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Grab & Go Kids Calendar: Martial Arts, Lantern Festival & More Free Stuff for the Family

Family fun this weekend doesn't have to cost a lot.

Here we've assembled a weekly calendar of kid-friendly activities and new places to try out with children. Each week, we'll give you the info on the five best family activities or events for the week.

You're time-pressed enough, so we're happy to do the research and find the best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable striking distance. Look for the kids’ planner each Wednesday, and help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips—just add them to the comment box.

Learn Martial Arts

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Where/When: Thursday, 4:15 p.m., North Hollywood Library, 5211 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood.

Why Go:  Learn martial arts using traditional concepts and age appropriate skills taught by Christopher Wilson of Kuk Sool Won, North Hollywood. Open to all ages.

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Where/When: Saturday, noon to 7 p.m., Chinese American Museum at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, 425 N. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles.

Why Go: It's a really fun and interactive educational festival for families which marks the end of the Chinese New Year. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, this annual community event  re-creates a traditional village street fair featuring brilliant lantern displays, exciting musical, acrobatic and lion dance performances, enriching arts and crafts booths, a spirited lantern parade where children and their families are welcome to march with dancers and musicians. Try your hand at lantern-making, Chinese-opera style face painting, kite-building, Chinese paper-cutting, Origami, Chinese calligraphy, string-knotting, and much more! Take the Metro Red Line to Union Street and make it a real adventure.

Pricing: FREE

Studio LOL Comedy Show for Kids By Kids

Where/When: Saturday and Sunday, Schedule: 10 a.m: Giggles Show! Starring 4 to 6 year olds. Sunday, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.: Student Show! Starring  7-9 year olds; 5 p.m.: Tween Show! Starring 10 to 12 year olds;  7 p.m.: Teen Show! Starring teen students. Studio LOL, 11634 Ventura Blvd. (between Tujunga and Colfax) Studio City.

Why Go: Kids are funny! This show stars Studio LOL kids. It's a great way to see what they do if your kids are interested in performing—or if they (and you) just want to laugh!

Pricing: Adults $5, Kids are FREE. Seating is limited. Reserve tickets by emailing studiololclasses@gmail.com. No tickets will be sold at the door.

The Lo-Cal Folk Fest in Eagle Rock

Where/When: Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Show starts at 6 p.m. Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles.

Why Go:  It's a show for all ages performed by some of the best folk/rock musicians in Los Angeles. Think mini-mini-mini Coachella. Performers include Voxhaul Broadcast, Nico Stai, The Sea of Cortez, Summer Darling, Hi Ho Silver Oh, and Telegram with guest DJ, Kevin Bronson of Buzzbands.la

Pricing: Free parking, $10 admission Click here for tickets

Camp Fair

Where/When: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,  Crossroads School Gymnasium, 1715 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica.

Why Go: So what if it's on the westside? If you are in the market for a summer camp or after-school classes and activities, family programs and parenting resources, this is the place to be.

Pricing : FREE

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