Best Things to do on Summer Nights in Southern California
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One of the best parts of living in Southern California are the nights. The summer breeze, lights, sounds, smells and tastes that make summer special. And California is one of the best at making these nights extraordinary! Here are a few of my favorite reasons why.
Knotts Summer Nights! When the sun goes down, the party turns up! Guests can enjoy a variety of activities including live music, food, and games throughout the park. The park provides special summer food and drinks, kid friendly games, live music and interactive photo-ops. You definitely want to check this out!
Summer nights at the aquarium of the Pacific. You can dive into summer fun at the Aquarium of the Pacific Summer discounted nights! Enjoy all the fun the aquarium has to offer at a discounted price in a whole new way. And admission also includes entrance to the brand new Pacific Visions wing to experience an all new hands on, state of the art multimedia display. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the aquarium is open until 9:00 pm and admission after 5 pm is only $19.95 for everyone! Seriously, this is such a great deal!
Sea World Summer Nights: Fireworks every night, fun shows like Electric Ocean an illuminated world of light and music, and late night hours. Just when you thought Sea World couldn’t be any more fun, they do summer nights.
Summer Nights at the Zoo: Families can enjoy special “Nightime at the Zoo” at the San Diego Zoo until September 2. See the animals come alive at night, all while enjoying live music, fun shows and activities, animal encounters and cooler weather. Or for my LA friends looking for a fun night out sans kids, check out “Roaring Nights at the Zoo” where the money goes to helping endangered species. Dancing, a full bar, and wild hosts, it’s an adults only way to have a lot of fun on a summer night (ages 21+ only). These nights are totally going to drive you wild!
Summer Concert Series: The Autry Museum has Sizzling Salsa, which happens every Thursday night from July 11- August 22. Enjoy salsa dancing, lessons and food all while being at a really cool venue. Or check out the Hollywood Bowl, Redlands Bowl, Summer Nights in the Garden at the Natural History Museum, Night Garden at Descanso Gardens, and Jazz at the LACMA. All really great options. Plus there are so many shows to take in on summer nights at venues like the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, or the Art Festival in Laguna Beach. We were so impressed by the Pageant of the Masters there this year. It was absolutely incredible!
I wrote all about how baseball and summer are basically synonomis in my opinion here. There are very few things more fun on a summer night than catching a game. You can go to an Angels game in Anaheim, a Dodgers game in Los Angeles, a Padres game in downtown San Diego, or catch one of the minor league games held in numerous other cities. I love a good ole’ fashion all American baseball game in the summertime.
And don’t forget to look locally for parks, and places that put on concert series, outdoor movies, etc. There are so many it would be practically impossible to list them all. But a quick Google search of your city will help.
Enjoy these last few weeks as much as you can because sadly, summers end is approaching all too quickly. Don’t miss out on all the summer fun in your area and maybe try something new!
39 Comments
Joanne
Looks like some real family fun!
admin
That’s the goal!
Melissa Parcel
Looks so fun! I’d totally enjoy all of these things.
admin
I am sure you would!
Angela
I am most intrigued by the night at the zoo, very cool.
admin
I hadn’t even heard of it until last year and it was so fun when we went!!!!
Cynthia
This looks like so much fun. We haven’t brought our kids out to California yet but we will definitely put Knotts Berry Farm on our to do list for when we go 🙂
admin
There is a lot of fun things to do other than Disneyland (though that too is fun) when you come out!
Candy K
We went to LA in April and didn’t even get to scratch the surface of seeing everything. We plan on going back and will have to add a lot of these places to our list.
admin
I’ve lived here my whole life and am just barely starting to scratch the surface of things to do and places to see. That’s the joys of the area!
Christina Furnival Real Life Mama
Summer nights in SoCal are some of the best! We love the Zoo’s Summer Nights! Great list!
admin
Thanks! California summers are spectacular!
Katherine Wolfe
Knott’s Berry Farm, Sea World, SD Zoo, Angels/Padres/Dodgers….those are all my childhood haunts. Your post made me soooooooooooooooo nostalgic!
admin
I love that feeling, but it also makes me a little melancholy. I am one who looks too fondly on the past. 😉
Nikki
Wow you guys look like you had fun. We haven’t gotten to spend a ton of time in California and I look forward to being able to get there soon. The hubby just spent 5 weeks out by Napa doing some work – wish I could have made it out there but I had too much going on here at home.
admin
Hey I know how that goes. The good thing is, California isn’t going anywhere, so you can plan your visit for a season of life a little less busy.
Adrienne B Redelings
Looks like everyone had a great time. Great article!
Tiffany
Evening adventures – what a twist on summer fun!
Suzan
So fun! Nighttime visits always have create own unique perspective.
Margaret
The night at the zoo sounds wonderful! Animals, music, and food. Who could ask for more!
Sian
This looks like so much fun! London do a night at the zoo experience too 🙂
admin
good to know!
Kendra
Awesome family fun! I love all of the options you’ve found!
Haley Kelley
I have always wanted to go somewhere like this! It looks so fun!
Rachel DeMello
I ❤️ cali……we visit as often as possible. The zoo nights look great! Definitely putting this on the to-do for our next trip.
admin
It was a lot of fun. I would highly recommend it!
Lisa Manderino
Those summer nights look amazing and I love to get a great deal!
Karla Petersen
Wow! I love finding so many ways to have fun locally! We have SO much to offer here in Seattle, too, that sometimes, it’s hard to choose what to do!
admin
I loved my short visit to Seattle. I can’t wait to go back and visit!
Heather
This all looks great. Why is it summer goes by way too quickly!
Cindy
These places are great ways to wrap up summer! And where did it go anyway?! This year has flown by.
admin
Oh man you’re telling me! This whole year has flown by, but seriously where did Summer go?! I mean, it’s basically Christmas, am I right?!
Maria
Knotts Berry Farm just brings back so many great childhood memories for me. If only S.Cal was a little closer! That 25 hour drive is a bit much for me!
admin
lol, just a bit. 😉
Laura Lee
My children are all grown and out of the house, but I love spending time with my husband at my town’s summer concerts and movies in the park.
Ruth Iaela-Pukahi
My kids and I would totally enjoy all of these family fun summer activities! Helps that the sun doesn’t go down too early! 🙂
admin
Oh I genuinely only share the things that my kids and I have or would enjoy ourselves!!!!
T.M. Brown
Awww – those faces say it all! Tons of smiles and the colors in your pictures really pop!!
admin
We love having fun as a family!!!