Explore LAThis week in Los Angeles with kids
Guide dates: September 28–October 4, 2026.
A little Halloween play, a free museum afternoon, trains and bilingual storytime: here are the full planning details behind this week’s seven family picks. Choose what fits your week—you do not need a packed calendar to have a good outing.
All times are local to Los Angeles. Monday–Friday are suggested visit days for ongoing attractions; Saturday and Sunday are dated events. Admission availability can change. Official booking pages have the final say.
Spider Pavilion at the Natural History Museum
Start with a closer look at real spiders and their webs. NHM’s seasonal walk-through pavilion and enclosed spider habitats make this a practical pick for children who enjoy animals and nature.
- When
- Monday, September 28. Museum hours: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; select a separate timed Spider Pavilion session when booking. The seasonal exhibition runs September 20–December 6, 2026.
- Where
- Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, in Exposition Park.
- Cost
- Spider Pavilion: $10 add-on plus required museum admission; free for members. Museum admission is $18 adults, $14 seniors and students/youth ages 13–17, $7 ages 3–12, and free for ages 2 and under. Check the ticket selector for the child’s add-on category.
- Good for
- Curious children comfortable seeing live spiders. This is a nature exhibit, not a haunted attraction.
- Plan ahead
- Advance tickets are recommended. NHM’s car park is listed at $20 per car; Expo/USC and Expo/Vermont are nearby Metro options.
Spider Pavilion details and ticket link · Museum admission and hours · Parking and transit
Getty Center
Art, gardens and city views give families room to choose their own pace. Make it a short gallery visit with time outdoors, rather than trying to see the entire museum in one outing.
- When
- Tuesday, September 29, 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. This is a suggested visit day during regular opening hours.
- Where
- 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049, in Brentwood.
- Cost
- Admission is free with a required timed-entry reservation. Parking is $25 per car, or $15 after 3 p.m.; parking payment is cashless.
- Good for
- Families who enjoy art, architecture and gardens; choose a small number of galleries to suit your children.
- Plan ahead
- Reserve your entry time and allow time for parking and the trip up to the museum. The Getty Center is closed Mondays; some galleries are also closed for renovations.
Reserve free Getty Center admission · Getty family-visit tips
Halloween at Kidspace
Costume parades, pumpkin bowling and imaginative Halloween activities bring a playful seasonal outing to Pasadena. Costumes are encouraged; the Halloween programming is included with museum admission.
- When
- Wednesday, September 30, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Halloween parades are listed at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The seasonal program runs September 18–October 31.
- Where
- Kidspace Children’s Museum, 480 North Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91103.
- Cost
- $17 for adults and children ages 1 and up; $15 for seniors 62 and up. Infants under 1 and members are free. Rose Bowl Lot I parking is free.
- Good for
- Families with children ages 10 and under, the museum’s stated audience. Children must stay with an adult.
- Plan ahead
- Book a timed admission ticket. Kidspace is cashless and is open Tuesday–Sunday.
Halloween activities and tickets · Kidspace hours, admission and parking
Noah’s Ark at the Skirball
A wooden ark filled with imaginative animals invites children to climb, build and play. Thursday’s free admission makes this a useful pick when you can reserve a time before it fills.
- When
- Thursday, October 1. The Skirball opens at noon and closes at 5 p.m.; Noah’s Ark itself closes at 4:30 p.m. Visits use 90-minute timed-entry slots.
- Where
- Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90049, in the Sepulveda Pass.
- Cost
- Free on Thursdays; parking is free.
- Good for
- All ages; the Skirball says ages 2–9 tend to get the most engagement from Noah’s Ark.
- Plan ahead
- Reserve Noah’s Ark timed entry in advance, specifically—not only general museum admission. Same-day Noah’s Ark tickets cannot be booked online; limited walk-up tickets are not guaranteed. At least one adult is required per four children.
Noah’s Ark details and timed reservations · Skirball visitor information
Travel Town Museum
Take a slower Friday outing among historic locomotives in Griffith Park. The museum grounds work well as a focused train-loving stop, with a miniature train ride available separately if it fits your budget.
- When
- Friday, October 2, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. This is a regular museum visit, not a special one-day event.
- Where
- 5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027, in Griffith Park.
- Cost
- Museum admission and parking are free. Miniature train rides have a separate charge.
- Good for
- Train enthusiasts and families looking for a free museum outing.
- Plan ahead
- Check the train operator’s current ride hours and prices if you want that add-on. The museum gift shop closes at 4:45 p.m.; Travel Town is temporarily closed Mondays.
Boo Bash at Burbank Adult School
Burbank Parent Education Council’s Halloween gathering features games, a family photo booth, soft play, a costume parade and treats. The organizer’s 2026 flyer describes it as not-so-spooky family fun.
- When
- Saturday, October 3, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. The organizer’s sensory-friendly early hour is 9:30–10:30 a.m.; early admission also welcomes parties with children under 18 months.
- Where
- Burbank Adult School, 3811 West Allan Avenue, Burbank, CA 91505.
- Cost
- $5 presale per adult or child through October 2; $7 door tickets on October 3. The ticket selector lists a free infant category for 0–6 months.
- Good for
- Families with younger children; use the dedicated early hour when the organizer’s sensory-friendly session fits your family.
- Plan ahead
- Buy through the 2026 organizer ticket page. Its infant descriptions conflict with the age bands in the ticket names: confirm with the organizer before relying on free entry for a child 6–11 months old. Parking arrangements are not specified on the ticket page.
Cuentitos con Crafts
End the week with a free bilingual story-and-craft session from Café con Libros Press. Stories in English and Spanish and a hands-on activity make this a focused family outing in downtown Pomona.
- When
- Sunday, October 4, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
- Where
- Café con Libros Press, 280 West 2nd Street, Pomona, CA 91766.
- Cost
- Free. The organizer’s listing says an RSVP is not required and lists free parking.
- Good for
- Families who enjoy stories and crafts in English and Spanish. The listing does not specify a narrow age range.
- Plan ahead
- Parents are asked to stay and supervise their children. Pomona is farther east than the other picks; allow extra travel time from Burbank or the Valley.
Keep exploring
Save this guide for the week, then find a nearby stop or another plan for your family.
