As summertime quickly approaches and children are nearly finished with school, local amusement parks like Disneyland, Universal Studios, Legoland and Knott’s Berry Farm have plenty of new attractions to make this break unforgettable.
Whether it’s celebrating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, celebrating pop culture at Universal Studios’ Universal Fan Fest Nights, exploring the town of Calico during Knott’s Berry Farm’s “Ghost Town Alive!” event or letting creativity take over at Legoland’s Lego Festival, families are sure to find something that will make this summer special. Here is what’s going on this summer at some of Southern California’s most popular theme parks.
Disneyland Resort
Although guests at “The Happiest Place on Earth” may have missed the resort’s “Star Wars: Season of the Force” event that went through May 11, there is plenty to be excited about as summertime rolls around.
Beginning Friday, May 16, Disneyland will celebrate its 70th anniversary with new shows, parades and experiences. The entire park, including Sleeping Beauty Castle, will be decorated to celebrate the occasion. Disneyland’s fan-favorite “Paint the Night” parade returns this summer, featuring beloved characters from movies like “Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story” and “Frozen.” For more fun with some of Disney’s most iconic characters, guests can head to Main Street and enjoy Disneyland’s newest character jamboree, “The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade.”
At night, “It’s a Small World’s” façade will display “Tapestry of Happiness,” an animated mosaic using lights, projection effects and music inspired by the work of famed Disney artist Mary Blair. The classic attraction will also welcome Miguel and Dante from the Pixar film “Coco” when it reopens on Friday, May 9.
While Disneyland has its fair share of things to look forward to for the 70th anniversary, Disney California Adventure is gearing up for the festivities, too. The highlight of the celebration is the new “World of Color” show hosted by Joy and the other emotions from the hit Pixar film “Inside Out.” Also making appearances will be some of “The Muppets” crew. Before the show, parkgoers will be able to vote between sadness, anger, disgust and envy, with the winner making appearances during the show.
Characters from “Turning Red,” “Up” and “Luca” will star in the “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration” as they bring the fun through the streets of California Adventure.
Disney is also releasing new merchandise to celebrate the anniversary, and MagicBand+ owners will find special interactive experiences throughout the park and during the celebration’s lineup of shows and parades.
For Disneyland Resort enthusiasts, this summer will be magical.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Guests will be able to dive into the magic of Hollywood and celebrate their favorite pop culture franchises this summer at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Alongside the park’s fan-favorite attractions like Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride and Jurassic World: The Ride, Universal Studios has some special events lined up.
“Harry Potter” fans can get a taste of the Wizarding World and its iconic butterbeer beverage during Butterbeer Season, which ends Saturday, May 31.
Parkgoers can choose frozen, hot or cold options, and to add to the celebration, Universal Studios is offering new butterbeer-inspired desserts. Through the end of Butterbeer Season, guests can indulge in a butterbeer cream puff, butterbeer-flavored chocolate bar and butterbeer caramel.
Each franchise will have its own experiences, shows and “fan zones” at the specially ticketed event.
“Star Trek” fans can board the USS Enterprise-D and explore the screen-used set piece from “Star Trek: Picard.” Quark’s Café and 10 Forward Bar will have special drinks and food based on the iconic universe.
At Courthouse Square, guests can blast back to Hill Valley in 1955 and relive their favorite “Back to the Future” moments and even take a photo with Einstein and the Time Machine.
At the “Dungeons & Dragons” experience, guests will be teleported into Waterdeep, where they will work with fellow Harpers to defeat Xanathar the Beholder, one of the universe’s most notorious foes. At the end of their journey, fans can quench their thirst with themed drinks and dishes at the First Roll Tavern.
Animé fans will get their fill with “One Piece” and “Jujutsu Kaisen” experiences chock-full of iconic characters and exclusive merchandise from each show. A screening of “Jujutsu Kaisen: Hunger of the Cursed” will be available at the DreamWorks Theatre.
While the Wizarding World of Harry Potter delivers magical experiences year-round, Universal Fan Fest Nights is bringing more unforgettable experiences for all wizards, witches and Muggles. Universal Studios will debut a new show that takes guests through a school year at Hogwarts, set to the franchise’s iconic score against the backdrop of the Hogwarts castle. The creatures of the Wizarding World will make an appearance, with opportunities to meet a baby dragon, Occamy and the treasure-hungry Niffler. The Three Broomsticks will be serving up event-exclusive treats like Cornish pasties paired with a chutney and sweet churros based on Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Fans can also get their hands on the new collector’s edition interactive wand to venture around the Wizarding World with.
On the other end of the park, Mario’s legendary sidekick Yoshi will take over Super Nintendo World. Parkgoers can search for Yoshi’s hidden eggs and even meet the Nintendo icon at a Universal Fan Fest Nights exclusive meet and greet.
With so many special events planned for its guests, Universal Studios Hollywood is sure to deliver an unforgettable summer experience.
Legoland
To kick off the summer, Legoland is offering Lego fans a deal that might be too good to pass up.
For $129 — the price of a one-day ticket — families can purchase a Summer Play Pass for unlimited admission to Legoland and Sea Life Aquarium through Friday, Sept. 19.
Legoland also has plenty lined up for its guests this summer, beginning with the return of the Lego Festival on Friday, May 3. The 2025 Lego Festival will feature five play zones — Music Zone, Creative Zone, Chill Out Zone, Dance Zone and Gaming Zone — filled with different types of activities and entertainment.
Another returning event is the Lego World Parade. Starting Saturday, June 21, floats, characters and entertainers inspired by iconic Lego themes will make their way through Fun Town into DUPLO Play Town before finally reaching The Lego Movie World. Guests will be able to see a Lego Ninjago Dragon up close and personal during the parade.
Also making a return is the fan-favorite Driving School attraction, this time with reimagined tracks perfect for older and younger children. Opening Wednesday, May 21, the attraction’s new tracks feature realistic road scenarios, intersections, roundabouts and a new car wash. The course will teach kids ages 3 to 12 about driving rules and every driver receives a license at the end of the course.
Other events include the celebration of Dino Valley’s first anniversary and “Red, White & Boom,” a Fourth of July celebration complete with Lego games, entertainment and fireworks.
Knott’s Berry Farm
“Knott’s Summer Nights” return to Knott’s Berry Farm on select dates from Friday, June 13, to Monday, Sept. 1.
The extravaganza will keep the excitement going into the nighttime with live music, unique food options, photo opportunities, family-friendly games and interactive experiences.
Speaking of interactive experiences, “Ghost Town Alive!” begins Friday, June 13.
Ending on Monday, Sept. 1, the experiences will take guests to the town of Calico as they experience a western adventure filled with cowboys, bandits, robberies, judges and dancing. Guests will take on the role of honorary citizens of Calico tasked with completing specific tasks and activities as they help tell the unfolding story happening in Calico.