Some July Events That the Whole Family Will Relish

July is the year’s barefoot child, sun-kissed and carefree. Kids on summer break know this well, but sometimes, adults need a little refresher in the finer points of July Enjoyment.

We recommend the following steps: Kick off sensible shoes; grab a Fudgesicle (low-fat, if you must), and gather family members to review this calendar of events.

Today

* C.S. Lewis’ children’s fantasy, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” will be staged at 10 a.m. by the Orange Coast College Children’s Theatre Company in the Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa.

Performances continue through July 17, Wednesday and Thursdays at 10 a.m., Fridays at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets: $4 advance; $5 at the door. (714) 432-5880.

* Mickey Rooney is the whiz of a wiz and Jo Anne Worley the Wicked Witch of the West in a splashy touring version of “The Wizard of Oz” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

The 90-minute show, produced by Radio City Entertainment, will be performed today at 7:30 p.m. It continues through July 18 (no show Monday; performance times vary). Tickets: $29.50-$49.50. (714) 740-7878.

Friday

* Kids pay zip to get into the Orange County Fair every Friday through the July 9-25 run. On these Kids Day promotions, youths ages 6 to 12 get free entry, plus special activities and contests.

The Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. General admission is $2-$6, free to ages 5 and under. (714) 708-3247.

* A handsome prince seeks the heart (and foot) of a comely maid for dancing in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” in Laguna Niguel.

Children’s Theatre Productions/Laguna Niguel Playhouse presents the full-length musical through July 17 at their storefront theater, 23811 Aliso Creek Road. Shows are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Recommended for 5 and up. $9-$10. (949) 425-1771.

Saturday

* The Santa Ana Zoo Olympics lets children ape the skills needed to survive in the wild, such as cheetah-sprinting, kangaroo-hopping and gobbling up bugs like an anteater.

The fun runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free with zoo admission of $2-$4 (ages 2 and under are free). 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 953-8555.

* You thought pineapple smoothies and Don Ho tapes were as close as you could get to the Islands? Hang loose this weekend at the Block at Orange (20 City Blvd. West, Orange), and take in free performances of Hawaiian music and dance, plus lei-making workshops for the little ones.

Look for it in the center’s AMC plaza noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. (714) 769-4001.

Sunday

* Dancers from the Aman International Dance Company teach traditional American folk dances at 1:30 p.m. at the Bowers Kidseum, 1802 N. Main St., Santa Ana. (Program repeats July 18 and 25). Free with admission: $4-$8, children under 5 free (also good for same day admission to the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art). (714) 480-1520.

* Colorize your weekend at one--or all--of Laguna’s outdoor art festivals, which offer displays, demos, entertainment and a smattering of hands-on workshops for kids. Your options are the Sawdust Festival (935 Laguna Canyon Road) (949) 494-3030; Art-A-Fair (777 Laguna Canyon Road), (949) 494-4514 and the Festival of Arts (650 Laguna Canyon Road) (949) 494-1145.

Wednesday

* Mark the 30th anniversary of the first walk on the moon with a walk through “AREA 37: Richard Nixon and the History of America in Space,” a display of more than 50 artifacts and photographs chronicling our early ventures into space at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace (18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda). $2-$5.95; ages 7 and under free. (714) 993-5075.