R.E.C. Van is Baaaack with Free Summer Activities and Movie Nights for Kids in South Sacramento

A good summer night in South Sacramento does not have to be complicated.

Sometimes it starts with a walk to the park after dinner. Kids see the R.E.C. Van first. A few run toward the games. Someone reaches for sidewalk chalk. A group starts kicking a soccer ball across the grass. Parents find a spot nearby, neighbors wave hello, and the park begins to feel like the center of the evening.

That is what the R.E.C. Van does best, bringing recreation to places where families already gather!

This summer, Southgate Recreation & Park District is bringing the R.E.C. Van back to parks throughout the District with FREE summer activities, games, crafts, sports, and special Movie in the Park nights for kids and families. Across the season, the R.E.C. Van will visit parks throughout South Sacramento, giving children a chance to play, create, move, and spend time outside close to home.

Free summer activities for kids at Southgate parks

R.E.C. stands for Recreation Engaging Children, and the name says a lot about the program.

The R.E.C. Van is a free mobile recreation program that travels from park to park with activities for children of all ages. Instead of asking every family to drive to one building or sign up for a full program, the R.E.C. Van brings the fun directly into neighborhoods across the District.

Families can expect a mix of games, creative projects, and easygoing park fun. Activities may include flag football, soccer, dodgeball, sidewalk chalk, painting, beaded necklaces, and other hands-on crafts. Southgate recreation leaders are there to guide the activities, welcome families, and help kids find something that fits their energy.

For one child, that may mean jumping into a group game. For another, it may mean sitting at the craft table and making something to take home. For a parent, it may simply mean having a free, local place to go where the kids can play and the evening feels a little lighter.

A summer program that moves from neighborhood to neighborhood

The 2026 R.E.C. Van season includes 31 scheduled park visits across South Sacramento.

Most R.E.C. Van stops are scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. That evening timing gives families a chance to come out after work, after summer camp, or after the hottest part of the day. No registration is required for regular R.E.C. Van stops. Families can check the schedule, choose a park, and show up.

That simple access is part of what makes the program meaningful. The R.E.C. Van is not only about games and crafts. It is about keeping parks active. It is about helping families find free things to do with kids in Sacramento. It is about making sure recreation is not limited to one location or one side of the District.

Park by park, the program carries summer into the neighborhoods.

Movie Nights in the Park add even more summer fun

Some R.E.C. Van stops will stretch into full summer movie nights.

Families can arrive early for R.E.C. Van activities, then stay for a free movie under the evening sky. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, snacks, and the people you want next to you when the movie starts.

The 2026 R.E.C. Van Movie in the Park nights include:

• June 4 at Larry Gury Community Park — Lilo & Stitch
• June 11 at Bowling Green Park — Minecraft
• June 23 at Perry Avenue Park — Bad Guys 2
• July 14 at Norman S. Waters Park — Smurfs
• August 6 at Don & Brenda Nottoli Community Park — Zootopia 2

These nights bring together some of the best parts of summer in Southgate: kids playing before the movie, families settling in as the sun goes down, and neighborhood parks turning into outdoor gathering places.

A Southgate tradition that keeps showing up

The R.E.C. Van has deep roots in the District’s story.

Southgate first launched the mobile R.E.C. Van during its 50th anniversary year. Now, as the District reaches another major milestone, the program continues to do what it was built to do: bring play, creativity, and community directly to residents.

That is the kind of tradition that feels alive because families can still take part in it. It shows up in small moments: a child trying a new game, a recreation leader helping someone join in, a parent watching from the grass, a familiar park feeling new again for one summer night.

For generations, local parks have been places where families gather, neighbors meet, and children grow up through shared experiences. The R.E.C. Van carries that forward in a way that feels simple and close to home.

Plan your R.E.C. Van visit

R.E.C. Van events are free and open to all families. No registration required.

Families are encouraged to check the full R.E.C. Van schedule before heading out, since locations and times vary throughout the summer. Most events run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with select special events and movie nights running longer.

For the latest schedule updates, weather notices, and additional summer programs, visit the Southgate Recreation & Park District website or follow Southgate Recreation & Park District on social media @southgaterecandpark.

This summer, find a R.E.C. Van stop near you and spend an evening at the park. The games are ready, the crafts are packed, and the fun is rolling back into South Sacramento. 🐊