The strings are pulled at Bob Baker Day. Photo by Chloe Rice, courtesy of the event.
LA Times Festival of Books, Bob Baker Day, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend
Even in a dry year, California is bursting with gorgeous colors in the spring!
Stunning Spring Wildflower Hikes near Los Angeles
Treat mom to Mother's Day brunch on the coast. Photo courtesy of Terranea Resort
Best Mother’s Day Brunch in Los Angeles
GUIDE
Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide
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
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
Dino Valley means jurassic fun in LEGOLAND for kids of all ages.
NEW Dino Valley in LEGOLAND is Open for T-Rex-Sized Fun
Strawberries are that much sweeter when you pick them yourself. Photo courtesy of the Carlsbad Strawberry Company, Facebook
Go Strawberry Picking near Los Angeles: Family Farms Where Kids Can Pick Berries
Photo courtesy of The Flower Fields of Carlsbad
GUIDE
Spring Fun Guide for LA & OC Kids
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

Weekend Fun with LA Kids: YALLWest, Puppet Fest & Butterfly Pavilion, Apr 11-12

4/9/15 - By Toby B

You know we can't fit all the events going on this weekend in one post, right? I mean, we could, but it would just be too long, and you'd have to keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. It would be like reading through my kid's birthday list (seriously, how much can one kid want?), and by the time you got to the end, the weekend would be over.

So instead, we choose highlights—not hard to find on a weekend like this. Hello, Marina del Rey turning 50 (prime of your life, MdR, you never looked better); butterflies are in season at the Natural History Museum (shout out to my pupae); and the biggest thing to happen in the YA world since that whole Jacob/ Edward thing. Obviously, all of those need a mention.

There's also a major Powwow, a puppet festival you have to see to believe, art on the streets of Burbank... but not every activity is larger than life. You can fly a kite, learn about siblings, hear some really great music (in some really cool places), and moms, don't forget to look after yourselves.

But that's just the beginning. There are awesome art projects, a family 5k, a complimentary car seat checkup, and a by-teens-for-teens night out. Not all of it can make it into our highlights post. It just can't. But don't worry, that's what our Event Calendar is for.

Keep reading for way too many things to do this weekend..

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

YALLWEST - Santa Monica
Just one week before The LA Times Festival of Books, Santa Monica gets its own newsworthy book festival, celebrating books, film, TV, and art related to young adult literature.

17th Chumash Day Powwow and Inter-Tribal Gathering - Malibu
Malibu Bluffs Park is home to a two-day celebration of Chumash heritage and culture. The Powwow event features Native American foods, crafts, storytelling, children’s activities, music, and dancing.

Bubblefest XIX - Santa Ana
Not to pop your bubble, but this is the last weekend to catch this spring break favorite at the Discovery Science Center.
 
Carnaval Primavera Downtown Festival - Huntington Park
The year’s “major spring downtown Hispanic festival” attracts more than 350,000 people to Downtown Huntington Park.
 
Marina Del Rey 50th Birthday Bash - Marina del Rey
Marina del Rey celebrates its birthday with pirates and mock battles, live mermaids, harbor tours, and more.

Marvel Universe Live - Ontario
More than 25 Marvel characters, including the Avengers, Spiderman, and Wolverine, come together on one epic quest in for the live-action arena show.

Downtown Burbank Fine Arts Festival - Burbank
The streets of Downtown Burbank are filled with artists, street painters, and more than 12,000 art lovers for the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival. New this year:  the CTN Road Trip, an event devoted to animation and visual EFX artists from feature films, video games, and television.

SATURDAY APRIL 11
 
Wake Up with the Waves - Santa Monica
Birdie's Playhouse entertains on Santa Monica Pier.
 
“Ruby’s Studio: The Siblings Show” World Premiere! - The Grove
Kids can be the first to see Ruby’s Studio: The Siblings Show, which explores what it means to be a sibling. Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band entertain.

Field Trip: Whale Tales - Palos Verdes Peninsula
Experts from Natural History Museum help families explore the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Participants learn about local marine mammals, the rich geologic history of the area, local fossils, and the citizen science based Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project.

Otis Kite Festival - Santa Monica
Kites fill the skies above Santa Monica Beach; families can make their own kites and join in the fun!

Kids in the Courtyard: Home is Where the Art Is - Westwood
Fowler visitors can consider the architectural creativity in their own neighborhoods in this Saturday edition of Kids in the Courtyard.
 
Spring Wellness in The Park with SoCal Moms - The Grove
Experts share products and tips with moms and moms-to-be on healthy sleep, eating organic, fitness, homeopathic options, and pre and post natal care at this free event at The Grove.

Music Under the Guns - San Pedro
The Carson High School Music and Performing Arts serenades guests on board the USS Iowa.

Science Day 2015 - Downtown
The Central Library blinds you with science.  Or maybe just wows you.

Big Science Fest - Downey
There are some serious STEM vibes in the air: the Columbia Memorial Space Center throws some major science your way as well.

World City – DakhaBrakha - Downtown
This month’s performers hail from Ukraine. DakhaBrakha presents a musical spectrum that ranges from intimate to riotous, producing an unexpected new world music on drums, accordions, and cello
 
Feed: MOCA Teen Night - Downtown
Teen Night is a free event planned by teens for teens, featuring live performances, a student art exhibition, art activities, and refreshments.

Saturday Morning Stories and More - West LA
Ilene Cohen and her puppet friends visit Children's Book World for some Saturday morning fun.
 
Lowes Build and Grow - Multiple Locations
Kids construct a “see-it grow” planter at Lowe’s free project this month.
 
Safety Seat Check Up - Fairfax
Get your car safety seat checked out at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The event is free; call for an appointment.
 
Junior Chef Classes - Multiple Locations
Kids can learn a few “lunch box lessons” at this week’s free class at Williams-Sonoma.
 
Saturday Morning Concerts - Santa Monica
The delightful Jennifer Paskow performs at Books and Cookies’ weekly concert

Kids Club - Cerritos
Los Cerritos Center partners with National Geographic Kids for monthly Kids Club. This month: Plants and Animals of the Tropical Rainforest.

Electric Dusk Drive-In - Downtown
Do the Chunky Shuffle all the way to City Market of LA for an under-the-stars, in-your-car screening of The Goonies.

SUNDAY APRIL 12

Opening Day of the Butterfly Pavilion - Exposition Park
Flutter on down to the Natural History Museum: the Butterfly Pavilion is opening for the season.

Puppet Festival - West LA
Puppets rule the day at the Skirball Cultural Center, with performances, art workshops, and some seriously impressive puppets.
 
Walk for Kids - Ontario, Exposition Park, Anaheim, Long Beach
This fun, family friendly 5K walk raises funds and awareness for the services and programs provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California.

Free Day at the La Habra Children's Museum - La Habra
The Children's Museum at La Habra is on a quest to make our world greener and cleaner, putting throw-away items to use with an array of beautiful crafts.
 
Free Day at PAM - Pasadena
The Japanese Cultural Festival features Japanese Minyo folk dance, a contemporary-style Japanese folk music performance, a Silk Road Story Time, a calligraphy activity and free entrance all day to the Pacific Asia Museum.

Family Flicks: Earth - Westwood
The Hammer Museum presents a free family screening of the documentary: Earth.
 
Earthworm Ensemble - Santa Monica
The Earthworm Ensemble, an all-star band featuring some of LA's best country-folk musicians, performs at McCabe's Guitar Shop.
 
Andell Family Sundays - Renaissance Reunion - Mid-Wilshire
Four paintings that were separated centuries ago are reunited at LACMA.  Visitors can make Renaissance-inspired art in artist-led workshops.
 
Train to Piru and Bennett's Honey Farm - Fillmore
Fillmore & Western Railway offers a special Sunday train ride, stopping at the quaint town of Piru and Bennett's Honey Farm.

Princess April Flowers Tea Party - Santa Monica
Creating Arts Company presents a Princess High Tea Party, hosted by four favorite princesses, with yummy finger foods, decadent desserts, sing-a-longs, and stories.
 
CraftLab Workshops - Mid-Wilshire
The Craft and Folk Art Museum offers visitors a chance to make a visual representation of their biggest wish using fabric and stuffing.
 
American Indian Games - Griffith Park
Kids can play a traditional American Indian game with American Indian Families Partnership cultural educator John Bradley.

Second Sunday Concert Series - Mid-Wilshire
Klezmer Juice performs at the Zimmer Children's Museum.
 
As always, there are many more activities listed on our daily events 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!