FROM TOTS TO TEENS AND FAMILIES

• MULTIPLE LOCATIONS - Mall/Shopping Center Kids' Clubs. Many local malls shopping centers have weekly or monthly programs for children. The programs are usually during the week, last a half hour to an hour, and offer either a variety of entertainment or craft activities. Check your local mall events page for further information.

LECTURES/LECTURE SERIES

• "ALOUD" AT THE LOS ANGELES CENTRAL LIBRARY - Lecture series. Most programs begin at 7 p.m. in the Central Library's Mark Taper Auditorium. Wide variety of topics. Reservations required. Information: (213) 228-7025, www.lfla.org or www.aloudla.org.

• "DISTINCTIVE VOICES AT THE BECKMAN CENTER" AT UC IRVINE - Insights on Science, Technology and Medicine lectures. Events usually run September through June. Lectures are at 7 p.m. in the Beckman Center on the UCI campus and open to the public. Programs are by reservation only and fill up quickly. Visit the website listed and join the e-mail list to receive notices for each session and invitations to register online. Seating is limited. Information: (949) 721-2266 or www.voicesatbeckman.org.

• ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL SPEAKER SERIES - Online monthly sessions with post-session video viewing available. Sessions are at 11 a.m. PT, and registration links are available for upcoming sessions on July 14, August 11, September 8 and October 13. See website for speakers/topics. Information: http://speakers.researchroute66.org/session-overview/sessions-at-a-glance.

• ZOCALO PUBLIC SQUARE LECTURE SERIES - Series of public lectures in a variety of locations throughout the Los Angeles area and on a variety of topics. Reservations are required for most events. Information: www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

LIBRARIES

• CITY AND COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY PERFORMANCES AND PROGRAMS - Most libraries throughout Southern California offer patrons a wide variety of free performances, workshops and other events/activities. Some are geared toward adults, and others are special programs for teens or children. It is recommended that you check your local library website often for the best and most current information. In addition to individual city libraries, some Southern California library system links include:
  
  Los Angeles County Library System - www.colapublib.org
  Los Angeles Public Library - www.lapl.org
  Orange County Public Libraries - www.ocpl.org
  Riverside County Libraries - www.riverside.lib.ca.us
  San Bernardino County Libraries - www.sbcounty.gov/library/home
  City Libraries: For individual city libraries which are not part of a library system, check directly with your local library.

MOVIES

Some of the most popular free summer programs are the free outdoor summer movies offered by many cities or organizations. Most of the city-sponsored movies are "G" or "PG" rated family films. Some of this summer's movies include (with many more to come):

• GLENDALE - Classic Films Under the Stars. Doors open at 6 p.m. and movies will begin at sundown at the Doctors House in Brand Park, 1601 W. Mountain Street. Bring picnics, blankets and chairs. Films will be: August 20 - My Man Godfrey, and September 26 - The Quiet Man. Information: www.alexfilmsociety.org or www.glendaleca.gov

• HERMOSA BEACH - Sunset Movies on the Sand. Movies will take place on September 12 and September 19 at sunset on the sand at the Hermosa Beach pier. Voting for the movies to be screened just closed, so info on the movies will be posted soon. Information: www.hermosamovies.com.

• HOLLYWOOD/HOLLYWOOD HILLS - Movies at Ovation Hollywood. Films are screened the last Friday of the month through September in the courtyard at Ovation Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. RSVP with check-in at 5 p.m. RSVP check-in includes a free blanket and popcorn voucher. Films begin at 7 p.m. and will be: August 28 - School of Rock and September 25 - Shrek double feature with English screening at 6 p.m. and Spanish screening at 8 p.m. Information: (323) 817-0200 or www.ovationhollywood.com

• IRVINE - Movies on the Lawn at Hicks Canyon Park. Films are screened outdoors at sunset at Hicks Canyon Community Park, 3864 Viewpark Avenue. Activities at 6:30 p.m. Movies will be: July 17 - Minecraft Movie, July 24 - How To Train Your Dragon (2025), and August 14 - Zootopia 2. The Great Park is located at Sand Canyon Drive off the 5 Freeway. Information: (949) 724-6600 or www.cityofirvine.org.

• LA PALMA - Central Park Cinema. Films screen at 8 p.m. on Fridays in August on the grass field at Central Park, 7821 Walker Street. Bring blakets or chairs, and drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. Films will be: August 7 - Back to the Future, August 14 - Zootopia 2, August 21 - The Karate Kid, and August 28 - How to Train Your Dragon. Information: (714) 690-3350 or www.cityoflapalma.org.

• LAGUNA BEACH - Summer Movie Nights 2026. Movies screen at sunset at Heisler Park, 375 Cliff Drive. Films will be: August 20 - Grease, and September 26 - Top Gun. Low-back beach chairs or blankets only. Information: (949) 464-6645 or www.lagunabeachcity.net/recreation.

• LAGUNA HILLS - Movies in the Park. Films wil screen a bit after sunset at a different park each week. See website for park addresses. Movies will be: August 7 - Madagascar at Stockport Park, and August 21 - Super Mario Galaxy Movie at Clarington Park. Information: (949) 707-2680, www.lagunahillsca.gov or www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us.

• LONG BEACH - Moonlight Movies on the Beach. Movies are screened at dusk (8 - 8:30 p.m.) at Granada Beach (see website for directions). Free parking on a first-come basis after 6 p.m.. Films will be: August 4 - A League of Their Own, and August 18 - Grease Sing-a-long. Information: www.moonlightmoviesonthebeach.com.



• LONG BEACH - Movies in the Park. Movies are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (unless otherwise noted) from June 15 - August 21 in a different park each day. Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. and there will be free popcorn (while supplies last). Programs are sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum with Partners of Parks. Visit Long Beach Parks website listed for park addresses. Summer films will be: Goat - August 3 at Stearns Park, August 5 at Silverado Park and August 8 at MacArthur Park; Wicked: For Good - August 10 at Heartwell Park, August 12 at College Estates Park, August 14 at Houghton Park, and August 15 at Signal Hill Park; and How to Train Your Dragon (2025) - August 17 at Orizaba Park, August 19 at Recreation Park, and August 21 at Ramona Park . Information: (562) 570-3100, www.longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/programs-and-classes/movies-in-the-park or www.longbeach.gov.

• MARINA DEL REY - Marina Movie Nights presented by the LA Department of Beaches and Harbors. Films will screen at 8 p.m. in Burton Chase Park. No reserved seating; seating is festival-style on a first-come basis. An RSVP is not required but is recommended to be notified if there are any last-minute changes. Films will be: August 22 - The Spongebob Movie: Search for Squarepants, August 29 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3, September 5 - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, September 12 - Moonrise Kingdom, September 19 - Addams Family Values, and September 26 - Hocus Pocus. Information: (424) 526-7900 or http://marinadelrey.lacounty.gov.

• NEWPORT BEACH - Movies in the Park. Movies will be shown at dusk at a different park each month, with activities beginning at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. in September). Films will be: August 21 - Bad Guys 2 at Cliff Drive Park, 301 Riverside Avenue, and September 18 - Hoppers at Bay View Park, 99 Pelican Court. Information: (949) 644-3151 or www.newportbeachca.gov

• ORANGE COUNTY PARKS - OC Parks Sunset Cinema (various OC locations). Activities begin at 6 p.m. and movies begin at sunset (about 8 p.m.) and will be: July 10 - How to Train Your Dragon at Mason Regional Park, 18721 University Dr. in Irvine; July 17 - Elio and July 24 - Twilight at Yorba Regional Park, 7600 E. La Palma, Anaheim; July 31 - The Wild Robot and August 7 - 10 Things I Hate About You at Laguna Niguel Regionial Park, 28241 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel; August 14 - Kung Fu Panda 4 and August 21 - Jumanji at Irvine Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange; and August 28 - Top Gun at Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach, 33333 S. PCH, Dana Point. See OC Parks website for directions and additional information. Information: www.ocparks.com or www.facebook.com/orangecountyparks

• PASADENA - 90s Films at Playhouse Village Park. Movies screen at 8 p.m. at Playhouse Village Park, 701 E. Union Street, and will be: August 21 - Clueless, and August 28 - The Sandlot. Seating area opens at 7 p.m. on a first-come basis; RSVP does not guarantee seating. Free popcorn (while supplies last) and pre-movie activities. Information: www.playhousevillage.org or www.playhousevillage.org/calendar-of-events/movies-in-the-park

• SAN BERNARDINO - Starlight Cinema. Movies will be shown at dusk at a different park each month, and doors open at 6 p.m. Films will be: JJuly 18 - The Grinch at Hudson Park and August 15 - Detective Pikachu at Nicholson Park. Information: (909) 998-2750, www.sanbernardino.gov or www.sbcity.org/parks.

• SIERRA MADRE - Family Movie Fridays. The free family movies screen at dusk at the Memorial Park Bandshell, 222 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard. Films will be: July 31 - How to Train Your Dragon, and August 28 - The Super Mario Brothers Movie. Information: (626) 355-5278 or www.cityofsierramadre.com.

• TORRANCE - Summer Movies in the Park. Movies will be shown at dusk (about 7:45 p.m.) and will be: July 11 - Hoppers at Hickory Park, 2850 W. 232 Street, and August 15 - The Super Mario Bros Galaxy Move at Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Boulevard. Information: (310) 681-2930 or www.torranceca.gov, go to Community Services.

• WEST COVINA - Movies in the Gym. Films screen at 8 p.m. with activities beginning at 7 p.m. at the Cameron Park Community Center, 1305 E. Cameron Avenue. Bring chairs/blankets. Upcoming films will be: August 21 - Monsters University and September 11 - Encanto. Information: (626) 919-6966 or www.westcovina.org.

• WEST LOS ANGELES - Anime Film Screenings. After Nature: Weathering With You is a free series of five anime films spanning four decades that explore how ecology, technology, memory and climate reshape the worlds we inhabit. Films will screen on Fridays at 8 p.m. at Stoner Park, 1835 Stoner Avenye, and will be: August 7 - Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984), August 14 - My Neighbor Totoro (1988), August 21 - Look Back (2024), August 28 - Weathering With You (2019), and date TBA - Paprika (2006). Information: www.westlasawtelle.org, go to calendar.

MUSEUMS

The following is a partial listing of free museum days. It is recommended that you confirm the availability of all events/open days prior to visiting the museum since free entry days and times may change periodically. Also, some programs may not have been restored in post-pandemic schedules.