For the weekend and close to home: Celebrate with ‘Mary Poppins,’ Pac-Man and a pig
Start the new year on a busy note with yoga, arcade games and Japanese traditions.
Palos Verdes
Spruce up the land at Alta Vicente Reserve — home to the cactus wren, California gnatcatcher and other birds — with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. Volunteers will pull invasive weeds to make way for the native plants that support the birds, all with a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. No training or experience necessary; just bring water and wear sunscreen.
When: 9 a.m. Jan. 5
Cost, info: Free. Family friendly. No dogs. (310) 541-7613
Pasadena
Practice those downward-facing dogs, sun salutations and chaturangas at the Yoga Expo, a day of unlimited yoga classes and workshops for all ages and abilities. Classes range from meditation basics to “warrior flow.” When you’re not on a mat, grab snacks from the plant-based cafe and athletic wear, massage products and more from the marketplace.
When: 10 a.m. Jan. 5
Cost, info: $35. Family friendly. No dogs.
Pomona
Relive the ’80s with Pac-Man, Galaga and Dragon’s Lair at the Retro City Festival, where you can play more than 200 classic arcade games and purchase art, apparel and games to take home. If you’re feeling competitive, sign up for tournaments in Super Mario Kart, Street Fighter and more.
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. Sunday. Jan. 5-6
Cost, info: $20 to $35. Family friendly. No dogs. (909) 288-6028
Los Angeles
Ring in the Year of the Boar at the Japanese American National Museum’s Oshogatsu Family Festival. Sample bowls of lucky zaru soba (buckwheat noodles), craft origami pigs and watch a mochitsuki, a tradition in which rice is pounded to make mochi. Shan Ichiyanagi, also known as Shan the Candyman, will demonstrate the folk art of candy sculpting, and taiko player Walter Nishinaka and calligrapher and hip-hop dancer Kuniharu Yoshida will perform a show that combines their art forms.
When: 11 a.m. Jan. 6
Cost, info: Free. Family friendly. No dogs. (213) 625-0414
Los Angeles
The lobby of El Capitan Theatre has transformed into Cherry Tree Lane for special showings of “Mary Poppins Returns.” Check out a display of costumes from the movie and take photos with film-inspired backdrops.
When: Check website for daily show times. Through Jan. 13
Cost, info: $12 to $26. Family friendly. No dogs. (800) 347-6396
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