Welcome to MontebelloMom.com!

I started this website back in 2010, when my family's Disneyland Resort annual passes expired and I was looking for a way to keep track of community events that I wanted to attend with my family.

Never would I have thought that my articles and information would generate over 40,000 pageviews a month, or that I would be known as a minor local celebrity of sort.

MontebelloMom.com has allowed me to meet  many wonderful people and work with the great organizations and companies in my community, and I am sincerely thankful.

Much to the dismay of Mr. MontebelloMom, this website has never generated an income for me, and that was never my intention. I've always considered MontebelloMom.com to be a community service project of mine. I am proud of the work I have done and I am especially proud of my community and the support we provide for one another.

My children are so much older now, my oldest is a junior in high school and my youngest will be in at the intermediate school next year. All three are involved in so many extracurricular activities that we don't have much time to attend as many local events as we'd like.

I encourage you to continue to use MontebelloMom.com as a resource for community events. You can use the search bar to the right of this article to find past articles and information that you seek. Although the information may be out of date, many events run annually, and the links to the main source webpages are functional.

MontebelloMom.com's Facebook page, linked Twitter feed, and Instagram are still up and running. I will occassionally post a bargain, share information, or report an earthquake(!) on those accounts.

Otherwise, I wish you all well. I'll be back every now and then to post a new event or update an article, but until then I encourage you all to give of yourself what you can to your community. It can be a friendly wave to a neighbor, letting the car at the shopping center's driveway merge into your lane, or volunteering with an organization. Every little bit counts and a lot of little bits make a whole lot of wonderful. 

Much love to you all,

Bernadine, aka "Montebello Mom"

This button is for you!

15-20% off Los Angeles Zoo Membership: **NEW** Discount Coupon Promotion Code

The Los Angeles Zoo shared an exclusive code for Montebello Mom readers code with me that takes

 15-20% off membership

Seven levels of membership are available with this discount, from Individual Membership to Conservation Circle. Here is a sample of L.A. Zoo benefits at the Family Level:

Family – 15% discount

$146 $125.00

§  FREE daytime admission for 2 adults named on card

§  Your own children or grandchildren (ages 2-17) *restrictions apply

§  4 FREE Safari Shuttle Tickets (value $20)

§  2 membership cards

§   

Family Deluxe – 20% discount

$186 $149.00

§  FREE daytime admission for 3 adults names on card

§  Your own children or grandchildren (ages 2-17) *restrictions apply

§  2 one-time guest passes (value $42)

§  6 FREE Safari Shuttle tickets (value $30)

§  EXCLUSIVE early access to Big Bunny’s Spring Fling and Boo at the Zoo

§  3 membership cards

The discount code is 11903MMW . This code can only be used online and must be manually typed in, do not cut & paste. Thanks to the Los Angeles Zoo for the discount!

Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association

5333 Zoo Drive • Los Angeles, CA • 90027 • 323/644-4759

http://www.lazoo.org/membership

______________________________________________________________________________

If you like what you've just read and are interested in free and low cost family friendly events in

Montebello and the surrounding area, please "Like" Montebello Mom on Facebook, or subscribe to the e-mail newsletter on the sidebar. Thanks for visiting!

Used Book Sale & Boutique: East Los Angeles Library

  

Stock up on chapter books for silent reading or pictures books to read at home with your child at East Los Angeles' library Used Book Sale & Boutique.

Thousands of books, videos, DVDs, magazines, and audio books are available. The items sold are library discards,  or were donated by schools and private individuals. Most are in good/great condition and some are brand new!


The community room filled with books for sale.

The last sale had children's books start at 25 cents each. There are books for pre-schoolers though teenagers, and there are favorites such as Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter, Little House on the Prairie, Junie B. Jones, Beverly Cleary, American Girl, Goosebumps, Chose your own Adventure, Magic School Bus, Roald Dahl, and more!

BONUS: Teachers, you get an additional discount! Just tell the cashier you are a teacher, they will probably guess when they see your huge pile of books, and they'll give you a huge discount. Once I was charged only 10 cents a book!



I picked up all these books, 27 in total, for only $14.25! Retail value is over $100! Average price, 53 cents/book.

Halloween Family Festival: East Los Angeles Community Youth Center

Pancake Breakfast & Toy Drive: Montebello Fire Station

Montebello Pet Fair: City Park

Visit www.MontebelloPetFair.com for more information.

Halloween Capers Monster Mash: Uptown Whittier

 This event will be held in Uptown Whitter: 
Greenleaf Avenue @ Philadelphia Street

Visit https://whittieruptown.org/capers/ for more information.

Business Community & Family Wellness Expo: Pico Park, Pico Rivera

Visit PicoRiveraChamber.org/ for more information.

Sorrowful Soiree: Homestead Museum, City of Industry

From the Homestead Musuem website: 

Sorrowful Soirée 

Sunday, October 28, 3 to 7 p.m.

"Celebrate life as you learn about death at our very first Sorrowful Soirée. People's relationship with death changed dramatically between the time that the Workman and Temple families lived at the Homestead. Come and learn more as you enjoy special tours and activities. We'll also celebrate some favorite seasonal traditions of the modern day that have rich histories of their own like trick-or-treating and making costumes.

Free; picnics are welcome."

Click here for more information.

Halloween Festivities: Cathy Hensel Center, City Park, Montebello

Pumpkin Festival: Kidspace Children's Museum

The following information is from the KidSpace Museum website: 

"Saturday & Sunday, October 27 & 28, 2018 | 9:30am to 5:00pm

Join us for the 24th Annual Pumpkin Festival, a family-friendly community tradition hosted in Brookside Park, in front of Kidspace. Kids will giggle with delight at the petting zoo, pony rides, exciting bouncers, carnival games, and seasonal crafts. Partake in a costume parade, enjoy face painting, and select pumpkins from our pumpkin patch. Parents will love the costume sale, and tasty picnic treats. Entrance to the festival, parking, and live performances are free, tickets can be purchased to enjoy activities and food. 

All proceeds benefit Kidspace Children's Museum a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

 

Ticket Ranges for Festival Activities ($1 per ticket):

• Rides (bouncers, pony rides, petting zoo) - 2-4 tickets per turn
• Crafts - 2-4 tickets per craft
• Games - 2-3 tickets per game
• Books & Costumes - 1 ticket and up
• Balloons & Other - 2 tickets
• Food Vendors - 4-12 tickets per meal
• Pumpkins - 4-12 tickets

  

Live Performance Schedule: Saturday, October 27 10:30am - Rumbling Rhythms Drum Circles 12:00pm - Cleary Irish Dance 12:30pm - CMDA Dance Team 1:30pm - Riot Dance Troupe 2:00pm - Revolution Dance Center 2:30pm - Twinkle Toes Dance 3:45pm - BARK Sunday, October 28 10:30am - Bad Posture 12:00pm - Cleary Irish Dance 1:00pm - The Hollow Trees 2:30pm - Rumbling Rhythms Drum Circles 3:45pm - The Alana Banana Show" Besides the Pumpkin Festival, Kidspace Children's Museum is a fantastic place for kids to explore! There is a huge outdoor area with lots of activities; I was there about a year ago and even my 14 year old had a great time running around and building things.  Tickets are $14 for everyone 1 year old and up, but discounts are available: AAA card holders $12, Military $10, EBT card holders $3, all discounts are vaild for up to 4 guests. Click here for ticket pricing information. If you love Kidspace, and you will, consider purchasing a Family Membership and enjoy free admission every day. Prices range from $89 for a 3 month membership to $199 for a full year of fun. Click here for membership information.

Halloween Fair: Golf n' Stuff, Norwalk

Click here for more information.

Halloween @ the Shops at Montebello

Take the kids for some early Halloween fun at the Shops at Montebello!

Wednesday, October 31

3pm-5pm

Two hours of trick or treating at mall retailers 

and 

a Disney Jr. PlayDate at Center Court! 

Food Truck & Family Movie Night: Rosewood Park, Commerce

Halloween Spooktacular: Smith Park, Pico Rivera

The following information is from the city of Pico Rivera website:

"Experience a frightful evening of ghoulish fun at this popular event.  The fun begins with food, carnival type games, spooky arts & crafts, and activities the whole family can enjoy. Halloween bags will be provided for children to collect their Halloween treats (while supplies last).

The popular Halloween costume contest gets underway at 5:00 p.m. in the following costume categories:  Cutest, Scariest or Most Creative.  Costume Contest is divided into seven age divisions: 2 years and under, 3-5 years old, 6-8 years old, 9-11 years old, 12-14 years old, 15-17 years old, and Adult & Family/Group. 

Costume Contest Times

5:00 p.m.             2 yrs & under

5:30 p.m.             3-5 yrs

6:00 p.m.             6-8 yrs

6:30 p.m.             9-11 yrs

7:00 p.m.             12-14 yrs

7:30 p.m.             15 - 17 yrs

7:45 p.m.       Adult & Family/Group

Admission is FREE with nominal fees for food and amusements."

Click here for more inforamation.

Tidepool Walk: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro

Tidepool Walk

Discover what lurks beneath the waves at low tide as you walk across creviced rocks at the Point Fermin tide pools. Start at the aquarium auditorium for a preview of the marine life that may be found in the tidepools and tidepool etiquette, then venture out along the freshly exposed rock with a museum docent to guide the way.

The event is free of charge and reservations are not required.  My family attended a tidepool walk last year and we all had a great time! 

TIDEPOOL TIPS: Children must be supervised. You will be walking on wet craggy rocks and must be careful where you step. It is suggested that everyone wear sneakers or boots, and long pants (in case you fall, you will rip your pants, and not your skin). Parking at the aquarium is $1/hour. 

This event is worth the drive!

2018 Dates
Friday, November 23, 2pm
Saturday, November 24, 2:30pm
Sunday, November 25, 2:30pm (Spanish) 3pm (English)
Sunday, December 9, 3pm
Wednesday, December 19, 11:30am
Thursday, December 20, 12:30pm
Friday, December 21, 1pm
Saturday, December 22, 2pm
Sunday, December 23, 2pm (Spanish), 2:30 (English)

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, CA 90731

Click here for more information.

Girl Empowerment Conference: East Los Angeles College

From the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation Facebook page:

"The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation invites young women ages 11-18 to a Girl Empowerment Conference at East Los Angeles College on Saturday, November 10, 2018 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Girls will have the opportunity to network and attend informative workshops that will help them build their confidence and explore pathways to realize their dreams. Please visit your local county park to sign up, or for more information, please call (323) 260-2360 or (661) 294-3508."

Click here for more information.

Observatory Nights: Rio Hondo College

The Gordon D. Crowell Astrophysical Observatory at Rio Hondo College is open for free public observation on selected Friday nights throughout the year.

After a moderate 1/2 mile hike to the observatory, a staff member will explain what is visible in the night sky, and allow visitors to look through a 14" telescope.

Remaining Dates for 2018: 

I took a group of Girl Scouts to one of the observatory nights in 2016. A couple of the Girl Scout moms had to stop and catch their breath while hiking up the road to the observatory as the paved road is quite steep. Overall we had a good time, but a large crowd made for long lines at the telescope.

Note: Near the end of the Rio Hondo college semester the event is usually heavily attended because Astronomy students are given extra credit for attending. If you want to experience this telescope with your family I suggest attending early in the college semester to avoid larger crowds and bringing a flashlight to double check for potholes in the road on the way up.

Click here for more information.

Holiday Snow Village: Barnes Park, Monterey Park

Holiday Snow Village

Friday, December 1, 2017

6:00PM

Barnes Park Ampitheatre 

350 S Mc Pherrin Ave

Monterey Park, CA 91754

 

The city of Monterey Park will host it's annual snow day at Barnes Park. The fun will include a tree lighting ceremony, sledding on "real" snow, photos with Santa, refreshments and live entertainment by local schools. Click here for more information.

Note: Closed-toe shoes are required in the snow play area.

Mickey's Birthday Celebration: Disney Store

I spoke with a Disney Store Cast Member and was told that the store will be celebrating all day, but a free gift will be given out to the first guests that visit the Disney Store on Saturday, November 18. The Cast Member said last year Guests received a pin, they have not been told what the free gift will be this year, but last year all the pins were distributed within the first hour of the store opening. The Disney Store will open at 10am on November 18. This event will occur at all regular retail Disney Stores, including the location at the Shops at Montebello.