It’s mid-August in L.A., and there’s no heat wave? I grew up in Los Angeles and I can’t remember a milder summer. So why not take advantage of this perfect summer weather and try an outdoor museum family activity. The Skirball Water Day festival on Sunday (August 21) is my Pick of the Week for fun things to do in Los Angeles this weekend. This event is all about one of our plant’s most precious resources, water. There will be artist-led creative water-based games and art studio activities for the entire family; plus live “wet and wondrous” performances by Chinese acrobat Jason Jiang in the Skirball’s outdoor amphitheater.
In the Pasadena area, there’s a Family Day at the Norton Simon Museum on Saturday (August 20). This family program, “Water Lilies, Dragonflies and Cattails…Oh My?,” explores the Museum’s garden designed by Nancy Goslee-Power. Your children can discover a variety of plants, bugs and water life, and then create their own gardens. Be sure to take the family for a stroll through the Norton Simon’s paintings galleries to see one of my favorite collections in L.A.
Calendar Week of August 15-21: Orange highlighted program titles indicate special programs for this week only; or repeating programs that feature a new theme, performer, or movie each week/month. All other program listings repeat daily/weekly throughout the summer. Always click on activity links for program details, and to confirm the date and time. Museum schedules can, and do change, from time to time. And be sure to subscribe to this blog to get an email copy of this calendar every week.
Weekday Family Activities – August 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
Getty Center – Weekdays
FAMILY ART STOPS: Gallery tour activity
Tuesdays – Fridays: 10:30 am, 2 pm, 2:30 pm
Museum Galleries, Getty Center. Sign-up begins 30 minutes before the program.
Getty Villa – Weekdays
ART ODYSSEY FOR FAMILIES: Gallery tour activity
Wednesdays – Fridays: 12 pm
Museum Galleries, Getty Villa. Sign-up begins 15 minutes before the tour.
LACMA – Weekdays
STORYTIME FOR KIDS
Monday and Friday: 2–2:30 pm
Boone Children’s Gallery, Hammer Building
ART-MAKING FOR ALL AGES
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 12–5 pm; Sat and Sun: 11 am–5 pm, drop-in
Boone Children’s Gallery, Hammer Building
Norton Simon – Thursdays
THURSDAY SUMMER FUN
Gallery adventures and hands-on activities
This week’s program: “On the River: Caillebotte”
Thursday, August 18: 1-3:00 pm
Skirball Cultural Center – Weekdays
DIG IT!: Archaeological simulated dig activity.
Thursday and Friday. Drop-in during Museum hours.
Weekend Family Activities – August 19, 20, 21
NORTON SIMON MUSEUM– Saturday Afternoon
Outdoor family day and art-making activity
FAMILY DAY: Water Lilies, Dragonflies and Cattails…Oh My?
Saturday, August 20: 1:00-3:00 pm
LACMA – Saturday Afternoon
SATURDAY MONSTER MATINEES
This week’s movie: “This Island Earth”
Saturday, August 20: 2 pm
Skirball Cultural Center – Saturday Afternoon
FAMILY AMPHITHEATER PERFORMANCES – Saturday Afternoon
Performing this week: “Triumph of the Egg” – World Music
Saturday, August 20: 12:00 and 2:00 pm
Included with Museum admission; no reservations
LACMA – Saturday Evening
LATIN SOUNDS: Free Summer Concerts in the park
Performing this week: Lucky 7
Saturday, August 20: 5:00-7:00 pm
LACMA – Sunday Afternoon
FREE FAMILY SUNDAYS WORKSHOP: “Crazy About Color”
Sunday, August 21: 12:30–3:30 pm
North Piazza, no reservations
Skirball Cultural Center – Sunday Morning/Afternoon
WATER DAY: A Cool Celebration of the Wonders of Water
Artist-led creative movement, games, and art-making activities for families
Sunday, August 21, 10:00-4:30pm
FAMILY AMPHITHEATER PERFORMANCES
Sunday, August 21: 12:00 and 2:00 pm
Performing this week: Jason Jiang – Wet and wondrous feats performed by Chinese acrobat
Included with Museum admission; no reservations
SPELLBINDING SUNDAYS
Sunday, August 21: Intermittently 12:00-2:00 pm
Throughout the run of the Houdini exhibition, strolling magicians perform magic.
All ages. Included with Museum Admission, no reservations
Getty Villa – Weekends
ArtQuest!: Art activity workshop
Saturday and Sunday: 11 am – 3:30 pm, drop-in
Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa
ART ODYSSEY FOR FAMILIES: Gallery tour activity
Saturday and Sunday: 2 pm
Museum Galleries, Getty Villa. Sign-up begins 15 minutes before the tour.
Getty Center – Weekends
GARDEN CONCERTS FOR KIDS
Performing this weekend: Frances England, Parent’s Choice Gold Award winning singer-guitarist
Saturday, August 20, and Sunday, August 21: 4:00-5:30 pm
Museum Central Garden, Getty Center
Free, no reservations
FAMILY ART LAB: Fancy Fashions!
Outdoor art activity workshop
Saturday and Sunday: 11 am – 3:30 pm, drop-in
Family Room Patio, Getty Center
ART ADVENTURES FOR FAMILIES: Gallery tour activity
Saturday and Sunday: 2 pm
Museum Galleries, Getty Center. Sign-up begins at 1:30 p.m.
Daily Family Activities
Getty Center Museum
FAMILY ROOM – Interactive activity space
Families can draw, build, and play together (see blog post).
Daily, except Mondays. Drop-in during Museum hours.
LACMA
BOONE CHILDREN’S GALLERY
Family activity space for Korean painting
Daily, except Wednesdays
Free tickets required – available at museum box office.
Skirball Cultural Center
SUMMER DROP-IN ART STUDIO
Daily, except Monday
All ages. Included with Museum admission; no reservations
NOAH’S ARK – Interactive activity space
Families can climb, build, explore, and make art together.
Daily, except Monday
Special admission fee required. Free to Members and Children under 2.
Free to all visitors on Thursdays. Advance tickets recommended weekends, Thursdays, and school holidays.
Leave a Reply