Water Harvest Festival at El Segundo Recycling Plant

On Saturday, Oct. 24, the West Basin Municipal Water District opens the gates of its Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility in El Segundo for the annual Water Harvest Festival. It is free, it is built for families, and this year it leans into a space theme: an astronaut, flying saucers and a pitch that our blue planet is the one place worth protecting. If you are scanning for things to do in Los Angeles that cost nothing and keep kids busy for a few hours, this one earns a spot on the calendar.

When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Where: Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility, 1935 South Hughes Way, El Segundo Cost: Free admission, free on-site parking

What to expect

The organizers list a full slate of activities. Kids can work through hands-on STEM activities and interactive games, pose at space-themed photo opportunities and enter a costume contest with prizes (a good reason to dress the family as astronauts or aliens). There is live entertainment and music, free food, giveaways and raffle prizes.

The educational side is the point of the day. Community partners staff water education booths and exhibits, and West Basin engineers and operations staff lead tours of the recycling facility itself. Most people never see how wastewater becomes usable water, so the tour is the part worth planning your visit around.

Practical info

Parking is free on site, which takes some of the stress out of a family outing. Arrive early if you want to tour the plant before the lines grow, and bring sunscreen and water bottles since much of the programming is outdoors. Event details and any updates are posted by the organizer at WestBasinCA.gov/water-harvest, so check there before you go.

The facility sits in El Segundo, a short drive from the beach cities and the South Bay. Pair it with lunch nearby afterward and you have a full Saturday. For other things happening in Los Angeles around the same date, browse our festivals page.

Why go

Free family festivals with a real educational payoff are rare. Water Harvest gives kids a reason to be curious about where their water comes from, and gives adults a look at infrastructure that quietly keeps the region running. It is also one of the more charming upcoming events Los Angeles families can attend this fall, with a playful theme that does not talk down to anyone.