PlayMap Picks
Six outings worth planning around — from a free toddler party to a one-hour craft you take home.
When: Fri, Oct 30 and Sat, Oct 31, 10 AM–9 PM; procession each evening
Where: Olvera Street, 125 Paseo de la Plaza, Downtown Los Angeles
Price: Free; face painting costs extra
Best for: Families who want a cultural night out and can stay for an hour rather than the whole festival
Why we picked it: Nine days of altars, marigolds and food stalls fill one short downtown block, and the evening procession is led by Aztec dancers — a genuine, walkable family evening rather than a staged attraction.
Parent tip: Come for the procession rather than the full nine days. The ceremony honors a merchant family or community member each night, and free sweet bread and drinks are handed out. Street parking downtown is the hard part — plan a walk from a station.
When: Sat, Oct 31, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
Where: Bob Lucas Memorial Library, 2659 Lincoln Avenue, Altadena
Price: Free
Best for: Babies and toddlers (ages 0–5) with a caregiver; sensory-friendly
Why we picked it: A two-hour celebration built for the youngest crowd — early literacy, play and gentle Halloween fun, with no ticket, no signup pressure and no late finish.
Parent tip: It is the shortest, softest option on this list. Come for the first hour, skip the late-morning rush, and be out before nap time is truly gone.
When: Sat, Oct 31, 2 PM
Where: Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th Street, Santa Monica
Price: $15 for children 12 and under; $17.50 for adults
Best for: Families with a 4-to-10-year-old who will sit through a 60-minute show
Why we picked it: An interactive family musical where the audience casts the spells — the kids are participants, not spectators, and the 2 PM slot lands before bedtime.
Parent tip: The theatre asks families to arrive early, and children need to stay with an adult for the whole show. Book ahead: the Saturday matinee is the one people fight for.
When: Sat, Oct 31, 9 AM–5 PM
Where: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge
Price: Included with garden admission or membership — not a free event
Best for: Families who will spend the whole day outdoors and are already thinking about a garden membership
Why we picked it: Trick-or-treating through a real garden, plus the Pumpkin Express ride and daytime activities that keep a five-year-old moving for hours.
Parent tip: This is admission, not free entry — budget it or use a membership. Face-obscuring masks are not allowed, and costume expectations are casual rather than mandatory.
When: Fri, Oct 30, 12:30–1 PM
Where: Downey City Library, 11121 Brookshire Avenue, Downey
Price: Free — registration was closed when checked October 29
Best for: Spanish-speaking families with babies and toddlers (ages 0–5)
Why we picked it: A hands-on music and movement hour in Spanish — songs, percussion and dancing that a two-year-old can join without a word of English.
Parent tip: Ask the Info Desk about the 12-week series and whether a seat is held for drop-ins. Registration was closed when we checked, so confirm before driving over.
When: Sun, Nov 1, 11 AM (also 1, 2 and 3 PM)
Where: Marine Mammal Care Center, 3601 S Gaffey Street, Suite 8, San Pedro
Price: $1 booking fee per participant, waivable
Best for: School-age kids (ages 8+) with a patient streak for animal science
Why we picked it: A one-hour expert-led session with patient viewing and an interactive exhibit hall — the kind of outing that answers the "why" questions a museum usually leaves open.
Parent tip: The fee is waivable, so ask at the desk. Children under 13 need an adult with them, and this is a talk-and-watch session rather than a touch-tank stop.
