SUMMER FREEBIES FOR KIDS & THEIR FAMILIES
Contributed by Nora Feldman, Youth Arts Editor

Free events for kids and their families abound during the long, lazy summer days. 

Here are a few suggestions for free activities that my family has taken advantage of in the past. 

Monday Morning 10:00 a.m. Concerts for Children are free at the Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park through August.  The Monday Morning Concert Series brings together professional musicians and school-age children for mornings of performance, a brief history on the musical style, and a question and answer session. 

LA, Burbank and other local libraries offer 4 – 6 week free summer reading programs designed for kids toddler and up, which include weekly multi-cultural entertainment and parties/prizes on the final day.  Even if you’ve missed the sign-up or might miss a session or two due to vacation, these programs are great for kids and make reading fun.  My son started in the Burbank program when he was two, and as a high school sophomore is a good reader today.  In addition, the Burbank Libraries are offering free movies over the summer at the Main Library.  For further information contact your local library branch. 

The Getty Family Festival, the Getty, 1200 Getty Center Drive, LA (310) 440-7300 or www.getty.edu on various Saturdays throughout the year this daylong celebration brings to life an era of art through storytelling, dance, theatre and live music - - Renaissance, Ancient Greece or Medieval - - kids engage in workshops designed to incorporate the style of the time.  

Outdoor Picture Show transforms the IKEA courtyard at Media City Center into a theatre under the stars.   The feature length films are family-friendly and are selected to have a broad appeal for all ages.  Universal City Walk is offering a similar program.

Check your local paper for announcements of events.