Pretend City Children's Museum

10/15/2026

Thank you to Multiracial Americans of SoCal for joining us today for Cooking in the City!

Today we blended foods from all over, taste testing both Gimbap & Nachos, highlighting Korean & TexMex dishes. Some of our friends even had tortilla chips for the first time today! 😋

It’s so fun to experience new things together, and try new foods that we might not normally try. Thank you to everyone who joined us, we can’t wait for our next Cooking in the City.

10/15/2026

Pretend City is looking for its next mayor!

This is the ideal opportunity to discuss local government, elections, and what it entails to be a leader in a community.

Encourage your child to think about what it means to be a mayor. Why would they make a great mayor, and what changes would they like to make to Pretend City?

If your child is interested in running for:
-Must be a member or ambassador of Pretend City
-Submit a video (20 seconds to 45 seconds long) of your child explaining why they should be elected as Pretend City’s next mayor.
-Email the video to [email protected] or direct message (dm) us the video by October 21st
-Campaigning opportunities will be available!

Voting Details:
-Online voting will be held from October 28th to November 3rd.
-In-person voting will be held on November 3rd
-The winner will be announced on Nov. 4th.

If your child is elected, they will be able to help light up the City for our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 6th and participate in other special events throughout the year.

10/14/2026

A huge thank you to OneDigital for going ALL IN as the Presenting Sponsor of Pretend City’s 17th Annual Poker Challenge set for October 22! ♠️

OneDigital helps businesses and individuals build healthier, more secure futures through employee benefits, financial services, insurance, and workforce strategies. OneDigital’s commitment to helping people and organizations thrive makes their partnership with Pretend City especially meaningful. Together, we’re investing in early childhood health development, giving children a strong start and helping build stronger families and stronger communities.

The cards are on the table, the chips are in, and we’re getting ready for a great night of connection and giving back. 🖤

Join OneDigital at the table and go ALL IN for early childhood. 🔗Grab your tickets at the link in our bio!

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

The Holiday season is coming to the City soon, and we’re teasing an event already🤭 Stories & Cookies with Mrs. Claus 🤶 🍪

❄️ She’s stopping by from the North Pole to share her favorite holiday stories, take photos, and enjoy cookies together. It’s the perfect way to “sleigh” the season and make sweet memories with your family.

🕚 Times: 11 am and 2:30 pm
📅 December 21, 2026

*Activities and times subject to change.

10/08/2026

We’re already in costume here in the City because Spooky Season has arrived! 👻

🎃 10/11 Baby Steps - Celebrate the spooky season with your little one! Come dressed in your favorite Halloween outfit for a fun morning of play.

Dedicated to children 18 months and younger, this program is a great way to socialize your little one and offer new learning opportunities in a safe space all while playing without older children in the museum.

🎃 10/13 & 10/22 - Join us for sensory friendly trick-or-treating in the City! We will have several stations available for you and your little one to practice, experience, and enjoy this memorable Halloween tradition. 🍬

*Registration is required & opens two weeks before each event.

🎃 10/25 - 10/31 - Come dressed in your favorite costume and celebrate Costume Week at Pretend City! Whether you’re a superhero, princess, dinosaur, firefighter, or something uniquely you, it’s the perfect time to show off your costume while enjoying a day of playful Halloween fun. Join us for themed activities, storytimes, music, and many of opportunities to make spooky memories together.

🎃 10/26 - We would love to see you and your little one dressed up for the spooky season!

Climb, dance, problem-solve, and pretend your way through our miniature world, designed to support movement, connection, and big developmental leaps.

Designed for children 19 months to 3 years.

🎃 10/30 - Calling all little monsters! Celebrate Halloween’s Eve at Pretend City with a day of dancing, trick-or-treating, laughter, and imaginative play. From collecting treats around the city to enjoying a fun-filled puppet show, there’s something for every little pumpkin. 🍬

🕚Times:

🍬Trick or Treating: 10:45 AM, 12:00 PM, & 2:00 PM

10:30am: Monster Mash Costume Parade

11:00am: Hilarious Halloween Haunt Puppet Show - Franklin Hayne’s Marionettes

🎃 10/31 - Get ready for a spook-tacular Saturday! Enjoy Halloween music with the Philharmonic Society, decorate a mini pumpkin, and try a mad science experiment. Costumes are encouraged! Please note we will not have trick or treating this day.

1pm-1:15pm: Monster Mash Costume Parade and Dance Party

2:30pm: Halloween Storytime

10/08/2026

Pretend City is looking for its next mayor!

This is the ideal opportunity to discuss local government, elections, and what it entails to be a leader in a community.
Encourage your child to think about what it means to be a mayor. Why would they make a great mayor, and what changes would they like to make to Pretend City?

If your child is interested in running for:
-Must be a member or ambassador of Pretend City
-Submit a video (20 seconds to 45 seconds long) of your child explaining why they should be elected as Pretend City’s next mayor.
-Email the video to [email protected] or direct message (dm) us the video by October 10th
-Campaigning opportunities will be available!

Voting Details:
-Online voting will be held from October 28th to November 3rd.
-In-person voting will be held on November 4th
-The winner will be announced on Nov. 6th

If your child is elected, they will be able to help light up the City for our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 7th and participate in other special events throughout the year.

10/07/2026

DAF Day | October 8, 2026

Turn your generosity into the power of play!

As a nonprofit, Pretend City raises approximately 30% of the funds needed each year through the generosity of donors, corporate sponsors, and community partners who believe in the power of play. And play is just the beginning. We also provide:

▪️Free developmental screenings for children under five and a half.
▪️Neurodivergent Family Nights — always free for families.
Museums for All admission for families receiving SNAP/WIC benefits.
▪️Title 1 school children with free field trips.
▪️Baby Steps and Toddler Town engages infants and toddlers in intentional, age-appropriate activities that nurture healthy development.

This DAFday, support the above through your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)!

🔗Give through your DAF portal or find more information here: https://www.pretendcity.org/donor-advised-fund

Together, we see a world where every child and parent discovers the joy of learning through play – building confidence, curiosity and life skills for a future full of possibility.

10/07/2026

When a child is first born their family teaches them, their family is the first community they're part of, and their family is their biggest champion. At Pretend City, we see what happens when families play side by side: parents and caregivers learning alongside their kids, connecting with one another, and finding the resources they need to feel supported.

We are building a place where every family belongs, with free developmental screenings, neurodivergent family nights, and resources that help parents feel confident every step of the way. We vote for the policies that strengthen and support families, because when parents and caregivers have what they need to thrive, children do too, and so does the community we all share.