Arts and Crafts at South Coast Plaza

It's time for the annual Festival of Children at South Coast Plaza. The festival brings awareness to children's needs in our community while creating fun for children through wonderful arts events. I would like to highlight the arts and crafts workshops for any of you with budding fine artists. Starting September 4th, every Saturday and Sunday through the 26th from 12:00-4:00 various organizations including Bowers Kidseum, Children's Museum at La Habra, among others, will host art's and crafts while supplies last. This event is free. So get there early and have fun!!

Target Free Days at your local Museums

The generous, supportive, people at Target offer "Target Free Days" providing free admission to our best local museums. This is a significant savings for families. Thank you Target! Click on below to see participating museums. Target Free Days

Free Admission to Museums September 25,2010!

Smithsonian Magazine is hosting Museum Day on September 25, 2010!  Free Admission to ticket holder and 1 guest.
Click smithsonianmag.com/museumday to get your free ticket for two! This site will give you a complete list of participating museums in California.
Orange County Participants include
Laguna Art Museum
Huntington Beach International Surf Museum
Bowers Museum
Click on site, get ticket, and find your favorite museum!!

Family Friendly Museums/Orange County

The Bowers Museum/Kidseum-Santa Ana

http://bowers.org/

Value-Free admission to Santa Ana residents on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of every month, children under 6, and free to everyone on the first Sunday of the month thanks to Target's First Sunday Free promotion. Kidseum $6.00 for age 3 and up.

Otherwise it's $12.00 for adults, $9.00 for children and seniors. Parking is $2.00
Facilities-No Children's Dining at either Bowers or Kidseum, however, restaurants close by. Important Note: Kidseum is not located at Bowers Museum. It is down the street. See web site for directions.
Fun Activities- Great Family Festivals and events. Features cultural events as well as seasonal. Check their calendar of events on website. Wonderful hands-on projects.
Education-Docents and trained activity facilitators lead Activity Tours and Thematic Tours which include everything from playing musical instruments to creating folk art.
Museum Mom Rating-!!!
3 exclamation points for fun and educational aspects and relative value.

Orange County Museum of Art

http://ocma.org/
Value-Target Free Second Sundays otherwise $12.00 for Adults, children under 12 free
Facilities- Nothing specific geared towards families. No Restaurants. However, the huge shopping mall Fashion Island is located nearby and contains restaurants.
Fun-Seasonal workshops, check out web site for calendar of events.

Education- Occasional Workshops

Museum Mom Rating !!
2 exclamation points for Target Free Second Sunday and occasional workshops

The Irvine Museum-Irvine

http://irvinemuseum.org/
Value - Admission and Parking are free.
Facilities-The museum is located on the bottom floor of an office building in a business district near John Wayne Airport
Fun Activities-None geared toward families or children
Education- Besides school tours and beautiful must-see art, their is no real art education activities specifically for families.
Museum Mom Rating !
1 exclamation point for free parking , admission, and incredible art.

Laguna Beach Art Museum

http://lagunaartmuseum.org/
Value- $12.00 for adults Children under 12 free
Facilities- Children's art display, but nothing hands on.
Fun-An occasional workshop, interesting art, children's gallery. Beach next door!

Education-Occasional Workshops but nothing regularly scheduled for families

Museum Mom rating !
One exclamation point for being near beach.

One noteworthy museum which does not house fine art but is fun for the family is The Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. Not specifically geared towards families, but great if you have children who love surfing and the beach.

Surfing Museum
http://surfingmuseum.org/