Los Angeles family guide

Things to Do in Monrovia with Kids

Monrovia's walkable Old Town Myrtle Avenue is the heart of family life, with the movie theater, candy and toy shops, and the beloved Friday Night Street Fair packed with kid rides and food. Up the hill, Canyon Park offers shaded creekside trails and picnic spots, while Library Park anchors weekend afternoons downtown.

Curated by Simir Shah

Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.

Monrovia on the map

📍 Where Monrovia is

Monrovia sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~21 mi / 34 km). It's roughly 15 mi (25 km) from Downtown LA and 110 mi (177 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.

💡 Local tip: The Friday Night Street Fair runs year-round on Myrtle Avenue and draws crowds, so park a few blocks out and walk in.

Family attractions near Monrovia

The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Monrovia.

Day Trips · Arcadia · 2.5 mi

Santa Anita Park

A Family Fun Zone (jumpers, pony rides, face painting) runs on select race days with the San Gabriel Mountains as backdrop. Also hosts the 626 Night Market.

Admission varies; many free-parking days

Animals & Nature · Arcadia · 3.1 mi

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden

Famous free-roaming peacocks and flat, stroller-friendly loops — a reliable, low-key family morning.

~$15 adult / $6 child

Parks & Hiking · El Monte · 4 mi

Gibson Mariposa Park

This neighborhood gem grew out of a letter-writing campaign by local fifth-graders and is themed around butterflies, with native plantings, a playhouse structure, and an educational kiosk. The big draw for kids is the summer splash pad, so bring towels and a change of clothes on hot days. Basketball half-courts and shaded tables make it easy to stretch into a whole afternoon.

Free

Parks & Hiking · Baldwin Park · 4.5 mi

Morgan Park

Baldwin Park's central hub, with a big playground, splash pad, soccer field and an outdoor amphitheater, plus the Esther Snyder Community Center and Aquatic Center right behind it on Baldwin Park Blvd. Come on a hot afternoon so the kids can hit the splash pad, and grab a picnic shelter early on weekends since they fill up fast.

Free (splash pad free; pool has a small fee)

Museums & Learning · Baldwin Park · 4.5 mi

Baldwin Park Library (LA County)

A designated Family Place Library on Baldwin Park Blvd with a bright early-childhood area stocked with books, toys and music for babies and toddlers. Check the calendar for free baby and toddler storytimes, and note it's closed Sundays and Mondays so plan a Tuesday-through-Saturday visit.

Free

Indoor Play · Pasadena · 4.5 mi

Lucky Strike Pasadena

A thirty-one-lane bowling centre on East Foothill with blacklight lanes, an arcade and pool tables. The weekend Family Unlimited window is the value option.

Family Unlimited bowling $18.99, weekends 11am–3pm

Farmers markets in Monrovia

Friday · 5pm–9pm

Monrovia Street Fair & Market

Big family street fair in Old Town with a certified farmers market, live music, food vendors, and kids' bounce houses.

See all SoCal farmers markets →

Festivals & annual events in Monrovia

What Monrovia is known for — the events locals plan the year around.

Annual — next date not yet announced

Monrovia Days

The city's birthday celebration at Library Park — an evening parade up Myrtle Avenue honoring local students, carnival rides and games, youth performances and a pie-eating contest. 2026 marked 140 years of the city.

2026 festival ran May 14-17; 2027 dates not published

See all SoCal festivals →