Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Los Angeles on the map
📍 Where Los Angeles is
Los Angeles sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~11 mi / 18 km). It's roughly 112 mi (181 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Things to do in Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory
Iconic 1935 Art Deco observatory that's been free to the public since it opened, per the wishes of benefactor Griffith J. Griffith. Look through the same 12-inch Zeiss telescope that's logged more public viewings than any telescope in the world, watch the Foucault pendulum swing to prove the Earth's rotation, and take in sweeping skyline views.
Free (planetarium ~$10)
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
130+ acres of animals plus a kids' playground and botanical gardens inside Griffith Park. More than 2,100 animals across 270+ species live here, pairing big-ticket exhibits like Rainforest of the Americas and Campo Gorilla Reserve with a hands-on children's zoo where kids can feed goats.
~$27 adult / $22 child
Travel Town Museum
Outdoor railroad museum in Griffith Park with more than 40 historic locomotives and rail cars dating back to the 1880s, where kids climb aboard vintage engines up close. A half-mile miniature train, running since 1978, circles the grounds — and admission to see the full-size collection is free.
Free (mini train ~$5)
Griffith Park
Massive park with easy hikes and acres of picnic lawns, one of the largest urban parks in the country. The hand-carved 1926 merry-go-round has spun in the park since 1937 — legend has it that watching his daughters ride it in the early 1950s helped inspire Walt Disney to build Disneyland — but the carousel has been closed since 2022 and the pony rides closed for good in December 2022, so check the park's site before planning a ride. The trails, playgrounds and picnic lawns are the reliable draw.
Free
California Science Center
Hands-on science museum with a busy kids' Discovery Center, plus the Space Shuttle Endeavour — soon to be displayed in an entirely new way. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a purpose-built wing standing Endeavour upright in launch position with its full stack, opens November 2026 and will be the only place on Earth to see a complete shuttle system displayed that way.
Free (Endeavour ticket extra)
Natural History Museum of LA County
Dinosaurs, gems, a butterfly pavilion, and outdoor Nature Gardens to explore at one of LA's oldest cultural institutions. The transformed Dinosaur Hall holds the world's only T. rex growth series — a juvenile, teen, and adult skeleton together — plus a working Dino Lab where you can watch scientists prep real fossils.
~$18 adult / $7 child
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
An active Ice Age fossil site where mammoths and saber-tooth cats were once trapped in bubbling asphalt, and where paleontologists still dig today. The indoor museum building closed in July 2026 for a major renovation expected to last roughly two years, but the outdoor pits and the Project 23 excavation site remain open to the public, with occasional ticketed behind-the-scenes tours.
~$18 adult / $7 child
The Getty Center
Hilltop art museum with a fun tram ride, sculpture gardens, and grassy lawns. Architect Richard Meier designed the whole hilltop campus around 16,000 tons of Italian travertine quarried from the same source ancient Romans used for the Colosseum, and the tram ride up is built into the visit as a deliberate, gradual reveal. True to J. Paul Getty's wishes, admission has been free since the center opened in 1997.
Free (parking ~$25)
The Autry Museum of the American West
Family-friendly Western history and Native American art museum founded in 1988 by actor and businessman Gene Autry to tell the full, many-sided story of the American West. It later absorbed the Southwest Museum's Native American collection, one of the largest of its kind in the country, and offers hands-on kids' areas alongside the galleries.
~$14 adult / $6 child
Heritage Square Museum
Open-air museum of eight Victorian-era buildings — including an octagon house and a mansion — rescued from demolition and relocated here since 1969, when preservationists banded together to save them from LA's rapid redevelopment. Costumed guides and living-history days bring the 1850s-1900s architecture and everyday life to life.
~$12 adult / free under 6
The Grove & Original Farmers Market
Open-air shopping plaza built in 2002 behind the historic Original Farmers Market, which itself dates to 1934. Ride the trolley, built on a real 1950s Boston streetcar undercarriage, between the two, and catch the dancing fountain show — designed by the same firm behind the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas — set to music.
Free (trolley rides)
TCL Chinese Theatre & Hollywood Walk of Fame
Famous movie palace and star-studded sidewalk where kids spot celebrity handprints. The theater opened in 1927 with the premiere of The King of Kings, and its forecourt now holds nearly 200 sets of celebrity hand- and footprints in concrete, starting with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks that same year. Kids can hunt for specific prints — Harry Potter wands, Betty Grable's legs — that turn the sidewalk into an actual scavenger hunt.
Free to walk
Hollywood Sign Griffith Park Trails
Family hikes with up-close Hollywood Sign views along marked Griffith Park trails. The classic route, Brush Canyon Trail, starts from the north end of Canyon Drive and climbs about 1,050 feet over 6.4 miles round-trip to Mount Lee, directly behind the sign, with the final stretch on paved fire road. Note that the once-popular Hollyridge Trailhead was closed to the public in 2017, so Canyon Drive is now the main family-friendly access point.
Free
Eagle Rock Recreation Center
Neighborhood park with playgrounds and sports courts below the namesake Eagle Rock formation. The recreation building itself is worth noticing — a 1953 pavilion by modernist architect Richard Neutra, with walls that hand-crank open like windows to blend indoors and outdoors. It was threatened with demolition in the 1980s but saved and designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, and today anchors 21.5 acres of park space.
Free
Highland Park Bowl
LA's oldest bowling alley opened in 1927 during Prohibition, when doctor's offices upstairs issued "medicinal" whiskey prescriptions patrons could fill at the bar below. After decades as the dive-bar music venue Mr. T's Bowl, it was restored in 2015 with its original eight wooden lanes intact and vintage pinsetters repurposed as chandeliers.
~$7-9/game
Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Historic puppet theater delighting young kids with live marionette shows. Founded in 1963 by Bob Baker and Alton Wood, it's the longest continuously running puppet theater in the country and was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2009. The theater relocated in 2019 into a converted 1920s silent-movie house in Highland Park, where the marionettes still perform live shows for young audiences.
~$18-20/person
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The Oscars' own museum — the history of filmmaking, rotating exhibitions on directors and world cinema, and the Dolby Family Terrace on the roof with sweeping views toward the Hollywood Sign.
General admission ~$25 adult, free under 18
Getty Villa
Roman-inspired villa and gardens displaying ancient Greek and Roman art overlooking the ocean, modeled on an actual 1st-century Roman country house. The Villa came within reach of the January 2025 Palisades Fire — its buildings and collections escaped major damage, though its historic tree cover took a hit — and fully reopened to the public in mid-2025. Admission is free but needs a timed-entry reservation for everyone over age 2.
Free (parking ~$25)
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Sprawling hilltop park with lakes, picnic areas, easy trails, and panoramic views of the LA basin. The 338-acre park was built on former oil-drilling land in the Baldwin Hills, a conversion championed by County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn starting in the late 1960s to bring green space to an underserved part of the city. It officially opened in 1984, and its elevated trails now offer some of the widest views anywhere in central LA.
Free (~$6 parking weekends)
Will Rogers State Historic Park
Former ranch with a polo field, the historic Rogers home, and the popular Inspiration Point hike. Betty Rogers donated the family's working ranch to California State Parks in 1944, and the polo field Will Rogers designed here remains the only regulation-size outdoor polo field in Los Angeles County. From the ranch house, the Inspiration Point Trail climbs to 360-degree ocean views and links up with the Backbone Trail.
~$12 parking
L.A. LIVE & Crypto.com Arena
Downtown LA's entertainment district around Crypto.com Arena — Star Plaza's statues of Lakers, Kings and Sparks legends, restaurants, and an atmosphere that peaks on game nights. The plaza's more than a dozen bronze statues range from Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Wayne Gretzky and Oscar De La Hoya, with a Kobe and Gianna Bryant memorial added in 2024 as the newest addition.
Free to walk the plaza; game/event tickets extra
Skirball Cultural Center & Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a magical, hand-built menagerie of puppet animals where little ones climb aboard a giant ark, ring bells, and slide down the gangplank. One of LA's best indoor destinations for under-10s.
~$18 adult / $12 kid; free parking
Olvera Street (El Pueblo)
The oldest part of LA — food stalls, folklorico and Mexican crafts, right by Union Station on the East-LA edge.
Free to walk
Mariachi Plaza
Mariachis gather here and there's a Metro stop right at the plaza — best as a self-guided walk past the neighborhood murals.
FreeFree days in Los Angeles
Free or free-on-certain-days admission. Rules change and some are residents-only — confirm with the venue before you go.
California Science Center
Always free
A huge hands-on science center (Space Shuttle Endeavour, ecosystems, kid zones) with free general admission; special exhibits & IMAX are ticketed. Reservations recommended — confirm before going.
The Broad
Always free
A contemporary-art museum downtown (Warhol, Basquiat, Kusama's Infinity Rooms). Admission is free but advance/same-day reservations are strongly advised.
Getty Center
Always free
A hilltop art museum with gardens, a tram ride and family activity stations; admission is free but parking is paid. Worth it for the views and grounds alone.
Hammer Museum
Always free
A UCLA art museum in Westwood with rotating contemporary shows, a courtyard café and public programs; always free admission (parking is paid).
Fowler Museum at UCLA
Always free
A free museum of global arts and cultures (Africa, Asia, the Americas, Pacific) on the UCLA campus, open Wed–Sun. Good for families curious about world cultures.
Natural History Museum of LA County
Free Mon–Fri 3–5pm for LA County residents (ID)
A major natural history museum (dinosaurs, gems, dioramas) with free weekday-afternoon admission for LA County residents with ID. CORRECTED 2026-09-15: this museum's own renovation (NHM Commons) completed in Nov 2024 and it is open now — the 2026 multi-year renovation warning belonged on its sister museum, La Brea Tar Pits, below.
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
Indoor museum CLOSED since July 7, 2026 for a ~2-year, $240M renovation, not expected to reopen until 2028
CORRECTED 2026-09-15: the indoor Page Museum is closed for a multi-year renovation and the LA-County-resident free-admission program cannot be used right now. The outdoor tar pits and Hancock Park grounds remain open and free to walk. Confirm reopening status before planning around this museum.
Farmers markets in Los Angeles
Bank of America Plaza Certified Farmers Market
Downtown Bunker Hill lunchtime market with produce and quick prepared-food options.
Central Avenue Farmers' Market
Downtown DTLA market with California produce and prepared food; accepts EBT/CalFresh.
Larchmont Village Farmers Market
Beloved neighborhood market on Larchmont Blvd with produce, hot food, and a strolling village atmosphere.
Silver Lake Certified Farmers Market
Hip eastside market on Sunset with produce, prepared foods, and flowers (also Tuesday afternoons).
Echo Park Farmers' Market
Friendly evening market at Sunset & Logan with local farmers, fresh flowers, and prepared food; accepts CalFresh EBT.
Brentwood Farmers Market
Westside market in front of Nunn Elementary with seasonal produce, hot food, and free street parking.
Hollywood Farmers' Market
One of LA's biggest Sunday markets with farm-fresh produce, hot food, and live music in the heart of Hollywood.
Mar Vista Farmers Market
A community Sunday market on Grand View with produce, prepared food, and family activities on the Westside.
Atwater Village Farmers' Market
A friendly neighborhood Sunday market with local farms, food trucks, and an easygoing vibe.
Festivals & annual events in Los Angeles
What Los Angeles is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Día de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever
A large Day of the Dead gathering at Hollywood Forever Cemetery with community altars, Aztec dancers and live music. 2026 is the 27th annual; tickets sell in advance and it draws big crowds.
Ticketed; see site for pricing
Autry Family Fun Day: Mini Pumpkin Patch & Spooky Cartoons
Kids pick and decorate a real pumpkin, make pumpkin crafts, watch spooky cartoons in the theater (popcorn included) and do a gallery scavenger hunt. Tip: registration is required, so book before the weekend.
Regular museum admission; registration required
EXPO Center Halloween Festival
A kid-focused Halloween festival at the city's EXPO Center in Exposition Park, which in past years has featured a haunted maze, costume contest, game booths, inflatables, music and candy. Date and hours are from the Exposition Park calendar. Tip: EXPO Center is at 3980 Bill Robertson Lane, and the Metro E Line's Expo Park/USC stop is the easiest way in.
Free (per prior-year listing)
DTLA Halloween Festival for Kids
A Halloween-night festival at Grand Hope Park (ASU California Center Grand) for ages 2–8: trick-or-treat trail, character meet-and-greets, puppet and magic shows, face painting and a DJ dance party. Tickets include a hot dog meal. Tip: buy ahead and use the Metro A/E line to 7th St/Metro Center.
Advance tickets required; under 3 free (price not posted)
Boo at the LA Zoo
The LA Zoo turns into a not-too-spooky Halloween wonderland with trick-or-treat stations, costume fun, and animal encounters made for younger kids.
$27 adult, $22 child 2–12, $24 senior (zoo admission) — CORRECTED 2026-09-15, was stale pre-2025 pricing
Día de los Muertos at Olvera Street
Nine days of ofrendas, Aztec dancers, a nightly candlelit procession and free pan de muerto in LA's oldest street. Tip: arrive before 6pm for parking at the Union Station lots and see the altars in daylight before the procession.
Free (face painting extra)
Día de los Muertos at Self Help Graphics
A Boyle Heights Day of the Dead celebration held block-party style on Anderson Street. 2026 is the 53rd annual — the longest-running Día de los Muertos event in Los Angeles.
See site for admission
Sacred Path x The Autry Pow Wow
A full-day Native celebration in Griffith Park with traditional dancing, Northern and Southern drum groups, fry bread and Indian tacos, and Native arts vendors. Tip: Grand Entry at 1pm is the best time for kids to watch; stand quietly during prayers and do not photograph dancers up close without asking.
Free
Bob Baker Marionette Theater: Hallowe'en Spooktacular
An hour-long, family-friendly Halloween puppet revue with more than 100 marionettes, at the theater's Highland Park home. The show is intended for all ages, and extra weekday and weekend evening showtimes are added in October. Tip: a sensory-friendly showtime runs Sat, Oct 10 at 10:30am, so book the specific showtime ahead.
$25 per ticket; kids 2 and under free
STEM Night at the Petersen
A family evening of hands-on STEM activities across all three museum floors and the Discovery Center, built on SAE lesson plans. Ages under 4 are free. Tip: Petersen Members get complimentary parking at education events, otherwise arrive early for the 6pm start to make the most of the two-hour window.
Ticketed (see site); under 4 free
Griffith Observatory Public Star Party (Nov 14)
Once a month the Observatory lawn fills with dozens of telescopes run by local astronomy groups, so families can look at the Sun in the afternoon and the Moon, planets and deep-sky objects after dark. It is billed as a chance for the whole family and admission is free. Tip: telescope lines are cut off so everyone finishes by 9:45pm, so arrive by late afternoon and expect heavy traffic and limited parking on the hill (use the DASH shuttle or Metro if you can).
Free
Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center Opening (Space Shuttle Endeavour)
The California Science Center opens its 200,000 sq ft Air and Space Center on Nov 13, 2026, with Space Shuttle Endeavour stacked in launch position and hands-on aviation and space galleries. The Exposition Park calendar lists opening weekend Nov 14-15 as a significant museum event. Tip: sign up for the museum newsletter and book timed entry as early as it opens, since opening-weekend demand will be very high.
Core galleries free; check site for timed reservations
Hollywood Christmas Parade
A televised holiday parade of floats, marching bands and celebrity cars looping Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards. Held since 1928 — one of the oldest parades in Los Angeles.
See site; grandstand seating sold separately
Autry Santa's Winter Wonderland
A snow play area on the Autry backlot, photos with Santa, an ornament craft, a Candyland bouncy house and slide, treats and live music. Tip: reservations are required for everyone, so book early.
$5 event add-on plus museum admission; reservations required
EXPO Center Winter Holiday Festival
A community holiday festival at the EXPO Center in Exposition Park. Only the date and hours are posted on the official Exposition Park calendar, so check with the EXPO Center for activities and any costs. Tip: pair it with the free Exposition Park rose garden walk and the Science Center's free galleries the same morning.
See EXPO Center (cost not posted)
Images and Imagination: Collage Family Workshop (Getty Center)
A drop-in, all-ages bilingual collage workshop led by Kalli Arte Collective, where families cut and layer hand-printed silkscreen images inspired by photography from Mexico and Los Angeles. It takes place at the museum entrance from 11am to 3pm. Tip: the Getty Center requires a timed-entry reservation and paid parking, so book ahead and use the free tram from the parking structure.
Free (timed-entry reservation required; paid parking)
Griffith Observatory Public Star Party (Dec 19)
Once a month the Observatory lawn fills with dozens of telescopes run by local astronomy groups, so families can look at the Sun in the afternoon and the Moon, planets and deep-sky objects after dark. It is billed as a chance for the whole family and admission is free. Tip: telescope lines are cut off so everyone finishes by 9:45pm, so arrive by late afternoon and expect heavy traffic and limited parking on the hill (use the DASH shuttle or Metro if you can).
Free
L.A. County Holiday Celebration (67th)
A 90-minute holiday showcase of LA music, dance and cultural groups at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, recorded for PBS SoCal. For 2026 it moves from Dec 24 to Sunday Dec 20, with two identical live shows. Tip: showtimes were still TBD (late morning to early evening), so check the Music Center page before planning parking.
Free (see Music Center for ticketing)
Las Posadas at Olvera Street
Nine nights of the traditional candlelit reenactment of Mary and Joseph's journey, with singing, piñatas and sweets. Tip: arrive early on weekends and bring a stroller-friendly jacket because the plaza gets cold at night.
Free
L.A. Zoo Lights
The LA Zoo turns into an after-dark holiday light festival with glowing sculptures, lanterns and projections designed for families. The zoo lists Nov 20 to Jan 10 with tickets 'coming soon'. Tip: buy timed tickets online early for December weekends and dress in layers because Griffith Park gets chilly after sunset.
Ticketed (separate from zoo admission); 2026 prices not yet posted
NightTales: An Illuminated Museum Experience (NHM)
A holiday-season, indoor-outdoor after-dark walk through the Natural History Museum and its gardens, with glowing installations, cinematic projections and artwork by Maggie West. It runs on select nights only, and only parts of the museum and gardens are open during the event. Tip: NightTales sells parking in the museum car park at checkout, so add it when you buy tickets rather than hunting for a spot in Exposition Park.
Ticketed (premium after-dark experience; see site for select nights and prices)
LA Phil Symphonies for Youth: Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals
A one-hour LA Phil concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall for ages 5-11 and their families, featuring Saint-Saens' whimsical suite played by a live orchestra alongside a new PBS KIDS animated special. Pre-concert art and sound activities start at 10am, an hour before the 11am show. Tip: arrive for the 10am activities, which are hands-on and free for ticketholders, and pick either of the two Saturdays since each program plays twice.
Ticketed (tickets required; see LA Phil for pricing)
King Day Celebration at CAAM
The California African American Museum's Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in Exposition Park. The date and free admission come from the Exposition Park official calendar; program and public hours are not yet posted. Tip: check CAAM's site closer to the date for the schedule, and pair it with the Science Center's free galleries next door.
Free
Modern Mosaics Family Workshop (Getty Villa)
A drop-in, bilingual (English/Spanish) family art workshop where kids create animal mosaics inspired by the Villa's Roman mosaics, using contemporary materials and ancient techniques. It runs 11am-3pm in the Outer Peristyle. Tip: the Villa requires a timed-entry reservation and parking is paid, so book the arrival slot first and come mid-morning when the mosaic tables are quieter.
Free (timed-entry reservation required; paid parking)
Grand Illuminations at The Yard at Cal Plaza
Downtown LA's holiday light show at Cal Plaza with 100+ LED light sequences, a 25-foot LED tree and synchronized light columns. The Dec 3 opening adds a noon Holiday Marketplace, live entertainment and a tree lighting. Tip: come on a weeknight to see the lights without crowds; Metro to Civic Center/Grand Park is closest.
See site
Golden Dragon Parade
A Lunar New Year parade through Chinatown along Hill Street and Broadway. The 2026 edition was the 127th, one of the longest-running Lunar New Year parades in the country.
Free to watch; grandstand seating ticketed
LA Phil Symphonies for Youth: Beethoven's Fifth
A one-hour LA Phil concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall for ages 5-11 and their families, featuring Beethoven's famous Fifth Symphony, told as the story behind the most famous symphony of all time. Pre-concert art and sound activities start at 10am, an hour before the 11am show. Tip: arrive for the 10am activities, which are hands-on and free for ticketholders, and pick either of the two Saturdays since each program plays twice.
Ticketed (tickets required; see LA Phil for pricing)
LA Kids Run (LA Marathon Weekend)
A half-kilometer point-to-point course recommended for kids 3-8 that starts at the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon start line at Dodger Stadium and ends near the LA 5K finish line. Waves start every 5 minutes from 9:45am, and it is the final event in the LA Kids Run Challenge Medal. Tip: register early and pair it with the LA 5K the same morning, since both finish at Dodger Stadium.
Paid registration (fee not shown on page; includes T-shirt, medal, bib)
LA 5K (Elysian Park to Dodger Stadium)
A family-friendly 5K open to all ages and abilities, including runners, walkers and strollers, run through Elysian Park with a finish at Dodger Stadium. Participants get a race shirt, finisher's medal and post-race refreshments, and it supports the McCourt Foundation's neurological disease research. Tip: the start time is not posted yet, so check the page before planning the morning.
Paid registration (fee not shown on page)
ASICS Los Angeles Marathon (with LA 5K & Kids Run)
Marathon weekend from Stadium to the Stars, with a family-friendly LA 5K that includes a Kids Run. Spectating is free along the route. Tip: expect major road closures, so take Metro rather than driving.
Free to spectate; race registration varies
Comic Arts & Literacy Expo at NHM (CALE)
A free celebration of reading and comic art presented with A Place Called Home, with an art market, giveaways and activities in the NHM Commons plaza and theater for South LA youth and families. Date is from the Exposition Park official calendar; the museum site still shows the 2026 edition. Tip: the Commons events are free but the main galleries need a general admission ticket, and the Metro E Line stops right at Expo Park/USC.
Free (museum galleries need a separate admission ticket)
Earth Day Festival at the Natural History Museum
NHM's annual Earth Day festival in the Nature Gardens with live music, hands-on activities and up-close encounters with behind-the-scenes museum collections. Date is from the Exposition Park official calendar. Tip: gardens events are outdoors, so bring sunscreen and a hat and start in the gardens before the museum halls fill up.
Free with paid museum admission (free for members)
LA Phil Symphonies for Youth: Carlos Simon's Dreaming Together
A one-hour LA Phil concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall for ages 5-11 and their families, featuring Carlos Simon's Dreaming Together, a program for young listeners (details on the LA Phil page). Pre-concert art and sound activities start at 10am, an hour before the 11am show. Tip: arrive for the 10am activities, which are hands-on and free for ticketholders, and pick either of the two Saturdays since each program plays twice.
Ticketed (tickets required; see LA Phil for pricing)
City of STEM + Los Angeles Maker Faire 2027
The Los Angeles County science festival and Maker Faire returns to Exposition Park with hands-on science, robotics and maker exhibits for all ages. The 2026 edition was free. Tip: the Metro E Line's Expo Park/USC stop drops you at the park, so skip the parking scramble; go Saturday morning for the shortest lines.
Free
Bug Fair 2027 (41st Annual) at NHM
NHM's two-day festival celebrating insects and other multi-legged critters, with live-animal encounters, hands-on activities and exhibitors selling bug collections and gear. Dates are from the Exposition Park official calendar; the museum's own page currently shows the 2026 edition. Tip: the 2026 Bug Fair sold out its timed tickets, so book as soon as the museum releases 2027 tickets.
Free with paid museum admission (free for members; timed tickets have sold out in past years)
Pride in Bloom at NHM
An all-ages Pride celebration at NHM with a drag musical about natural history, a rainbow scavenger hunt and craft stations, co-created with Drag Arts Lab. The event is free in the NHM Commons plaza and theater. Date is from the Exposition Park official calendar. Tip: theater shows are first come, first served, so get to the Commons early for a seat.
Free (museum galleries need separate admission)
Juneteenth at CAAM
The California African American Museum's Juneteenth celebration in Exposition Park. The date and free admission come from the Exposition Park official calendar; the program and public hours are not yet posted. Tip: check CAAM's site closer to the date, and take the Metro E Line to avoid Exposition Park parking.
Free
Nisei Week Japanese Festival
A long-running Japanese-American festival in Little Tokyo with a grand parade, taiko, ondo dancing, and cultural exhibits.
Free (most events)
Thai New Year Songkran Festival
A Thai New Year street festival closing Hollywood Boulevard through Thai Town, with Thai food vendors, temple blessings, music and Muay Thai demonstrations. Running since 2004.
See site for admission
Larchmont Family Fair
Larchmont Boulevard closes between Beverly and First for carnival rides, a children's stage, and costume and pie-baking contests. The 2025 edition was the 60th annual.
See site for admission
Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) Celebration
A Japanese Children's Day festival in Isamu Noguchi Plaza in Little Tokyo, with hands-on craft workshops, traditional games, storytelling, performances and food vendors. Aimed squarely at young children.
2026 celebration (May 3) has passed; no 2027 date posted
Lummis Day Festival
A Northeast LA arts festival in Highland Park with free outdoor music, poetry and dance, founded in 2006 and named for Arroyo Seco writer Charles Lummis.
2026 festival (May 22-24) has passed; no 2027 dates posted
Pacific Palisades Americanism Parade
An Independence Day parade down Via de la Paz run by a volunteer association, followed by an evening event at Palisades Charter High School with kids activities, food trucks and a drone show. 2026 was the 77th annual.
2026 edition has passed; 2027 details not yet posted
Watts Summer Festival
A three-day community festival at Ted Watkins Memorial Park with music, food and vendors. Founded in 1966 after the Watts uprising; 2026 was the 60th festival.
2026 festival (Aug 7-9) has passed; no 2027 dates posted
Lotus Festival
An Asian & Pacific Islander cultural festival at Echo Park Lake with dragon-boat races, food, and performances.
Watts Towers Day of the Drum & Jazz Festival
Two days of drumming, jazz, and Black cultural arts at the historic Watts Towers campus.
Los Angeles Korean Festival
A four-day Koreatown festival at Seoul International Park with food booths, Korean product and artisan vendors, performances and cultural exhibits. Running since the 1970s.
Taste of Soul Family Festival
A one-day street festival closing Crenshaw Boulevard for food vendors, multiple music stages, small businesses and community health resources. 2026 is the 21st annual.
Central Avenue Jazz Festival
A street festival on historic Central Avenue in South LA with three music stages, food and market pavilions, honoring the corridor's 1940s jazz history.
Halloween Party: A Night at the Autry Museum
Trick-or-treating in the Autry garden and backlot, a spooky maze, bouncy house, crafts and a Bob Baker Marionettes puppet show, with a live DJ. Free parking on site. Tip: buy tickets ahead and wear costumes you can walk a maze in.
Fall Fantasy Book Faire at the Autry
The Autry lawn becomes a family-friendly fantasy marketplace with authors, book vendors and themed activations; cosplay encouraged. Tip: kids 10 and under are free, so bring a costume.
Street Food Cinema: Hocus Pocus (Autry)
An outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus on the Autry grounds with food trucks. Tip: bring blankets and low chairs, and plan to arrive before 7pm to claim lawn space.
KCRW Family Day at the Skirball
A day of live music, storytelling, art-making and Sukkot harvest activities with KCRW, including a Feel Good Music Train jam session and a sukkah-decoration studio. The Bloom Garden hosts art-and-nature workshops at noon and 2pm. Tip: Noah's Ark entry needs a separate ticket handed out in person while supplies last, so head there first when the museum opens at 10am (free on-site parking).
Griffith Observatory Public Star Party (Oct 17)
Once a month the Observatory lawn fills with dozens of telescopes run by local astronomy groups, so families can look at the Sun in the afternoon and the Moon, planets and deep-sky objects after dark. It is billed as a chance for the whole family and admission is free. Tip: telescope lines are cut off so everyone finishes by 9:45pm, so arrive by late afternoon and expect heavy traffic and limited parking on the hill (use the DASH shuttle or Metro if you can).
Haunted Museum at the Natural History Museum (Members Event)
A member-exclusive after-dark Halloween kickoff where kids become nocturnal animals, meet scientists, and dive into the Orcas exhibition. Food trucks sell treats and adults can buy beer and wine, but children ages 3-17 have their own ticket price. Tip: it is members-only, so if you are already considering a family membership, upgrading to Discoverer or higher gets free tickets.
Indigenous Pride LA
A family-friendly intertribal festival at Exposition Park's South Lawn West honoring Indigenous cultures, identities and contributions, with community performances and vendors. Held on the Sunday before Indigenous Peoples' Day. Tip: it is a free open-lawn event, so bring a blanket and sunscreen and check the organizer's schedule for performance times.
Mini Motors: Car Safety (Petersen Discovery Center)
A hands-on workshop for kids ages 7-11 with experiments, art projects and a chance to explore the museum's car collection. The Mini Motors series meets the first Saturday of every other month. Tip: it runs only one hour at 9am and museum admission is required, so buy tickets ahead and arrive a few minutes early.
Homeschool Day at the Petersen
Homeschool families explore the museum at their own pace and complete a Discovery Challenge scavenger hunt through staff-led stations on each floor. Students who finish earn a small prize. Tip: sign-up is required, and the stations are staffed only during the 10am-1pm window.
Getty Family Festival: LA and Mexico in Focus
A daylong free family festival at the Getty Center with mariachi, ballet folklorico, bilingual storytelling and hands-on workshops celebrating Mexican and Chicano photography in Los Angeles. Drop in anytime between 10am and 5pm. Tip: even though programs are free, the Center requires a timed-entry reservation and charges for parking, so book both ahead and use the free stroller loaner at the parking structure.
Local restaurants in Los Angeles
El Coyote Cafe
Festive, family-run LA Mexican cafe since 1931 — roomy and welcoming for big groups, with a kids menu.
Philippe the Original
Birthplace of the French dip (1908) — communal tables and sawdust floors make it a hit with curious kids.
Casa Bianca Pizza Pie
A 1955 family-owned Eagle Rock pizzeria with red-sauce Italian classics and a warm, kid-welcoming dining room (cash only).
Guelaguetza
James Beard-honored Oaxacan restaurant with colorful moles and live music in a festive, family-welcoming room.
Bludso's Bar & Que
Five-generation Texas-style barbecue with brisket and ribs — roomy and casual, good for big hungry families.
The Apple Pan
A 1947 counter-only burger-and-pie institution where kids love watching the cooks work the griddle from the U-shaped counter.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles
LA's chicken-and-waffles legend — casual, generous portions made for sharing.
Pink's Hot Dogs
LA hot-dog landmark since 1939 — a fun, cheap, walk-up bite the kids will remember.
El Tepeyac Cafe
Boyle Heights institution since 1956, famous for the gargantuan Manuel's Special burrito.
Langer's Delicatessen
Family-run Jewish deli by MacArthur Park since 1947, home of the #19 pastrami.
Phoenix Bakery
Chan-family Chinatown bakery since 1938; its strawberry cream cake tops Angeleno birthdays.
Colombo's Italian Steakhouse
Eagle Rock family Italian since 1954 with red-sauce classics and live jazz.
Eagle Rock Italian Bakery & Deli
Old-school Italian bakery-deli for cookies, fresh bread, and giant sandwiches.
Park's BBQ
Koreatown's premier tabletop Korean BBQ since 2003 — families grill premium beef together.
Soot Bull Jeep
Old-school charcoal-grill Korean BBQ — a hands-on, smoky table experience.
Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bars
Mid-City paleteria since 2000 with 30+ Mexican fruit bars and nieves.
The Oinkster
Eagle Rock 'slow fast food' burger and pastrami stand with shakes and ube fries.
Masa of Echo Park
Echo Park bakery-cafe famous for Chicago deep-dish pizza and brunch.
Cindy's Restaurant
Eagle Rock's restored vintage Route 66 diner serving all-day breakfast.
Kim Chuy
Chinatown Chiu Chow noodle house since 1980 serving big bowls of noodle soup.
John O'Groats
Generational Westside breakfast spot known for buttermilk pancakes and house biscuits.
Langer's Deli
Iconic 1947 Jewish deli famous for its #19 pastrami on rye near MacArthur Park.
Guisados
Family-owned taqueria known for braised-stew tacos on handmade tortillas, with a kid-friendly sampler.
Knead & Co. Pasta Bar
Fresh handmade pasta bar inside historic Grand Central Market, an easy kid stop for noodles.
Wat Dong Moon Lek
Husband-and-wife Thai noodle house with playful pink decor and slurpable boat noodles.
Soban
Family-owned Korean spot famous for its dozen-plus banchan spread and comforting stews for sharing.
Hangari Kalguksu
Bustling family favorite for handmade knife-cut noodle soups and dumplings in hearty portions.
Bub & Grandma's
Sourdough bakery-turned-pizzeria with meaty, chewy pies and fresh bread that's a neighborhood hit.
Villa's Tacos
Over-the-top quesatacos on Dodger-blue corn tortillas with mesquite-grilled proteins; the Villa's Trio is the move. One of LA's most talked-about taco makers, counter service.
Howlin' Ray's
Family-founded Nashville hot chicken with mild-to-fiery heat levels, a fun rite of passage for older kids.
Wallflour
Sourdough-crust pizzeria with bold, tangy pies that's become an Eagle Rock go-to.
Old Gold Tomato Pies
Crispy-edged Sicilian-square pizza spot, an easy grab-a-slice favorite for families.
La Tostaderia
Bright ceviches, seafood tacos, and tostadas from a stall inside Grand Central Market. Counter service, easy for a downtown outing.
Tacos Tumbras a Tomas
Longtime Grand Central Market stall famous for enormous, cheap carnitas tacos and burritos.
Villa Moreliana
Michoacan carnitas specialist serving cuts by the pound and in tacos; order the mixed cuts.
Local shops in Los Angeles
Kip's Toyland
LA's oldest toy store (1945), a third-generation family shop full of classic non-electronic toys.
Skylight Books
Cultural-anchor indie bookstore (1996) built around a ficus tree, with a renowned arts annex.
The Pop-Hop Books & Print
Worker-owned indie bookshop and print studio focused on small press, zines, and kids' books.
Wacko / Soap Plant
Wonderfully weird pop-culture emporium (1971) of books, toys, oddities, and gifts.
Poketo
Arts District design boutique with modern home decor, stationery, accessories, and kids' items.
Hammer and Spear
Curated Arts District showroom blending vintage finds and local artisan goods.
Iguana Vintage Clothing
Cavernous, long-running LA vintage emporium beloved by stylists and costumers.
Galco's Soda Pop Stop
Historic shop stocking 700+ rare and small-batch sodas plus a build-your-own soda station.
Lawson-Fenning
LA-made mid-century-inspired furniture and curated home accessories from a local design duo.
Arroyo Records
Tiny York Blvd record shop strong on punk, jazz, soul, and psych vinyl.
Gimme Gimme Records
All-vinyl new-and-used shop on Figueroa stocking rock, jazz, soul, and hip hop.
Wombleton Records
York Blvd vinyl staple specializing in imported and rare records.
Mount Analog
Figueroa space mixing records, artwork, books, graphic tees, and live events.
Shorthand
York Blvd stationery and gift shop, home of Shorthand Press letterpress cards.
Big Bud Press
Size-inclusive, brightly colored LA-made unisex clothing with its York Blvd flagship.
Sunbeam Vintage
Highland Park favorite for vintage and upcycled furniture, rugs, and decor.
Merci Milo
Curated handmade and artisan kids' toys from local makers and traditional toymakers.
Platform
Part-gallery, part-retail home staging and styling shop on York Blvd.
Native Boutique
Cozy Colorado Blvd women's boutique with fashion-forward and timeless pieces.
Comics VS Toys
Colorado Blvd shop packed with comics, graphic novels, and collectible toys.
The Green Bean
Eagle Rock kids' resale and toy shop for gently-used children's goods and toys.
Yolk
Sunset Blvd design and gift shop with artisan goods, modern home wares, and kids' items.
OK Store
Gallery-like Silver Lake design store of handcrafted jewelry, home goods, and objects.
Dream Collective
Jewelry designer's Sunset Junction shop featuring her line plus local designers.
Secret Headquarters
Victorian-drawing-room comic shop curating comics, books, and self-published zines.
The Reckless Unicorn
Mom-and-pop child's lifestyle store with toys, clothing, and accessories.
Spitfire Girl
Quirky gift shop with trademark thin wooden cards, candles, jewelry, and wood goods.
Treehaus
Boutique spotlighting local makers of LA-made fashion, jewelry, gifts, and toys.
Alias Books East
Long-standing used and rare bookstore strong in academia, arts, and classic literature.
The Social Type
Stationery and gift shop with greeting cards, custom notepads, and pens.
Myrtle
Female-founded boutique of clothing, apothecary, home, and gifts from women designers.
Esqueleto
Sunset Blvd jewelry shop of handcrafted pieces and local artisan goods.
Shout & About
Colorful stationery-and-gift boutique with cards, jewelry, plants, and gifty items.
Alchemy Works
Traction Ave retail and gallery hybrid mixing fashion, home goods, and rotating local makers.
Now Serving
Husband-and-wife cookbook and kitchenware shop in Chinatown's Far East Plaza.
Chunky Things
Chinatown Central Plaza gift shop where everything is designed by an artist duo.
Landis' Labyrinth Toy Shop
Family-run classic toy shop of timeless and modern toys, puzzles, and games.
Chevalier's Books
LA's oldest independent bookstore (1940), a Larchmont hub with a strong kids' section.
Landis Gifts & Stationery
Family-run Larchmont stationer doing custom invitations, calligraphy, and paper goods.
Village Heights
Cozy Larchmont gift shop stocking candles, kitchenware, jewelry, and home trinkets.
Giggles LA
Neighborhood baby-and-toddler boutique with curated clothing, toys, books, and gifts.
Toy Crazy
Independent toy shop at the Brentwood Country Mart curated by a longtime toy-trade owner.
Sugar Paper
LA letterpress studio and stationery boutique making cards and invitations in its own shop.
Pygmy Hippo Shoppe
Quirky W. 3rd Street shop of handmade gifts, letterpress cards, and trinkets by LA artisans.
Wasteland
Landmark Melrose vintage and consignment store with a sharply curated secondhand mix.
TenOverSix
Playful indie boutique stocking LA-based labels plus gifts, books, and home goods.
Mohawk General Store
Husband-and-wife indie boutique mixing international designers with local ceramics.
Melrose Trading Post
Sunday flea market at Fairfax High with ~200 vendors of vintage and handcrafted art.
Jet Rag
La Brea vintage warehouse famed for its chaotic Sunday $1 clothing-bin sale.
Iron Curtain Press
Indie letterpress studio-and-shop hand-printing cards and notebooks with custom work.
CH Boutique
Larchmont Village boutique of imported Italian clothing, jewelry, scarves, and gifts.
Wittmore
Independent men's shop curating well-made clothing from emerging designers.
Blue Rooster Art Supplies
Independent art-supply store championing indie suppliers and creativity workshops.
Squaresville
Long-running indie vintage and consignment shop with affordable retro clothing.
Lost & Found
Pioneering lifestyle boutique of small clothing lines, textiles, and handcrafted home pieces.
Dotter
Mother-daughter York Blvd shop of cookbooks, bespoke children's toys, handmade pottery, jewelry, and soap.
Crush + Touch
Artist-run York Blvd art-supply and gift shop with essential-to-pro materials, art books, and maker objects.
Clover
Curated Sunset Junction lifestyle shop of home goods, jewelry, candles, and thoughtful gifts.
The Last Bookstore
California's largest used-and-new bookstore, set in a former bank with a famous book tunnel and an upstairs labyrinth. A photo-magnet outing for families.
Bunkado
Little Tokyo gift shop carrying Japanese goods from origami paper and calligraphy supplies to kitchenware and home decor.
Hightide Store
A Japanese stationery-lover's paradise at ROW DTLA, with planners, office supplies, and retro-nostalgic lifestyle goods.
Kinokuniya
Japanese bookstore in Little Tokyo's Weller Court with manga, art and design books, and stationery. Great for kids and teens into manga.
Seasonal & outdoors near Los Angeles
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Los Angeles.
More Los Angeles family guides
Los Angeles family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Los Angeles with kids?
Family favorites in and around Los Angeles include Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Travel Town Museum and Griffith Park, and more. Our guide lists 24 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Los Angeles?
Yes — free family spots near Los Angeles include Griffith Observatory, Travel Town Museum, Griffith Park and California Science Center. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Los Angeles?
Local, family-friendly spots in Los Angeles include El Coyote Cafe, Philippe the Original, Casa Bianca Pizza Pie and Guelaguetza, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Los Angeles guide cover?
Our Los Angeles family guide includes 24 things to do, 44 local eats, 64 local shops and 9 farmers markets — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
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