Family-Friendly Spring Festivals In LA
The rain is gone and spring is here. Boots and sweaters have been put away and out come the sandals and sundresses. Outdoor and indoor festivals all over Los Angeles will now be celebrating the weather and the sunshine. These are often family-oriented events that will encourage Angelenos, young and old, to dance, sing and eat as they welcome the season of rebirth. Consider the following ideas to enjoy art, culture, music and tradition in the upcoming months.Related: The Cutest Baby Animals
Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival
Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio
24715 Oakcreek Ave.
Newhall, CA 91321
(661) 250-3735
April 18 through 21
www.cowboyfestival.orgCelebrate the spring cowboy style at this year's Cowboy Festival with four days of great music, vendors and food. Some of the talent scheduled includes Grammy-award winners Riders in the Sky, cowboy poet Baxter Black, the Sons of the San Joaquin and the swing band Hot Club of Cowtown. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this event and it promises to celebrate it grandly.
Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival
Barnes Park
350 S. McPherrin Ave.
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 307-1390
April 20 and 21
www.ci.monterey-park.ca.usSurround yourself in Japanese culture at this festival that is both entertaining and educational. Traditional Japanese dances, Taiko drums, Sumo wrestling, martial arts, origami crafts, food, a tea ceremony and a kimono fashion show are all part of the activities scheduled. This year is the 15th tribute to the beauty of Japanese culture in Monterey Park.
Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-3113
April 26
www.lamc.orgBring beautiful sounds into your spring by attending the Los Angeles Master Chorale High Choir Festival free of charge at the Walt Disney Hall. The talents of about 850 high school students selected from 25 local schools will be showcased on this date. Attendance is free but a ticket is needed. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on concert day starting at 9 a.m.
California Strawberry Festival
Strawberry Meadows of College Park
3250 S. Rose Ave.
Oxnard, CA 93033
(805) 385-4739
May 18 and 19
www.strawberry-fest.orgAlready an annual tradition, this festival celebrates the region's agriculture and its delicious fruit. Here you will find an assortment of foods and drinks created with strawberries, as well as cooking demos and articles for purchase. The kids' area includes puppet shows, rides, music and more. Using the free shuttle saves you the $10 for parking. Visit the website listed above to see the locations off the 101 freeway where you can take the shuttle.
Getty Center Family Festival
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 440-7300
June 8
www.getty.eduThis day-long family-oriented festival at the museum's courtyard will celebrate the gardens of the Renaissance. Your family will learn how to create a garden or craft a flower wreath in the workshops that are part of the event. In close relation to the exhibit entitled "Gardens of the Renaissance," the activities of the day will allow you to enjoy music from the 15th and 16th centuries and stories of far-away places recited by well-known storytellers. The event is free of charge but you must have a ticket. Visit the website listed above to reserve one.
Dena Burroughs is a freelance writer living in Azusa, CA. She is a CSULA graduate with specialties in Creative Writing and Communications. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
