Patch Parents: Best Things To Do With Kids In August In California

Summer isn't over yet! There's still plenty of time and plenty of family-friendly things to do this summer in California.

It isn't hard to plan an end-of-summer family getaway with beautiful beaches, various national parks and thrilling theme and water parks all up and down the Golden State.

There are also a variety of kid-friendly events in August, including a number of county fairs taking place across the Golden State, attracting thousands of fairgoers with festive entertainment, food and fun.

Here are some of the best things to do with kids in August in California.

Northern California

Cheer on talented pups. The World Dog Surfing Championships take place Aug. 2 at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica. In addition to the four-legged surf competition, the event will feature a dog beach fashion contest, dog adoptions and other activities.

End summer at the fair. Families can still get their fill of fair fun with thrilling carnival games and rides, big-name and small-town concerts, prize-winning exhibits, adorable farm animals, and crave-worthy food. In fact, many county fairs in Northern California take place late summer. Butte County Fair runs Aug. 21-24, Humboldt County Fair runs Aug. 16-24, Lake County Fair runs Aug. 28-31, Napa Town and Country Fair runs Aug. 7-10, Sonoma County Fair runs Aug. 1-10, and Yolo County Fair runs Aug. 13-17.

Enjoy summer berry season. Summer Harvest Days takes place Aug. 2-3 at various farms in the Apple Hill area of El Dorado County. From picking berries to enjoying baked goods, the event will celebrate summer with activities that feature berries, plums, peaches, jams, and other seasonal treats.

Experience the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown under the Big Top. Circus Vargas will bring its tour to Northern California. The circus will stop Aug. 14-25 in Petaluma and then move on to Roseville starting Aug. 29.

Get an early start to apple season. Apple season arrives early at Gravenstein Apple Fair. The fair, held during the peak of Gravenstein apple harvest, is slated Aug. 9-10 in Sebastopol. The 52nd fair will feature hands-on demonstrations, farm animals, panels, presentations, live music, tastings and vendors. A kids' area will offer hands-on activities, a hay maze, old engines display, scavenger hunt and more. There will also be ag-inspired games and contests and a Charles M. Schulz Museum area.

Visit a national park. National parks will waive entrance fees for everyone on Aug. 4 in celebration of the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act. The Great American Outdoors Act, passed in 2020, provides funding to improve infrastructure and expand recreation opportunities in national parks and other public lands. It's one of several free entrance days this year.

Central California

Celebrate all things cars. Monterey Car Week is a weeklong celebration of automotive excellence held on the Monterey Peninsula. The annual event is dedicated to classic cars, luxury automobiles and motorsports. The family-friendly event features auto shows, races, classic car parades, interactive exhibits, auctions and unveilings. There's also a dedicated kids' zone at the Monterey Motorsports Festival with bounce houses, car painting, obstacle races and more.

End summer at the fair. Families can still get their fill of fair fun with thrilling carnival games and rides, big-name and small-town concerts, prize-winning exhibits, adorable farm animals, and crave-worthy food. Monterey County Fair runs Aug. 28 through Sept. 1.

Join in the fiesta. Every August, the spirit of Old Santa Barbara lives again as the new Santa Barbara celebrates the traditions of the city's founders in a five-day fiesta dedicated to honoring and preserving the community's history, spirit, culture and heritage. This year's Old Spanish Days Fiesta runs July 30 through Aug. 3. The annual event, which has been a Santa Barbara tradition since 1924, includes a parade, horse show, rodeo, live entertainment and Mexican folklórico dances, as well as a Mexican market offering Spanish and Mexican-American foods, crafts and souvenirs.

Visit a national park. National parks will waive entrance fees for everyone on Aug. 4 in celebration of the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act. The Great American Outdoors Act, passed in 2020, provides funding to improve infrastructure and expand recreation opportunities in national parks and other public lands. It's one of several free entrance days this year.

Southern California

Celebrate all things cats. CatCon is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The annual event, dedicated to all things feline, is scheduled Aug. 2-3 at Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena. The two-day feline-fest will feature celebricats, adoptable kittens, a feline fashion showdown, exhibitors, workshops and more.

End summer at the fair. Families can still get their fill of fair fun with thrilling carnival games and rides, big-name and small-town concerts, prize-winning exhibits, adorable farm animals, and crave-worthy food. Orange County Fair runs through Aug. 17, Ramona Country Fair runs Aug. 1-3, and Ventura County Fair takes place through through Aug. 10.

Enjoy a summer concert. Several hip-hop, R&B and rap artists have performed during SeaWorld San Diego's 2025 Summer Spectacular Concert Series, which takes place Saturdays through Aug. 23 at the theme park's Bayside Amphitheater. The remaining lineup includes rapper Trina on Aug. 9 and R&B singer Ginuwine on Aug. 16. I Love the 90s Tour is scheduled Aug. 2, while The Turnt Up Tour is slated Aug. 23. The summer concerts are part of SeaWorld's Summer Spectacular, featuring educational animal presentations and exhibits, as well as a summer parade, stunt shows and a fireworks show.

Experience the zoo at night. Nighttime Zoo runs through Aug. 10 at the San Diego Zoo. The summertime event allows visitors to experience the zoo at night when it's usually closed to the public. The event features live music, family-friendly entertainment and wildlife experiences.

Look at the stars. Free public star parties are held monthly at Griffith Observatory. The parties give families a chance to look at the sun, moon, visible planets and other objects, to try out a variety of telescopes, and to talk to amateur astronomers about the sky and their equipment. Star parties are scheduled Aug. 2 and Aug. 30 at the Los Angeles observatory.

Play at the Nike and Lego Play Arena. Nike and the Lego Group partnered to bring the limited-time experience to Legoland California Resort. Through Aug. 10, families can jump into fun with basketball-themed activities at Nike and Lego Play Arena at the Carlsbad-based theme park. Kids can design their own Lego Minifigure athlete trading cards, build and display their own Lego mini basketball jerseys, test their skills on a custom-built court, and take photos at the Wall of Fame. Lego fans can also enjoy the Summer Block Party with the return of the Lego World Parade.

Take part in Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration. July 17 marked the 70th anniversary of Disneyland Resort, but the theme park is celebrating seven decades of making magic and special memories through the summer of 2026, featuring limited-time entertainment, colorful décor, themed food and beverages, collectible merchandise and more. The fan-favorite Paint the Night parade, as well as the Wondrous Journeys fireworks show is back at the park. In addition, the daytime parade, Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration, has returned to Disney California Adventure Park.

Visit a national park. National parks will waive entrance fees for everyone on Aug. 4 in celebration of the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act. The Great American Outdoors Act, passed in 2020, provides funding to improve infrastructure and expand recreation opportunities in national parks and other public lands. It's one of several free entrance days this year.

Patch Parents is written by Patch Editor Kristina Houck, a mom of three boys. Have a story idea? Email kristina.houck@patch.com.