Summertime is here and that means record-breaking heat waves, school breaks and more fun in the sun.
Whether you’re looking for free activities, summer camps, or places to spend time with the entire family, there’s plenty to enjoy in Boyle Heights and East L.A.
Beat the heat at local cooling centers or by taking a dip at the Roosevelt pool. Grab free lunches for the kiddos or catch an outdoor movie at the park. We’ve rounded up a list of ideas for you to check out.
Fun for families
Summer Night Lights returns to L.A. city parks from July 5 to August 10. Enjoy free food, sports and activities for the whole family from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Participating parks including Lou Costello Jr. Recreation Center, Ramon Garcia Recreation Center, Evergreen Recreation Center and El Sereno Recreation Center. Find more participating parks here.
Parks After Dark offers free activities, including summer concerts and movie nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at participating L.A. County parks. Some parks include Ruben F. Salazar Park, Belvedere Community Regional Park, City Terrace Park and Eugene A. Obregon Park. Check here for more participating parks near you.
Explore L.A. with your Los Angeles Public Library card and reserve free or low-cost passes to museums and attractions like the Los Angeles Zoo and the Natural History Museum. Check what else your library card can get you here.
Take the bus to the beach from East L.A. on Fridays with pick-ups from the City Terrace Park parking lot at 10 a.m. or Dionicio Morales Transit Plaza at 10:20 a.m. Bus fares are $2 for children and adults, and $1 for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Join a pool party with family as L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks, Citywide Aquatics and Councilmember Kevin De León present a free summer pool party from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Roosevelt pool. Enjoy the pool, music, food and games for the whole family.
Things for kids and teens
Kids and teens can grab free lunches at participating L.A. city parks through Aug. 2. Parks in the region include the Boyle Heights Sports Center (noon to 12:30 p.m.), Costello Recreation Center (noon to 12:45 p.m.), Evergreen Recreation Center (noon to 12:30 p.m.), and Hollenbeck Recreation Center (11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.) Find a park near you here.
Free lunches for those under 18 are also offered at the East Los Angeles Library Monday through Friday from noon to 1 pm, through Aug. 9. The service is provided inside in the library’s meeting room on a first-come, first served basis. Check here for more participating libraries.
If you’re looking for summer camps, check out the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the Boys Girls Clubs, and your local YMCA. The YMCA is also offering free summer memberships for teens during their YMCA-LA Get Summer Program. Most summer day camps are fee-based. Call ahead to check for availability.
A variety of summer workshops and classes are available at libraries and community organizations such as The Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, Las Fotos Project, and even here at Boyle Heights Beat. Check their websites for more information.
Activities for seniors
Senior citizens can enjoy free and low-cost activities such as card games, lunches, and exercise classes at the various senior centers across the neighborhood. See a full list of senior citizen centers and activities.
The Boyle Heights Senior Center hosts bingo on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m., followed by lunch and a social hour. For more information on activities check here.
The Costello Senior Center offers Loteria, knitting, karaoke, dance, aerobics and more classes for seniors weekly. Check here for more details.
Parks After Dark is hosting Summer Pad Senior social hour from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays at participating L.A. County parks. Enjoy fitness and wellness programs as well as food and games. More information here.
Places to stay cool
The following places in Boyle Heights and East L.A. have been designated as cooling centers:
- Benjamin Franklin Branch Library
- Robert Louis Stevenson Branch
- Malabar Branch Library
- L.A. County Library- East L.A
- Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory
- East Los Angeles Service Center
- Centro Maravilla Service Center
- Salazar Park
- City Terrace Park
Pools open for the summer
The Roosevelt pool is open from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $1 for kids, $4 for adults, and $1 for adults over 50 and people with disabilities. Admission is cash only. For more details check here.
The Ruben F. Salazar Park pool is open from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. During Parks After Dark, the pool is open in the evenings, from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday.
The City Terrace Park pool is open from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. During Parks After Dark, the pool is open in the evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday.
The Eugene A. Obregon Park pool is open from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. During Parks After Dark, the pool is open from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday. For more information or specific hours, check here.
The Belvedere Community Regional Park pool is open from 12 to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and again from 2:30 to 4 p.m. During Parks After Dark, the pool is open in the evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday. For more information or specific hours, check here.
