Kids Club: Bob Baker Marionettes at Santa Anita

The Shops at Santa Anita runs a small morning series called Kids Club, and on Thursday, October 15, 2026, it brings in the Bob Baker Marionettes. If you're hunting for things to do with kids LA-side on a weekday morning, this one's easy: an hour of puppets, no ticket to print, and a mall full of snacks right outside.

Kids Club happens every third Thursday of the month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The 2026 season started back in May with Musical Bob, then rolled through Magic with Joe, a reptile show, a Kiddle Karoos music jam and The Beatbuds in September. October's date is the last one on the posted schedule, and it's arguably the best booking of the year.

Why the Bob Baker Marionettes are a big deal

Bob Baker's troupe has been making marionettes in Los Angeles since the early 1960s. Their home theater, now in Highland Park, is the oldest children's theater company in the city, and generations of LA kids have sat cross-legged on its carpet while hand-built puppets danced a few feet away. Seeing the puppeteers on a mall promenade in Arcadia is a much more casual setting than the theater, but it's the same craft: strings, painted faces and a lot of music.

For kids who've never seen a marionette up close, it's a genuinely different experience from a screen. The puppeteers are right there, visible above the figures, and little ones tend to watch the hands as much as the puppets.

What to expect

The show runs on The Promenade, near Hai Di Lao. The organizers say performances vary week to week and are mostly aimed at young children, though families with older kids are welcome. There's no check-in. Show up, find a spot, and let the toddlers wander a little closer to the front.

When it wraps, stores and restaurants around the center run special offers for Kids Club families, so it's easy to turn the morning into lunch out.

Practical info

• When: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Where: The Promenade at The Shops at Santa Anita, Arcadia
• Cost: RSVP on the organizer's Eventbrite page, which lists it at no charge. You're asked to RSVP for each date you plan to attend.
• Parking: On-site parking at the center. The organizers suggest parking near Nordstrom or Hai Di Lao for the shortest walk.
• Pets: Not allowed at Kids Club, for the kids' safety.

The organizers recommend arriving early to grab a spot close to the event space. The center's Family Lounge is also on site if you need a quieter corner before or after the show.

It's a solid pick when you're scanning family events Los Angeles has to offer that don't cost a thing or take up the whole day. For more ideas, browse our family events or see what else is on around Los Angeles. And if the kids fall for the puppets, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater runs regular shows at its Highland Park home.