1. Brentwood Country Mart Movie Night – Monday
The Brentwood Country Mart hosts free classic kids movies every Monday night in the South Courtyard. This week its Tim Burton’s James and the Giant Peach (PG). Make it dinner and a movie: bring a picnic blanket, grab some chicken and fries at Reddi Chick, and enjoy the show.

2. Summer Evening Campfire at the King Gillette Ranch – Tuesday
LA days are hot, but the nights can be chilly. Warm up at the King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas where Tuesday night is campfire night. Follow the signs to the amphitheater, and be prepared to toast marshmallows.

3. Levitt Pavilion Pasadena Summer Music Festival – Wednesday
Throughout the summer, Monday and Wednesday evenings in Pasadena mean a free concert at Memorial Park. The Wednesday events are geared especially for kids. This week features a clowning troupe: The Funky Punks.

4. Free evening at MOCA – Thursday
Let’s face it, sometimes our kids are up for the museum and sometimes they are not. Fortunately, Thursday nights at the Museum of Contemporary Art are always free. The only investment you will be making is the drive downtown. If art doesn’t grab the kids, they will certainly enjoy walking around Frank Geary’s gleaming Disney Concert Hall, which is just across the street.

5. The Sound of Music: Luther Burbank Middle School Auditorium – Friday
The hills are alive with the sound of music, and so is beautiful downtown Burbank. A great show with classic songs, singing nuns, and nasty Nazis. This one is for the whole family.