JUNE: What To Do With Kids In San Diego (June 2024)
June Adventures are here! 🙌 Which ones will you go on this month?! 🎡 📚 🎥 🎳 🍓 💙 🦕 🦁 🐬
June’s List of What To Do With Kids in San Diego
Here are all the fun kid-friendly events and seasonal happenings for these lucky San Diego kids in June.
Contents:
🎡 SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR 🎡
June 12 - July 7, 2024. “Let's Go Retro” this year at the county fair! I wrote a story for Tiny Beans (formerly Red Tricycle) a few years ago that details everything you need to know from admission tickets, rides, food, parking and how to get in for free! This story gets updated every year after me and hasn't yet been updated for 2024, but some of the tips should still apply and hopefully they'll update it soon. MORE INFO
Click here for my “Budget Guide to the San Diego County Fair”
📚 SUMMER LIBRARY READING PROGRAM 📚
June 1 - Aug 31, 2024. “Read. Renew. Repeat.” People of all ages are encouraged to participate in this year's conservation-focused event aimed at protecting, maintaining, and restoring the city's diverse habitats, ecosystems, wildlife, and natural resources. MORE INFO
Complete a combination of 10 books, 10 hours of reading or noted community activities to claim your prizes. Sign up begins June 1st and the program will last through August 31st. Prizes usually include a museum ticket and a food voucher!
This Summer Reading Program is open to adults and kids of all ages and everyone will receive a prize bag (while supplies last). Parents, reading programs aren't just for your kiddos. Model some literary behavior and have a 20 minute family read together time.
🎥 FREE & CHEAP SUMMER MOVIES 🎥
FREE OUTDOOR SUMMER MOVIES in the PARK!
BYO dinner, blankets & chairs for a fun and FREE night out with the family. Here are some local Parks & Rec departments that offer summer movies. I’ll add to this list if I come across anymore so keep checking back. 100+ San Diego Parks & Rec Summer Movies
SCHEDULE: Fridays & Saturdays
(*check times/locations before you go for any schedule changes)
Sat 6/1 at 6:30pm - The Sandlot - Standley Community Park
Fri 6/7 at 6pm - The Little Mermaid - PB Taylor/Library
Fri 6/7 at 6pm - Trolls Band Together - Scripps Ranch Comm Ctr
Sat 6/8 at 5pm - The Sandlot - Morley Field/Balboa Park
Sat 6/8 at 6pm - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem - Dos Picos County Park
Sat 6/8 at 6:30pm - The Sandlot - Rolling Hills Neighborhood Park
Sat 6/8 at 7pm - The Little Mermaid - Sweetwater Place County Park
Fri 6/14 at 6:30pm - Shrek - Golden Hill Rec Ctr
Fri 6/14 at 6:30pm - The Little Mermaid - Pine Valley County Park
Fri 6/14 at 7pm - Wonka - Doyle Comm Park
Sat 6/15 at 6pm - Migration - Cesar Solis Somm Park
Sat 6/15 at 6pm - Wonka - Potrero County Park
Sat 6/15 at 6:30pm - Cars - Flinn Springs County Park
Sat 6/15 at 6:30pm - The Little Mermaid - Poway Comm Park
Sat 6/15 at 6:30pm - The Princess Bride - Buena Vista Ball Fields
Fri 6/21 at 5:30pm - Wonka - Colina Del Sol Comm Park
Fri 6/21 at 6pm - Luca - Encanto Rec Ctr
Sat 6/22 at 5pm - Luca - Crown Point Park Mission Bay
Sat 6/22 at 5pm - Monster Inc. - Wegeforth Elem. Joing Use
Sat 6/22 at 7pm - Jungle Cruise - Jess Martin County Park
Fri 6/28 at 6pm - Trolls Band Together - Waterfront Park donwtown
Fri 6/28 at 6pm - Finding Nemo - Nobel Comm Park
Fri 6/28 at 6:30pm - Migration - Veterans Park/IB Library
Sat 6/29 at 6pm - Trolls Band Together - Otay Lakes County Park
Sat 6/29 at 6:30pm - Migration - Poway Comm Park
Sat 6/29 at 7pm - ET Extra-Terrestrial - University Village
POWAY SUMMER MOVIES IN THE PARK - FREE!
June-August 2024. The City of Poway presents free Summer Movies in the Park! Bring a blanket and enjoy a family-friendly movie under the stars. Movies will be shown on a giant, cinema-quality screen. A free, family-friendly recreation area will open at 6:30 p.m. Bring your favorite snacks or a picnic dinner; food will NOT be available for purchase. Parking is free but can fill up fast; come early and get a good seat! *7/13 movie will be a dive-in poolside movie. MORE INFO
Movies times: 6:30-10pm
Location: varies, see below
Phone: 858-668-4671
SCHEDULE:
6/15 The Little Mermaid (2023 version) - Poway Community Park
6/29 Migration - Poway Community Park
*7/13 Elemental - Poway Community Swim Center (pool dive-in movie)
7/27 Kung Fu Panda 4 - Poway Community Park
8/10 Hook - Old Poway Park
CHULA VISTA MOVIE IN THE MOONLIGHT - FREE!
May-Oct 2024. Movies in the Moonlight is back in Chula Vista! Join us for enchanting evenings under the stars at different parks throughout the city. Get your blankets and lawn chairs ready for cozy nights filled with family fun! Movies start at dusk, with recreational activities kicking off at 6 PM. MORE INFO
Movies times: starts at 6pm
Location: varies, see below - addresses are found in the info link above
SCHEDULE:
5/25: Trolls Band Together - Veterans Park
*6/7: Migration - Montevalle Park
7/26: Elemental - Rohr Park
8/23: Wish - Millenia Park
9/27: Paw Patrol - Orange Park
10/25: Wonka - Escaya Park
*6/7 this movie will start later, in conjunction with the Family Snores 'n Smores Family Campout
$1 KIDS SUMMER MOVIES at REGAL CINEMAS!!
June-Aug. 2024. Regal Cinemas is back with their Summer Movie Express. It's only $1 and movies are only on Tuesday & Wednesday mornings at 11am from June-August. (Last year they were $2!) MORE INFO
Movie times: 11am showings only
At All Participating Locations: El Cajon, Rancho San Diego, San Marcos, Escondido, Carlsbad, Oceanside
SCHEDULE:
June 11 & 12: Peter Rabbit 2, Puss N Boots
June 18 & 19: Mutant Mayhem Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Frenemies
June 25 & 26: Despicable Me 3, Migration
July 2 & 3: Spiderman into the Spider Verse, Paw Patrol The Movie
July 9 & 10: Spiderman Across the Spider Verse, Paw Patrol Mighty Movie
July 16 & 17: Clifford the Big Red Dog, Sonic
July 23 & 24: Trolls, Sonic 2
July 30 & 31: Lyle Lyle Crocodile, Kung Fu Panda 3
Aug.6 & 7: Minions Rise of Gru, Sing 2
MOVIE DEALS AT CINEOPOLIS
2024. This theater used to have a kids summer movie program, but they do still have some good weekly deals. San Diego locations include: Del Mar, Carlsbad at La Costa & Vista. MORE INFO
Mondays: discounted kids tickets, 1/2 off wine, half-off candy
Tuesdays: half price Tuesdays! 1/2 off all tickets, happy hour before 11pm
Wednesdays: discounted senior tickets
ROOFTOP MOVIES
2024. Don't forget about my favorite outdoor Rooftop Movies on top of the Grand Hyatt downtown. They're not free, but I do have a 20% off code for you: "FAMDIEGO20" code expires 5/31/24 (I'll update when the extension gets approved). Valid for 1 use per uer at Embarcadero San Diego location only. SCHEDULE HERE
🎳 KIDS FREE SUMMER BOWLING 🎳
May-Aug/Oct, 2024. This awesome summer program is back. Registered kids ages 2-12 get 2 FREE games a day. Put the bumpers up & get a ball ramp to make it a super fun day for kiddos! Rent shoes on-site, but if you go often if might be cheaper to buy your own. MORE INFO
LOCATIONS
This is a NATIONWIDE + CANADA program, so tell your friends & family in other states about it. Also, if you'll be out of town for the summer check to see if the local bowling alley is participating.
OLDER KIDS / ADULTS
If you have older kids 13+ or adults who would like to bowl along, you can add-on a family pass (1 person $33, 2 people $38 or 4 people $43).
SAN DIEGO LOCATIONS
San Diego Bowling alleys are limited this year to SDSU Aztec Lanes, East Village Tavern & Bowl (new for 2024!) & Temecula Lanes.
Note: registration is valid at only one bowling alley, you cannot transfer to another bowling alley once you've signed up with another location.
AZTEC LANES - SDSU campus
Bowling Dates: May 12 - Aug. 17, 2024
Bowling Hours: open-close 7 days/week
Address: 6075 Aztec Circle Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182
Phone: 619-594-2695
(This location is on the campus of SDSU and note that PAID PARKING is tricky here and you may have to walk for a while from the car to finding the bowling alley. The MTS Trolley stops underneath campus and you walk right up to nearby the bowling alley, so this might be the easiest way to get there. Strollers are allowed on the trolley.)
EAST VILLAGE TAVERN & BOWL - downtown
Bowing Dates: May 13 - Aug. 16, 2024
Bowling Hours: Mon-Fri from 3-6pm only
Address: 930 Market Street, San Diego, CA, 92101
Phone: 619-677-2695
TEMECULA LANES
Bowling Dates: May 31 - Oct. 30, 2024
Bowling Hours: Mon-Thur from 2:30-5pm; Fri from 11am-5pm (no weekends)
Address: 27475 Jefferson Ave., Temecula, CA, 92590
Phone: 951-676-1111
🍓 BERRY PICKING 🍓
June 2024. U-Pick Berry picking is happening this month. Here’s what you can pick and where:
Strawberries:
open daily 9-5
they have a lot of add-on activites that can make for a very expensive day (tractor rides, pony rides, bounce houses, etc.
they also have some FREE activities, here's my IG post about it
Sat & Sun from 10am-4pm; as of 5/31/24
June 1-2, & 8-9 from 10:30am-4pm
strawberry u-pick, tractor rides, flower fields, bounce houses, kids’ crafts and more!
$5 parking,
Kenny’s Strawberry Farm in Fallbrook
their season closed 6/1/24 this year
Blueberries:
June 1 & 2 from 7a-7p - check website for other dates
cash/checks only $6/small, $12/med, $20/lg
Blackberries:
Julian Farm & Orchard - strawberries only right now
Sat & Sun from 10am-4pm; as of 5/31/24
💙 FATHER’S DAY ACTIVITIES 💙
Celebrate with DAD this year. Need some Dad + kid-friendly ideas??
Mini golf + eat at The Loma Club and walk around Liberty Station
Catch a car show at Belmont Park or the SD Auto Museum
Museum hop at Balboa Park + eat at Panama 66 (psst…Dads get in free at the SD Auto Museum on Sun 6/19 with another paid adult admission!)
Walk around Old Town + eat at Barra Barra (kids eat free everyday!)
Grab a Resort Pass and relax the day away poolside
(currently not in service, but keep checking thier website to see if repairs have been made) Ride the scenic out & back Pacific Southwest Railway Train in Campo + wine tasting at nearby Campo Creek Vineyards
You'll find all these details & more ideas here:
🦕 NAT AT NIGHT 🦕
Fridays May 24 - Aug. 30, 2024. Open until 10pm! with HALF-PRICE admission after 5. Explore the museum after dark and you'll get access to all exhibits and the rooftop patio (open Fridays 4-10pm only), and offers one of the best views in Balboa Park. It’s open to all visitors and serves beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and delicious small plates from Wolf in the Woods. You can buy your tickets in advance online or buy them at the door the night of. As always, members of The Nat and Explorer pass holders enjoy free general admission. MORE INFO
🦁 ZOO AT NIGHT 🦁
May 25 - Sept. 2, 2024. Come "rock and roar" every day this summer with live music and other amazing entertainment experiences. There's so much to do, see and hear at Nighttime Zoo - it's a good thing summer hours are longer! MORE INFO
🐬 SEAWORLD SUMMER SPECTACULAR 🐬
SEAWORLD SUMMER SPECTACULAR
May 24 - Sept. 2, 2024. See new shows like the 60th Anniversary celebration So Much More to SEA Paradeand Shamu and Crew – Together Again live performance character show. Sing along to the hits of the late nineties at the new BMX BLAST! high energy stunt show, and more. Catch live music from Ginuwine, Jesse McCartney, and many others at our Summer Concert Series. And end your night with the dazzling new Enchanted Wonders Fireworks spectacular. MORE INFO