SoCal kids & families, July 4-11: Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party, ‘Peter Pan,’ the LA Phil 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 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 the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
Let’s have some fun!
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party This year’s edition of the family-friendly event includes a 75-foot-high Ferris wheel (!), a 90-foot-long fiberglass slide (!!) and a light show featuring an airborne armada of synchronized drones (!!!), plus live music, deejays, dancing, food trucks, etc. Grand Park and the Music Center, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles. 4 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Free. grandparkla.org
‘July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular with Harry Connick, Jr.’ The crooner joins the LA Phil under the baton of Thomas Wilkins for popular tunes, patriotic favorites and look, up in the sky … fireworks! Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4. $20 and up; ages 12 and under, half-price (limits apply). (323) 850-2000. hollywoodbowl.com
‘July 4 Spectacular: Music of Chicago’ Conductor Richard Kaufman and Pacific Symphony are joined by Chicago tribute band Brass Transit for a selection of the Grammy-winning rock-jazz-pop group’s classic hits; the evening also includes fireworks plus patriotic favorites by John Williams, John Philip Sousa, George M. Cohan, et al. Great Park Live, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine. 8 p.m. Thursday, July 4. $40-$450. (714) 755-5799. pacificsymphony.org
First Annual Downtown Culver City Independence Celebration A spectacular drone show also caps this inaugural day-after-Independence Day outing that includes speechifying by local officials plus a performance by L.A.-based singer-songwriter Brenda Carsey and her band. Town Plaza, 9500 Culver Blvd., Culver City. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 5. Free. downtownculvercity.com
‘National Treasure’ Nicholas Cage steals the Declaration of Independence, and that’s just for starters, in this fun and fast-paced 2004 adventure tale. Jon Turteltaub directs and Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Justin Bartha and Christopher Plummer co-star. The Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. Doors, 6 p.m. Saturday, July 6; live band, 7 p.m.; screening, 8:30 p.m. $10-$27. streetfoodcinema.com
‘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, July 9 thru 28. $57 and up. (323) 468-1770. broadwayinhollywood.com
‘Despicable Me 4’ Reformed supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) and his trusty Minions are back in this 2024 entry in the animated franchise. With Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Will Ferrell, et al. Rated PG. despicable.me
Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Hit stage show based on the animated 1991 musical based on the classic fairytale. Rose Center Theater, 14140 All American Way, Westminster. 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays thru July 14. $20-$40. (714) 793-1150. rosecentertheater.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
‘Wendy’s Peter Pan’ Return with us now to Neverland in an outdoor staging of artistic director Ellen Geer’s reimagining of J.M. Barrie’s beloved fantasy tale. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, other 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
‘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, June 22 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