Summer is my favorite season to make memories with my kids. This season has magic to it, with long days of no school and lots of free play. My kids love to fill the hot days of July with summer activities like lemonade stands, jumping through the sprinkler, and fishing at the creek. But the fun doesn’t stop at sundown because there are a ton of things to do on a summer night.
I love the freedom to stay up late and let the kids sleep in. I also appreciate the (slightly) cooler temperatures after dark with no risk of sunburn! So this summer, along with fun in the sun, plan activities for the evening with these 10 things to do on a summer night.
1. Pajama Run
Give the kids their baths, have them put on their PJs, and then announce a surprise outing. Let them pile into the car with their pajamas (Bring shoes just in case!) and then take them for a favorite drive-thru treat. We love drive-thru milkshakes or a hot and fresh doughnut.
2. Tent Fun
Camping in the back yard is a no-fuss way to get kids away from screens for family time. Cook dinner on your grill and roast marshmallows for dessert. Spend the night telling stories around the firepit, singing favorite songs, or playing one of these games. Backyard family camping will go down as a favorite family memory. It really is one of the best things to do on a summer night.
3. Night Swimming
Whether it’s a pool or a Slip-n-Slide, water is just as fun on a summer night as a hot summer day. In fact, letting my kids stay up to swim at night feels like a huge treat and paints me as the fun mom. It’s great exercise, a great energy burner, and it counts as a shower for the day.
4. Ding Dong Gift
This is the good rendition of “ding, dong ditch”—that old prank from days past that involves kids ringing a neighbor’s doorbell and then running. We don’t allow that version, but in Ding Dong Gift, we put a basket of goodies (small water toys, summer movie treats, or fresh flowers) on a neighbor’s doorstep for them to discover when they open the door. Let the kids contribute some of their allowances, write a special note, and then enjoy as they surprise a neighbor.
5. Nocturnal Noise Hunters
A whole new world wakes up as the sun goes down. Take a walk around the neighborhood at dusk or nightfall and listen for the music of the night. You may be able to identify the sounds of owls, crickets, cicadas, katydids, mockingbirds, frogs, bats, and more.
6. Meteor Watching
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best annual meteor shows. This year, they’re visible from mid-July to late August and peak from August 12 to 13. The best way to watch is to find a dark, open field away from city lights. After midnight and just before dawn makes for great viewing. Spread out your quilt and lay back on your pillows to catch a falling star.
7. Thanking the Nightshift
Talk to your kids about the nurses and doctors, firemen and policemen, store clerks, and others who work overnight. Take a dozen doughnuts to your nearest fire station or emergency clinic and thank the staff for their service through the night.
8. Mothing
This is a fun and easy way to attract many varieties of moths. Hang a light-colored sheet up in your dark yard and shine a flashlight or electric lantern against the sheet. You’ll find moths almost immediately attracted and discover there are more than the common brown kind. One of my favorites is the giant, green Luna moth, which rivals the butterfly in beauty.
9. Zoo Night
Many zoos offer special nighttime admission, especially during the summer. Cooler evenings make a summer zoo visit more manageable and animals are often more active during the night. Visiting the zoo at night under the stars with the sounds of the night creates a wonderful family memory.
10. Catching Fireflies
Also called lightning bugs or moon bugs, these tiny beetles come out in summer to mate. They light up to communicate and attract a mate, and for kids, they make an enchanted evening. Fireflies can be found all over the U.S. but are more likely to be found in woods adjacent to standing water.
For more fun activities to do with kids, check out this article on All Pro Dad for 101 Weekend Family Activity Ideas.
What are your favorite things to do on a summer night?
