Family Fun Activities For Summer Nights

Summer is all about fun family adventures and activities that offer a break from the usual routine. For kids especially, some of the most memorable adventures happen in the evening. There’s something magical about staying up later and being outside until dark. As the nights heat up, try some of these fun family nighttime activities that will make you the coolest parent on the block.

Enjoy a Backyard Movie Under the Stars

Setting up a backyard theater takes a bit of planning, but once you get it down, it can become a regular weekly activity. Attach a white or light sheet to a clothesline and use a small, wireless, mini projector to stream a movie from your computer or smartphone. If you don’t have outdoor speakers, you may also need a portable Bluetooth speaker. Don’t forget lots of blankets, pillows, and of course, snacks.

Make a Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling Alley

To set up a glow-bowling alley, you’ll need empty tall water bottles, some sand to put in the bottom of each bottle (that makes it easier to stand upright if it’s windy), glowsticks or glow-in-the-dark necklaces, and a hamster ball. Check out this easy tutorial to help you get set up, and let the kids pitch in to help make the glow-in-the-dark pins and ball.

Have a Picnic Dinner

Eating outdoors on a warm summer night turns dinner into a special adventure for the kids. Keep things easy (and delicious) by picking up a Family Taco Kit from Rubio’s. Choose from grilled chicken, steak, or shrimp. We supply all the fillings and everything you need for a make-your-own-taco dinner that feeds 4-5 people.

Gaze at the Stars

There’s no better free, easy, and educational activity than stargazing. Pick a nice, clear night, toss a few blankets and pillows on the ground, and use a star-gazing app on your smartphone to identify the constellations. Hopefully you’ll get lucky and see a shooting star.

Go on a Night Hike

Even the most familiar sites around your neighborhood look completely different at night. Gather the family and outfit everyone with a flashlight, (or a headlamp if you have them) and go for a nighttime walk. If you plan it for when there’s a full moon, it will become an even more magical adventure.

Pitch a Tent

If you’re up for a camping trip but not the planning or the potential crowds, backyard camping is the perfect solution. Pitch a small tent, set up the sleeping bags, and make a batch of S’mores on the grill or firepit for a special treat.

Make Glow-in-the-Dark Oobleck

Oobleck, sometimes called magic mud or slime, is made from cornstarch and water. It’s fun and easy to make, but a bit of a messy science experiment, so it’s a perfect outside activity. Oobleck switches back and forth from a solid to a liquid depending on how you hold it. For each batch you’ll need:

• 1 cup water
• 2 cups corn starch
• 1 tube glow in the dark paint
• A flashlight to charge the paint

Give each child a large bowl and let them mix the water, cornstarch and paint in the bowl. Hold the flashlight over the oobleck to charge it and let the glow-in-the-dark sliming begin.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Make lists of small items that can be found around the house or yard, and let each person choose a list. The first person to collect all of the items on their list wins.

Make Ice Cream in a Bag

Homemade ice cream is the perfect way to top off your picnic dinner, and it’s the ultimate, edible food science experiment. You’ll need cream, sugar, vanilla, ice, salt, and some plastic freezer bags. This blog post talks you through the process, which takes just a few minutes. Don’t forget the spoons, and some Rubio’s cinnamon sugar churros to scoop up that ice cream!