SoCal kids & families, July 18-25: The OC Fair, ‘The Old Man and the Old Moon,’ ‘Superman’ 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 Ride the rides, play the games, pet the animals, check out the exhibits, do a little shopping, sample the belly-busting food options and, for an additional fee, enjoy performances by such big-name musical acts as X, Kool & the Gang, Rick Springfield, Alice Cooper and many others. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; 11 a.m. to midnight, Fridays and Saturdays; July 19 thru 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
Dance DTLA The annual summer series of outdoor all-ages dance parties continues with a night dedicated to cumbia, with instructors on hand to show you all the coolest moves. The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 19. Free. musiccenter.org
‘The Old Man and the Old Moon’ For its last-ever Outside SCR presentation at the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, South Coast Repertory offers PigPen Theatre Co.’s fantastical, family friendly and indie folk-infused fable. Mission San Juan Capistrano, Central Courtyard, 26801 Old Mission Rd., San Juan Capistrano. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, July 20 thru Aug. 11; also 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 23; American Sign Language performance, Sunday, Aug. 4. $40-$60; discounts available. (714) 708-5555. scr.org
Max Fleischer’s ‘Superman’ Look! Up on the screen! It’s the Man of Steel fighting for truth, justice and the American way in a collection of classic 1940s-era animated shorts. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, July 20-21. $9-$12. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘Peter Pan’ “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” takes flight in an updated version of the classic musical based on J.M. Barrie’s beloved fantasy tale and featuring a new book by acclaimed playwright Larissa FastHorse. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday thru July 28. $57 and up. (323) 468-1770. broadwayinhollywood.com
(Also at Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa, Aug. 6 thru 18)
‘Wendy’s Peter Pan’ Neverland is also the setting for an outdoor staging of artistic director Ellen Geer’s retelling 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; pay what you will (cash only at the door), Friday, July 26. (310) 455-3723. theatricum.com
‘Cinderella’ She’s a shoe-in to meet the man of her dreams in Disney’s lustrous 1950 animated musical based on Charles Perrault’s classic 17th century fairytale. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 21. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
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
‘Dino Quest’ RAWR! The dinosaurs are back in an updated version of this exhibit featuring hands-on activities including a fossil excavation site. Discovery Cube Orange County, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Included with museum admission ($17-$22). discoverycube.org
‘Inside Out 2’ Emotions are running high in Disney and Pixar’s 2024 sequel to their animated 2015 coming-of-age comedy about a young girl’s interior and exterior lives. Kelsey Mann directs. With the voices of Maya Hawke, Amy Poehler, et al. Rated PG. Opens Friday. movies.disney.com
Butterfly Pavilion This exhibit featuring hundreds of butterflies flitting about in an outdoor netted enclosure returns for another season. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, L.A. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily thru Aug. 25 (museum closed the first Tuesday of each month). $8 plus with museum admission ($8-$17; ages 2 and younger, free). nhm.org
‘Enchanted Toy Shop’ Bob Baker’s classic and colorful puppet show is back and includes previews of three new numbers from the company’s upcoming 2025 production “Choo Choo Revue.” Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 4949 York Blvd., Highland Park. Various times, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, thru Sept. 1. $25; age 2 and under, free. (213) 250-9995. bobbakermarionettetheater.com
‘Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak’ The beloved illustrator of such classic children’s books as “Where the Wild Things Are” is celebrated in this super-sized survey of paintings, drawings, toys and more; thru Sept. 1. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. Closed Monday. $8-$13; 2 and under, free; free on Thursdays. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org