Before it's time for the kids to go back to school, take a trip to the playground, catch an outdoor movie screening, spend an afternoon on one of the city's best beaches and make plans for these 23 things to do with kids in August.
Aug 5, 6
Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks; Hollywood Bowl
Introduce your tyke to classical music with this beloved Tchaikovsky tradition, featuring the iconic 1812 Overture with the Bowl’s famous pyrotechnic display.
Aug 6
Public Star Party; Griffith Observatory
Gaze into the cosmos with hundreds of other star enthusiasts and amateur astronomers.
Aug 6
The Return of the Trilogy; The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Show your young Padawan a galaxy far, far away for back-to-back-to-back screenings of the original Star Wars trilogy.
Aug 6, 7, 13, 14
Pokémon Weekends; Kidspace Children's Museum
Catch 'em all in the Arroyo Seco while you show off your Pokémon Go app to receive $2 off admission to the Pasadena museum.
Aug 6-31
Cabinet of Curiosities; Union Station
Peer into a collection of mysterious worlds designed by local artists that are only viewable through peepholes.
Aug 13
Float's Annual CineRamaDena; Float
Watch Ratatouille inside the charmingly British Burlington Arcade during this summer screening series in Pasadena.
Aug 13
Pandora Summer Crush; LA Live
Play the role of the cool chaperone at this free show featuring 5 Seconds of Summer, Fergie and Daya.
Aug 13, 14
Watermelon Festival; Hansen Dam Soccer Complex
Enjoy an unlimited amount of ice-cold watermelon and the permission to competitively spit seeds, carve a melon and partake in a watermelon relay.
Aug 13-21
Nisei Week Japanese Festival; JACCC
Celebrate Japanese culture with displays of martial arts, tea ceremonies, flower arranging and more.
Aug 14
CicLAvia: Wilshire Blvd; Various locations
Attach the training wheels and pedal your way from Downtown to Koreatown during the bike-friendly fest.
Aug 14-16
Echo Park Rising; Various locations
Celebrate the Eastside's music scene with three days of free shows all over Echo Park.
Through Aug 14
OC Fair; OC Fair & Event Center
Mix fried food, carnival attractions and the occasional rodeo or demolition derby, and you've got the OC Fair.
Aug 19-21
Long Beach BBQ Festival; Rainbow Lagoon Park
Stuff your face with ribs, pulled pork and brisket at this Long Beach event—kids 12 and under get in for free.
Aug 20
Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship; JACCC
Watch dumpling-loving competitive eaters devour as many gyoza as possible in 10 minutes at this epic showdown.
Through Aug 20
Shakespeare by the Sea; Various locations
Enjoy one of the many free performances of Cymbeline or Othello, put on by Shakespeare by the Sea throughout summer.
Aug 21
How the West Was Worn; Autry Museum of the American West
Throw on a ten-gallon hat and travel through time during this American West dress-up experience.
Aug 28
Mad Science Mayhem; Kidspace Children's Museum
Get messy in the slime kitchen, take part in dry ice experiments and catch a mad scientist presentation during this kid-science series.
Through Aug 30
Moonlight Movies on the Beach; Granada Beach
Head to Long Beach for this oceanfront screening series, with quality kids movies this month like Zootopia, Toy Story and Inside Out.
Through Sep 4
Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park; Old Zoo
Take in Shakespeare’s comedy Richard III or The Tempest—they're running in repertoire—while enjoying the great outdoors.
Through Sep 17
Eat|See|Hear; Various locations
Roll out a blanket for screenings of kid-friendly flicks like Willy Wonka, Big and The Goonies.
Through Oct 2
Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs; Natural History Museum
Cue the Jurassic Park music—at least inside your head—at this exhibition about the extinct family of bird-like flying reptiles.
Through Oct 29
Street Food Cinema; Various locations
Catch outdoor screenings across the city, including monthlong Star Wars showings and more kid-friendly picks like The Princess Bride.
Ongoing
Free museum days; Various locations
Make the most of free days at LACMA, the Natural History Museum and more, plus always-free museums like the Hammer, Getty and Broad.
Find more things to do in our guide to the best summer activities for kids in LA.