JULY: What To Do With Kids In San Diego (July 2023)
July Adventures are here! 🙌 Which ones will you go on this month?! 🎳 🐴 🇺🇸 📚 ☀️ 🐉 🦕 🦁 🐬
July’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 July.
Contents:
📚 Library Summer Reading Program
🐉 Savage Gardens & Summer Nights
DONATION
🎳 KIDS FREE BOWLING 🎳
June-Aug, 2023. You read that right, FREE bowling for kids! This awesome program is back. Registered kids ages 2-12 get 2 FREE games during the summer. Shoe rental is extra (or buy your own on Amazon for $16). Participating bowling alleys are limited this year. 💻 more info
SDSU Aztec Lanes: May 13-August 18, 2023
Monday-Sunday - open to close
📍 6075 Aztec Circle Dr., San Diego, CA 92182
📞 619-594-2695
💻 info
Temecula Lanes: June 1 - October 31, 2023
Mon-Thur 2:30-5pm
Fridays 11am-5pm
Sat/Sun - not available
📍 27475 Jefferson Ave., Temecula, CA 92590
📞 951-676-1111
💻 info
Parents can buy a 2-4 person family pass so older family members can bowl too if you wish, $35-$40.
Each participating bowling alley has their own Kids Free Bowling days and hours, so choose the one that works best for you.
🐴 RAMONA COUNTRY FAIR 🐴
July 28-30, 2023. If you missed the county fair you can still check out the COUNTRY fair! Western shows, medieval demonstrations, adventure zones, rides, animals, music, food & fun.
📍 Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 421 Aqua Lane, Ramona, CA 92065. 💻 more info
DATES:
Friday 7/28 from 4-11pm (rides open at 5pm)
Sat 7/29 & Sun 7/30 from 11am-11pm (rides open at 1pm)
COST:
FREE admission
pre-sale ride wristbands go on sale July 10th
ride tickets can be purchased at the fair, cash only (ATMs are available)
$1 per ticket, $20 for a sheet of 24; rides require 3-6 tickets
food vendors available
PARKING:
pre-order a parking pass online before July 28th, otherwise you can pay on-site (cash only)
🇺🇸 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS 🇺🇸
I know, I know…it’s already over but it still deserves a spot on the July fun list. Hope my Instagram highlights bubble was helpful for you to find all the fun.
📚 SUMMER LIBRARY READING PROGRAM 📚
June 1 - Aug 31, 2023. “Find Your Voice” is the theme this year to express yourself, share your stories and spark change. San Diego residents of all ages, even adults!, are encouraged to sign up. 💻 more info
HOW: Complete a combination of 10 books, 10 hours of reading or related community activities to claim your prizes. The Summer Reading Program is open to adults and kids of all ages and everyone will receive a prize bag (while supplies last). Prizes usually include a museum ticket and a food voucher!
This year's prizes include: admission for 2 at: SD Natural History Museum, SD Model Railroad Museum, SD Auto Museum, 1 pass for the New Children's Museum, vouchers for Yogurtland Rubio's and Mendocino Farms. Yes, ALL of this is included for one prize pack per child!
This year adults get a pass for the SD Natural History Museum, free chips & guac from Rubio's, a SDPL journal and a free book.
Adventure is just one book away! Log your hours online or download and turn in the reading log in person.
☀️ FREE SUMMER MOVIES & CONCERTS IN THE PARK ☀️
OUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE OUTDOOR MOVIE
Is the Rooftop Cinema Club downtown on the 4th floor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Look for pajama movies, kids movie days, and even “wooftop” movies with your pups! Save 20% with my code...coming soon!!!! (I'm waiting for their reply with my new code.)
*Note: Kids are only allowed at movies that start before 5pm, or otherwise stated.📍 Rooftop Cinema Club at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Pl., Harbor Tower, 4th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101 (downtown) 💻 more info
FREE OUTDOOR SUMMER MOVIES!
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.
(These are linked from 2022, but I haven't confirmed them for 2023 yet but most should still be the same; I'll confirm and update any broken ones soon. These are also saved in my Instagram highlight bubble “July Fun” @famdiego.)
San Diego Parks & Rec: list of over 100 movie dates, times & locations
Poway Summer Movies (2023)
Chula Vista Parks & Rec Summer Movies - or on Instagram here (2023)
REGAL CINEMAS (2023)
$2 KIDS SUMMER MOVIES!! Only on Tuesday & Wednesday mornings from June-August. more info
READING CINEMAS (2023)
$5 movies from April-November. more info
AMC MOVIES (2023)
$3 on Wed, $5 on Sat only at Mission Valley, Plaza Bonita & UTC more info
MOVIE DEALS AT CINEOPOLIS (*2022)
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. Details here.
Mondays: discounted kids tickets, 1/2 off wine, happy hour before 6pm
Tuesdays: half price Tuesdays! 1/2 off all tickets, $10 "magnificent margaritas", happy hour before 6pm
Wednesdays: discounted senior tickets, 1/2 off popcorn & candy, happy hour before 6pm
Thursdays: $2 draft beer, happy hour before 6pm
Fridays: happy hour before 6pm
Saturdays & Sundays: $5 blood mary drinks & mimosas until 3pm
ONE PASEO'S OUTDOOR MOVIE SERIES (2023)
June 3 - July 15, 2023. FREE. "Join us every Saturday night in June & July at One Paseo for Summer Moonlight Cinema. Enjoy a movie under the stars with family and friends. Don’t forget your blankets and chairs! Pack a picnic dinner or treat the gang to take-out from nearby eateries like URBN Pizza, Cava and Tocaya Organica. Movies start at 6pm Saturdays June 3 - July 15 on the lawn next to Harland Brewing. 📍 One Paseo, 3725 Paseo Place, San Diego. 💻 more info
FREE OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERTS! (*2022)
BYO dinner, blankets & chairs for a fun and FREE night out with the family. Here are some local Parks & Rec departments that offer summer concerts. Some of the links are below.
(These are linked from 2022, but I haven't confirmed them for 2023 yet but most should still be the same; I'll confirm and update any broken ones soon. These are also saved in my Instagram highlight bubble “July Fun” @famdiego.)
"San Diego's Best Free Summer Concerts for Families" (This is a story I wrote for Tiny Beans; formerly Red Tricycle)
Balboa Park Organ Concerts (Mon eves Summer Only & Sunday afternoons year-round)
Balboa Park Concerts & Variety Acts (Tue-Thur Summer only) calendar view
🐉 SAVAGE GARDENS & SUMMER NIGHTS 🐉
July 1-Oct. 29, 2023. Savage Gardens exhibits of carnivorous plants and larger-than-life botanical sculptures. more info
July 13-Aug. 17, 2023, Thursdays til 8pm. Open late for live music, tasty treats and garden strolls at sunset. more info
📍 San Diego Botanic Gardens, 300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas, CA 92024
🦕 NAT AT NIGHT 🦕
Fridays May 26 - Sept. 4, 2023. Open until 10pm! with HALF-PRICE admission after 5. Enjoy all exhibits and the rooftop patio (open Fridays 5-10pm 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.
📍 San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 (Balboa Park) 💻 more info
🦁 NIGHT TIME ZOO 🦁
May 26 - Sept. 4, 2023. Come "rock and roar" every day this summer until 9pm! Evening activities with live music and other amazing entertainment experiences start at 4pm. There's so much to do, see and hear at Nighttime Zoo - it's a good thing summer hours are longer! (This is my personal favorite summer bucket-list activity.)
📍 San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Dr., San Diego, CA 92101 (Balboa Park) 💻 more info
🐬 SEAWORLD SUMMER SPECTACULAR 🐬
May 26 - Aug. 20, 2023. Come early and stay late to see ALL-NEW surprises this season. New shows include the Splashtacular Parade, Pirates Ahoy! water stunts show and new kid-friendly fun at the just-opened Rescue Jr. (redesigned Sesame Bay of Play), and Arctic Rescue is their new snowmobile-inspired roller coaster. Try new food & drink specials, catch a summer concert and end your day with a spectacular fireworks show over Mission Bay.
📍 SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109 (Mission Bay) 💻 more info
HAVE FUN! 🤗
DONATION:
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