SoCal kids & families, June 6-13: ‘Marcel the Shell,’ ‘Barber of Seville,’ the Boyle Heights Youth Festival 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!
54th Annual LA Pride Parade Oh, my! “Star Trek’s” George Takei serves as one of the grand marshals as this jam-packed procession returns with colorful floats, festive marchers, live performances, classic cars and more. Sunset Blvd. and Highland Ave. north to Hollywood Blvd., east to Cahuenga Blvd., south to Sunset Blvd. 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8. Free. lapride.org
‘The Barber of Seville — Opera for Kids!’ Pacific Symphony presents a stripped-down version of Rossini’s comic tale, sung in English; for ages 5-11; includes pre-show activities for the children. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 8. $15-$62. (714) 755-5799. pacificsymphony.org
‘Fancy Nancy, The Musical’ The little girl with the very big personality is back in the return of this tune-filled tale based on the children’s books; for ages 4 and up; younger than 4 not permitted, except for relaxed performances. Chance Theater’s Cripe Stage, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. 11 a.m., 1, 4 and 6 p.m. Saturday; 1, 4 and 6 p.m. Sundays; thru June 9; relaxed performance, 1 p.m. Saturday, June 8. $31-$35. chancetheater.com
‘The Wizard of Oz’ Judy Garland is Dorothy, a simple Kansas farm girl swept up by a twister and deposited in a magical land, in Victor Fleming’s beloved 1939 musical fantasy based on the writings of L. Frank Baum. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 8-9. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Wheels on the Bus’ Cart the wee ones on in for this interactive musical for toddlers and preschoolers. Porticos Art Space, 2033 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena. 9 and 11 a.m. Saturdays-Sundays thru June 9, with two open-caption performances on June 9. $20; all attendees over the age of one must have tickets; floor seating on mats, limited bench seating available. (626) 356-7529. pasadenaplayhouse.org
The Boyle Heights Youth Festival Xolo Maridueña (“Blue Beetle”) and Xochitl Gómez (“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”) make guest appearances at this free and family friendly community event/street fair featuring performances by local artists including Ballet Folkorico Ramona Convent and the Amber Keys Band plus a pop-up skate park, a rock climbing wall, resource and information booths and more. 2130 E. 1st. St., Boyle Heights. 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Free. bharts.org
‘Much Ado About Nothing’ Echo Theater Company’s Theater Truck rolls in with a free and family friendly 40-minute version of Shakespeare’s classic comedy. Ladera Park Amphitheatre, 4777 W. 62nd St., Windsor Hills. 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 8-9. Free. echotheatercompany.com
‘Sesame Street Live! Say Hello’ Elmo, Cookie Monster and all of your kids’ other favorite felt-covered friends hit the stage for this song and dance-filled show. Fred Kavli Theatre, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, June 9. $42-$62. (805) 449-2787. bapacthousandoaks.com
‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’ A little shell goes a long way in this charming 2022 tale that mixes live-action footage with stop-motion animation; with the voices of Jenny Slate and Isabella Rossellini; for ages 8 and up. UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 11 a.m. Sunday, June 9. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘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
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
‘Dining with the Sultan at Charles White Elementary School’ LACMA serves up a kid-sized companion to the exhibit “Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting.” Also included: monthly hands-on arts & crafts workshops (RSVP required). Charles White Elementary School, 2401 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, thru Aug. 10. Free. lacma.org
Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ Princess Ariel ditches the ocean for love in this stage adaptation of the 1989 animated musical based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, thru June 29. $22-$129; discounts available; children under 3 not admitted. (562) 944-9801, (714) 994-6310. lamiradatheatre.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