Summer is high season at California theme parks, with longer hours, more festivals, and the eagerly anticipated debuts of new rides and shows.
Plan your next theme park trip around these new experiences, events, and some excellent deals.
Jellyfish and a Reimagined Ride at SeaWorld San Diego
The immersive Jewels of the Sea: Jellyfish Experience opened earlier this spring at SeaWorld San Diego. The exhibit is a colorful, photo-op-ready habitat of jellyfish spread across three galleries, including an 18-foot-tall jelly cylinder, a 10-foot archway, and a “touchable globe.”
Next up, the San Diego park’s fan-favorite log ride, Journey to Atlantis, is expected to reopen this summer with both new scenery and a new storyline.
Summer brings more fun across the rest of the park. On weekends through June 22, snap some pics and say hi to strolling characters Baby Shark and Pinkfong. Starting June 21, the 2025 Summer Spectacular Concert Series—featuring R&B, hip-hop, and rap hits from the '90s and early 2000s—will run every Saturday night at the Bayside Amphitheater, through Aug. 23.
Themed Weekends at Sesame Place San Diego
The Chula Vista theme park opens its water park section on May 10, and the rest of the season offers Sesame Summer Splash festivities for Sesame Street superfans of all ages.
Celebrate the Gotcha Day of Elmo’s dog Tango at Sesame Place San Diego from July 11–13, take pics with Bert and Ernie and other BFFs during Best Friends Weekend (Aug. 1–3) and enjoy dance parties and bubble performers during the B Is for Bubbles weekend (Aug. 8–10). Runs through Sept. 1.
70th Anniversary Party and Deals at Disneyland Resort
Disneyland is turning 70, and the Anaheim theme park is celebrating all summer long—and beyond. The Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration kicks off May 16 with special decor, limited-edition merch, special food offerings, and even an official new song: “Celebrate Happy,” performed by the Jonas Brothers.
Classic Disneyland Resort attractions like It’s a Small World and Toy Story Midway Mania are getting updates, and several beloved shows and nighttime spectaculars are returning, including the fan-favorite Paint the Night Parade. This is also the first summer for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the park’s reimagined log ride.
On Disneyland’s actual anniversary, July 17, a new attraction—Walt Disney—A Magical Life—will premiere at the Main Street Opera House, alternating with the longtime favorite, The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Plan your visit around special ticket and hotel deals too—some admission deals are as low as $100 per day through much of spring and summer.
Movies, Drones, and Music at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Fresh off celebrating its centennial last year, the Santa Cruz amusement park is throwing more parties this spring and summer. The fun starts with a drone show over the beach May 17 followed by Free Movies on the Beach events every Friday (June 13–Aug. 8).
Or, plan your visit around other boardwalk events like the two Boardwalk Summer Luaus (July 11 and 25) or the wide range of entertainment, from live bands to magicians, on almost any night during Evenings on the Colonnade (June 16–Aug. 7).
Admission to this boardwalk amusement park is always free, but you can score deals on rides and games when you either book half-price wristbands after 5 p.m. as part of the Summer Discount Nights (June 16–Aug. 7) or come for Mornings at the Arcade (June 16–Aug. 8) for half-price arcade games from 9–11 a.m.
LEGO Driving School and a Summer Pass at LEGOLAND California
The Carlsbad theme park kicks off its summer May 3 with the first-ever LEGO Festival, featuring five play zones as well as shows, music, dancing, and large LEGO projects helmed by Master Builders—some LEGO-building activities are led by Master Builders too. Admission is included with a regular ticket; runs through June 8.
On May 21, the reimagined LEGOLAND Driving School re-opens, now located in Fun Town. The ride boasts a new track with intersections, roundabouts, and even a car wash with bubbles.
The summer also offers special entertainment: the LEGO World Parade of live performers and floats (select dates, beginning June 21) and the Red, White & Boom! festivities over the July 4 holiday.
Plan your trip to LEGOLAND California around a seasonal deal: The Summer Play Pass grants you unlimited admission to the theme park and the SEA LIFE Aquarium through Sept. 19 for $129—the same price as one regular-admission ticket.
You can also score ongoing deals at the onsite hotels, including the LEGOLAND Hotel, where the room themes now include a DUPLO room type, stocked with extra-large bricks designed for the youngest LEGO fans.
Fireworks, Movies, and Waterpark Fun at California’s Great America
The summer lineup of events at the Santa Clara park will feature fireworks during holiday weekends, a car show over Labor Day Weekend, and the Peanuts gang dancing and sing-alongs on select dates all summer long.
Great America’s water park, South Bay Shores, opens for the season on May 24 and offers its own value—entry to the water park is always free with your theme park admission.
For extra value, one-day tickets to California’s Great America start at just $42 this summer when you buy online, and season passes, which include parking and dining discounts, start at just $85. Retired and current military, meanwhile, can get free tickets for themselves and $29.99 tickets for up to six family members over Memorial Day weekend (May 23–26), which can be purchased only at the ticket booth.
Centennial Celebration at San Diego’s Belmont Park
The historic amusement park in San Diego’s Mission Beach first opened in 1925, and its landmark roller coaster the Giant Dipper is now the fifth-oldest coaster in the U.S. As part of the park’s Centennial Celebration, the Dipper has gotten a colorful refresh.
All summer long, the San Diego park will offer special centennial sweatshirts and other merch, as well as the chance to win lifetime passes (admission is free to the park, but once there you buy tickets or wristbands for rides).
Birthday Party and a Cherry Jubilee at Gilroy Gardens
The agriculture-themed park in Gilroy is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and has started the party this spring with a live show and exhibits that look back on the history of the unique attraction. Through May, look for meet-and-greets with various Gilroy Gardens mascots from over the years, including Gilbert “Gil” Garlic and The Great Faboo, “The Almost Magical Bear.”
June brings a new event: Cherry Jubilee (June 6–July 6) which features a “Three-Pit Circus” with live entertainment, games, cuisine, characters, and a special culinary focus on the summer fruit.
The park’s water-park areas, Water Oasis and Lakeside Splash, open for the summer May 10. Check the calendar for this summer’s Camp Nights when you can play in the theme park after hours, watch a movie outside, and then sleep under the stars.
Summer Entertainment and Activities at Knott’s Berry Farm
The boysenberry-loving park in Buena Park brings back its popular summer festivals, including the dance-party-filled Knott’s Summer Nights and the interactive all-day show Ghost Town Alive! (both June 13–Sept. 1).
Get acquainted with Knott’s Berry Farm’s recently revamped Camp Snoopy area, and extend your stay by booking a room at the recently renovated Knott's Hotel (the park-plus-hotel packages offers serious value). In honor of America 250 celebrations, make time to check out the exact replica of Independence Hall.
Fan Fest Nights and Mega Movie Summer at Universal Studios Hollywood
Come to the Los Angeles theme park through May 18 for a chance to experience the debut of Universal Fan Fest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. The after-hours fan events feature some of the theme park’s most popular sci-fi and gaming attractions, such as Star Trek, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Dungeons and Dragons, as well as SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. The evenings also include themed food, immersive experiences, and exclusive merch.
Starting June 13, the Los Angeles park begins its Universal Mega Movie Summer, which will salute the milestone anniversaries of both 1975’s Jaws and 1985’s Back to the Future: Chat with strolling characters and pose with a giant shark sculpture or the Time Machine car.
Jaws aficionados can pick up a ’70s-style Visit Amity Island t-shirt while enjoying lobster rolls and blueberry-compote-topped Shark Fin Funnel Cake, and Marty McFly fans can acquire an ’80s puffer vest and sip blue Time Traveler milkshakes.
Be on the lookout for strolling characters Elphaba and Glinda from Wicked and merch and sculptures from the live action How to Train Your Dragon, which comes out June 13. And be sure to do Jurassic World–The Ride, which now features enhanced special effects during the Mosasaurus Splash part of the ride, a nod to this summer’s Jurassic World Rebirth. Runs through Aug. 10.
Make the most of the park’s summer deal, too, which extends to December: the Buy a Day, Get a 2nd Day Free package can make tickets as low as $55 a day, depending on the date you choose. Buy your tickets by Aug. 13 and use both before Dec. 17, with some blackout dates.
Superheroes and a Revamped Water Park at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor
See your favorite heroes—plus the bad guys—at the Santa Clarita theme park this summer. Now in its second year, DC Heroes & Villains Fest will expand this summer, running on Fridays and Saturdays through July 26 with live shows and character meet-and-greets in the six-acre DC Universe section of Magic Mountain.
This summer’s other festivities include Star-Spangled Nights (with fireworks on July 4 and 5) and the Pride event Out on the Mountain (Aug. 22).
Next door, Magic Mountain’s water park Hurricane Harbor will debut an overhaul on May 24: The 25-acre park has been reimagined as a tropical island village with new color schemes on slides, upgraded dining options (including new frozen cocktails), and more cabanas and shady areas. Plus, the longtime volcano backdrop will now periodically emit mist and rumbling sounds.
Beach Festival and Competitions at Pacific Park
This classic amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier celebrates summer with the Pier 360 Beach Festival (June 28–29), featuring live music, food and drink, and ocean-sports competitions such as paddleboard races, ocean swims, beach volleyball, and tandem surf contests. Come back to Santa Monica for the July 4 weekend to see the famous Pacific Wheel turn red, white, and blue.
Holiday Festivities, Animal Encounters, and Military Deals at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
The Vallejo theme park debuts a new event, Star-Spangled Nights (July 4–5), which will include live entertainment, limited-time culinary delights, and a drone show instead of fireworks, out of sensitivity to the park’s resident wildlife.
Learn more about the Bay Area park’s many residents—from dolphins to lions—through interactive tours like the Backstage Safari. Every animal at Discovery Kingdom is a rescue that experts have determined cannot thrive in the wild.
As with all Six Flags-affiliated parks and Knott’s Berry Farm, military members receive free admission and can purchase discounted tickets for up to six family members over Memorial Day weekend (May 23–26). All tickets must be purchased at the ticket booth.