Think Together’s Summer Fun Guide

Family fun does not have to break the bank this summer when there are so many free activities happening all over California! There is something for everyone whether it’s reading, science or music. Continue the learning outside of the classroom with these free family fun activities all summer long.

Bay Area

Fine tune your family gardening skills with Bean Sprouts Family Days in San Francisco’s Botanical Garden hosted by Kaiser Permanente. Until August 5, families can grab free tools to dig, water, pick, build and explore the garden. Open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Tackle tech in Santa Clara at the Intel Museum with free field trips daily. Families can plan free self-guided tours or guided tours to learn about Intel’s history and technology through interactive exhibits. Reservations are suggested for smaller parties and available every day.

Orange County

The Heritage Museum in Santa Ana is hosting Summer of Civil Rights to showcase Harriet Tyler’s collection that documents the experiences of African Americans in Orange County for the past 50 years. This free exhibit is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until August 20.

Music lovers can enjoy Costa Mesa’s Concert in the Park free event. Starting July 11, Fairview Park will host bands ranging from Savor to Tijuana Dogs every Tuesday. The concerts are free of charge for all ages and will host vendors and raffles.

Families can enjoy learning about rescued sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission lets kids learn about different sea mammals through interactive displays, marine mammal artifacts, and their Treasure Trove gift shop.

Los Angeles

For all art and history lovers, The California Science Center offers free admission to all permanent exhibits. One of the permanent exhibits, “World of Life”, examines the living world on a grand and microscopic scale. Permanent Exhibits are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and require no reservation.

Teens have a space for fun at Baldwin Park Teen Center. Rock climbing, pool, computer labs and gaming stations are available for teens every day at no cost. Next to the teen center is a skateboard park free for teens who want to practice their kickflips all summer long.

Learn more about Latino culture through Lynwood’s Latino Expo on July 29. This festival will have live music, cooking demos and resource booths. The Latino Expo will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Inland Empire

Riverside County partners with Empower You Edutainment at Bourns Youth Innovation Center for Acting for the Camera Summer Camp. The camp runs Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Aug. 17. Confidence, creativity, and stage presence are built into the program. Kids and teens are encouraged to join at any time.

Summer fun is not just for the little ones because San Bernardino public libraries are offering teen poetry club, book reading club and teens talk club. The fun does not stop there as teens can enjoy family time on bingo night, game night, and maker Monday. Everyday hosts one of these activities and occurs weekly so pick any day for fun!

For all the gamers out there, Anthony Munoz Community Center in Ontario offers Power Up! Esports every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a competitive league where kids and teens can battle each other solo or on teams through their favorite esports. Join the free league and create a community of gamers!

Coachella Valley

Grab a basketball and head down to the grand opening of the Bagdouma Courts in Coachella. Bagdouma park is unveiling their new basketball, pickleball and tennis courts with a city block party. This event starts at 7:30 p.m. and will host free food trucks, live pickleball demos, and giveaways to celebrate.

Summer is the perfect time to take up a new hobby. The Palm Springs Public Library offers Chinese Mah Jong open play every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. New students are welcomed and encouraged! For younger students, the art class, Find Your Voice Summer Crafts, is offered every Thursday starting at 3:30 p.m. Every week kids can learn a new DIY craft based on different themes.

Summer fun doesn’t have to be outside of the home either. Think Together has activities parents and siblings can do at home to keep the learning going all season long. Learn more about Think Together fun here.