Every Thursday we round up every kid activity happening on the Westside — weekend events, drop-in programs, and the recurring classes worth putting on your calendar. Bookmark this, forward it to your group chat, and enjoy your weekend.
Calling all parents! Help me out: I’m a Santa Monica mom of three. When I had my first, I couldn't figure out where the community was — and honestly wondered if city life was even worth it for kids. Turns out, the Westside is bursting with stuff for families. You just have to know where to look. That's what this newsletter is for. If it helps you, share it with another Westside parent who needs it. Link to share below.
🗓️ DON’T MISS THIS WEEKEND
Venice Love Fest — Saturday, March 21
📍 Under the Venice Sign, Windward Plaza, Venice Beach
Free, city-supported, and happening this Saturday. Full street closures, live music, local vendors, food, art — and a legit kids’ corner that includes family Yoga with Christine West, music with the Beat Buds and Parker Bent, and more.
“We Can Do It!” Musical Show — Saturday, March 21
📍 Culver City Julian Dixon Library, 4975 Overland Ave
A 1940s-era family-friendly musical about the women who shaped LA, inspired by Rosie the Riveters. Two performances: 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Free, but advance registration required (space is limited).
March Madness Mania — Saturday, March 21, 2–5pm
📍 Santa Monica Place, Center Plaza (Level 1)
Basketball-inspired carnival games for all ages — Rim Shot, Hard Drive, Alley Oop, Bee Ball. Free. RSVP at santamonicaplace.com.
Heal the Bay Aquarium Reopening
📍 Under the Santa Monica Pier
Just reopened after flood recovery! Free Community Reopening Day — RSVP at healthebay.org/reopen. Over 100 local marine species, touch tanks, and daily ed programs. Ages 4–12: $5; under 3: free.
Nothin’ But Sand Beach Clean Up — Saturday, March 21, 10am–12pm
📍 Toes Beach, 6615 Pacific Ave, Playa del Rey
Heal the Bay’s monthly beach clean-up with an Expo Hub featuring interactive exhibits and marine scientists. Great for older kids. All ages welcome, free.
Drop-In Botanical Garden Tour — Saturday, March 21, 10–11am
📍 UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Dr
Free, all-ages walking tour of UCLA’s “living museum.” RSVP online. Meets at La Kretz Garden Pavilion.
📍 SANTA MONICA
Cayton Children’s Museum — 395 Santa Monica Place 21,000 sq ft of hands-on exhibits for ages 0–8. Open Wed–Sun, 10am–5pm. Sensory-Friendly Hours every Sunday 8:30–10am. Family Learning Nights every Wednesday evening (Parent Cafés + PBS SoCal Family Math Workshops for ages 2–5, free with admission).
Heal the Bay Aquarium — Under the Santa Monica Pier Touch tanks, 100+ species, daily ed programs. Ages 4–12: $5.
Santa Monica Public Library Storytimes — Free!
Baby Time: Wednesdays at 11:30am (ages 0–walking)
Toddler Tuesdays: Rotates among branch locations
Santa Monica Family YMCA — 1332 6th St Sports, arts, swim, after-school, and childcare.
Capoeira Besouro Preschool Capoeira for ages 3–5 (10-week session running through March 28).
The Realm Creative Academy — 400 Pico Blvd Math, writing, coding, art, soccer, music, tutoring, Saturday night Kids Club, and field trips.
LA Surf & Swim Pool lessons, beach lessons, swim team. Locations in Venice and Santa Monica.
Santa Monica Yoga — 1640 Ocean Park Blvd Family yoga, mindfulness classes, and yoga playdates.
📍 VENICE
Venice Love Fest — See top of newsletter!
Pacific Resident Theatre Youth Conservatory — 703 Venice Blvd Free classes for K–8 and teens: improv, clowning, storytelling, acting for TV/film.
Club Joyful — 2121 Lincoln Blvd
Gummy Loves Sensory Classes: 9:30am
Baila Baila Spanish (music-based, ages 0–3): $115/month unlimited weekly classes
Yoga Nest Venice — 38 Washington Blvd YOGAMAMA Prenatal Yoga + Postnatal Yoga for Mother & Baby.
Venice Arts — 13445 Beach Ave Teen Art Leaders volunteer program on weekday afternoons.
Freedom Surf Camp — meets at 2 Rose Ave Surf camps, ski/snowboard programs, adventures.
📍 CULVER CITY
“We Can Do It!” Musical Show — See top of newsletter!
Wild Child Gym Play-based kids’ classes, camps, and parties. Locations in Culver City and Playa Vista.
Zooga Yoga — 11054 Washington Blvd
Family Zooga Yoga: Saturdays at 10:15am
Zoo Jam & Play Music: 2:45pm
Soccer Tots at Tellefson Park — 11057 Washington Pl Weekend soccer for little ones, 11:00am.
Aerial Warehouse — 3961 Sepulveda Blvd #100 Aerials, parkour, trampoline, tumbling, camps, parties, kids’ night out.
Culver-Palms Family YMCA Swim lessons and youth programs.
Baila Baila Spanish — The People’s Place, 6007 Washington Blvd
Ages 1.5–3 (walkers): Fridays at 10:30am
Ages 0–1.5 (infants/crawlers): Fridays at 11:30am
STAR Education / ECO Station Enrichment programs, after-school classes, and Spring/Summer 2026 camps.
📍 MARINA DEL REY
My Gym Marina del Rey Weekly kids’ fitness classes: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. Open Practice & Play for all ages.
Stroller Fitness MDR Parent & Child Fitness at Marina del Rey Inlet Park, Via Marina — 9:00am.
Teen Advisory Board — Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey Library, 4533 Admiralty Way Regular meetings for teens who want to shape library programming.
Kayaking & Paddleboarding Rentals available in the marina. The creek bike path connects to the beach and Culver City — great for a family adventure day.
📍 PLAYA VISTA
Paws & Pages at Annenberg PetSpace — 12005 Bluff Creek Dr Kids read to animals at 11:30am. Therapeutic and genuinely sweet.
Dungeons & Dragons for Middle Schoolers — Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Dr Wednesdays at 4:00pm. Free.
Runway Kids Club — Runway Green Space, Playa Vista Wednesdays at 10am. Outdoor play and community for little ones.
Wild Child Gym Playa Vista Play-based classes, camps, and parties (also in Culver City — see above).
Playa Vista Martial Arts Group kids’ classes serving Playa Vista, Culver City, Marina del Rey, and Westchester families.
Playa Vista Teen Council — Playa Vista Branch Library Regular weekday meetings for teens at 3:30pm.
📍 BRENTWOOD
Noah’s Ark at Skirball Cultural Center — 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd LA’s most beloved family exhibit — newly refreshed with indoor and outdoor enhancements. Interactive, whimsical, and great for ages 2–8.
Weekly programming inside Noah’s Ark:
Story Time: Tues & Thurs at 2:15pm / Fridays at 3:15pm
Music Jams: Saturdays & Sundays at 11:15am
Free on Thursdays. Ages 2–17: $15 other days.
📍 MAR VISTA
Broadway Gymnastics School — 5433 Beethoven St Classes for ages 1+, gymnastics teams, camps, and parties.
reDiscover Center — 12958 W. Washington Blvd Hands-on making with reclaimed materials and real tools. Daily drop-in hours, camps, and workshops. One of the coolest spots on the Westside.
ASTEME Learning Center — 11672 Gateway Blvd STEM enrichment classes and camps.
Spring Break Art Camp (Mar Vista) Structured art projects in a small studio setting with experienced instructors.
Children’s Book World Mini Concerts — 10580 W Pico Blvd (West LA/Mar Vista border) Mini concerts at 10:30am + author storytimes Saturdays at 11:30am.
🔖 BOOKMARK THESE
Stay on top of Westside family events year-round:
Venice Rising — venicerising.com — Human-curated weekly calendar for Venice, Santa Monica, Marina del Rey & West LA
MomsLA — momsla.com — Updated weekly, all of LA
The Venice Fest — thevenicefest.com — Venice’s community festival org (Venice Love Fest + more events throughout the year)
LA Public Library Events — lapl.org — Free storytimes, crafts, and programs at all branches
Know something we missed? Reply and let us know — we publish every Thursday and update the list each week.