-Weekend-Whaddup- April 4th & 5th
Maybe not one for the kids:
the Whaddup:
The art/film/music collective Bonus Druthers and Free Bike Valet music blog presents The Magnolia Music & Art Festival at the Missing Piece Theatre in Burbank on Friday from 7 pm to 12:30 am. Scheduled live music performances by The Most Best, Seasons, Intergalactix, secret special guests and DJ Nick Koletic. Also at the festival: hand-made jewelry and accessories, succulent terrariums, limited edition art prints, silkscreened shirts, photo booth, temporary tattoo parlor, drink and draw, and cocktails by Baxter’s Speakeasy. Tickets: $10.
And here is the usual, your #weekendwhaddup.
Big Bunny’s Spring Fling (LA Zoo)
when: April 3,4,5
where: LA Zoo
How much: Free w/zoo admission
the Whaddup:
Hop Over to the Zoo!
Spring into fun with this annual celebration. Enjoy photos with “Big Bunny” himself (for a nominal fee), music, magic, treats, bunny-ear crafts, the chance to pet real bunnies, and more!
Entertainment highlights include:
- Easter Extravaganza Show – An interactive musical comedy act featuring family-friendly Top 40 music. Expect singing, dancing, and laughing, with opportunities for kids to hop on stage for some fun.
- Magic by Tyler the Trickster – A cavalcade of illusions and comedy by magician and escape artist Tyler the Trickster. Watch as Tyler attempts to break Harry Houdini’s world record right before your eyes.
- Big Bunny’s Egg-cellent Adventure – Follow clues on a quest through the Zoo to find exotic egg-laying animals, with treats at each destination, courtesy of 99 Cents Only Stores.
And on Saturday, April 4, catch a special appearance by ScholarShare’s Diploma Dog at Treetops Terrace and learn about simple ways to prepare your kids for a bright future.
more info: website
Bugs Bunny Cartoons (and Egg Hunt!)
when: Apr 5 at 4 p.m.
where: Aero Theater, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, Ca
how much:: $9-$11
who: 3 & up
the Whaddup:
It’s rabbit season! Celebrate spring with a thoroughly jolly, rabbit-filled family matinee of classic cartoon Warner Bros. shorts starring the one, the only… Bugs Bunny! There’s also an “egg hunt” in the movie theater before the show (with real candy prizes).
more info: website
City of Burbank Egg-stravaganza
who: whole family
when: Saturday, 9am-noon
where: McCambridge Park, 1515 N. Glenoaks Blvd
the Whaddup:
The Easter Bunny will be dropping by Burbank to enjoy the festivities from 9-am to noon. There will be and inflatable maze and bouncer.
EGG HUNTS
9:30am & 10am Parent and Me – 4 Years Old
10:30am & 11am 5-10 Years Old
Register online for the egg hunts.
An Old Time Egg Hunt
when: Apr 4 at 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
where: Los Encinos State Park, 16756 Moorpark St., Encino, Ca
how much: Free, donations gratefully accepted
who: All Ages
the Whaddup:
Join the Los Encinos Docents Association at Los Encinos State Historic Park for their annual Easter Egg Hunt. This is their most popular event; a tradition for decades. In addition to the Egg Hunts for ages from toddlers to 10, they have traditional games, a blacksmith, and old-time music, tours of the historic adobe and performers in period costume.
Pre-Egg Hunt activities:
11:30 AM Bird Walk led by the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society
The Egg Hunts will be grouped as follows:
1:30: 2 years and under
2:00: 3 and 4 years old
2:30: 5 and 6 years old
3:00: 7-10 years old
more info: website
Days to Delight – Easter is Eggscellent
when: Apr 4 at 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
where: Various Nordstrom Locations
cost: Free
ages: 3-8
the Whaddup:
Get your hands on a freeEaster egg decorating kit –and then start searching for the goods with a fun Easter egg hunt at your local Nordstrom store.
more info: website
Wake Up With The Waves: Concerts at the Pier
when: every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
where: Westside, Santa Monica Pier , Central Plaza, Santa Monica, Ca
how much: Free
who: 1-8
the Whaddup:
Wake up and hit the beach! Every Saturday morning there’s a new concert at the Santa Monica Pier with the kids series “Wake Up With the Waves.” It’s a rotating cast of musicians and entertainers who get kids engaged with singing, dancing, playing and more, and there couldn’t be a more perfect way to start the day. Then stick around for family fun at the Pier afterwards. Saturday = planned!
Here’s the schedule for this spring:
Mar 28 – Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
Apr 4 – Rhythm Child
Apr 11 – Birdie’s Playhouse
Apr 18 – Gwendolyn and the Goodtime Gang
Apr 25 – Tom Freund and Hug Trees
May 2 – Heidi Swedberg
May 9 – Randy Kaplan (This concert will be all the way at the Pier’s West End.)
May 16 – David Tobocman
more info: website
Easter on the Farm
when: Daily through April 6
where: Underwood Family Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark, Ca
cost: $6
ages: All Ages
the Whaddup:
Celebrate Easter at Underwood Family Farms! Festivities include entrance to the Animal Center, visits with the Easter Bunny (bring your camera!), baby animals, chicken show, Easter Story Labyrinth, tractor-drawn wagon rides and the Animal Show. All of those activities are included with admission—there are extra activities (like the Egg Hunt, cow train, egg toss, face painting, chick racing, egg dying and more) which require additional tickets.
Note: Make sure to bring your Easter basket for the Egg Hunt. The Scavenger Hunt will take place continuously throughout the Easter event. Children under 2 are free. And cameras are encouraged!
more info: website
Cinderella (and New Frozen!) at the El Capitan
when: Mar 13, 2015 – Apr 16 at Various times
where: Hollywood, El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, Ca
cost: $13-$26
ages: 6 & up
the Whaddup:
This live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, Cinderella brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation. The film is rated PG. Before the movie see the new animated short Frozen Fever, and meet Olaf!
more info: website
Renaissance Festival
Hear ye, hear ye! It’s time for the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire—the first and biggest in the entire Kingdom of Ye Olde America. Step back in time to a place where jousting knights, court jesters, fair maidens, and minstrels roamed freely. No time machine required, just a quick jaunt up the freeway and soon your own little knights and princesses will be brandishing giant turkey legs with the best of them.
What weekend you show up makes all the difference in your experience, especially with a family. This weekend is the Peter Cottontail parade on Easter Sunday. Pirate Weekend is coming up April 11 & 12, which is not only swashbuckling fun, but is also “kids are free” weekend! Other weekend specials include Time Traveler Days and Fairies Days (Mother’s Day weekend). Check the special events listing online.
It’s a good idea to plan ahead, as we know kids aren’t the best at winging it. You’ll want to catch things like the joust, the magic show, the knife throwers, the falconers.
People come in costume, not just the folks that work there. If you’re not into wearing a full costume, grab a hat or something fun at the fair. There’s plenty for sale. Start calling people wenches. Just not the wrong people.
The kid’s craft activities are free and are on a first come first serve basis. So come here first and beat the lines. Then go make peasant dolls, Celtic knots, and skeins of spun yarn. Face painting comes at an additional cost, but one look at the fire breathing dragon, or woodland fairy design and you’ll know that it’s a must. Lines can be long by mid-day, so make this another early stop.
Go on the Gnome Quest, where kids can seek out the 40 gnomes hidden about the village. Get the shopkeepers and guild members to sign your map and return to Kids’ Kingdom to receive your Official Gnome Finder Certificate.
Get dubbed! Only 25 lucky kids each day are chosen to be made a Knight or Dame of the Realm, in a ceremony held by the Queen. To sign up, head to the information tent by 1 p.m. The ceremony takes place at 4:30 p.m. in Kids Kingdom, so there’s plenty of time for roaming the rest of the grounds in between.
Even the littlest inhabitants of the kingdom will enjoy the play area and you can take a load off on nearby bales of hay (surprisingly comfortable). Then, watch your little ones build castles out of wooden blocks, play a game of checkers on a life size board or ride stick ponies.
“Privy” is the old English term for bathrooms and it is marked as such on the map. Take heed. There isn’t much shade, unless your watching one of the stage shows, so bring plenty of sunblock and hats for everyone. Strollers are hard to navigate with all the dirt paths and grassy lawns. They rent wagons, which are better suited for the terrain. Baby carriers are also a great alternative.
Food Fit for the Royal Court
A stein full of the finest juice (or ale for the parents), turkey legs as big as your kid, freshly popped kettle corn, roasted corn on the cob, and even pork chops on a stick. There are so many food booths at the Faire, there’s something for everyone. Staples like pizza, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets are also easy to come by, though not as authentic in the days of yore. Bring cash. No outside food or drink is allowed inside the Faire grounds. But with so many options (including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free), there’s something for everyone.
The Coin of the Realm
Adult $28.
Children ages 5-12 / $15
Children four and younger / free.
Head to your local Walgreens for more coupons.
Parking is $10 per car. Valet is an extra $20.
when: Saturdays and Sundays April 5-May 18th – 10am – 7pm
where: Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale.
more info: website
When: Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 9:00am to 12:00pm
Repeating every month on the first Saturdays through December 5, 2015 .
Also on November 29, 2014.
Where: Home Depot – ALL LOCATIONS
Ages: 5 – 12
Home Depot offers a free monthly workshop for kids ages 5 – 12. The workshops teach basic DIY skills and tool safety. Kids go home with their craft and a free Kids Workshop apron, commemorative pin, and certificate of achievement.
This week it’s a Chalkboard Planter. No, you’re not growing chalkboards.
Please note: this workshop is given at all Home Depot locations. Register online. You can use the store finder to find the one nearest to you.
more info: website
Rustic Canyon Spring Festival & Egg Hunt
When: Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 11:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Rustic Canyon Park 601 Latimer Road, Santa Monica CA 90402
how much: Egg hunt free; ticket purchase required for some activities
who: All ages
the Whaddup:
The annual Rustic Canyon Easter Egg Hunt promises fun, refreshments, a bounce house, egg hunts divided by age, music, crafts, and games. Kids should bring their own baskets for hunting.
Two hunts are scheduled: kids ages 5 and under hunt at noon, and kids ages 6 and up hunt at 1pm. Puppy prizes are offered in the 2pm Strut Your Mutt event.
A round robin tennis tournament wraps up the day from 2pm-4pm.
Note that although the address is Santa Monica, this park is actually in LA, in the canyons near Pacific Palisades.
more info: website
Public Run Day Southern California Live Steamers
When: Saturday, April 5, 2015 at 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Where: Southern California Live Steamers Station 2100 Washington Avenue, Torrance CA 90510 Cost: Free Website: http://www.southerncalifornialivesteamers.com Ages: 2 and up
The Southern California Live Steamers offer free rides on their miniature railroad in Wilson Park. Public run days are the first Sunday and third Saturday of the month.
(The rides are free; donations welcome.)