OC Family Expo
Activities, learning, exhibitors and family discoveries at Outlets at San Clemente.
Explore the Expo
FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS
Find More To Do Together
A growing blog and calendar for family-friendly events, festivals, competitions, learning opportunities and experiences in Orange County, across Southern California and around the country.
FAMILY EVENTS
Explore Orange County Together.
More family events will be added here.
PARTICIPATE IN OC Family EXPO
Don't Just Read About Events. Be Part of One.
OC Family EXPO brings families, young entrepreneurs, community programs and partners together at Outlets at San Clemente's Oak Tree Court on November 7, 2026.
RESEARCH + PUBLICATIONS
Ideas Behind Better Family Experiences.
Alongside the event calendar, we share research and practical writing about play, family experiences, destinations and the future of family entertainment.
The FEC Gap: What Family Entertainment Parks Leave Unresolved
Family entertainment parks can have great attractions and still deliver a weak overall experience. This framework identifies the deeper problems affecting repeat visits, family value and development.
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The Neuroscience of Play
Developmental science helps explain why children climb, jump, slide, explore and repeat—and how physical play can become even more valuable.
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Invest in the Parks of the Future
Family entertainment can move beyond novelty decay and static attractions toward an adaptive, development-rich model built for repeat visitation.
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What Parents Want from Family Entertainment Centers
Parents describe how affordability, multi-age value, comfort, shared experiences, food, safety and changing reasons to return influence loyalty.
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The Family Entertainment Park of the Future
The next generation of parks can evolve from fixed attraction venues into adaptive family experience platforms.
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Novelty Decay: Why Children Get Bored
An attraction can remain mechanically perfect while becoming psychologically old. Learn how parks can create something new without constantly replacing equipment.
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HELP SHAPE THE PROGRAM
Have an activity families would love?
Schools, clubs, museums, businesses, performers, sports organizations, educators and community groups are invited to propose additional activities for OC Family EXPO.