OC Moms Guide – April 2018

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april 2018Living in Orange County, there’s no shortage of fun family events happening at any given time. Instead of listing out every single event in our area, here’s a select few that we think look like really awesome activities your whole family might enjoy!

 

Bubblefest at the Discovery Science Center:

Now through April 8th

From their website: “Pop into Spring Break with this bubble spectacular, featuring hands-on family fun and the return of the Mega Bubblefest Laser Show! Bubblefest provides learners of all ages the opportunity to interact with bubble activities and learn more about the science behind the soapy fun. The festival demonstrates the science and mathematics of bubbles, such as their surface tension, elasticity, air pressure, molecular and geometric properties.”  

$10 plus admission to the Cube required. 

 

Knotts Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival:

Now through April 8th

From their website: “Knott’s Berry Farm is the birthplace of THE Boysenberry and each spring, Knott’s celebrates the flavorful berry and its historic roots during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival with unique food and live entertainment. The three-week food festival features over 75 one-of-a-kind boysenberry inspired dishes, drinks and more, plus foot-stompin’ entertainment, the Wine and Craft Brew Tasting Garden, and family fun everyone will love! From sun up to sun down, the festival offers good ol’ fashion food, fun and entertainment. Pick up a tasting card to sample a few of the most popular boysenberry dishes in the park. For guests with a hankerin’ for some live entertainment, the options are endless with live music throughout the park. The limited-time food festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm.”

Park tickets start at $50 per person but check for discounts like through AAA etc. 

 

Hello Kitty & Friends Presents “Little Farmer for A Day” Workshop at Tanaka Farms:

April 2nd – 6th

From their website: “Farmer Hello Kitty and her friends need help on the farm!  Kids will love working and learning at this fun and educational workshop right here at Tanaka Farms!  You’ll learn all about planting – drop seeds, transplant seedlings, care of plants and harvest vegetables to take home.  Enjoy the outdoors in this delightful thematic partnership with our friends at Sanrio! Note:  This workshop is a Parent & Child event.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by a paid adult.  No unattended children, please.”

$25 per person (children 4 and under free)

 

Kidstock! at Pretend City Children’s Museum:

April 2nd-8th

Thie family music event features live local musicians and DJs serving up music-themed activities as well as a “Paint Yard” installation where kids can paint a real life car. Groovy, huh? Pretend City will also have a special celebration for Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 27th. 

$12.50 general museum admission includes Kidstock!

 

Day Out With Thomas:

April 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th 

We had a super fun time attending this family event the last time it was in our area (check out our review here). Aspiring train engineers can ride on THE Thomas the tank engine, and enjoy a wide variety of other train-themed activities and entertainment at the Orange Empire Railway Museum. 

Tickets range from $16-25 (children 1 and under are free). 

 

Pixar Fest at the Disneyland Resort:

April 13th – September 3rd 

From their website: “Pixar Fest will celebrate these unbreakable bonds at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park with a one-of-a-kind celebration featuring the debut of an all-new nighttime spectacular and the return of 2 fan-favorite parades—in addition to new Pixar experiences, Characters, décor, atmospheric entertainment, limited-edition merchandise, and themed food & beverage options.” 

1 day park pass starts at $97 (children 3 and under are free). 

 

Imaginology at the OC Fair & Event Center:

April 13th-15th

From their website: “At Imaginology, kids and their families will not only see a world of wonder, but can participate in a wide range of fun and educational hands-on activities designed to inspire and encourage academic and career exploration.” Your kids will have so much fun at this event which sprawls across multiple indoor and outdoor venues at the fairgrounds, they won’t even realize they’re learning all about S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics). 

Free admission

 

Bolsa Chica Conservancy’s Earth Day Festival:

April 14th 

From their website: “The Bolsa Chica Earth Day Festival is a fun way to get outside and learn about the environment with the whole family! Visitors will have the opportunity to touch live snakes, count migrating birds, learn about pollution, test the water, and much more! Alongside a multitude of educational activity booths, the festival will include a jump tent, food sales, and guided tours of the reserve!” Come for the fun, stay for the lesson in how to be better to the Earth!

Free admission

 

For more Earth Day events throughout Orange County, check out this comprehensive list! http://www.orangecounty.net/html/earthday.html#anaheim

 

Shh! We Have a Plan” at Segerstrom Center For The Arts:

April 14th-15th

From the website: “Based on the Chris Haughton book of the same name, Shh! We Have a Plan is a nonverbal tale featuring magic, music and puppetry. Follow the delightful and surprising journey of a family adventuring through thewoods – when they see a beautiful bird perched high in a tree, each of these three madcap characters have a plan to capture it! Sounds simple, but the quest soon becomes an obsession and the obsession becomes the absurd! Where will it all end? Join us as the youngest teaches everyone that kindness and treating nature with respect is more important than getting what you want at any cost.” Sensory Friendly performance on April 14th at 10am. Free nature fair with live exotic birds in the lobby an hour before show time. 

Tickets start at $20. 

 

10th Annual Children’s Day at the Santa Ana Public Library:

April 21st 

This family-friendly public library event will features activities and entertainment for children, author meet & greets, book sales, and a resource fair. 

Free admission

 

Orange County Moms Blog Bloom Event:

April 21st

New & Expecting Moms please join us in celebrating your new bundles of joy! We will treat you to a breakfast with “mocktails” and a panel of experts for all of your questions. We will also have local artisans and vendors, Swag, and GIVEAWAYS!!

Tickets start at $12 (plus ticket service fee) and include admission, 5 raffle tickets, delicious food and beverage, access to our panel of experts for Q&A sessions about topics related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and infant care, plus more baby-centric fun!

 

Parent’s Night Out “Garden Party” At Lil Chef School:

April 27th 

From the website: “This is a great workshop for the parents to GO OUT and let your child have a fun-filled FRIDAY evening with us! Look your very best and join us for our fun, formal Garden Party. Lil’ Chefs will make a 3 course meal, learn manners and table etiquette, how to properly set a table, and how to fold cloth napkins. We will end our night playing games.”

$50 per child, $30 each additional sibling. Ages 3 and up. 

 

City Of STEM Science Festival at the Columbia Memorial Space Center:

April 28th 

Throughout the month of April, locations throughout Los Angeles county will be celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, with events sponsored by some of the biggest names in the industry like SpaceX, Boeing, and Virgin Orbit. This family-friendly party will include live music, food trucks, and tons of activities to engage kids of all ages. Also check out their April 7th event which features the opportunity to meet NASA astronaut Nicole Stott and literal rocket scientists, and STEM-themed activities. 

Free admission

 

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Hilary Feldstein Ratner
Follow me on Instagram @EcoFriendlyMama, Twitter @EcoFriendlyMa, and Pinterest @EcoFriendlyMama! Though I was born and raised in New York City, I've lived in SoCal for over ten years now and am proud to call this beautiful and diverse place my home. My husband and I have a son and baby daughter (whom I was 9 months pregnant with when this photo was taken!). Prior to becoming a mommy I spent several years in feature film publicity and acquisitions for Miramax and later as the Creative Executive for Hilary Swank Productions before seguing to the music industry where I did Online Communications for the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares. In my ample pre-parenthood free time, I also freelanced as a script analyst and screenwriter. I am fortunate now to be able to devote all my time to my family, but I still love to write so am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this blog! I am a foodie, avid traveler, environmentalist, preschool board member, and unabashed Disney nut. I can also be found writing about green parenting and eco-conscious living on my personal website, https://ecofriendlymama.com.