Opera Pacific's Youth Night program debuts Friday, Sept. 30, with a dress rehearsal of Verdi's "Aida" at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive. Tickets for students in grades 6 to 12 are $8; adults $18. Call (714) 474-4488, Ext. 318.
IN IRVINE: HARVEST FESTIVAL
From Friday, Sept. 30, to Sunday, Oct. 2, this annual community get-together at Barranca Parkway and Harvard Avenue features carnival rides, live music, children's performances and contests. Admission is $5, but discounts are available with advance purchase. (714) 552-7336.
IN COSTA MESA: 'HANSEL AND GRETEL'
Fifty local children will join professional actors from the Montana-based touring company the Missoula Children's Theatre in a quirky update of this Brothers Grimm classic, Saturday, Oct. 1, at Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road. Tickets are $6 to $11. Call (714) 432-5880.
Children-Friendly
There are about 70 different events and exhibitions going on next month in Long Beach under the Arts Month umbrella, but unless your child is truly exceptional (sure, sure, that's what we all say . . . ), many of these programs are better suited to adults.
Not that families have been overlooked. In addition to this weekend's Anaheim Street and East Village festivals, there are a number of events designed with children in mind. (For a complete list of Arts Month activities; call the Public Corporation for the Arts at (310) 983-3814).
For some of the kid-friendly activities, besides the two aforementioned festivals, that await next month up the 405, read on:
* Thursday, Oct. 13
Kreative Kids art exhibition
ARK Studio and Gallery, 2218 E. 4th St.
Continues through Oct. 31, call for hours
Free
(310) 438-3335
* Saturday, Oct. 15, and Sunday, Oct. 16
"Strada di Pitture" street-painting festival
2nd Street between Livingston Drive and Bayshore Avenue
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days
Free
Local artists create street paintings on Belmont Shore's sidewalks on Saturday; works remain on view Sunday. At noon on Saturday, the Long Beach Children's Museum hosts a free workshop at 5200 E. 2nd St. (310) 434-3066
* Friday, Oct. 21
"Sea the Difference" parade
Ocean Boulevard from Alamitos Street to Pine Avenue
Begins at noon, lasts about an hour.
Free
Budweiser Clydesdales, marching band, floats and comedy acts lead by grand marshal John Naber, an Olympic gold medal swimmer. (310) 436-3645
* Friday, Oct. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 23
Whitecaps Seaside Festival
Shoreline Village, Shoreline Drive at Pine Avenue
Friday, 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.;
Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.
Admission is free, but rides cost.
Carnival rides, a sand-castle building contest, children's crafts and story-telling, a petting zoo, fireworks and live music. Boat parade along Queen's Way Bay at noon, Sunday. (310) 436-3645.
* Thursday, Oct. 27; Saturday, Oct. 29, and Sunday, Oct. 30
"The Scarlet Letter"
Carpenter Performing Arts Center at Cal State Long Beach, 6200 Atherton St.
Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $18 to $25
A new American opera based on the classic by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Recommended for high school age and above. (310) 985-7000 or (310) 985-7097.
* Saturday, Oct. 29
Crafts workshops for ages 3 to 13
The Artmaker studio at Marketplace Long Beach, 6555 E. Pacific Coast Highway
11 a.m. to noon, 1 to 2 p.m.
Fee: $6 per class
(310) 434-8851
* Sunday, Oct. 30
Children's Fall Harvest Festival
Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens, 8400 Bixby Hill Road
Noon to 4:30 p.m.
Free
Story-telling, pumpkin hunt, harvest-themed games and costume parade. (310) 431-3541
