21 things to do with kids in San Diego County in June – The San Diego Union-Tribune

When it comes to summer in San Diego, there are some obvious things to do with your kids.

The beaches are filled with sand castle creations. Summer sports leagues require practice and competition. Padres games are packed with glove-wearing kids, hoping to catch a foul ball.

Ideally, our local little ones are still taking a break from screen time and playing outside wherever and whenever they can. But some days and weekends call for a little extra inspiration to keep San Diegos youngest population entertained, informed and inspired.

Here are some ideas for things to do with kids in June of 2022.

Moonlight Amphitheatre in an outdoor venue for musical theater and live music and, throughout June, it will be showing the San Diego regional premiere production of Rodgers and Hammersteins Cinderella. You may have seen the movie version starring Whitney Houston and Brandy Norwood. Now you can see a production right here in San Diego County.

8 p.m. June 10 to June 25. Moonlight Amphitheatre, 1250 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. Tickets range from $13 to $61. moonlightstage.com

Bring your friend or family member with autism to the Aqua Pros Swim School for a monthly family pool and pizza party on June 11 and again on July 9. All ages and all abilities are invited to swim in a heated indoor pool with free pizza and drinks. Lifeguards will be on site and anyone with dietary restrictions is welcomed to bring their own food.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 11. Free admission with suggested $5 donation. autismsocietysandiego.org.

Siblings Max (left), 6, and Alexa, 7, Charalambous enjoy a display at the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

(Eduardo Contreras/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Fleet Science Centers Sunday Science Club is open for students in grades 5-8 on June 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and then again on July 12 and Aug. 14 at the same times. The workshop offers hands-on activities and challenges from a range of fields including chemistry, robotics, environmental science and more. Register online to participate. This summer, Fleet Science Center also has an exhibit called Snow where kids can learn about climate adaptation and walk through a snowstorm.

1 p.m. to 2 p.m. June 12. Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park. $13 for members; $15 for non-members.

The Baby Shark Dance video by Pinkfong has been viewed more than 10 billion times since hitting YouTube in 2016. Now, the Pinkfong and Baby Shark costumed-characters are visiting the San Diego Civic Theatre stage for one night in June. Baby Shark Live! is described as a one-of-a-kind immersive experience for fans of all ages with dancing in the aisles, hit songs and exploration of shapes, colors, numbers and more.

6 p.m. June 17. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego. Tickets start at $33; free for children 2 and under. sandiegotheaters.org.

Common Ground Theatre and Community Actors Theatre are joining together to host a Juneteenth festival open to families and kids of all ages. There will be a puppet show, multiple musical performances, food trucks, a lesson on Juneteenth history and other family activities.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 18. Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego. Free. communityactorstheatre.com.

Amrynn Wade, 7, enjoys time with family and friends at Memorial Park at the Cooper Family Juneteenth Celebration, in this U-T file photo.

(Nancee E. Lewis/ 2021 Nancee Lewis / Nancee Le)

The Cooper Family Foundations Juneteenth event is a family and community tradition going back decades in San Diego. Organizers describe it as a community healing festival with a motto: Know the past, shape the future. This years gathering features a new event where kids can bring their bicycles and participate in a free bike rodeo with a bike raffle and helmet giveaway. The Juneteenth festival also includes a fun zone with performances and educational speakers, jumpers, story time, a history wall and other activities.

11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. June 18. Memorial Park, 2975 Oceanview Blvd., San Diego. Free. cfjuneteenth.com.

An interactive show at the Maritime Museum of San Diego returns this summer, bringing families up close and personal with a cast of pirates. Boarded! A New Pirate Adventure is a 90-minute show stages aboard the ship San Salvador that includes introductions to navigation, sword fighting and other pirate skills.

10 a.m. or 12:45 p.m. June 18. Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego. $60 for adults; $25 for children 12 and under.

The Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum will host engine and tractor shows on back to back weekends in June. See vintage construction equipment, antique gas and steam engines, looms and spinning wheels, antique clocks and watches and more. There will also be demonstrations on blacksmithing, corn and wheat processing, milling, woodworking, and weaving.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 18-19 and June 25-26. Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista. $8 for adults; $7 for seniors; $5 for kids ages 6-12; free for ages 6 and under and active duty military. agsem.com

The La Mesa Juneteenth and Friends celebration will bring local educators, writers, churches, city leaders and performers from the La Mesa and surrounding areas. It will include a performance by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Choir, bounce houses, crafts and other family fun. Kids can participate in a scavenger hunt and work on Juneteenth-inspired crafts.

Noon until 4 p.m. June 19. MacArthur Park, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa. lamesajuneteenthandfriends.com

Kids are invited to attend a free event with authors Pam Fong, Marcie Colleen and Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard. Children of all abilities are invited for a book reading and a unique themed craft. Each child will receive one free book while supplies last.

10 a.m. to noon June 25. San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. Register by searching Ready 3x3" on eventbrite.com.

Swifty Swine Racing Pigs at the San Diego County Fair.at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar in this U-T file photo.

(San Diego Union-Tribune)

The colorful sights, sweet sounds and fun foods of the San Diego County Fair are all back in full force this summer after a scaled-down version in 2021 and complete cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19. There will, of course, be rides and games for families to enjoy, but make sure to check out the daily calendar of events to find out when kids can see exhibits and other activities. The list includes pig races, a cow milking demonstration, livestock showmanship and Godfrey The Magician. The fair will also have a kids market place where they can learn about agricultural commodities grown in California.

11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays, Wednesday and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Monday and Tuesdays except July 4. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Ticket prices vary by day from free to 20. sdfair.com.

Each Sunday in June (and two in July) you can find family fun activities during Summer Sundays events at Village Walk at EastLake at 5 p.m. Take the whole family to see live music and car exhibits, participate in weekly crafts and enjoy free face painting and free balloon sculptures. Did we mention its all free?

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Every Sunday in June. Village Walk at EastLake. 884 Eastlake, Chula Vista. Free.

An egret sits on grass at Santee Lakes.

(Karen Pearlman / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

On a regular day at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, you can go camping, boating, enjoy a playground, look for birds and grab lunch at Tin Fish. In June, there are a few unique events. On June 18, take your beach chairs and blankets for a free concert at the campground at 7 p.m. Special night fishing hours are available on June 23 for $4. Then, on June 25, the Santee Firefighters Fishing Derby will take place for kids ages 3 to 17 from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. with free permits, worms, raffles, hot dogs and door prizes. Register online at santeefirefighters.com or join in the day of the event.

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee. santeelakes.com

The New Childrens Museum hosted imaginative storytelling workshops at community centers around San Diego in April, May and June and will celebrate the end of the series with Mass Creativity. The 10th annual event includes free admission to the museum, live music, food and family-friendly activities in the museum park. Families will also be able to see art from the different community centers woven together.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 25. The New Childrens Museum, 200 W. Island Ave., San Diego. Free museum admission during the event. thinkplaycreate.org.

Independence parades arent just the Fourth of July. Celebrate early with the 26th annual Oceanside Independence Parade. This years theme is honoring our hometown heroes and will include floats, bands, cool cars and other classic parade moments. The parade is expected to last about two hours. Bring your own folding chairs to watch.

10 a.m. June 25. Starting at the 101 Cafe, 631 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. Parade route goes along Coast Highway from Wisconsin Avenue to Civic Center Drive. mainstreetoceanside.com/watch-the-parade.

An Oct. 6, 2020, file photo of Petco Park in San Diego.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Petco Park offers several different tours that are led by a guide. The tours offer behind-the-scenes views of the ball park and information on the history of the facility and the San Diego Padres. Daily tours include stops at the field warning track and press box while pre-game tours include a viewing of batting practice for certain games.

Dates and times vary. Petco Park. Tours start at Western Metal Building ticket windows on Seventh Avenue/Tony Gwynn Boulevard at K. Street. $28 to $75. mlb.com/padres/ballpark/tours.

As part of a nationwide program providing access to bowling for kids during the summer time, Aztec Lanes will be offering free bowling for kids ages 12 and under. Each child can play two free games each day of the summer up until Aug. 21. Just sign up through the Kids Bowl Free website or app to participate.

Available every day of the week. Times vary. Aztec Lanes, Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, 6075 Aztec Circle Drive, San Diego. Free azteclanes.sdsu.edu/kidsbowlfree.

Christine Lee (left) gets ready with her son Elijah, 13, to watch the movie Trolls at the South Bay Drive-In Theaters.

(Eduardo Contreras/Eduardo Contreras/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Pile the family into a car and visit one of San Diego Countys drive-in movie theaters. The Santee Drive-In Theatre and South Bay Drive-In Theatres are both open seven nights a week, just check their showtimes for family-friendly films. Both venues offer snack bars and allow guests to watch from their vehicles or bring chairs to set up outside.

Santee Drive-In Theatre, 10990 N. Woodside Ave., Santee. $12 for adults; $5 for juniors; free for children 4 and under. santeedriveintheatre.comSouth Bay Drive-In Theatres, 2170 Coronado Ave., San Diego. $10 for adults; $1 for children 5-9. southbaydrivein.com

From Imperial Beach and San Ysidro to Oceanside and almost everywhere in between, you can find family-friendly movies being shown at local parks throughout the summer. Better yet? All these events are free for the public. Bring your own chairs and blankets and pack a picnic to enjoy your favorite foods and snacks. Some locations have food available.

For locations, movies and showtimes, go to summermoviesinthepark.com.

On almost any given day, somewhere in San Diego County, a library is hosting a family-friendly event and most of them are free. Thats especially true during the summer. Through Aug. 31, readers of all ages can join the San Diego Public Librarys summer reading program at sandiego.gov/summerreading and win prizes for meeting certain reading goals. The San Diego County Library system also has a summer learning challenge going through Aug. 31, which you can sign up for at sdcl.readsquared.com. For the rest of the summer, all kinds of events are taking place at local libraries including LEGO-building, pasta art, guitar lessons, pajama story time, chess clubs, comedy shows, gardening, video games and yoga for children.

To check out events at libraries in the San Diego Public Library system, go to sandiego.librarymarket.com.For San Diego County Library events, go to sdcl.org and click events.

The San Diego Botanic Garden offers a SAPLinGS (Science, Art and PLay in Garden Spaces) program for kids. They can help in the garden, learn about science, play in a treehouse and stream, make music and art and more. There are also model trains and plenty of ways to play and explore outside.

10 a.m. to noon. Wednesdays through Fridays. San Diego Botanic Garden. Quail Gardens Drive and Ecke Ranch Road, Encinitas. sdbgarden.org

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21 things to do with kids in San Diego County in June - The San Diego Union-Tribune