The Other Art Fair Los Angeles 2026: A Family Guide to Art, Mini Golf, and Free Kids’ Admission
Looking for an artsy Los Angeles family outing that feels a little more adventurous than another afternoon at the playground? The Other Art Fair Los Angeles returns to Santa Monica from September 24 through September 27, 2026, bringing 160 independent artists, hands-on creative moments, unusual installations, and plenty of conversation starters to Barker Hangar. Children under 12 can attend free with a child ticket, which makes this contemporary art fair surprisingly approachable for curious families.
This is not a children’s museum or a drop-off art class. It is a lively marketplace where artists show and sell original work, collectors browse, music plays, and grown-ups may visit a bar. Still, families who choose the right session and arrive with realistic expectations can turn the fair into a memorable art adventure. Kids get to meet working artists, compare styles, and see that art can be playful, strange, funny, colorful, and made by real people living in their community.
Below is our parent-focused guide to the 2026 fair, including verified hours, admission details, parking, accessibility, the best times to go with children, and the creative stops most likely to keep young visitors engaged.
The Other Art Fair Los Angeles 2026: Quick Details
Location: Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Dates and hours: Opening Night is Thursday, September 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday, September 25, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, September 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Admission: Standard adult general admission for Friday through Sunday is listed at $25. Standard Opening Night admission is listed at $60. Children under 12 are free with a reserved child ticket, with a maximum of two child tickets per order. Ticket prices and availability can change, so check the official ticket page before leaving home.
Age policy: There is no general age limit, but everyone younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The fair’s official FAQ says children under 12 need a free child ticket.
Parking: On-site parking is listed at $20. Rideshare may be easier during busy periods, and the fair recommends entering the airport campus from Bundy Drive.
Good to know: The venue is accessible, with ground-level exhibition space and accessible bathrooms. Only service dogs are allowed.
Is The Other Art Fair Good for Kids?
For the right child, absolutely. The fair works best for kids who enjoy drawing, making things, noticing details, asking questions, or wandering through visually busy spaces. It can also be a smart choice for tweens and teens who have outgrown typical children’s attractions but still want an outing that feels active and social.
Parents should also know what the fair is not. It is not designed entirely around children, and the artwork is selected for a broad contemporary audience. Crowds, music, conversations, and beverage service create an energetic atmosphere. Art content can vary, so adults should stay close, preview a booth when needed, and redirect children if a work does not feel right for the family.
A daytime weekend visit is generally the easiest fit for younger children. Opening Night and the later Friday hours are likely to feel more like an adult social event. The organizer identifies Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as quieter periods, although any popular event can become busy.
What Families Can See and Do
Play Artist-Designed Mini Golf
One of the most kid-friendly features is a playable mini golf installation created by artists. It gives children an immediate job: look closely, take a turn, and notice how a familiar game changes when artists redesign the course. That physical interaction can reset a child who is getting tired of walking from booth to booth.
Treat the golf area as one stop within the larger fair rather than a full miniature-golf outing. Lines and participation may vary, so build excitement without promising a specific amount of playtime. The fun is in encountering a functional artwork and talking about how color, shape, balance, and humor affect the game.
Meet Independent Artists
The biggest advantage of visiting an art fair with children is access to the people who made the work. The 2026 edition features 160 artists, and many exhibitors are present at their own booths. A short, respectful question can turn a quick glance into a meaningful exchange.
Help kids prepare one or two easy questions: “What material did you use?” “How long did this take?” or “What gave you the idea?” Not every artist will be free to chat, especially during a sale, but many enjoy talking with genuinely curious young visitors. Remind children to ask before touching any artwork and to keep bags, drinks, and hands away from display walls.
Try the Funday Press Creative Prompts
The fair guide describes Funday Press as a playful, artist-led newspaper experience with puzzles and prompts. That kind of low-pressure activity can help children slow down and respond to what they see instead of racing through every aisle. Availability may be limited, so ask staff where to find it when you arrive.
You can create your own version even if materials run out. Invite each child to choose the funniest piece, the calmest color palette, the work that looks hardest to make, and one artwork they would hang in their bedroom. A small notebook and pencil can turn the visit into a scavenger hunt without encouraging anyone to touch the art.
Discover Installations and Analog Experiences
The 2026 program emphasizes “Analog Hour,” an invitation to step away from screens and engage with art, games, and other people. Families can look for immersive installations, interactive moments, the fair’s fortune exchange, DJs, and changing programming across the weekend. The exact experience may depend on the day and time.
This is a useful chance to practice observation. Ask what a piece sounds like in a child’s imagination, what story may have happened just before the scene, or which three colors they would keep if they remade it. There are no wrong answers. The point is to help kids trust their own reactions instead of searching for the “correct” interpretation.
A Parent’s Age-by-Age Guide
Ages 3 to 6
Keep the visit short and concrete. Choose a quieter session, point out animals, faces, textures, and favorite colors, and plan a break before anyone melts down. Young children may need frequent reminders that artwork is for looking unless an artist or staff member clearly invites interaction. One focused hour can be more successful than trying to see the entire fair.
Ages 7 to 11
This may be the sweet spot for free child admission. Elementary-age kids can play visual scavenger games, talk with artists, try an interactive feature, and compare how paintings, photographs, textiles, and sculptures are made. Let each child choose a favorite booth and explain the choice over a snack afterward.
Tweens and Teens
Older kids may appreciate the event as a glimpse into creative careers. Encourage them to notice how artists present their work, price pieces, build a personal style, and speak with visitors. Teens interested in illustration, photography, fashion, design, animation, or social media can learn a lot by observing the professional side of art.
Best Time to Visit With Children
Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is the organizer’s suggested quieter weekend window and our first choice for many families with younger children. You get daylight, a fresh start, and time to leave before late-afternoon fatigue. Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. is another officially identified quieter period, but it runs close to dinner and bedtime for little ones.
Saturday offers the longest daytime schedule and may be convenient for families juggling sports and other weekend plans. It can also be the busiest-feeling day. If Saturday is your only option, arrive near opening, keep your goals modest, and decide in advance what success looks like—perhaps mini golf, three artist conversations, and one family-favorite artwork.
Opening Night can be exciting for art-loving teens, but the higher ticket price, evening hours, social atmosphere, and likely energy level make it a less obvious choice for families with small children.
Tickets and Admission Tips
Reserve every required ticket before heading to Barker Hangar. Children under 12 are free, but the official policy says they still need a child ticket, and orders are limited to two child tickets. If your group includes more than two children, review the current checkout options or contact the organizer before buying adult admission.
Children ages 12 and older are not included in the under-12 free offer. Everyone under 16 must attend with an adult. Because prices, session capacity, promotions, and sold-out periods can change, use the official visiting information and ticket page for the final total rather than relying on a screenshot or forwarded offer.
If you are unsure whether this event suits your child, think about attention span rather than art knowledge. No one needs to know artists or terminology. A child who enjoys visual novelty for 60 to 90 minutes may have a wonderful time, while a child who becomes stressed in crowded indoor environments may do better during a quieter window or at another activity.
Getting to Barker Hangar
Barker Hangar is located within the Santa Monica Airport campus at 3021 Airport Avenue. The fair lists on-site parking at $20 and recommends using the Bundy Drive entrance. Build extra time for event traffic, finding the correct entrance, walking from the lot, and checking in.
Rideshare can reduce parking hassles, but families still need a safe plan for car seats and pickup. If you drive, photograph your parking location and agree on a meeting point before entering. Large event spaces can be disorienting when adults and children are tired.
The fair says the venue is accessible and that the exhibition and bathrooms are on the ground level. For a mobility accommodation or a question not answered online, contact the organizer before your visit. The official policy permits service dogs only, so family pets should stay home.
Food, Breaks, and Sensory Planning
The fair guide lists food-truck options, but menus, prices, wait times, and dietary choices can vary. Feed young children before arrival, carry allowed essentials, and avoid promising a particular food. Check current venue rules if your child has medical or dietary needs.
Barker Hangar is a large open indoor venue, so noise and visual stimulation can build even when the crowd is manageable. Give children permission to take a pause. A bathroom break, a quiet conversation at the edge of the floor, or an earlier-than-planned exit can preserve the good part of the experience.
Consider setting a family signal that means “I need space” before entering. For sensitive visitors, noise-reducing headphones may help, but confirm current bag and venue policies. The goal is not to see every artist. It is to leave with a few vivid memories and curiosity about making art.
How to Turn the Fair Into a Creative Family Adventure
Start with a tiny mission. Ask each person to find one artwork that tells a story, one that uses an unexpected material, and one that changes how they feel. Take notes instead of photographing every booth; artists may have different photo policies, so always ask before taking close-up pictures of work.
Give children a pretend budget and ask what they would collect and why. This is a fun way to discuss value without judging an artist’s price. Original art reflects materials, training, time, studio costs, and the artist’s point of view. Families do not need to purchase anything to be respectful and engaged visitors.
After the fair, continue the outing at home. Invite everyone to create a mini exhibition using drawings, photographs, clay, recyclables, or found objects. Make labels with a title, artist name, material, and one-sentence story. That follow-up helps children process the day and shows that art belongs in everyday family life.
Parent Etiquette That Makes the Visit Better
Stay within arm’s reach of young children near fragile work, and never lean bags or strollers against a booth wall. Ask before touching, photographing, or entering an installation. If an artist is speaking with a buyer, wait or return later. A sincere compliment is welcome, but avoid encouraging children to loudly rank work as “good” or “bad” within earshot of its maker.
Keep snacks and drinks away from artwork and follow staff directions. If your child has an accident or touches something, tell the artist or fair staff immediately. Calm, honest communication is far better than quietly walking away.
Most importantly, let children have their own opinions. They may love something adults overlook or feel confused by a work that seems obvious to a grown-up. Questions such as “What do you notice?” and “What does it remind you of?” invite conversation without turning the outing into a lecture.
Takeaway
Contemporary art is often easier for children than adults assume because kids are already comfortable with imagination, unusual materials, bold colors, and open-ended stories. The Other Art Fair puts those ideas in a lively setting where families can meet creators and see many styles under one roof.
Before you go, review the official September 2026 fair guide and family and accessibility FAQ for last-minute updates. Then arrive ready to look slowly, ask thoughtful questions, and let your child surprise you with what they notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is The Other Art Fair Los Angeles 2026?
The fair runs Thursday, September 24, through Sunday, September 27, 2026. Opening Night is Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday is 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday is 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday is 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2. Are children free at The Other Art Fair Los Angeles?
Children under 12 are free when they have a reserved child ticket. The organizer limits orders to two child tickets, and every visitor younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Children 12 and older are not included in the under-12 free admission offer.
3. What is the best session for families?
The organizer identifies Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as quieter periods. Sunday morning is often the more practical option for families with younger children, while Friday may work well for older kids and teens.
4. Is there parking at Barker Hangar?
Yes. The event lists on-site parking for $20 and recommends entering the Santa Monica Airport campus from Bundy Drive. Allow extra time for traffic and walking from the parking area.
5. Is the fair accessible, and can we bring a dog?
The organizer says the exhibition area and bathrooms are on the ground level and the venue is accessible. Only service dogs are permitted. Contact the fair directly before attending if your family needs a specific accommodation.
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