Family events in Norwalk, CA

This free, in-person workshop from Outcome School is designed for kids ages 7 to 13 who want to try building a game for the first time. Participants begin with a simple starter project and leave with a playable game they created. The session introduces coding concepts in an approachable way, nurtures imagination, and strengthens logical thinking and problem solving. With guidance from experienced mentors in a supportive setting, kids grow their confidence as they craft something they can proudly share. It offers a friendly introduction to the skills behind careers in technology.

Take an expert-led, behind-the-scenes journey into the Ice Age with the La Brea Tar Pits Insider Tour. While the museum building undergoes a major renovation, this experience offers insider access to the active excavation that continues daily. See bubbling asphalt up close, visit the iconic mammoth family, and learn how dire wolves and saber-toothed cats once preyed on giant sloths and Columbian mammoths at this site. Explore the only active fossil excavation in the world situated within a city, and meet researchers who are making discoveries every day. The tour length is approximate and may vary, and availability is subject to change.

Beach City Provisions hosts a performance by Legends of Rock. All ages are welcome, and the atmosphere is pet friendly.

Enjoy “The Classic Car Show” at Garden Grove Historical Society. All kinds of vehicles are welcome, including antiques, classics, custom cars, exotics, sports cars, hot rods/street rods, imports, mini/micro cars, muscle cars, and trucks. The event is free and is geared for both car enthusiasts and spectators.

Car lovers and families gather at Buena Park Elks Lodge #2046 for a community celebration of classic automotive culture. Look forward to a showcase of classic, muscle, custom, and vintage vehicles, including standout VWs, along with music, raffle drawings, and trophies for notable entries. Lonnie’s Grill serves barbecue favorites such as burgers, hot dogs, and desserts, and the lodge also offers Inside Dinners. Everyone is welcome, no Elks membership is required, and there is no charge for spectators or exhibitors.

Join Kidspace Children’s Museum for the Sunset Music Series, a family-friendly evening of live music, dancing, and artmaking. The museum stays open late, with themed performances at 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM in the Stone Hollow Amphitheater. Feel free to bring your own picnic or grab food from the cafe or food trucks. General admission includes the series, and it’s free for members.

City of Fullerton’s Friday Night Live brings a park concert to the Fullerton Sports Complex, spotlighting Funk, R&B and New Jack Swing. A live band fuels a retro soundtrack of smooth grooves, classic favorites and upbeat rhythms that keep the crowd moving. Admission is free, the atmosphere is welcoming for families and friends, and guests are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and comfortable shoes for dancing.

Small cars, big collisions. This team-style demolition derby packs mini machines into hard-hitting showdowns where metal crumples from start to finish. Each derby ticket also includes same-day access to the OC Fair.

Join the AGC Candle Making Class at the La Habra Community Center to learn how to blend the perfect candle scent and get hands-on experience pouring and creating your own scented candles. Classes run on Saturdays. There is an $18 materials fee payable to the instructor at the first-class meeting.

The BYS End Of Summer Showdown is a 2-day youth basketball tournament for boys and girls in 3rd grade through varsity. Teams will play a 4-game guarantee, with free parking and media on site. There will be rings awarded for 1st place, and power rankings will be part of the event. Entry fees range from $225 to $267 depending on the team.

Join the End of Summer Tournament for boys and girls from the 2nd grade through high school. There are competitive options including either a full tournament or a shootout format, with a 3-game guarantee. Teams are grouped across boys and girls divisions (12th through 3rd) and include Elite/Competitive/Developmental ability levels. Concessions and certified referees are listed, with awards for 1st and 2nd place.

Enjoy a multi-distance race day featuring 5k, 10k, 15k, and half marathon options on a scenic route. Participants can look forward to complimentary photos, posted official results, and goodie bags. The event welcomes walkers and is family friendly. Group discounts are available.

Hot August Days Car Show is a classic-car celebration in Garden Grove featuring a wide mix of vehicles like classics, customs, hot rods, muscle cars, imports, lowriders, trucks, motorcycles, and specialty builds. You can expect live music, vendors, food, raffle prizes, and awards, with a family-friendly atmosphere and public admission.

A beginner-friendly combo class that introduces young dancers to both ballet technique and tap basics. Students will work on barre and center exercises, plus across-the-floor practice to build coordination, flexibility, and confidence. Dance attire and dance shoes are required.

Oscilloscope Laboratories presents CatVideoFest 2026, a big compilation of the latest and best cat videos, along with sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet cat favorites. The event is designed as a local theater partnership where a portion of ticket proceeds goes to cats in need, including local charities, animal welfare groups, and shelters.

Head to Golden Park for a fun day with games, prizes, and information booths, plus free backpacks provided by Gangs Out of Downey.

Experience a live Keith Urban tribute as Urban Skies performs at Honky Tonk. All ages are welcome and the venue is pet friendly. For reservations, email reservations@prjktgroup.com.

The Jeffrey Craig Project performs live on the OC Fair’s Plaza Stage. The show takes place at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

At Woodbridge Community Park, the Summer in the City series turns the lawn into an open air stage with performances spanning a variety of music styles. Admission is free and no tickets or advance registration are needed. Seating is first come, first served, so bring low back chairs and blankets, and consider dressing in layers. Guests may enjoy picnic style food, or choose snacks from local food trucks. Additional parking is available at Woodbridge High School and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Settle in for an open air screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off as Cinema Under the Stars brings a free movie night to Westwood Village’s Broxton Plaza. Enjoy a lively pre-show scene with family friendly activities, community tabling, giveaways, and special activations from local organizations and brands. Bring blankets and low back lawn chairs, invite friends and family, and pick up favorite movie snacks from nearby Westwood Village businesses. Admission is free, and registration is encouraged to receive updates and reminders. Broxton Plaza is a pedestrian friendly gathering place in the heart of Westwood Village that hosts community events, live entertainment, outdoor dining, and cultural programming throughout the year.

King Salmon and the Funk Yard Horns return to Rush Park for Rossmoor Concert In The Park. Invited back for another performance, the band shares its excitement for the show.

Celebrate the City of Anaheim Summer Concert Series at Pearson Park Amphitheatre with a performance by RED HOT TRIBUTE. Admission is free, and attendees of all ages are welcome.

Bring your car-loving crew to Donut Derelicts, a classic car show happening in Huntington Beach. Admission is free, and the event runs in the evening at Adams Ave Donuts.

Experience the OC Fair in a unique way with family-friendly fun runs held before the gates open to the public. Choose between a 5K or a 1.1 mile distance and make your way through the fair at your own pace, whether you prefer to run, walk, or even skip.

Bring your curiosity to Fullerton Airport for Antique Aircraft Display Days. Owners of classic aircrafts are invited to showcase their planes, and visitors can stop by to view the displays. Aircraft will be parked in the “Transient” area inside the airport, just north of the terminal building and control tower. Admission is free.

Create an imaginary creature at a hands-on family workshop that uses mix and match block printing to layer dreamy imagery inspired by Odilon Redon. Personalize your artwork with color, or convert it into a playful handheld fan. All materials are provided. Family programs are free and do not require tickets, but the Center uses timed entry reservations, and parking has a fee. Make it a picnic by bringing a blanket or towel and your own food. To protect the grounds and collections, please leave folding chairs, glass containers, metal cutlery, and alcohol at home.

LA Jazz Festival brings Jazz in the Park to Lafayette Park in Los Angeles, offering a free concert in an outdoor community setting. Entry requires an RSVP confirmation, and reservations are free. This stop is part of a 24-concert series in parks across the Los Angeles area, showcasing world-class sounds from jazz and soul to hip hop and beyond. Pack a blanket, relax with friends and family, and enjoy live music in the open air. Artists to be announced.

Head to a Second Sundays Old Time Americana all-ages performance and community jam with folk music from around the world. Bring an instrument or just come to sing along, strum, and clap. Guest musicians will share traditional songs and rhythms, with Natalie Brejcha leading the music, plus Tom Moose and the Scotti Old Time Family String Band.

LA Jazz Festival brings its Jazz in the Park series to Penmar Park with a performance by the African Rhythms Alumni Quintet. This concert is part of a free, 24-show program that brings top-tier music to parks across the Los Angeles area, spanning jazz, soul, hip hop, and more. Expect a relaxed outdoor setting where you can spread a blanket, gather with friends and family, and enjoy live music in the open air. Admission is free with an RSVP, and a confirmation is required for entry.

Family Day in Highland Park offers food, arcade gaming, and family friendly fun. All children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Barcade will donate a portion of 2026 Family Day token sales to Gamers Outreach, a charity that provides recreation to children in hospitals through the power of video games and the gaming community.

A community sharing market welcomes neighbors to Pearson Park in Anaheim, set up between the tennis courts, where everything is free. Money, bartering, and trading are not part of this event, and participants are invited to bring items that are clean, useful, and safe. Craft supplies, books, toys, clothing and shoes, plants, housewares, small furniture, electronics, and non-perishable food all make thoughtful contributions. Bring a blanket or tarp to display what you have. Please give people time and space to set up before browsing, avoid crowding, and plan to take home anything you brought that is not claimed to keep the park clean. Items picked up here should not be resold. Free services and skill sharing are encouraged, whether that is haircuts, nails, mending, simple repairs, crochet lessons, teaching a game, or yoga. A food and essentials drive runs alongside the exchange... give what you can and take what you need, with particular need for diapers size 3 and up, wipes, laundry detergent, and toilet paper. The event meets ADA standards and offers accessible restrooms, mostly flat ground with no steps, dedicated parking spots, a wheelchair ramp, and wide doorways and walkways.

Redneck Rodeo takes the stage at SeaSalt Honky Tonk with Lola Kristine opening. The show is open to all ages and is pet friendly. VIP seating can be reserved by email.

An affordable pet vaccine clinic at Pet World features a mobile team providing vaccinations, microchipping, flea control, and additional services at budget-friendly prices. No appointment is required. For a smooth and safe visit, bring dogs on leashes and cats in carriers.

Experience Jewish culture through food, music, and art at the 20th annual Chabad Jewish Summer Fest. The evening features lively Jewish music, interactive crafts, rides for kids, games, and face painting, plus a kosher barbecue with hot dogs, burgers, falafel, and more available for purchase. The concert is free, while rides and a craft badge are offered with an $18 donation. The festival welcomes everyone, regardless of background or faith, with an emphasis on giving children and their families a joyful, positive connection to Jewish life. Weather permitting. Organized by Chabad at the Shore, which supports Jewish continuity through educational and social programs.

RemiX brings high energy to the Downtown Disney District with a vibrant mix of funk, R&B, and uplifting classics, setting the tone for a memorable evening with family and friends. Expect a lively show that invites clapping, dancing, and full-on participation in the RemiX vibe.

A young Viking defies tradition by befriending a dragon, and together they work to protect both of their worlds. The movie is presented in high definition while the musical score is performed live in sync with the film at the Hollywood Bowl. How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 DreamWorks Animation production. Program and performers may change, pricing and availability are subject to change, ticket limits may apply, and all sales are final.

In the Action Sports Arena at the OC Fair, this Demolition Derby brings a hard-hitting, no-rules showdown filled with high-energy collisions and nonstop excitement. Tickets for the Demolition Derby also provide same day entry to the 2026 OC Fair.

Catch a Wave takes the stage at The Hangar at the OC Fair. Each concert ticket also includes same-day admission to the OC Fair.

HB House presents music by The Elote Boys. All ages are welcome, and pets are allowed. For VIP reservations, email reservations@prjktgroup.com.

Ages 5 to 12 dive into a week of hands-on chemistry with Mad Science, mixing and testing reactions, exploring acids and bases, growing crystals, and creating slime while discovering what gives it that stretchy texture. By the end of the week, each participant takes home a chemistry set to continue experimenting.

Young artists in grades 3 through 8 build color sketching skills as part of a summer program that blends fine art, digital creation, and hands-on making. Using both traditional media and digital tools such as Procreate, participants explore how light, form, and negative space influence their drawings. Lessons focus on still lifes, animal portraits, and human figures while practicing techniques like hatching and shading. Students learn to render a range of materials, deepen their understanding of color theory, and gain confidence portraying lifelike textures and vivid color.

Campers dive into Minecraft to plan and construct everything from small structures to large-scale creations like castles and cityscapes. Through team projects, daily build challenges, and hands-on workshops, participants strengthen collaboration, problem solving, and design skills. Activities include Creative Mode building and Redstone experimentation, offering plenty of ways to turn ideas into playable worlds. Early drop-off and late pick-up are included. Designed for ages 7 to 15.

Coach Juan leads tennis summer camps for children ages 5 to 14 at University Community Park in Irvine. Sessions are held on weekdays and focus on tennis instruction and play. The weekly fee is $240. An all day option is available that includes chess. To register, look for summer camps with Juan.

SC Tennis Academy brings a lively summer tennis camp to El Dorado Park for youth ages 4 to 14. Coaches focus on building sound fundamentals, footwork, overall fitness, and match play in a positive, supportive environment. Camp days feature fast-paced drills and conditioning, plus ladder-style match play to strengthen competitive skills. There is also a weekly mental training component with a questionnaire to help players reflect and improve. Tuition is $350 per week, and a $75 daily drop-in option is available. Space is limited, and early-bird savings are offered with codes SUMMER20, SUMMER15, and SUMMER10.

Greatest Showman Camp is a summer performing-arts week for kids ages 5 to 14, running Monday through Friday. Sessions take place each day from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Newport Theatre Arts, with plenty of time for theater-focused activities and skill-building.

This fashion and photography camp is all about introducing kids to the fashion industry through hands-on training. Campers will learn skills in design, photography, style, and editorial fashion, and create team-based projects that help them produce fashion stories and photo shoots. The camp wraps up with a fashion shoe-building activity where participants model their designs.

Modelo Monday is a weekly cruise night that kicks off your week with classic cars and the lowrider scene. Expect a lively mix of well-kept rides, Kustom builds, hot-rodded classics, and potentially other custom vehicles rolling in to show off their style and, for some, hydraulic moves. It’s a casual hangout for anyone who loves car culture, whether you’re cruising in your own vehicle or just coming to admire the metal.

The PCH Explorer Kids Club is back at 2ND & PCH with a summer series of family-friendly sessions featuring activities, entertainment, crafts, games, and a few surprises. Each gathering brings something new for young explorers, encouraging creativity and curiosity while offering an easy way for families with children to connect. The program welcomes a broad range of ages and interests, so kids can be creative, play, learn new things, and explore together. Parents can relax and enjoy the coastal setting as little ones stay engaged, with shopping, dining, and waterfront views nearby. RSVP details for each date will be shared as they get closer.

Classic rock takes the historic Shell stage when The Emperors perform as part of the Summer at the Shell Tuesdays Concert in the Park Series. This leading Southern California band brings an energetic set featuring favorites from the 60s, 70s, and beyond. The Shell, built in 1929, sits across the street from Wilson High School in Recreation Park, between Federation Drive and Park Avenue and north of 7th Street. It offers more than 600 bench seats along with a wide lawn area for blankets and low-back chairs. This family-friendly, all-ages concert is free to attend. Guests may bring picnic dinners and snacks, choose the lawn with their own low-back chairs or blankets, and wear their dancing shoes. Live at The Shell, a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit, presents these free community concerts with support from institutional sponsors and music lovers. Season sponsors include the Port of Long Beach, Councilmember Kristina Duggan (District 3), Supervisor Janice Hahn (LA County), the Zaferia Business Association, and Snoofla Sound LLC, which provides all professional stage and sound equipment. Although admission is free, tax-deductible donations help cover performer fees, city permits, and the ongoing revitalization of this 1929 Long Beach landmark. Contributions are welcomed at the event or through the organization's website.

Join Pretend City Children’s Museum for We Read Wednesdays, an intergenerational reading experience where kids and older adult mentors read together. Empowering Readers OC will help bring stories to life in a fun, welcoming setting built for imagination and discovery. The session runs from late morning through noon.

This free matinee series continues through the summer and spotlights a range of animated films for kids centered on environmental themes, with a variety of titles presented across the season.

At the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Living Collections Team introduces a variety of furry, scaly, slimy, and long-legged animals that highlight Los Angeles as a hub of biodiversity, alongside species from around the world. Learn how these creatures adapt to life in a large city and in habitats across the globe, and find out practical ways people can help protect wildlife close to home. Featured animals may vary.

Stop by the children’s department at Barnes & Noble for a weekly storytime. This is a free event for all ages.

Get ready for school at Smarty Pants Storytime, a fun in-person program for kids ages 2 to 5 with a parent or caregiver. Expect stories along with songs, rhymes, and movement, with activities focused on early school readiness skills. Advance registration is required, and attendance is limited.

AJR, The Happy Fits, and Avery Cochrane share the stage at Pacific Amphitheatre for a multi-artist concert. Each ticket also includes same-day admission to the OC Fair, making it easy to enjoy live music and the fair in a single visit.

Motorhome Madness turns family vacation vehicles into demolition derby contenders in the Action Sports Arena at the OC Fair. Tickets include admission to the Fair on the same day.

Bring your little ones for Storytime on the Lido Deck as part of the Little Lido Kids Club. You’ll enjoy harbor views while staff from Lido Village Books read stories old and new. It runs from 10:00 to 10:30 AM.

Get ready for school at Smarty Pants Storytime, a fun in-person program featuring books, songs, rhymes, and movement to support early school-readiness skills. It’s designed for ages 2 to 5, with a parent or caregiver joining in.

Head to an evening packed with Disney-themed fun, including dinner, drinks, prizes, a meet and greet, and a live recording of Disney Countdown. The night runs from doors opening through the dinner and drinks portion, then into the live recording segment. Ticket options include VIP with assigned seating plus an earlier meet and greet, General Admission with standing room guaranteed, and a livestream option for virtual access to the recording part of the show.

Get ready for the school year with a fun in-person storytime and art activity. You’ll learn about library resources to help make school less stressful, including Brainfuse and other databases, and then you’ll decorate a notebook, highlighter, and pencil pouch. This program is for ages 5 to 12, and participants will receive school supplies generously donated by the Friends of the Sorensen Library. Advance registration is required and seating is limited.

Minivans collide in a demolition derby at the Action Sports Arena at the OC Fair, with crunching impacts, bent bumpers, and roaring engines. The event also comes with free same-day OC Fair admission.

Explore the Kellogg House at Heritage Museum of Orange County on a ghost-themed tour rooted in local history. Completed in 1898 by Hiram Clay Kellogg and regarded as one of the county’s earliest Neoclassical Victorian residences, the mansion reflects his passion for tall ships with a three story spiral staircase that circles a central mast and rises to a crow’s nest with no floor. After the death of his first wife, Kellogg built this home as a gift for his second wife, Helen. Hiram died in 1921, while Helen remained for another 42 years and passed away in the same house. Reports of unexplained activity hint that members of the Kellogg family may still linger, offering an atmospheric setting to learn about the home’s distinctive design and past.

24K Magic performs at The Hangar. Tickets for the concert also provide same-day entry to the 2026 OC Fair, allowing guests to see the show and explore the fair in one outing.