Summer Fun Guide 

Keep your family’s schedule packed this summer.

Arts Entertainment

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has loads of family-friendly offerings this summer. Broadway shows include The Sound of Music (June-2-14) and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (July 11-25) at Segerstrom Hall. There are also many free activities happening at Julianne and George Argyros Plaza for all ages. Tuesday Night Dance is already underway and Summer Sounds starts on June 12.

Tuesday Night Dance runs through August and features local instructors offering weekly dance classes for all skill levels. Plus, seated dance movement is available for adapted chair exercise for all abilities. Summer Sounds runs June and July with a concert series and preshow activities like food trucks and outdoor games. The Plaza also hosts Movie Mondays every Monday of summer starting with The Parent Trap on July 6.

The Maverick Theater in Fullerton’s fun and innovative King Kong is back for another year of big-ape action, love and visual effects suitable for ages 6 and up. Don’t miss this family-friend adventure based on the Delos W. Lovelace novel, King Kong. The show runs July 10 to Aug. 9.

The Children’s Museum at La Habra offers lots for children to explore. Its upcoming Go Jubilee event on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., invites families to explore the wonders of the wilderness through a day of immersive, hands-on discovery. It transforms the museum grounds into a hub of environmental exploration, interactive workshops and live demonstrations. The museum also offers inclusive play with its Sensory Friendly Morning program, held on the first Sunday of every month. These mornings are designed for children with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder or any guest preferring a calmer, more relaxed environment. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the museum modifies its environment with reduced lighting, turned-down exhibit sounds and a limited capacity to ensure accessibility for all. Summer dates include June 7 and 

July 5. Collaborating with the Association of Children’s Museums and DreamWorks Animation, the museum welcomes Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum, a limited-time immersive activation running from July 31 through Aug. 9.

Designed to bring the hit series to life, the MEOWseum invites families to explore a world where imagination and curiosity take center stage with a life-sized photo op inspired by Gabby’s magical dollhouse, Creative Craft Stations and playful learning.

Animals & Nature 

While normally the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the OC Fair & Event Center is, well, the fair — which has plenty of fun to offer this summer too — there’s a more serene side to the grounds that families can explore. The 3-acre working farm known as Centennial Farm was designed to educate youth about agriculture. The farm houses fruit and vegetable gardens, livestock and the Millennium Barn. While there are two youth educational tour programs offered (Discovery Days and Junior Farmer Tours), year-round, daily hours are available so that the public can visit the farm. 

Families can also head south to San Juan Capistrano for River Street Ranch’s family-friendly, farm-inspired experience. One of the main attractions is more than 100 cuddly animals. Families can feed, pet and visit with a variety of alpacas, bunnies, chickens, emus, goats, guinea pigs, pigs, llamas, llampacas, ponies and sheep. Children ages 3 to 10 can ride ponies. There’s also a playground, train rides and mini tractors. All ages can take a spin on the electric mini excavator and work the gears for a real ranch experience. River Street Ranch also offers mining, where guests can search for “gold,” real gemstones, fossils and other treasures. The ranch is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with final entry at 3:30 p.m.

Huntington Beach’s Paséa Hotel & Spa is hosting its annual Pup Fest event on Sunday, June 14 from noon to 2:30 p.m. Themed “Dog Days of Summer,” the event will feature water play, doggy pampering, gourmet treats like “barkuterie” boards, live music and shopping with local vendors. Dress your dog in an amazing beach-themed costume for a chance to win the Face of Pup Fest 2026 contest and a prize.

Dana Point’s Ocean Institute offers a full lineup of family fun for summer. With Guided Snorkel Tours at Shaw’s Cove in Laguna Beach, guests explore vibrant kelp forests alongside expert guides. Ocean Institute’s Whale & Marine Life Tours offer a 2.5-hour journey aboard the R/V Sea Explorer to see whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife while experiencing hands-on science activities like plankton sampling. Sharks After Dark lets guests explore the institute after hours with touch tanks, live shark feedings, live music, food and interactive exhibits. 

Theme Parks & Unique Experiences

Disneyland Resort has big plans this summer with Bluey’s Best Day Ever! — bringing Bluey and her sister, Bingo, to Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland Park. Inspired by the Bluey series, the lively characters enthusiastically entertain onstage along with comedic actors and musicians, creating a memorable experience for all ages. Star Wars fans have some out-of-this world updates to check out at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. One of the new additions is Darth Vader and Imperial Stormtroopers, Leia Organa, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker arriving on Batuu, joining other popular characters that roam the Outer Rim outpost. Also, on May 22, a new mission debuted at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run to celebrate the release of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

For families who love puzzles, Exit Game OC in Anaheim offers a totally family-friendly, unique escape room experience themed around cats. Meow! I’m a Cat lets children and adults explore a fully feline world. The puzzles are based on cat toys and accessories for a purr-fectly fun time.

Of course, no summer is complete without a visit to the waterpark. Inside Irvine’s Great Park Wild Rivers has more than 20 acres full of more than 20 water slides and attractions — from theme park thrill rides full of watery fun to a lie-in-the-sun lazy river and even a wave pool. Plus there are food options, including The Pacific Grille for casual dining, Mustang Bar and Grill made fresh and for cocktails, and Island Sweets for mouthwatering treats. The park offers a long list of splash-worthy attractions — including the Aquaconda modeled after the anaconda snake, Bombay Blasters where guests shoot down enclosed tubes, the Bora Bora Boomerang raft ride, the interactive Cook’s Cove designed for the younger kids and more. You’re in for a very cool summer.

By Jessica Peralta 

Author: Marketing and Event Coordinator