Family events in Santa Monica, CA

An expert guides a behind the scenes journey into the Ice Age at La Brea Tar Pits. Although the museum building is temporarily closed for a makeover, excavations continue each day and this tour grants insider access to the real work on site. Picture yourself mirrored in bubbling asphalt and encountering the iconic mammoth family. Step back about 50,000 years while visiting the world’s only active excavation situated in the heart of a city, where dire wolves and saber-toothed cats once pursued giant sloths and Columbian mammoths. Meet the Ice Age researchers making discoveries every day. The published duration is approximate and may vary, and availability is subject to change.

Adam’s Garden hosts a lively kids dance party filled with music, glowing lights, and balloon fun, creating a safe, playful space for nonstop movement. It is designed for children of all ages and offers an easy way to kick off the weekend at the indoor playground. Members attend at no cost. For non-members, admission is $25 per child and $20 for each additional sibling, with no charge for siblings 9 months and younger. Parents and caregivers are free. Socks are required in the play area. No reservations are required. Parking is plentiful at the Sherman Oaks Galleria structure, and validation covers three hours.

In Inglewood, a community gathering centers on creativity and connection while championing the arts as essential to youth development and wellbeing. Creative expression builds confidence, supports healing, and brings people together. What starts as a local celebration seeks to fuel a broader movement for the arts in young people’s lives.

LA Jazz Festival presents Jazz in the Park at Lanark Park, part of a free 24-concert series in parks across the Los Angeles region. Enjoy live performances spanning jazz, soul, hip hop, and more in an open-air setting. Admission is free with RSVP, and a confirmed RSVP is required for entry. Bring a blanket and relax with friends and family while the music plays. Artists will be announced.

Jazz in the Park brings Cameron Graves to Edward Vincent Jr Park in Inglewood for a free outdoor concert. This series spans 24 performances in parks across the Los Angeles region, presenting world-class music that ranges from jazz and soul to hip hop and beyond in welcoming community spaces. Attendees can bring a blanket, relax with friends and family, and enjoy live music under the open sky. Admission is free with RSVP, and RSVP confirmations are required for entry.

Enjoy a free outdoor movie night in Westwood Village as Cinema Under the Stars turns Broxton Plaza into an open air theater. Settle in with blankets and low back lawn chairs, bring friends and family, and pick up favorite movie snacks from Westwood Village businesses. Ahead of the screening there are kid friendly activities, community tables, giveaways, and unique pop ups hosted by local organizations and brands. This edition features Ferris Bueller's Day Off, part of a summer lineup that also includes Zootopia 2 and Back to the Future. Broxton Plaza sits in the center of Westwood Village and offers a pedestrian friendly setting that regularly welcomes community gatherings, live entertainment, outdoor dining, and cultural programs. Admission is free, and registration is encouraged for event updates and reminders. Westwood Village shares updates, special announcements, and information about future events. Submitting an RSVP adds an email to the Westwood Village database for updates about Westwood Village.

Los Angeles Football Club faces Deportivo Toluca F.C. in Leagues Cup action at BMO Stadium. The venue enforces a clear bag policy, and only bags that comply with the guidelines will be permitted inside. Attendees are encouraged to review parking details in advance and arrive prepared to follow stadium entry requirements.

Explore the Hawthorne Certified Farmers' Market for farm-fresh produce, tasty prepared foods, handmade goods, and live music in a welcoming, community-focused setting. Browse a variety of vendors, meet neighbors, and enjoy a relaxed market atmosphere while supporting local. The market is held in the parking lot of the Betty Ainsworth Sports Center.

Shop for curated local handmade goods, art, and vintage finds at the Makers Hive Market, a free, family-friendly pop-up vendor market at Santa Monica Place. You can browse from 35+ local makers and small businesses, enjoy live music throughout the day, and bring your pet along. The event is held in the Center Plaza area.

LA Jazz Festival presents Jazz in the Park at Lafayette Park in Los Angeles. This free concert is part of a 24 show series bringing top talent to parks across the region, with music spanning jazz, soul, hip hop, and more. Admission is free with an RSVP, and a confirmation is required for entry. Settle in on a blanket with friends and family and enjoy live music in the open air. The artist lineup will be announced.

Find your swing at a four day softball hitting camp from Santa Monica Softball Academy. Designed for ages 10 to 14, the program builds stronger hitters through focused instruction, purposeful drills, and plenty of quality repetitions. Coaches break down swing decisions, ball placement, angles, and bat path while reinforcing core mechanics and teaching how to generate power. Participants work on recognizing the strike zone and combine strength training with speed and agility to support better performance at the plate. Sessions incorporate modern training tools, including advanced pitching machines and technology aligned with current softball methods.

Copa Beach Soccer Camps offers a Santa Monica summer day camp focused on beach soccer and skill building. Enjoy a coastal setting with training centered on the beach version of the game and a focus on sharpening soccer skills. Registration is open.

Join a summer beach volleyball camp for players ages 8 to 17. The sessions run each morning from Monday through Friday, with on-the-sand volleyball training scheduled for 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The camp takes place at Zuma Beach in Malibu.

Get an up-close introduction to the Natural History Museum of L.A. County’s Living Collections Team and the animals they care for, spanning mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Learn how species from Los Angeles and beyond adapt to life in a major city as well as to ecosystems across the globe. Staff share insights into behavior, survival strategies, and conservation, with practical ways people can help protect wildlife in their own communities. The specific animals highlighted may vary from one presentation to the next.

Settle into a relaxed summer evening with a sunset picnic at Annenberg Community Beach House. Pack a picnic basket and come with friends, or arrive solo and take a seat at a communal table. Enjoy an easygoing atmosphere as the sun goes down at the Beach House.