The school year is coming to a close, and like it or not, summer has arrived! Hopefully you can enjoy some family fun right here at home before the craziness of camps and vacations takes over. Here are my top 5 family activities for this weekend: 



(Photo by www.Futureatlas.com via Flickr.com)

1) If you gave birth to human children and not robot children (It happens! Well, according the the SyFy Channel...) then they probably love cars, fire trucks, and anything else that moves people from one place to another. In Woodland Hills at the Warner Center Park on Saturday the 31st you can satisfy your children’s fascination for vehicles and your parental fascination/obsession with safety by attending the LAPD Annual Car Show and Safety Fair. It’s free and open from 9-3 to the public. Cars, Motorcycles, a Helicopter, the Bomb Squad...it will be the most entertaining (and SAFEST) place in the Valley!


2)  Who doesn’t like to wear an aluminum hat and make grunion origami? Right??? The Cabrillo Aquarium is hosting the Grunion Fish-tival on Friday the 30th at 7pm and this is the place to be if you like fishy fun. Hatch grunion eggs, touch live tide pool animals, and test your “GQ (Grunion quotient). Visit www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org for info. Wearing an aluminum hat helps you greet the grunion and shield yourself from the cosmic rays of the moon, and if that doesn’t motivate you, it also means you will get in FREE! So grab that box of Reynolds Wrap and get to work...


3) I, like many of you, hate to run. Hate it. However, I have had the experience of doing a “Family Fun Run” in the past with my oldest son and I have to say, running with your kids is way more fun than you would expect. Here’s a great way to give it a go while having a totally, like, LA experience. Register for the Run to the Hollywood Sign on June 1st and support the Hollywood Wilshire YMCA. The family fun walk/run isn’t too expensive and will be a great chance to get outdoors and do something memorable with your kids. The website www.hollywoodsignrun.org has info. And yes, you serious runner types with the headbands and shiny tight pants, there are longer courses too, if you’re into that kind of stuff. I’ll be on the sidelines with a Fudgesicle cheering you on.


4)  A family that plays together will have no choice but to attend the Great Big Family Play Day on Sunday, June 1st,  at the Pan-Pacific Park by the Grove. “Play” is  right there in the title! Music, interactive family activities, and art experience by the Zimmer Museum, and so much more including The Great Big Raffle will be going on starting at 11 am and the tickets are totally affordable. You might want to get them online, however, as they expect to sell out. Visit www.greatbigfamilyplayday.com for info. 


5) Once upon a time there were little mean weeds that were attacking the sweet little sunflowers and they were very frightened. But soon a bunch of volunteers..ahem..”Lady and Lords in Waiting” went to rescue them with the kingdom of the “Mountains Restoration Trust” and magical “Tree People”. Saturday the 31st from 8:30-12:15 at the Peter Strauss Ranch you can help these noble folk pull weeds in a secret area. Call 818 591 1701 Ext 0 to RSVP. And in the end, the mean weeds will be beaten and the cute sunflowers will live happily ever after. I do think I get extra points on this blog for not making any kind of joke about “Mean Weed”.


You can always get more LA Kids Activities by following me on Twitter @nickerberger and checking out the hashtag #buzzLA. Also check out my show “The Buzz” at www.cityofcalabasas.com or on Channel 3 in the West Valley. Here’s this week’s episode with all these events and more: http://youtu.be/XWAXyfJH5AU. I’ll be back next Thursday with more fun family activities!

It’s Memorial Day Weekend and the weather should be good enough to head outside and create a little family fun. Or at least go somewhere else and listen to your kids argue... 

Here are my top 5 family activities for this weekend: 





(Photo by Mitchell Joyce via Flickr.com)

1) Do you ever feel like it’s getting harder and harder to put down the electronics and have some old fashion family fun? Well this Memorial Day weekend head out to Topanga Days in Topanga Canyon for 3 legged races, pie eating contests, water balloons, and more. The 3-day festival starts on Saturday, May 24th, and runs through Monday, May 26th. Visit www.topangadays.com for info on parking and hours. There’s even a PARADE!!! Plus something they call a “Baby Derby”. Not sure what that means, but I know I have GOT to see it. And possibly bet on it.

2) WHO DOESN’T LOVE A PARADE? If you can’t make it over to Topanga for their Monday morning event, head east instead and hit the Memorial Days Parade held in Canoga Park. Monday the 26th find your spot on the parade that runs from Sherman Way and Owensmouth and ends on Sherman Way and the First Baptist Church of Canoga Park. The parade jumps into full gear at 10 am. http://cpwhchamber.org/25th-annual-memorial-day-parade/ has the details. 

3) The 25th annual Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival provides family fun, May 24-25, at Rancho Santa Susanna Community Park, 5005 Los Angeles Ave., in Simi Valley. Both days feature nonstop music from noon to 7:30 and Mardi Gras Parade at 4, plus two full stages full of music and FREE PARKING! Sometimes the parking situation can make or break an event for me....Tickets are $22 adults 13+ ($20 online until May 1) and $15 children 7-12, and are available online at www.simicajun.org or at the gate. 

4) Northridge is getting GREEK Saturday through Monday, 1-9 pm at 9501 Balboa Blvd when they celebrate the St. Nicholas Valley Greek Festival. There will be amazing Greek food, music, dancing, vendors, and fun. They had me at Greek food... Head to www.valleygreekfestival.com for details. And save me a gyro, would ya?

5) Sometimes you need an event that’s just a little less overwhelming than a big parade. So here’s a fun idea, head to Travel Town in Griffith Park and then keep driving to the next driveway and you will see the Live Steamers. Take your kids riding on these miniature trains that are open to the public on Sundays from 11-3 only and run by volunteers. It’s a suggested donation of $3 and is close enough to the park to visit other activities there or just head home and call it a day. Either way, you will feel like the dad on “Silver Spoons” (high five if you know what I’m referring to!). Info at www.lals.org.

You can always get more LA Kids Activities by following me on Twitter @nickerberger and checking out the hashtag #buzzLA. Also check out my show “The Buzz” at www.cityofcalabasas.com or on Channel 3 in the West Valley. Here’s this week’s episode with all these events and more: http://youtu.be/MYIDtbrVt28. I’ll be back next Thursday with more fun family activities!

THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE VALLEY THIS WEEK 
by Laura Nickerson, host of “The Buzz”: 



(photo by Thomas Hawk via Flickr.com)

If your kids are like mine, staying indoors for “relaxing family time” on the weekends sends them into a Tasmanian Devil level of hyper overdrive, so I’m always motivated to find something cool to do that the kids can run off some of their energy. Here are my top 5 family activities for this weekend: 

1) Up for a big adventure? If you are a Strawberry lover it’s totally worth it to take the drive up that pesky 101 to Oxnard for the California Strawberry Festival www.strawberry-fest.org Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th from 10-6:30. Every possible combination of food with strawberries will be present and accounted for, plus fun activities like a Pie Eating Contest, Strawberry Relay Race, and even Berry Hat and Berry Baby Costume Contests. Seriously, no berry is left unturned. A little insider info on the driving: the freeway can get a little crowded so make allowances (and bring snacks) for time. Also, they have a park and ride shuttle service that will save you the 10 bucks on parking.  Take that and your day will go a little smoothie...I mean smoother. You’ll be jammin. Sorry about the puns, to me they are berry funny.


2) Staying with a fruity theme, how about combining some outdoor fun with a little community give back? Then teach those kiddies how to do for others by taking them to a fruit pick over the weekend and feel good knowing that the “fruits” of your labor will go directly to local agencies that serve those in need. There are several times over the weekend in different locations throughout West Hills, Granada Hills, and Northridge, so visit foodforward.org/2014/05/citrus-sunday/ for times and places, plus a chance to sign up. It’s important to show your kids-and remind yourself-how great you have it and how great it feels to put in a little time helping those who are not so lucky.


3) WorldFest 2014 is an eco-conscious, vegan-friendly, solar-powered, and family friendly festival at Woodley Park in Van Nuys on Sunday the 18th from 10:30-7:00 and bills itself as “Cochella” that you can bring the kids to. I think that’s because of the music lineup which is impressive, but it also has empowering speakers, environmental, humanitarian and animal welfare non-profits, and kids activities. So, not really Cochella-ish, but still sounds refreshing and fun and the tickets are totally reasonable. Check the website for details: www.worldfestevents.com. You will feel like a better human just for going.


4) Speaking of being a better human, there is a SUPER cool event happening at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas called the Relay for Life. It’s a 24 hour continuous walk starting at 9 am on Saturday May 17th that fundraises for the American Cancer Society and it’s really breathtaking to see the tents pitched all across the football field as families, cancer survivors, and those honoring family and friends who have lost their battle with the disease. Even with it’s deeper purpose, the event is a total blast with music and fun, plus a ton of kids all camping out together while team members switch off walking the track. It’s not too late to get involved so visit www.relayforlife.org/calabasasca for info. 


5) This weekend is so full of great choices, and it wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the Topanga Banjo-Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival at Paramount Ranch on Sunday, May 18th. The contest starts at 9:30 and there is a ton of fun  music and dancing throughout the day. Kids will love the Wild West feel of the ranch and you will love the family fun and community spirit. Go to www.topangabanjofiddle.org for more details. Steve Martin loves the banjo, you should too!



Just as a reminder, you Mommies need to get out of the house and have some fun! So tonight head out to the M Bar at 7:30 for MOMMY TONK. Thanks to the gals at Expressing Motherhood for the heads-up! 



You can always get more LA Kids Activities by following me on Twitter @nickerberger and checking out the hashtag #buzzLA. Also check out my show “The Buzz” at www.cityofcalabasas.com or on Channel 3 in the West Valley. Here’s this week’s episode with all these events and more: http://youtu.be/tSMXZfjeBdU. I’ll be back next Thursday with more fun family activities!

THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE VALLEY THIS WEEK by guest blogger Laura Nickerson, host of “The Buzz”:

1) You can’t miss out on celebrating Cinco De Mayo with your family this weekend, and the Cinco de Mayo at Olvera Street in Downtown LA is the real deal: mariachis, pinatas, folklorico dancers, food, and tons of live music. The party is noon-10pm on Sat the 3rd and continues through Sun the 4th from 12-8pm. I know my Valley peeps, we hate going that far. However, if you take the red line metro from Universal City to Union Station you won’t need to deal with parking. Or driving. Or other people driving. It’s a win-win-win.

2)May 4th is “Parents of Preemies” day and the Providence Tarzana Hospital is holding an event to celebrate and recognize the courage and commitment of parents of premature babies. It’s from 10am to noon at Providence Tarzana Medical Center, 18321 Clark St in Tarzana. Head over to the free event for food, entertainment for kids, and a chance to connect with other parents of preemies.

3) If your kids love art, or just love making enough drawings to fill up your refrigerator door, take them to another great free event in the Valley, the Calabasas Fine Arts Festival. It’s 10am-5pm May 3 & 4 the at the Commons at Calabasas 4799 Commons Way, Calabasas. I went last year to this really well done event, so I can attest that it’s fun for you and has tons or kid activities for the budding artist. Plus, your significant other can find some great gifts for Mother’s Day. Hint, hint. Because those “Love Coupons” just won’t cut it this year, know what I’m sayin???

4) If your kids are into baseball (or you are), there’s a cool new exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Library at 40 Presidential Drive in Simi Valley called “Baseball! The Exhibition” that features iconic baseball memorabilia including artifacts from Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, the LA Dodgers, and more. It’s open 10-5 all weekend and is a lot of fun for baseball lovers. If that’s not you, send your kids and spouse and take the day for yourself! You are allowed to do that, you know. Visit reaganfoundation.org for info and tickets. 

5) Ok Dog People (you know who you are), you are not alone. There’s a whole bunch of you getting together at the 2nd annual Pawsapalooza Dog Walk and Festival on Sunday the 4th from 9-2pm at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. It’s Dogtastic, Dogalicious, and bound to be a little DogDrooly too. Visit www.pawsla.org for info. Admission is only $10 and kids under 10 are free so it’s a fantastic thing to do with your family! Just watch where you step...

You can always get more LA Kids Activities by following me on Twitter @nickerberger and checking out the hashtag #buzzLA. Also check out my show “The Buzz” at www.cityofcalabasas.com or on Channel 3 in the West Valley. Here’s this week’s episode with all these events and more: http:// youtu.be/b7EbtC-_PVg. I’ll be back next Thursday with more fun family activities!