SoCal kids & families, Aug. 15-22: CicLAvia, Dance DTLA, the OC Fair, ‘Peter Pan’ and more
SoCal kids & families, Aug. 15-22: CicLAvia, Dance DTLA, the OC Fair, ‘Peter Pan’ and more
Fun, artsy and family friendly events and activities in LA and OC this coming weekend and beyond
Welcome to a new edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to artsy, kid-centric and family-friendly events, activities and happenings all around LA and OC this weekend and beyond. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for arts & entertainment at the Los Angeles Times.
Let’s have some fun!
2024 OC Fair It’s your final weekend to ride the rides, play the games, pet the animals, stuff your face, etc. before the annual exhibition closes up shop till next summer. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday; ends Aug. 18. $9-$15; children 5 and under, free; passes, $60; carnival tickets and wristbands, $50-$125; concerts, various prices (includes fair admission); advance purchase required. (714) 708-1500. ocfair.com
‘Annie’ The sun’ll come out — today! — when the delightful 1982 big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical based on the classic Depression-era comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” screens as part of the “Segerstrom at The Frida” film series. John Huston directs and Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney, Tim Curry and Carol Burnet star. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15. $12. thefridacinema.org
‘Peter Pan: The Musical’ It’s also your last chance to catch the national tour of this updated version of the classic stage show based on J.M. Barrie’s beloved fantasy tale. Segerstrom Center’s Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday thru Aug. 18. $33 and up. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org
Dance DTLA Disco down and check out the show as this year’s edition of the annual summer series of free outdoor all-ages dance parties concludes with a celebration of the moves and grooves that ruled the nightclub scene in the 1970s. The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16. Free. musiccenter.org
‘Birdbrain’ A cockatoo who’s in a bit of a fix turns to her fine feathered friends for assistance as the Wayward Artist stages Craig Holland’s family-friendly puppet musical. Grand Central Arts Center, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday thru Aug. 18. $15, $20. (657) 205-6273. thewaywardartist.org
‘Beauty and the Beast’ A tale as old as time is retold once more in a pair of matinee screenings of Disney’s beloved animated 1991 musical based on the classic fairytale. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 17-18. $11.25. thenewbev.com
Levitt LA 2024 Free Summer Concert Series A night of pop, punk and ska with local bands Red Store Bums and Eastside Agents and Salinas-based singer-songwriter Flaco El Jandro. Levitt Pavilion, MacArthur Park, 2230 W. 6th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. Free; RSVP recommended. eventbrite.com
‘Symphony in the Cities’ Pacific Symphony’s annual summer series of free outdoor concerts wraps up with a pair of shows. And if so inclined, arrive an hour or so early for some fun pre-show activities. Lake Forest Sports Park, 28000 Rancho Parkway, Lake Forest. 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. Also at Great Park Live, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine. 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18. Free. pacificsymphony.org
‘Benzaiten’ L.A.-based drum ensemble Taikoproject presents a program inspired by the Japanese goddess of wisdom, beauty and dance in this entry in the LA Soundscapes Family Shows series. The Ford, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd E., Hollywood. 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 18. $10. (323) 850-2000. theford.com
‘CicLAvia — Meet the Hollywoods’ Walk, bike, skateboard or skate along 6.6 miles of open streets running from East Hollywood through Hollywood to West Hollywood and back again in the latest edition of this free and car-free event. As always, there’ll be several waystations along the route offering live entertainment, family-friendly activities, bike repair, first aid and more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18. Free. Map and details at ciclavia.org
The Neighborhood Orchestra Whether you’ve just trekked 6.6-miles of open streets (see above), or just happen to live in or around WeHo, get an earful of this L.A.-based multicultural musical collective at a free outdoor show presented by DTLA’s Grand Performances. Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18. Free. RSVP at grandperformances.org
Roll @ Santa Monica Get your skate on at this new pop-up outdoor roller rink, with all-ages group skating lessons on Saturday and Sunday mornings plus themed skate nights every 2nd Wednesday of the month. 1324 5th St., Santa Monica. Noon to 10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, noon to 11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays thru Oct. 14. Admission (includes skate rental), $15; socks, lockers and party tents also available to rent. rollatsantamonica.com
‘Wendy’s Peter Pan’ Neverland is also the setting for an outdoor staging of artistic director Ellen Geer’s reimaginging of J.M. Barrie’s fantasy tale. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Various dates and times thru Oct. 4. $15-$60. (310) 455-3723. theatricum.com
California Science Center What kid doesn’t dream of becoming an astronaut? The Space Shuttle Endeavour is currently off exhibit, but the museum’s new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center Work in Progress gallery will put you in close proximity to a SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft and a Rocket Lab Electron Rocket. California Science Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive, L.A. Free; special exhibits, experiences and IMAX films, various prices. Open daily. (323) 724-3623. californiasciencecenter.org
‘The Comedy of Arrs’ The Actors’ Gang puts a kid-friendly, pirate-themed spin on the Shakespeare classic “The Comedy of Errors” in this 45-minute production. Media Park, 9070 Venice Blvd., downtown Culver City. 11 a.m. Saturdays-Sundays thru Aug. 25. Free; reservations strongly encouraged. (310) 838-4264. theactorsgang.com
‘Cinderella’ This long-running, multimedia-enhanced staging of the classic fairytale returns. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. 2 p.m. Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 3 thru Sept 29. $12.50, $15. (310) 394-9779. santamonicaplayhouse.com
Sawdust Art & Craft Festival The annual summer showcase for works and wares by local artists and artisans is up and running and also features hands-on art demonstrations plus live music, balloon artists, magicians, food and drink and more. Sawdust, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays thru Sept. 1. $5-$12; ages 5 and under free, no ticket required; passes, $29-$49. sawdustartfestival.org