Music at Casa Romantica
Enjoy cool acoustic tunes and hot java at the Casa’s latest “Coffee & Music” session, occurring August 1 between 10 am-12 pm. On August 20, you can get funky with the Backwater Blues band, while sisters Kalina & Kiana perform on August 27. Tickets must be purchased for these two shows. While these two performances are open to all ages, they aren’t geared for kids and alcohol will be served at both shows.
Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium is hosting a Summer Kids Club that bundles Online Academy classes with additional fun, educational activities. There will be two sessions between July 27-August 21, with grade grouping: PreK-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-12. Get details on its website. Currently, it also plans to have its Autism Family Morning on August 15 from 7 am-9 am (RSVP at http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/autism_family_morning) and Discounted Sunday Late Nights (5 pm-9 pm) during August, but check with the Aquarium first.
Laurie Berkner’s Dinosaur Beach Party
Berkner fans who are still bemoaning her COVID-cancelled concert at the Irvine Barclay back in April will be delighted to know that the kids music superstar will be doing a live, virtual interactive performance on August 9 at 2 pm. This solo show will feature her big hits and new favorites, and maybe some of her friends will stop by too. There will be craft projects and other fun before the show as well.
Family Play Night
The much lauded LaJolla Playhouse can come up with a playful way for families to act out little at home – by acting out a play! They have collected eight plays that need between 2-6 actors; some plays are geared for elementary school aged kids, some for elementary and middle schoolers and some for middle and high schoolers. You can use props, costumes, and sets but none are required. Just have fun and get playful!
Segerstrom Center’s Arts Teach
As part of its Arts Teach program, the Segerstrom has a number of online videos that takes viewers on “Journeys Into the Past” in educational and entertaining ways. For example, you can find out about the origins of Native American and Aztec Regalia through separate videos featuring N8TIVE HOOP founder Terry Goedel, L.A.-based Danza Azteca Xochipilli, and storyteller Jacque Nunez. These and other videos can be found among SCFTA’s Learn At Home webpages.
Pacific Symphony’s Virtual July 4th Concert
Missed this big Independence Day online concert? Well, it’s still available to view – at least until August 17. This special virtual concert included such favorites such as “76 Trombones” from The Music Man, “Stars and Stripes Forever” and the finale from Ellis Island: The Dream of America, along with debuting a mosaic performance of “America the Beautiful” featuring Pacific Chorale and the American Feel Young Chorus. And there are fireworks too!
Pretend City Museum At Home
If Pretend City isn’t available for in-person visits, the museum does provide a fine alternative: their weekday lineup of virtual programming. Monday through Friday, Pretend City offers some type of online content. Mondays have the Article of the Week. Tuesdays and Thursdays feature new Facebook content (also look for Let’s Talk Kids! Webinar on Thursday afternoons). Wednesdays holds Storytelling@Home, while there’s STEM@Home on Fridays. Their website contains more detailed info.
Midsummer Scream’s “Telethon”
The coronavirus couldn’t totally scare off the Midsummer Scream. While eerie event won’t be inhabiting its annual Long Beach venue, this Halloween-loving fest will now haunt the internet on August 1. Livestreaming Facebook, YouTube, and Periscope, it’ll present a full schedule of programming (11 am-7 pm) for Halloween and horror fans (parental discretion is advised). Midsummer Scream will also be raising money for organizations impacted by the pandemic. Find schedule and donation details on its website.
Mission Viejo Library’s Virtual Storytimes
While it is closed and unable to host storytimes, the Mission Viejo Library has turned to Facebook to entertain youngsters through literature. On Mondays, the Library hosts an 11 am storytime, while its Readaloud program occurs Thursdays at 11 am. Visit https://www.facebook.com/MissionViejoLibrary/ to take part. Parents should also note that at family-friendly bingo happens on Wednesdays at 6 pm on the CMVL’s FB page as well.
Rancho Los Cerritos Online
Kids and parents can still attend Rancho Los Cerritos’ Tuesday storytimes, only now they’re done on YouTube. You’ll need to RSVP through the Rancho’s website to get a link for the free 11 am storytimes, which are aimed for children ages 5 and younger. The Rancho also has virtual summer camps: Time Travelers Camp arrives August 3-7 for kids ages 5-10, while the Re-Plugged Camp (ages 11-13) happens August 10-14. Camps require online registration.
OC Parks Virtual Experiences
While their in-person activities have been curtailed, the OC Parks is connecting with you through online content. Six days a week, they present new content centered around daily themes. #MondayMemories peeks into the park system’s historic collection while #TriviaTuesday tests your park knowledge. #WildlifeWednesday offers a park creature feature and #ThrowbackThursday goes totally retro. Enjoy a little learning on #FeatureFriday and take in some lovely views on #ScenicSaturday. Each week’s schedule is released on Sundays.
South Coast Rep’s Storytime
South Coast Rep pits a theatrical spin on their online Storytime series. These short videos (typically around 3-4 minutes) imaginatively pairs a book reading with stills from SCR’s own Theatre for Young Audiences productions. Selections include “The Velveteen Rabbit,” “Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, “Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook,” and “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”
Community Events
Epilepsy Walk Orange County
This year, the annual Epilepsy Walk will go virtual. This online kickoff fundraising event, on August 8 (8 am-10 am) will be a family fun festival, featuring entertainment, Epilepsy Super Heroes, special guests, a silent auction, and contests. Local epilepsy specialists and other ESNOC families will be participating too. Everyone is encouraged to join in with their own version of the Walk – it could be walking around your house, your neighborhood or a local park.
Camps, Classes & Crafts
Anaheim Library Kids Class
Does your child dig dinosaurs and other archaeological activities? Or maybe just likes making stuff with dough? Then consider signing up for this virtual class where youngsters will get to create salt dough fossils. Designed for school-aged children, this program will occur August 3 from 11:30 am-12 pm. It can be viewed on the Library’s Instagram or Facebook (@AnaheimLibrary), where prior videos can be found too.
Placentia Library’s STEAM Club
Monday afternoons at 3 pm in August, youngsters’ interest in science, technology, engineering, art, and math will boil over during the Library’s virtual STEAM Club session. Classes will be conducted on the Library’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PlacentiaLibrary/) and all the needed supplies will be listed in advance of the class. A variety of fun, educational videos are up too on the Library’s FB and YouTube pages. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnhosplweaCO5GLuGVtXpyw/playlists).
Ocean Institute’s Virtual Science Class
The Ocean Institute lets you explore sea life and marine ecology without leaving home. They have a handful of informative 30-minute weekday online lessons geared for varying grades and limited to 10 guests max. Classes include The House for a Hermit Crab lab (1st-2nd graders), Smiley the Shark lab (2nd-3rd graders), fish dissection and squid dissection lessons (4th graders and older) and a renewable energy class (6th graders and up). Sign up online.
Camp Discovery
Discovery Cube’s online summer camp will be holding its final week August 3-7. The variety of themes for these virtual camps include “Gizmos and Gadgets” for kids in grades 2-4; Space Camp for those in grades 3-5 and Planet Patrol for youngster in grades 4-6. It is recommended to register online as early as possible for these sessions because they have been selling out.
Wellness
Sound Meditation with Jody Theisen
This one-hour online session, taking place August 16 from 10 am-11 am, offers the unique opportunity to experience sonic vibrations virtually. The instruments you’ll be hearing will blend the magical with the mystical and are designed to develop a deeper sense of inner peace and calm. While not designed for youngsters, it is open to those who are old enough to properly participate in this 60-minute meditative experience.
Casa Romantica’s Virtual Yoga
Enjoy a little mid-week stretch by participating in this online yoga session, which will happen on Wednesday August 5 starting at 9 am. This class is aimed for adults; however, it is also for all levels of yoga skills, so the class could be suitable for children (particularly older ones) if they enjoy, and have some experience, doing yoga. Please RSVP online.
Festivals
Virtual OC Fair
Even though the traditional in-person OC Fair isn’t occurring this year, you can still get a fairly terrific Fair experience through the magic of the Internet. Taking place on ocfair.com and its social media channels through August 16, this virtual version will present an entertaining array of performances, contests, live events, and additional family-friendly activities (including puzzles, crafts, tours, trivia, and other games). Fun Run 5k will even occur too – online, of course!
Bowers Family Festival
Since they can’t welcome the public to the museum at the moment for a family festival, the Bowers has flipped these popular free events over to their Facebook page. The August festival is slated to be live streamed there on the 30th, beginning at 11 am. Although details are still being finalized, you can expect the festivities to feature performers, art projects and food recipes.
OC Zine Fest
The 7th edition of the OC Zine Fest is bound to be interesting as it goes digital this year. Done again in collaboration with the Anaheim Public Library, the creative festivities will take place August 22, from 11 am-4 pm, on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/oczinefest). A talented lineup of Zine creators will present a program of online workshops, digital readings, discussions, and studio tours in true DYI fashion.
Museum Events
Creating Anna’s Costume for Frozen 2
Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay, a visual development artist whose work on Walt Disney Animation Studios films includes Frozen 2, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, and Moana, will take participants through the creation of Anna’s costumes for Frozen 2 on August 29. This hour-long online presentation (1:30 pm-2:30 pm) isn’t classified a children’s program but could interest older kids who are Frozen or costume fans. Register in advance; ticketholders will receive a private link to view this session.
Walt Disney Archives Lecture Series: Photo Library Presentation
On August 9, Cesar Gallegos, Heather Hoffman and Mike Buckhoff from the Walt Disney Archives will discuss the origins of the 20th Century Fox/Disney Archives’ photography collection as well as highlight some of the iconic and rare images from this historic library. This one-hour online lecture (1:30 pm-2:30 pm) might be suitable, and of interest, to older children. Register in advance; ticketholders will receive a private link to view this session.
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