Fall colors are bright and vibrant as September 2025 brings the top things to do with kids to Boston! Cambridge Carnival International photo by Paul/Paul's Portraits
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Get the kids in the car (and on your shoulders) for the best apple picking near Boston! Photo courtesy of Connors Farm
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Playing in fall foliage is one of the most beautiful and fun things to do with kids in Boston in the autumn
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This fall 2025, explore one of Boston's most beloved fall festivals, like the Topsfield Fair. Photo courtesy of the Topsfield Fair
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There's something for everyone, even teens, at Apex in Marlboro! Photo courtesy of Apex
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From outdoor events to indoor fun, explore the free things to do in Boston with kids! Riverfest at Assembly Row photo courtesy of Federal Realty
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Get active and have fun as a family at the top spots for indoor golf in Boston!
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Big league fun awaits at Boston's top attractions for kids. Photo courtesy of Fenway Park
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Find plenty of ways to stay cool in Boston with our Beat the Heat List! Frog Pond Spray Pool photo by John Wilcox, for the Mayor's Office of Boston. © All rights reserved.
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The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial. Photo courtesy of the National Parks Service
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Who you lookin' at?! The Tropical Forest at Franklin Park Zoo. Photo by Don Crasco/Franklin Park Zoo
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25 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before School Starts

Kidspace is packed with summer essentials. Kidspace Campout photo by Jamie Pham.
Kidspace is packed with summer essentials. Kidspace Campout photo by Jamie Pham.
7/20/25 - By Toby B

Quick: It’s time to shoehorn all these last favorite things to do in Los Angeles before school starts up!

Is it me, or did this summer go by extra fast? I feel like we didn’t get to do half of our usual summer traditions, and now school is about to start. Hopefully, you at least got in a few day trips, visited a few beach towns, and got to go swimming in a lake or two.

But perhaps you haven’t made it on as many outings this summer? Well, there's still time to check out some really cool museum exhibits (like Discovery Cube LA's Rescue Exhibition) and shows for kids (such as Roswell That Ends Well, The Actor’s Gang out there take on Shakespeare) that truly should not be missed—they won’t be here when the next school vacation rolls around and are easy to squeeze in between your Target run for notebooks, and last-minute doctor’s appointments...

Check out more end-of-summer fun in our Summer Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids. And if school is starting soon for your family, our Back-to-School Guide has pretty much everything you need.

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Rescue Exhibition at Discovery Cube LA, photo courtesy of the venue.
Rescue Exhibition at Discovery Cube LA, photo courtesy of the venue.

Great Museum Exhibits for Kids in Los Angeles

Rescue Exhibition at Discovery Cube LA

Sylmar
Open through September 1, 2025
Discovery Cube to the rescue! The latest seasonal exhibition at Discovery Cube Los Angeles drops guests into the thrilling world of emergency response, where science meets bravery. With seventeen different experiences, guests can explore the challenges faced by heroes across land, air, and sea.  READ MORE

Summer Learning Space: Tube-a-Palooza

Irvine
Open through September 1, 2025
Pretend City's summer learning space is totally tubular! Kids can explore the fascinating world of tubes in this limited-time hands-on learning experience. Tube-a-Palooza takes children on an exciting journey through a STEAM-based exploration of tubes in all shapes and sizes. READ MORE

Kidspace Campout

Pasadena
Open through September 14, 2025
Kidspace kicks off summer with Kidspace Campout, a summer-long celebration of the best of summer, nature, and exploration, sized just right for kids and families to share. READ MORE

Fierce! The Story of Cats

Exposition Park
Open through February 18, 2026
Meow! The Natural History Museum debuts a purr-fect new exhibition Fierce! The Story of Cats is a hands-on, immersive experience that explores the world of cats - from sabertooths to household kitty cats. Guests can discover their unique behaviors, evolution, biology, and deep connection with humans. On opening day, museum guests can enjoy additional activities. READ MORE

The Getty Center and Getty Villa

West LA/ Pacific Palisades - FREE
Ongoing
It's a thing of beauty: both the Getty Center and the Getty Villa are once again open to the public. Please note: at this time, the Getty Villa is only open on a limited schedule of Friday to Mondays, (closed Tuesday through Thursday). The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays). Both museum have free admission and require advance online reservations. READ MORE
Ventura County Fair brings all the fair fun to the seaside. Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Fair
Ventura County Fair brings all the fair fun to the seaside. Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Fair

Shows & Festivals for Kids in Los Angeles

Pageant of the Masters

Laguna Beach
July 5 - August 29, 2025
Actors, designers, and a full orchestra recreate great works of art as living pictures in a hillside amphitheater under the stars in the Pageant of the Masters, Laguna's signature nightly summertime event. READ MORE

Orange County Fair

Costa Mesa
July 18 - August 17, 2025
The Orange County Fair is back, and this year's theme is "Find Your Happy!" Highlights of the fair include animals, tons of food, carnival rides, art exhibits, and more. Carnival ride tickets are $1 each, and unlimited-ride wristbands are available for $44 for Wednesdays or Thursdays at the fair.  READ MORE

Ventura County Fair

Ventura
July 30 - August 10, 2025
Ride 'em, Cowboy! The "country fair with ocean air" is back for 11 days of magic for summer 2025. Kids can ride the many carnival rides and play games on the midway, watch the Alaskan pig races, meet some animal friends at the petting zoo, tour the livestock areas, and more.  READ MORE

Roswell That Ends Well

Culver City - FREE
Saturdays & Sundays, August 2 - 24, 2025
The Actor's Gang is up to their usual nonsense, this year bringing a kid-friendly Shakespearean production that's out of this world.  But don't worry: Roswell That Ends Well. READ MORE

2025 Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival

Griffith Park - FREE
Wednesday - Sunday, August 6 - 31, 2025
All the world's a stage, including Griffith Park. Free Shakespeare returns to Griffith Park for a full summer of theater under the stars. This year the festival puts on two shows: Love's Labour's Lost (starting June 25) and Doctor Faustus (opening August 6).  READ MORE

Nisei Week Japanese Festival

Little Tokyo - FREE
August 9 - 17, 2025
Learn about the rich cultural heritage of Japan during Nisei Week in Little Tokyo. Nisei Week is one of the longest-running ethnic festivals in the United States. Guests can try Japanese cuisine, watch the gyoza eating contest, marvel at the vehicles in the car show, wave at the floats during the Grand Parade, and enjoy a Taiko drumming performance.  READ MORE

Fiesta La Ballona

Culver City - FREE
Friday - Sunday, August 22 - 24, 2025
Culver City's premier community event, Fiesta La Ballona, treats families to outdoor concerts, carnival rides (wristbands available for purchase), a petting zoo, K-9 demonstrations, and pony rides all weekend long. Other highlights include a pancake breakfast and a magic show.  READ MORE

Bob Baker Marionette Theater's The Circus

Highland Park
Closes August 31, 2025
Step right up and enter the big top: the circus rolls into town at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater! The marionette Ringmaster proudly presents the greatest puppet show on Earth - featuring over 100 of Bob Baker’s exquisitely handcrafted marionettes. The most talented of animals strut their stuff; acrobats execute daring aerial feats; and clowns dilly, dally, and rally the crowds into roaring laughter READ MORE
Meet the stars of tomorrow! Photo courtesy of mlb.com
Meet the stars of tomorrow! Photo courtesy of mlb.com

Sporting Events for Kids in Los Angeles

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 2025

Oxnard - FREE
July 22 - August 13, 2025
The Dallas Cowboys return to Oxnard to open their 66th training camp. Many practices are open to the public, giving visitors, residents and guests the opportunity to see favorite players and coaches as they train for the upcoming NFL season. READ MORE

Quakes Minor League Baseball - Fireworks Nights

Rancho Cucamonga
Select dates through September 7, 2025
Take me out to the (minor league base)ball game! For young baseball lovers, minor league games are a wonderful opportunity to see future (and sometimes even current) major league players, for a fraction of the ticket price. On select nights, the Quakes will light up the sky with a fireworks display after the game.  READ MORE

Inland Empire 66ers Games

San Bernardino
Select dates through September 7, 2025
Take your whole fam out to a ball game to cheer for the Inland Empire 66ers at the San Manuel Stadium. This Minor League Baseball team makes every game fun with special promotions and lots of interaction. Best of all, tickets are typically available under $10 and there are special deals on food certain nights of the week. It's the perfect, affordable night of family summer fun. READ MORE

Los Angeles Sparks Games

DTLA
Select dates through September 11, 2025
The girl power is fierce at Los Angeles Sparks WNBA games at the Crypto.com arena. Get all the thrills of a game at Crypto.com without having to pay an arm and a leg. The arena is kid-friendly, and there's plenty of food and drink vendors when your little ones start to get the mid-game munchies. Check the Sparks' website calendar for the specific dates and times of home games.  READ MORE

Kids Run the Bases - Dodgers Home Game

DTLA
Select Sundays through September 21, 2025
Kids ages 5-14 get to run the bases after most daytime Dodger home games on Sundays.  READ MORE

Angels Post-Game Fireworks

Anaheim
Select Saturdays through September 27, 2025
The Angels' game ends with a bang on select Saturday nights—a fireworks kind of bang.   Some games may include additional promotions. READ MORE

LAFC Soccer Matches

Exposition Park
Select dates through October 8, 2025
Soccer moms, take a break from slicing oranges and washing soccer jerseys, and take your kiddos to a real game at the beautiful BMO Stadium. The Los Angeles Football Club starts each match with its signature falcon release, where a celebrity guest releases a live falcon for a flight around the venue. After that, it's game time!  READ MORE
Catch a movie in the park. Photo courtesy of OC Regional Parks
Catch a movie in the park. Photo courtesy of OC Regional Parks

Outdoor Movies and Concerts in Los Angeles To Catch Before Fall

Getty Garden Concerts for Kids

West LA - FREE
Saturdays & Sundays, August 2 - 16, 2025
The Getty Center's Garden Concerts for Kids returns this August with three weekends of shows. The free outdoor music series for kids and their families features some of the best children's musical artists from across the nation. Kids have a blast rolling in the grass and running through the garden, as well as dancing and singing along with the music. READ MORE

OC Parks Sunset Cinema Movie Series 2025

Various parks in OC - FREE
Fridays through August 29, 2025
OC Parks screens free family-friendly movies at rotating locations on Fridays this summer. This year's selections include recent releases Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Moana 2, and Mufasa: The Lion King, as well as classics such as Shrek and Hercules. We know the way to the last screening of the season: Moana 2 in Bluff Park/Salt Creek Beach. READ MORE

Dockweiler Beach Movie Nights

Playa del Rey - FREE
Fridays through August 29, 2025
On the sand, by the waves, under the stars: Dockweiler Youth Center screens free family movies all summer. Say it one more time: the closing movie of the season is Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. READ MORE

Manhattan Beach Summer Concerts in the Park 2025

Manhattan Beach - FREE
Sundays through August 31, 2025
Manhattan Beach's concerts in Polliwog Park come to a close with the Blue Breeze Band, playing Motown, R&B, Jazz, funk and more. READ MORE

La Cañada Flintridge Music in the Park 2025

La Cañada Flintridge - FREE
Sundays through August 31, 2025
La Cañada Flintridge's Music in the Park Summer Concert Series is held at Memorial Park during the summer on Sunday evenings. Featured bands play a variety of music including rock and roll, blues, reggae, and country. The series opens on Memorial Day Monday with Captain Cardiac & The Coronaries and continues through Labor Day weekend. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Pretend City Children's Museum
Kidspace Children's Museum
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Orange County Fair & Event Center
Griffith Park - site of the Old Zoo
River Ridge Playing Fields
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Various OC Parks, such as Craig Park