Lots of Free and Affordable Things to Do for Kids and Families in Los Angeles!

As You Like It – Shakespeare Festival L.A.

South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, 90274
Thursday – Sunday, July 23 – July 26, 2009
Picknicking starts at 6:15 p.m.
Performance starts at 8 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Garden Admission $7 Adults; $5 Seniors and Students; $2.50 Children ages 5-12; FREE kids age 4 and under

Dance Downtown – New York Hustle/Disco Night featuring live music by The Disco Kings

Music Center Plaza
135 North Grand Ave., Los Angeles, 90012; (213) 972-3660
Friday, July 24
6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Complimentary beginner dance lessons at 6:30pm and throughout the evening.)
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

Music in the L.A. Zoo – Classic Rock Night

5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, 90027; (323) 644-6042
Friday, July 24
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Zoo members – $12.50 for adults and $7.50 for children ages 6-15; non-members – $16.50 for adults and $10.50 for children ages 6-15; Children under age 5: FREE
Also See: Making Music in L.A. – Summer Concerts for Kids and Families

Can’t Stop the Musicals Series – Grease the Movie

American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica (at 14th Street)
Friday, July 24
7:30 p.m.
Ages: All (Film Rated PG)
Cost: $9/person

Ziggy Marley Signing and Bonus Performance

Barnes and Noble
1201 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica (On the corner of 3rd and Wilshire Blvd.)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
1 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

The Pirate and the Wish Fish Performance

Los Angeles Central Library
Mark Taper Auditorium
630 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles, 90071; (213) 228-7000
Saturday, July 25, 2009
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

Scrapbooking Fun!

Westside Pavillion, Community Room B above Landmark Theatres
Address
Saturday, July 25, 2009
10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Ages: 10 and up
Cost: Registration A- Meals on your own: $35; Registration B- includes 1 meal $45; To register call (310) 829-5886 or email cggramirez@yahoo.com

Cymbeline the Puppet King

Culver City Media Park
9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City, 90232; (310) 838-4264
Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, 2009 (through August 30, dark August 1 and 2)
11 a.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

Family Nature Walk

Eaton Canyon Natural Area
1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, 91107; (626) 398-5420
Saturday, July 25
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. (weather permitting)
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

Contra-Tiempo - Family Amphitheater Performances

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
Saturday, July 25, 2009
12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE with Museum Admission ($10 General; $7 Seniors 65+ and Full-Time Students; $5 Children 2-12; Children 2 and under FREE)

Kids Rhythm Club

REMO Percussion Center
7308 Coldwater Canyon. North Hollywood 91605
(1/2 block North of Sherman Way)
Saturday, July 25
11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Age: 2-12 (but all are welcome; parents must stay with children)
Cost: FREE

Kids in the Courtyard: Leap Down Under

Fowler Museum
Westwood – UCLA Campus (See Directions after jump)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

Summer Sunset Concert: Dave’s Aussie Bush Band

Fowler Museum
Westwood – UCLA Campus (See Directions after jump)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
4 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
More Concerts for the whole family: Making Music in L.A. - Summer Concerts for Kids and Families

Family Nature Walk

Children’s Nature Institute
Temescal Canyon in Pacific Palisades (see directions below)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

Your Bright Future – Andell Family Sundays

LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 90036; (323) 857-6000
Sunday, July 26, 2009
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 pm
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

Karen Golden- Family Amphitheater Performances

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
Sunday, July 26, 2009
12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE with Museum Admission ($10 General; $7 Seniors 65+ and Full-Time Students; $5 Children 2-12; Children 2 and under FREE)

ONGOING This Week and Beyond

School House Rock Live! Too (Musical Performance)

Greenway Court Theatre
544 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood; (323) 655-7679 ext. 100
(1 block south of Melrose).
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 4 p.m.
(until July 26, 2009)
Ages: All
Cost: $18 children and seniors; $24 adults
(For more blasts from the past, check out our post: Retro Stuff for Parents and Kids)

Noah’s Arc Permanent Exhibit

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
Tuesdays – Sundays (closed Mondays)
Tuesday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE with Museum Admission ($10 General; $7 Seniors 65+ and Full-Time Students; $5 Children 2-12; Children 2 and under FREE) Every THURSDAY FREE for the whole family!

ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938–1950

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., L.A.
NOW – August 9
Tuesday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE to all every Thursday; All other days: Children under 2 FREE; Children ages 5-12 $5; General Admission $10; Students and Seniors $7

Sail the High Seas (ArtQuest! Art Odyssey Tours)

The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu
Saturdays and Sundays – September 6, 2009
2 p.m.
Ages: 5+
Cost: FREE

Shark Summer

Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802; (562) 590-3100
NOW – September 7, 2009
9 a.m.-6 p.m (Aquarium hours)
Ages: All
Cost: Adult: $23.95; Child (3-11): $11.95; Senior (62+): $20.95 (save $5 off tickets if you purchase ahead of time online)

Pavilion of Wings

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007; (213) 763-DINO
NOW – September 7, 2009
Daily
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: $1-$3; children under 5 free