School already started, at least for some of us. LAUSD went back August 12, Culver City the 19th, Santa Monica–Malibu the 20th, and the lunch boxes have been in rotation long enough that Labor Day weekend (Friday, Sept 4 through Monday, Sept 7) is a mid-semester break, not a first-day sendoff. If that kid is still at home, we already wrote the column.
September still looks like summer: sweltering heat, half of the kids still out of school, a lot of PTO used due to the insanity of school expectations. So, might as well squeeze some fun.
SANTA MONICA
Tongva Twilight: Sounds and Cinema — Saturday, Sept 5 (Yacht Rock) and Saturday, Sept 12 (Summer of Soul), 7–9:30 PM
Free. Last Santa Monica outdoor-movie summer, Tongva Park lawn, 1615 Ocean Ave. City events calendar is 7–9:30 PM; a couple of city mirrors say 7–10. Sept 5 is The Windbreakers plus HBO’s Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary (director intro). Sept 12 is Myra Washington plus Summer of Soul, a music documentary, not a cartoon. Picnic, layers, complimentary popcorn on movie nights. The series does not run past Sept 12.
Libros Con Amigos — bilingual storytime — Saturday, Sept 5, 11 AM–noon
Free. Pico Branch Library, 2201 Pico Blvd. Walking to 3 years, first come. Followed by Family Conversation Time. Labor Day weekend morning if foam or wetlands is too much foam and dirt.
Annenberg Community Beach House pool — daily through Labor Day, Monday, Sept 7; then weekends only through Sunday, Sept 27
Through Labor Day: weekdays 12–6 PM, weekends and Labor Day Monday 10 AM–6 PM. After Labor Day: Saturday–Sunday 11 AM–5 PM on Sept 12–13, 19–20, and 26–27. Last pool day of the season is Sunday, Sept 27, not Labor Day. Day-of, first-come at Guest Services. Official page still does not list 2026 dollar amounts, so confirm at the window. 415 Pacific Coast Hwy. Capacity waitlist is real on the holiday Monday. Bring towels. Parking $4/hour or $15/day.
Americana in the Park — Sunday, Sept 13, 1:30–6:30 PM
Free (food trucks for purchase). Gandara Park, 1819 Stewart St. The strongest free all-ages concert of the month, and Bob Baker Marionettes are on the bill, which is the kid hook. Blankets, chairs, a stroller that can handle grass. This is also Rosh Hashanah Day 2. Some Jewish families will be at table, not at the park.
Coastal Cleanup Day — Saturday, Sept 19, 9 AM
Free. Heal the Bay’s 37th annual. The official event page lists 9 AM–1 PM; the campaign check-in window is still 9–noon, and sites wrap at different times, so register and follow your site captain. Sign a waiver; 12-and-under with an adult. Bring a bucket, gloves, a reusable bottle. Westside sites include Santa Monica Pier Northside, Venice, Will Rogers, Topanga Beach, Dockweiler. Heal the Bay Aquarium is closed Sept 19–20 and 26–27.
Dance with Baila Baila! — Saturday, Sept 19, 11 AM–noon
Free. Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Bilingual music-and-movement. Same morning as cleanup. Pick one.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Mexican Ballet Folklorico — Saturday, Sept 19, 12–2 PM
Free. Pico Branch Library, 2201 Pico Blvd.
BRENTWOOD
Skirball — Nature New Year Cards — Sunday, Sept 6, 12 PM and 2 PM
Included with admission. Bloom Garden, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. High Holiday family craft before the holiday: apples and honey on site. One adult per four children. Skirball is closed Mondays (so closed Labor Day) and closed Saturday, Sept 12 for Rosh Hashanah. Bank of America Museums on Us is free for cardholders Sept 5–6. Call 310-440-4535.
Beneath the Harvest Moon — Thursday, Sept 24, 7 PM
Skirball. Evening live music, art, Sukkot traditions. $20 / $15 / $10 members. More all-ages cultural than a toddler program, so confirm the age fit. Sukkah decorations Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, Sept 3–Oct 4, in Founders Courtyard. KCRW Family Day is Sunday, Oct 4. Save it.
VENICE
Family Foam Party at Club Joyful — Saturday, Sept 5. Cafe/play 9 AM–1 PM; foam 10–11 AM
$15/person; babies 12 months and under free. 2121 Lincoln Blvd. First Saturdays May–October. Bring a swimsuit, two towels, goggles, a change of clothes. Foam is one hour. Closed Mondays, so no Labor Day foam.
Stories and Crafts at the Venice Farmers Market — Friday, Sept 11, 9:30–10:30 AM
Free. Second Friday monthly, 500 Venice Blvd at Ocean. 9:30 stories/songs, 10:00 sensory craft. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown that day. Daytime is still fine for most families.
Abbot Kinney Festival — Sunday, Sept 27, 10 AM–6 PM
Free admission. The boulevard’s once-a-year takeover: three stages (Spirit of Venice, Annex, Kids Quad), food trucks, vendors, beer gardens. Official site says over 100,000 people, which is not a stroller-nap day. Kids Quad is the family zone. 2026 ride prices were not posted. Festival parking is valet only, $25, at Santa Clara & Electric, Milwood & Electric, and Venice & Irving Tabor. Free bike valet at Abbot Kinney & Venice and Abbot Kinney & Main. Walk, bike, or bus if you can. Same day as Autry Block Party, RUNWAY’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration, and Palisades Cars and Coffee. Pick one.
CULVER CITY
Bike-In Movie Night: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial — Friday, Sept 25. Bike valet 6:30–7:30 PM; movie 7:30 PM
Free; 2-hour parking validation at the Ivy Station table. Ivy Station lawn, 8840 National Blvd. Last outdoor movie of the Ivy Station summer series. Blanket or low chair. Eventbrite is live.
Sunshine Makers Market x Helms Design District — Saturday, Sept 19, 11 AM–4 PM
Free to browse. 3280 Helms Ave. Shopping, not a kids fest. Same day as Coastal Cleanup.
Julian Dixon Library — Home Tweet Home — Saturday, Sept 19, 11 AM–12:30 PM
Free; register. Ages 6–12. Build and paint birdhouses. 4975 Overland Ave.
Julian Dixon Library — Hojalata: Mexican tin art — Wednesday, Sept 16, 3–4 PM
Free. Grades 6–12. Hispanic Heritage Month craft.
PACIFIC PALISADES
Palisades Village reopened Aug 15. Complimentary parking through Sept 30. Grocery is still limited. Be a good guest. This is not back to normal.
Kids Club with Apple TV — Wednesdays, 10 AM and 11 AM (Sept 2, 9, 16, 23, 30)
Free. The Park at Palisades Village. Storytelling, music, puppets. September’s performer roster was not posted. Go early. The Park is small.
Weekend live music near the Bay Theater
Free. Friday and Saturday 6–9 PM; Sunday 4–7 PM. Free parking through Sept 30.
Cars and Coffee — Sunday, Sept 27, 8–10 AM
Free. Fourth Sunday, Swarthmore Ave. Car-loving kids will be happy. Not a playground. Abbot Kinney opens at 10 the same morning, so do not try both.
Palisades Branch Library (temporary) — Baby and Toddler Storytime — Wednesday, Sept 2, 10:30 AM only
Free. Ages up to 36 months. Temporary branch parking lot, 861 Alma Real Dr. Green Bungalow. First Wednesday of the month only. Saturday, Sept 26, 10 AM is the middle-grade book club (Beyond the Bright Sea, grades 4–7), not baby storytime.
PLAYA VISTA
Kid’s Club at RUNWAY with Wild Child — Tuesday, Sept 8, 10–11:30 AM
Second Tuesday monthly, 12775 Millennium Dr. Active play, music, games, bubbles. Price not listed. Confirm when you register.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration — Saturday, Sept 26, 10 AM–2 PM
Free. RUNWAY / The Turf. Live entertainment, local makers. Same day as Autry Block Party and Abbot Kinney.
Playa Vista Farmers Market — Saturdays, 9 AM–2 PM; Homeschool Bunch STEAM Saturday, Sept 5
12775 W. Millennium Dr. KidZone is weekly. The first-Saturday STEAM thing is Homeschool Bunch, which is Sept 5.
PLAYA DEL REY / MARINA
Open Wetlands at Ballona Salt Marsh — Saturday, Sept 5 and Sunday, Sept 13, 9 AM–noon
Free. Back after August. Dirt lot behind 303 Culver Blvd. All ages. No strollers, no pets. Closed-toe shoes. Toddlers in carriers work. Toddlers who need a stroller do not.
Friends of Ballona Salt Marsh and Dunes Tour — Sunday, Sept 6, 10 AM–noon
Suggested donation $5. Ages 7+. Same lot. Registration and waiver required. Gates lock.
Coastal Cleanup Day at Dockweiler — Saturday, Sept 19, 9 AM–noon
Free; register. Check-in: Dockweiler Youth Center, 12505 Vista del Mar. Printed parking pass required. Digital will not work. 12-and-under with an adult.
Marina Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park — Saturdays, 8 PM, through Sept 26
Free. RSVP recommended. 13650 Mindanao Way. Low chairs/blankets only. Dockweiler’s Friday beach movies ended Aug 28, so do not show up in September looking for those.
Saturday, Sept 5: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (PG-13) — skip under about 10
Saturday, Sept 12: Michael (2026) (PG-13) — skip little kids
Saturday, Sept 19: Addams Family Values (PG-13) — tweens+
Saturday, Sept 26: Hocus Pocus (PG) — the family closer
Marina del Rey WaterBus — last full summer run through Labor Day, Monday, Sept 7, 11 AM–9 PM
$1 one way. No reservations. Regular summer service ends Labor Day. After that, WaterBus is Dance MDR Friday nights only, 5–11 PM.
WEST LA / MAR VISTA
Coastal Cleanup — Kuruvungna Springs — Saturday, Sept 19
Free; register. 1431 S. Barrington Ave. Inland site if the beach lots are slammed.
Mar Vista Farmers Market last-Sunday stack — Sunday, Sept 27, 9 AM–2 PM
Grand View and Venice. Craft workshop every Sunday; last Sunday also gets face painting and the kids cooking class. That’s a full morning, and it collides with Abbot Kinney. Choose your chaos.
WORTH THE DRIVE
Two or three, not a second newsletter. Cool Fam Fest and the LA Kids Book Festival were Aug 23. Dino Fest was Aug 30. Already happened.
Autry Museum — Family Fun Day: Who Framed Roger Rabbit — Saturday, Sept 5, 10 AM–3 PM (film at noon)
Museum admission $20 adults, $15 students/seniors, $9 kids 3–12, 2 and under free. Registration required. Crafts and plaza games 10 AM–2 PM, film at noon. 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. Free parking. Labor Day weekend indoor option if the beach is slammed.
LA Zoo — Zootoberfest — Saturday–Sunday, Sept 19–20, 10 AM–5 PM
Included with general admission: $27 adults 13–61, $24 seniors 62+, $22 kids 2–12, infants free. Confirm at the ticket window. Live bands, lawn games, keeper talks, root beer floats. 5333 Zoo Drive. Same weekend as Coastal Cleanup. Last entry 3:45 PM.
Autry Block Party — Love Letters to L.A. — Saturday, Sept 26, 10 AM–5 PM
$4.75 adults, $3.50 seniors/students, 12 and under free. Carnival, Ferris wheel, bounce houses, horses, live music. The biggest family day of the month if you are willing to drive to Griffith Park. Conflicts with Abbot Kinney and RUNWAY’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
Did We Miss Anything?
We’re always looking. A one-off, a school night, a thing that is not the museum you already know. Hit reply or email losangelesparentsguide@gmail.com. We read everything.