In every corner of the greater Los Angeles area, the summer season is coming alive with music. Concerts and festivals abound, and almost every park and facility has some kind of free or low-cost musical performance going on.  Many are family friendly and some are tailored just for kids.  One can easily fill every single day of the week with something musical!   It’s a special privilege that like clockwork comes around every year for us living in Los Angeles, and something we should absolutely take advantage of but never take for granted.

Here are a few of the music concerts and performances taking place around town this summer. Bookmark this page on the website for future reference throughout the summer months.W e will try to update it as much as possible, so check back for more word on low cost and free, al fresco performances right in your neighborhood!

Garden Concerts for Kids

The Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles
Saturdays and Sundays, August 7 & 8, 14 & 15, and 21 & 22, 2010
4 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE; no reservations required.
MORE INFO

SummerSounds at the Hollywood Bowl

Hollywood Bowl
2301 N Highland Ave., Los Angeles, 90068
Mondays – Fridays (July 5-August 13)
10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.-12 noon
Ages: 3-9
Cost: $7 per person (all ages)
MORE INFO

Big! World! Fun!

John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Los Angeles, 90068
Saturdays, July 3-August 28, 2010 (except July 17)
10 a.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE for kids; $5 for adults (Reservations required)
MORE INFO

Children’s Concerts at Levitt Pavillion (at Memorial Park)

85 E. Holly St., Pasadena
Children’s Entertainment
Wednesdays, June 23 – August 25, 2010
7 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
MORE INFO

Music in the Zoo

Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, 90027; (323) 644-6042
Fridays, July9, July 23 and August 6, 2010
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. (animals on view until 8 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 (Food and beverage for sale)
MORE INFO

Free Monday Morning Concerts for Children

Madrid Theatre
21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, 91303; (818) 347-9938
Mondays, June 14 – August 24, 2010 (except July 5)
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Ages: 6-9
Cost: FREE (Reservations required for parties of 10 or more)
MORE INFO

Sunday Kids Concerts

South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Boulevard, Palos Verdes Peninsula, 90274; (310) 544-1948
Sundays, August 1 and 22, 2010
Concert begins 5:30 p.m.; Gates open for picnicking 4:30 pm; Garden closes 7:30 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Admission (Advance Purchase: Children $7; Adults $9;
At the Door: Children $9; Adults $11)
MORE INFO

Summer Sunset Concert: Mr. Vallenato

Fowler Museum at UCLA
UCLA North Campus
405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, 90024 (Directions below)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
4 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
MORE INFO

Family Amphitheater Performances

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, 90049
Saturdays and Sundays, July 10 – September 5, 2010
Noon and 2:00 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Included with Museum admission ($10 General; $7 Seniors 65+ and Full-Time Students; $5 Children 2-12; Free to Children under 2 and Skirball Members) No reservations necessary.
MORE INFO

Kids Koncerts & Creative PlayGround

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 90290; (310) 455-2322
Saturdays or Sundays, through October 2010
11 a.m.
Ages: All
Cost: $8 per person; $7 per person for groups of 5 or more. July 18 Benefit Concert $10/person; $9/person family rate. (Box Office (310) 455-3723)
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Sunset Concerts

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, 90049
Thursdays, July 22 -August 26, 2010
All concerts begin at 8:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE; no reservations necessary, but limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis (ALSO, all Skirball exhibits except Noah’s Ark are open during the concerts)
MORE INFO

Concerts in the Park

City of Lakewood De Valle Park
5939 Henrilee St., Lakewood, 90713
Thursdays, June 24 – August 12, 2010
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
MORE INFO

South Pasadena Concerts in the Park

Garfield Park
Mission St & Park Ave., South Pasadena, 91030
Sundays, June 27 – August 8, 2010 (except July 4)
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
MORE INFO

2010 Summer Concert Series

Natural Amphitheater at Conejo Community Park
1175 Hendrix Ave. Thousand Oaks, 91360; (805) 381-1247
Select Sundays through September 6, 2010
5 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
MORE INFO

Twilight Dance Series 2010

Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, 90401
Thursdays through September 2, 2010
All concerts begin at 7 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
MORE INFO

Music by the Sea

Point Fermin Park
807 West Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, 90731 (Foot of Gaffey St.); (310) 548-7705
Sundays through August 1, 2010
Noon – 5 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
MORE INFO

Farmers Market Summer Music Series

The Original Farmer’s Market – West Patio
6333 W. Third St., Los Angeles; (323) 933-9211
Thursdays and Fridays, Now – September 10, 2010
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
MORE INFO

ER Doctor’s Guide to a Safe Summer for your kids 
H&M Kids Casting Call
Backyard Chickens on the Rise
Goodnites Bedtime Moment of the Week Contest – Win a Bedroom Makeover

Check out L.A. Kid Stuff’s recent articles: 

Chasing Choo-Choos: Train related activities and destinations for train-loving kids

Kid-Friendly Farmer’s Markets in L.A.

FREE Golf Clinics for your Budding Tiger!

For family-friendly activities, check out a farmers market near you, or find one in L.A. Kid Stuff’s list of favorite farmers markets for kids. Many have music, arts and crafts and pony rides too.

Speaking of music, summer is the perfect time to pack a picnic and a blanket and head to one of the many, many free summer concerts in Los Angeles. Check out L.A. Kid Stuff’s directory of family-friendly and free summer concerts HERE. For many it’s the perfect way to relax on a summer afternoon!

How about a train ride?  If you’ve got a kid loco for locomotives, we’ve got a bunch of ideas for free or low cost train rides and train related activities HERE.

Whatever you do this weekend, have a great time, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen!