Fun & Free Things to Do Presidents Day Weekend with LA Kids: Whales, Mardi Gras, and Noah’s Ark

Move over New Orleans, Los Angeles is where Mardi Gras is happening this year. From Downtown to Long Beach, we’ve got the lowdown on where Angelenos can enjoy grand parades and flamboyant costumes, jubilant music and lots and lots of beads!

Fat Tuesday isn’t the only game in town this weekend: Monday is Presidents Day. In addition to rousing feelings of patriotism and an inexplicable urge to don stovepipe hats, Presidents Day also leaves many parents looking for a way to entertain their future POTUS. Mommy Poppins steps up to nominate the best in Presidents Day Camps.

Speaking of camps, we continue our series about summer camps with a roundup of camps for the artistically inclined.

Read on for our favorite picks for this weekend …

ALL WEEKEND

Mardi Gras at Farmers' Market - Fairfax
The Farmers Market channels New Orleans for this free Mardi Gras celebration. Head on over for beignets and jambalaya, face painting and crafts, and a doggie costume contest.

Whale of a Weekend - Santa Monica
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium celebrates the gentle giants of the sea with a weekend long festival. Activities include storytime, facepainting, up-close encounters with whale artifacts, and games. Plus, head on over to the wildlife observation station at the end of the pier to scout for sealife . (Don’t forget, on Sundays in February the Aquarium is free!)

19th Annual Scottish Festival & Games - Long Beach
The Queen Mary celebrates its Scottish Heritage with a weekend filled with music and dance, a colorful Grand Parade, and sheepdog herding demonstrations.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18

30th Annual Black History Parade and Festival – Pasadena
Pasadena's annual Black History Parade honors the achievements and history of African Americans.

Rad Reptiles & Amphibians - Downtown
Visitors can get an inside look at some of the cold-blooded treasures from the Curator’s Closet at the Natural History Museum.

Family Dance Party  - Downtown
The whole family can get down and boogie at this dance party with face painting, hula hoops, bubbles, and art activities.

Noah's Ark Family Sleepover - West LA
Don’t be surprised if your kids nominate you for cool parent of the year after you take them on this overnight adventure at the Skirball.

Planet Of The Apes Marathon - Hollywood
Treat your scifi fans to a marathon of the iconic film series. They’ll never look at the Statue of Liberty the same way again.

Mardi Gras Long Beach 2012 - Long Beach
Shoreline Village hosts Long Beach’s entry into the Mardi Gras arena.

Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade - Venice
Mardi Gras at the Beach, need I say more?

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19

Family Day at the Autry: Explore the Wonders of Western Art - Griffith Park
The family fun activities at the The Autry include panning for gold and live music.          

Target Free Sunday at MOLAA: Afro-Latino Festival - Long Beach
Museum of Latin American explores the Afro-Latino legacy found throughout the Americas, in a free day filled with art, live dance, and music.

Harlem Globetrotters - Downtown
I dare you not to whistle Sweet Georgia Brown as you think of these wizards of the basketball court. (Note the hoopsters also hit Anaheim on Saturday.)

MONDAY FEBRUARY 20 - PRESIDENTS DAY

Presidents Day Events at the Nixon Library  - Yorba Linda
The Nixon Presidential Library offers free admission. Visitors can meet  Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt (or at least actors playing them), and attend a presidential presentation.

Presidents Day Events at the Reagan Library - Simi Valley
Not to be outdone, the  Reagan Presidential Library also offers a free celebration and presidential meet and greets, but ups the ante with First Ladies and musical entertainment as well.

Open Door Days - Mid-Wilshire
Zimmer Children's Museum hosts a special afternoon exclusively for families with children with special needs.

Venice del Play Presidents Day at the Beach - Santa Monica
Kids can celebrate Presidents Day in true California style - at the beach!

As always, there are many more activities listed on our daily events calendar. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, we hope you have marvelous time!