… (watch where you shake that thing!)

Special Olympics Cupcake Decorating Event - Hollywood
You know what should be a Special Olympics event?  Cupcake Decorating. 

Saturday Morning Concerts Santa Monica
The delightful Jennifer Paskow entertains at Books and Cookies
 
Downtown Burbank Car Classic Burbank
Downtown Burbank is filled with cars and the people who love them.
 
Family Day at the Pasadena Museum of California Art Pasadena
Families can participate in fun art projects based on the current exhibitions at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

Home Depot Kids Workshops Multiple Locations
Kids can make a Chalkboard Door Hanger at Home Depot.  (I’m sure they’ll write “Moms welcome!” on it).

Redondo Beach Summer Music Festival Redondo Beach
The Vignatis perform on Redondo Pier.
 
Everywhere is awesome!  The LEGO Movie screens, for free, under the stars, in both Warner Center Park (Woodland Hills) and Burton W. Chace Park (Marina del Rey)

Electric Dusk Drive-In Downtown
“Throw me idol, I'll throw you the whip!” Raiders of the Lost Ark  screens at City Market of LA.

Downtown Stage Saturday Concert Series Downtown
Shelby Lynne  and The Jayhawks perform in Pershing Square.

SUNDAY AUGUST 2

L.A. Parent Birthday Bash - Fairfax
LA Parent Magazine celebrates its 35th birthday at The Original Farmers Market, with performances, arts & crafts, celebrity appearances, a photo booth, face painting and birthday cake.
 
Kids Koncerts at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum - Topanga
Ukulele songstress Heidi Swedberg  performs at the Theatricum Botanicum’s summer concert series.

Free Day at the Bowers - Santa Ana
Bowers Museum celebrates Pacific Island arts.

Andell Family Sundays - About Face - Mid-Wilshire
Kids can learn about portraiture then create portraits of their favorite subjects at LACMA this month.

Teddy Bear Picnic - Van Nuys
Magnitude Cheer closes out a month of collecting stuffed animals donations with a picnic for kids and their favorite stuffed friends.
 
Kids Run the Bases - Dodgers Home Game - Echo Park
The Dodgers play the Angels and kids run the bases at Dodger Stadium – plus everyone gets a hat!
 
From Lincoln Logs to LEGO: Building Liberty - Griffith Park
Visit the Autry Center to Use LEGOs and Lincoln Logs to build cabins, farmhouses, and other sites inspired by nineteenth-century photographs and paintings
 
Summer Performance Series Pasadena
Just Kidding Music Group performs an interactive set at Kidspace Children's Museum.
 
What outdoor summer concerts do we have this weekend?

Playa Vista Concert in the Park Playa Vista
World music ensemble Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca  perform in Central Park Bandshell.

LevittLA Summer Concert Series - Children's Concerts in MacArthur Park Downtown
At Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park, Tierra Blanca Dance Company performs  unique dances based on the culture, traditions and history from Mexico and our Latino Heritage here in Los Angeles
 
South Pasadena Summer Concerts South Pasadena
Country band SMITH The Band plays Garfield Park
 
2015 Music in the Park Laguna Beach
You gotta love the name: Picklebackshine brings the Country to Bluebird Park.
 
Jazz on the Lawn Santa Monica
Stewart Street Park’s annual Jazz series returns with the Nate Birkey Quintet.

Concerts in the Park Pico Rivera
Smith Park has The Pico Rivera Jazz Band & Dons of Distinction.
 
Concerts on the Green Woodland Hills
 Warner Center Park  has The Modern Gentlemen, who perform the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and more.
 
And finally, Elvis may have left the building, but you can find him just about everywhere else:

Manhattan Beach Summer Concerts in the Park (Manhattan Beach) has Scot Bruce (Elvis impersonator)  
Sierra Madre Concerts in the Park (Sierra Madre) has Elvis (Elvis Tribute)  
 Sizzlin' Summer Concert Series (Irvine) has King Kruk as Elvis.
 

As always, there are many more activities listed on our Event Calendar, and if you didn't receive this info as a newsletter, you should sign up for our weekly events updates. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, we hope you have a terrific time!