Fun Family Activities

Below are some fun activities found in Southern California that are related to the social studies units covered in grades 6-8. The events listed in RED do not have the current school year's date(s) available online. As soon as the dates are available I will update our information.

*Indicates events & museums that are eligible for extra credit.

SPECIAL EVENTS (listed in order by date)

EVENTS BY MONTH (listed in order by date)

September

*Civil War Reenactment in Huntington Beach

Greek Festival Long Beach

Stagecoach Days in Banning

Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point

Chinese Moon Festival in Riverside

LA Greek Festival

Greek Festival in Cardiff

Oceanside Harbor Days

Viking Festival in Vista



October

San Dimas Western Days

Seaside Highland Games in Ventura

*Civil War Reenactment in Corona

Fiddlers' Festival in Goleta

Little Italy Fest

Tournament of the Phoenix in Poway

Taste of Soul in Los Angeles

*Wild West Weekend in Moorpark

Japan America Kite Festival

Day of the Dead Celebration at the Autry

Dia de los Meurtos Festival in Oceanside


November

*Frontier Army Days at Fort Tejon

American Indian Arts Marketplace at the Autry

*Civil War Reenactment in Moorpark

Death Valley 49ers Encampment

Riley's Farm American Revolution


December

*Frontier Army Days at Fort Tejon

Hanukkah Family Festival at the Skirball

January

Japanese New Year Celebration Oshogatsu Family Festival in Los Angeles

Lunar New Year Festival at the Pacific Asia Museum

Train Days in Redlands

Asian New Year Lunar Fest in Riverside



February

Chinese New Year Dragon Parade & New Year Festival 1pm

Lunar New Year Festival in Alhambra

*Civil War Reenactment at Calico Ghost Town:click "Signature Events at Calico"

*Civil War Encampment in Simi Valley


March

*Civil War Reenactment in Vista

*Civil War Reenactment Vallecito Day in Vallecito Valley

Japan Family Day in Arcadia


April

*Civil War Reenactment at Prado Park in Chino

*Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival

*Civil War Reenactment in Woodland Hills

Japanese Cultural Bunka Sai Festival in Torrance


May

*Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo in San Diego

Railroad Days in Fullerton

*Civil War Reenactment in Costa Mesa

OC Greek Fest in Ahaheim

*Pirate Festival in San Diego

Sicilian Festival in San Diego

Scots Fest in Costa Mesa

Greek Festival Northridge



June

Greek Festival in Camarillo

Inter-Tribal Powwow in Oceanside

Irish Fair at Irvine Lake

Irish Fair in Long Beach

Japanese Obon Festival in West Covina

Old Miner Days at Big Bear Lake

Scottish Highland Games in San Diego

Pirate Invasion of Belmont Pier in Long Beach



July

Mountaineer Days in Wrightwood

Pechanga Pow Wow

South Bay Greek Festival in Redondo Beach

Renaissance Festival in San Luis Obispo

Old Miners Days at Big Bear Lake

Day of the Cowboy & Cowgirl at the Autry

Dragon Boat Festival in Long Beach

Japanese Obon Festival in Vista


August

Big Bear Renaissance Fair

Japanese Festival Nisei Week in Los Angeles

Norco Mounted Posse Rodeo

Huntington Beach Civil War Days

Greek Festival Long Beach

African Art & Music Festival in Los Angeles


ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Archaeology Activities in California
Dig State by State Guide

*Autry Museum
Gold Rush and other family activities

Buddhist Temple in Hacienda Heights
Hsi Lai Temple

*Calico Ghost Town
Yermo

Catalina Island
Chamber of Commerce

*China Town (LA)
Events & Guided Walking Tours
Self-Guided Walking Tour

*Chinese American Museum
Los Angeles

Discovery Science Center
Dino Quest

Getty Villa in Malibu
Roman Villa and Greek and Roman Artifacts

IMAX Theater at the California Science Center
IMAX

Japanese Events
Calendar

La Brea Tar Pits
Museum

*Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano

*Museum of Tolerance Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum
Los Angeles

Natural History Museum
Los Angeles

Pacific Asia Museum
Silk Road Exhibit
Pasadena

*Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Yorba Linda

*Riley's Farm
Colonial Farm Life Adventure, Revolutionary War Adventure & Civil War Adventure

*Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Simi Valley

Skirball Museum
Dig It!
Journeys of the Jewish People
Noah's Ark

The Old Globe Shakespeare Theater
San Diego

Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
Family Performances

*Wells Fargo Stagecoach Museum
Los Angeles

Of course, exploring the games and websites for each unit included on this website is always big fun as well :).


ADDITIONAL SITES TO CHECK FOR ACTIVITIES

Celtic Arts Center of Southern California

Civil War Alliance (Reinactments)

Entertainment

Experience LA

Orange County Festivals and Events