SoCal kids & families, Jan. 11-18: ‘Aladdin,’ ‘Soul,’ the Kingdom Day Parade and more
SoCal kids & families, Jan. 11-18: ‘Aladdin,’ ‘Soul,’ the Kingdom Day Parade and more
Encourage your children to learn and grow with our curated list of fun, artsy and engaging events and activities in LA and OC this week
Welcome to another edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to fun, 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 the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
Let’s have some fun!
Kingdom Day Parade
Colorful floats, marching bands, cheer squads, mounted riders and famous faces in fancy cars will take to the streets for the 39th annual procession honoring civil rights icon the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Route: Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and St. Andrews Place, west to Crenshaw Blvd., then south to Vernon. Ave., Leimert Park. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15. Free. kingdomdayparade.org
(And for more options for marking the MLK Day weekend, click here)
‘Tomás and the Library Lady’ Childsplay Theatre presents this kid-friendly bilingual musical based on the book by Mexican American author and educator Tomás Rivera. Fred Kavli Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17. $10; group discounts available. (805) 449-2787. bapacthousandoaks.com
‘Soul’ A middle school teacher and aspiring jazz musician (voice of Jamie Foxx) undertakes a fantastical journey in the theatrical premiere of Pixar’s animated 2020 tale that was originally released directly to streaming due to the pandemic. Directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers. With Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Angela Bassett, et al. 100 mins. Rated PG. disney.com
‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar Holiday Show’ Family-friendly show based on Eric Carle’s children’s books. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Various times, Nov. 25 thru Jan. 21. $30-$65. (818) 508-4200. hungrycaterpillarshow.com
‘Archaeology Dig’ Youngsters can unleash their inner Indiana Joneses by digging and sifting through the sand for replica artifacts — and maybe learn a little something about the lives of ancient peoples while they’re at it — in this interactive experience. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 6-7. Included with museum admission ($7-$12; 2 and under, free; free on Thursdays); children must be accompanied by an adult. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org
Laurel & Hardy Festival The annual celebration of the iconic comedy duo is back with a trio of shorts hosted by film historian and author Randy Skretvedt. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Dinosaur Encounters’ Tremble in terror — or delight — with this series of educational and interactive performances featuring life-size dinosaur puppets. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, L.A. 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays; sensory friendly performances, 11:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. $6 per person plus museum admission ($8-$17; ages 2 and younger are free; advanced online tickets recommended). nhm.org
‘The Boy and the Heron’ A 12-year-old grieving the loss of his mother follows a talking bird to a magical realm in this animated 2023 fantasy tale from revered filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, with separate screenings in Japanese with English subtitles or dubbed in English. 124 mins. Rated PG-13. gkids.com