Happy Friday!

Note: We’re testing a shorter event roundup this week—gmail keeps clipping our long emails! If you want the full scoop on every local event, just click the big calendar button below. You’ll get all the details (and nothing gets cut off!). See the full calendar

Nov 22-23 | 9am-9pm | Venice Beach Breakwater

Okay, hear us out on this one. Yes, it's a 24-hour marathon reading of Moby-Dick. Yes, that sounds intense. But this Venice Oceanarium tradition is actually... kind of awesome?

You don't have to commit to the full experience, just drop by the breakwater whenever works for your family. Kids love the dramatic readers and there's something weirdly soothing about listening while the waves crash behind you. Plus, it's completely free and you can literally show up in flip-flops.

Pro parent tip: Pack snacks and let the kids run around between chapters. The breakwater has great rocks for scrambling, and honestly, most readers are so into their performance they won't mind a little background kid energy.

Check out the full event details here

Nov 24-26 | Multiple Sessions | Penmar Rec Center

If you're scrambling for Thanksgiving week coverage *raises hand*, Penmar's got you covered with their "Gobble Wobble" camps.

They're offering yoga, sports, games, and extended care options, basically everything to keep your little ones happy and tired while you... probably prep seventeen side dishes or wonder why you volunteered to host again.

The rec center staff knows what they're doing, and these holiday camps tend to have that perfect "structured but chill" vibe that works for pretty much every kid personality type.

Contact Penmar directly for registration and session times. Fair warning: these holiday camps fill up fast because desperate parents think alike.

Get all the camp details here

Nov 22 | 3-4pm | Ages 7-11

This one gets our full-throated recommendation because we actually went last month!

First off, the "teachers" are high schoolers, which means they speak fluent kid and somehow make coding feel like the coolest thing ever. Our son spent an hour learning Python basics and came home talking about "loops" and "functions" like he'd discovered buried treasure.

The teen volunteers are genuinely excited about what they're teaching, which creates this infectious energy that even gets the skeptical kids on board. Plus, it's hands-on from minute one, no boring lectures, just straight into making things happen on screen.

Space is limited. The librarians at Venice branch programming has been absolutely crushing it lately.

Sign up for coding fun here

Huge shout out to the Oakwood Rec Center staff—the true unsung heroes of Venice! These folks keep classes fun, super affordable, and genuinely care about the kids. If you’ve ever seen their coaches making a game out of cleaning up (seriously, a hundred tiny balls flying everywhere), then you know how much the staff puts joy first. More love for Oakwood—check out our full post here

Comment or email us so we can add it to the Venice Rising calendar!