# Things to do with kids in Dana Point, CA

> 9 upcoming family events and 0 places and ongoing programs in Dana Point, CA (Orange County, CA), in the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim area. Listings whose address is in this town. Dates and times are Pacific Time. Today is Sat, Oct 24.

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/dana-point-ca

## Events ahead

- [Harbor Hayrides aboard R/V Sea Explorer (Ocean Institute)](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/harbor-hayrides-aboard-r-v-sea-explorer-ocean-institute--listing-c1c84d980df53458125ade18) — Sat, Oct 24 · 5:00 PM – 7:45 PM · Ocean Institute (R/V Sea Explorer), Dana Point · All ages · From $10 · checked Oct 20. For Halloween weekend the Ocean Institute in Dana Point runs Harbor Hayrides: 45-minute evening cruises around Dana Point Harbor aboard its research vessel R/V Sea Explorer…
- [Spooky Seas at Ocean Institute](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/spooky-seas-at-ocean-institute--listing-ff3f28d557abb1c2da5e04f7) — Sat, Oct 24 · 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM · Ocean Institute, Dana Point · From $17 · checked Oct 14. Family-friendly Halloween frights at Ocean Institute in Dana Point Harbor: bioluminescence laser tag, a biolum room, mad scientist lab, haunted ship tours, aquarium access, photo…
- [Squid Dissections at Ocean Institute](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/squid-dissections-at-ocean-institute--listing-3dc135f2231d2287279fb430) — Sat, Oct 31 (+26 more dates) · 10:30 AM · Ocean Institute, Dana Point · With admission · checked Oct 16. A hands-on add-on to Ocean Institute general admission: expert guides lead a 30-minute squid dissection exploring anatomy and adaptations. Each dissector gets their own squid and…
- [Tidepool Hike at Ocean Institute (Dana Point)](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/tidepool-hike-at-ocean-institute-dana-point--listing-d1da118fea934d52574bde23) — Sat, Nov 7 (+13 more dates) · Ocean Institute, Dana Point · From $18 · checked Oct 16. An Ocean Institute naturalist leads a tidepool hike into the rocky Marine Protected Area directly behind the Ocean Institute, where families search for snails, crabs, sea stars…
- [Sea Shanty Sunday aboard the Spirit of Dana Point](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/sea-shanty-sunday-aboard-the-spirit-of-dana-point--listing-1ad763c7d233dd1d34c3c26a) — Sun, Nov 22 (+1 more date) · 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM · Ocean Institute, Dana Point · With admission · checked Oct 14. Join the band Queen Anne's Blouse on the Spirit of Dana Point, a replica 1770s privateer schooner, at Ocean Institute's Maritime Village. Dress, talk and sing like a pirate; sing…
- [Dana Point Turkey Trot and Kids' 1-Mile Gobble Wobble](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/dana-point-turkey-trot-and-kids-1-mile-gobble-wobble--listing-c72dc4e7527f2b963359ebcd) — Thu, Nov 26 · 7:00 AM · Dana Point Harbor (Dana Point Harbor Dr. and Golden Lantern) · Ages 2–12 · Paid · checked Oct 20. The 49th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot fills Dana Point Harbor on Thanksgiving morning; the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce calls it one of the nation's largest and most scenic…
- [Homeschool Day at Ocean Institute (December)](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/homeschool-day-at-ocean-institute-december--listing-b846f16b9bdb1caef8c02847) — Wed, Dec 2 · 10:00 AM · Ocean Institute, Dana Point · From $11 · checked Oct 16. Ocean Institute Homeschool Days resemble weekend general admission with extra educational activities: estuary exploration, ocean storytime, Discovery Pool and shark touch tanks…
- [Community Beach Cleanup with Stand Up to Trash (Ocean Institute)](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/community-beach-cleanup-with-stand-up-to-trash-ocean-institute--listing-b206f1e8cd026841a334811e) — Sun, Dec 6 · 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Ocean Institute – Maddie James Seaside Learning Center Historical Wharf, Dana Point · Free · checked Oct 16. Ocean Institute and Stand Up to Trash host a community cleanup of the beach and surrounding areas, with a new theme each month and a guest speaker. Beach cleanup 9–10:30 am at…
- [Parade of Lights Viewing Party at Ocean Institute](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/parade-of-lights-viewing-party-at-ocean-institute--listing-42aabfef1a79509325018538) — Fri, Dec 11 (+1 more date) · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Ocean Institute, Dana Point · From $17 · checked Oct 14. Watch the 51st annual Dana Point Harbor Parade of Lights (theme "Harboritaville") from Ocean Institute's waterfront campus. Includes a hot cocoa and coffee bar, cookie…

## Recently ended

- [Halloween Spooktacular at Dana Point Library](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/activities/halloween-spooktacular-at-dana-point-library--listing-ab0a330221c481a0bec77fe3) — ended Thu, Oct 22

## Nearby

- [Things to do with kids in Orange County, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/counties/orange-county-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/counties/orange-county-ca.md)
- Other towns in Orange County, CA: [Irvine, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/irvine-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/irvine-ca.md), [Santa Ana, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/santa-ana-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/santa-ana-ca.md), [Costa Mesa, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/costa-mesa-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/costa-mesa-ca.md), [Newport Beach, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/newport-beach-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/newport-beach-ca.md), [Anaheim, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/anaheim-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/anaheim-ca.md), [Orange, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/orange-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/orange-ca.md), [Laguna Beach, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/laguna-beach-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/laguna-beach-ca.md), [Fullerton, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/fullerton-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/fullerton-ca.md), [Newport Coast, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/newport-coast-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/newport-coast-ca.md), [Brea, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/brea-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/brea-ca.md), [Buena Park, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/buena-park-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/buena-park-ca.md), [Laguna Niguel, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/laguna-niguel-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/laguna-niguel-ca.md), [Tustin, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/tustin-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/tustin-ca.md), [Fountain Valley, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/fountain-valley-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/fountain-valley-ca.md), [Lake Forest, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/lake-forest-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/lake-forest-ca.md), [San Juan Capistrano, CA](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/san-juan-capistrano-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/towns/san-juan-capistrano-ca.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Los Angeles](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles.md)
- [This weekend in Los Angeles](https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/los-angeles/this-weekend.md)

Town pages are listed once a town has 3 current listings, county pages at 10.