4 Ways to Kick Off Summer Recreation Programming

Summer brings more than a change in the weather. For residents, it means a chance to get outside, try something new, and make lasting memories. For parks and recreation departments, it presents a valuable opportunity to offer programs that reflect the energy and diversity of your community.

But great programming can’t be experienced if residents don’t know how, when, and where to sign up. As residents rely more on digital tools and social media platforms to stay informed, traditional outreach often falls short. Today’s communities expect inclusive and accessible ways to discover and participate in local events throughout the summer.

To meet these expectations, parks and recreation departments need to take a more community-focused and modern approach. Here are four ways to strengthen your summer programming and build deeper connections with the people you serve.

Host a Summer Program Fair

This year, bring your summer catalog to life by hosting an in-person program fair. Set it up in a popular, high-traffic location—your largest park or a central green space downtown—where residents naturally gather on the weekends. Aim for a Friday evening or a Saturday morning when people are already out enjoying the fresh air.

Set up tables for your most exciting programs and staff them with friendly instructors to answer questions. This is your chance to showcase what makes your seasonal programming unique. Hosting a goat yoga class? If possible, bring an actual goat to draw attention and spark a conversation. Promoting a cake decorating workshop? Offer bite-sized samples to give people a taste of what’s to come.

Keep the event casual and community-friendly. Make sure each table includes printed brochures, flyers, and clearly displayed QR codes for easy digital registration.

Tips for Hosting Summer Program Fairs

Choose an accessible, high-traffic location with space for multiple tables and activities

• Invite local food vendors to enhance the experience
• Assign knowledgeable staff members to each table
• Provide brochures with clear descriptions of upcoming programs
• Display QR codes linking directly to your online registration platform
• Book local musicians to keep the energy high
• Secure a backup indoor venue in case of bad weather

Optimize Your Activity Registration Module

You and your team put in the effort every season to plan meaningful, well-run community programs. That work deserves tools that make everything smoother. With CivicPlus® Recreation Management, you get support where it matters most to help residents discover, register for, and enjoy your programs.

The activity registration module is designed to support communities of all sizes. Whether you are offering a handful of seasonal events or a packed schedule of year-round programs, the platform helps you stay organized and efficient. From memberships and merchandise to classes and camps, you can easily build a digital catalog that reflects everything your department offers.

The platform supports both in-person and digital registration, manages waitlists, tracks drop-ins, and simplifies payments. At events like your summer program fair, your staff can use tablets or laptops to guide residents through registration on the spot. It’s a great way to keep things moving, answer questions promptly, and build stronger community connections.

Activity Registration Module Features

• Frictionless, mobile-first experience: Residents can register and pay for activities on the go without downloading an app. Eliminating this barrier makes your services more accessible to less tech-savvy residents, engages the community quickly, and provides a consistent experience across all platforms.
• Personalized suggestions: Administrators can dynamically highlight new and popular programs and flag activities with approaching deadlines using catalog configurations.
• Simplified payments: Using PCI-Compliant Recreation Management Payments or integration with third-party providers offers a streamlined, intuitive payment portal for residents with a streamlined checkout experience and transparent cost breakdowns. Staff members can easily download transaction histories and digitally manage chargebacks.
• Smart communication tools: Built-in tools support automated email confirmations and staff members can configure situation-specific prompts to keep residents informed of details like upcoming registration deadlines and new programs.

Amplify Your Reach with Social Media

Social media is where your community is already spending its time—scrolling, sharing, and staying informed. To truly connect with residents, your parks and recreation department needs to meet them in those spaces. Promoting your summer program kickoff across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X not only builds awareness but also drives real engagement. From program announcements to behind-the-scenes content, use these channels to make your offerings feel accessible, exciting, and central to the daily digital conversation.

Best Practices for Promoting Summer Programs on Social Media

• Leverage user-generated content campaigns: Encourage residents to become part of your marketing strategy by launching branded campaigns with unique hashtags. Ask participants to share photos and videos from past summer programs and consider offering small incentives for posts that get featured. This not only builds buzz but also creates a library of community-driven content.
• Build influencer partnerships: Collaborate with local social media influencers to expand your reach and connect with new audiences. Give them early access to your programs and encourage them to share their experiences with their followers. Their content can help build trust and visibility, especially among your younger residents.
• Create engaging video content: Post fun, high-energy videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts to highlight the festive atmosphere and community spirit of your events. Include behind-the-scenes clips and testimonials from instructors or past participants to give viewers a more personal look at your programs.
• Host contests and giveaways: Drive engagement and build excitement by promoting contests or giveaways on your social channels. Offer prizes like free program registrations, branded merchandise, or local gift cards. These promotions can be tied to specific goals, such as boosting email subscriptions, encouraging app downloads, or increasing foot traffic to your event booths.

Pair these initiatives with outreach through your municipal newsletter, community email lists, and website. Encourage attendees to share their experiences in real time, to help amplify your event through authentic, resident-driven content.

Promote Resident Participation

Strong community programs are built with input from the people they serve. When residents are invited to share ideas, take on leadership roles, and see their feedback put into action, they become more invested in the success of your events and initiatives.

Creating opportunities for participation at every stage—before, during, and after events—helps build trust and a stronger connection between your department and the community. The sense of shared investment makes summer programming more meaningful for residents and staff members alike.

Creative Solutions for Promoting Resident Participation

• Idea submission portal: Give residents a voice in shaping future programs by adding a submission and voting portal to your website. This feature allows community members to suggest new program ideas, browse submissions, and vote for their favorites. Promoting the most popular suggestions through newsletters or social media content can generate excitement and show how your community values resident input.
• Community spotlights: Highlight the people who make your programs special by featuring participants, volunteers, and instructors on your website and social channels. Sharing stories and photos not only celebrates involvement but encourages others to take part. Make it easy for residents to nominate neighbors for a spotlight to keep the initiative community-driven and authentic.
• Volunteer and leadership programs: Offer structured opportunities for residents to lead, support, or assist with events. Whether it’s teaching a class, helping set up for a concert, or guiding attendees around a festival, these roles give residents a deeper sense of ownership and pride in their community. Consider launching youth leadership programs to help younger residents build skills and feel more connected to their local government.
• Feedback and surveys: Regularly gather feedback from participants after each program to identify what worked well and where improvements may be needed. Use a combination of quick rating scales and open-ended questions to capture both data and personal insights. Remember to close the communication loop by sharing what changes you’ve made based on resident feedback. Publicly acknowledging input from the community shows that your department is trustworthy, community-focused, and responsive.

Getting Started: Ideas for Promoting 2026 Summer Programs

If you’re looking to spark interest and boost participation in your summer parks and recreation programs, make sure to promote events that bring people together, highlight local talent, and celebrate your community’s unique character. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Silent auction for local causes: Partner with local businesses and artists to host a silent auction that benefits a nearby charity or shelter.
• Summer concert series: Plan a series of outdoor performances featuring a variety of local musicians to attract residents of all ages.
• Cooking and baking competitions: Invite the community to show off their culinary skills with friendly competitions like pie-baking contests or chili cook-offs.
• Outdoor fitness classes: From sunset yoga to sunrise boot camp, fitness sessions attract a diverse audience while promoting health and wellness throughout the community.
• Cultural performances and arts events: Celebrate local creativity with theater productions, poetry readings, or dance showcases.
• Eco-friendly community initiatives: Promote sustainability by organizing hands-on programs like neighborhood clean-up days, tree-planting events, or workshops on green living.

Partner with CivicPlus for Memorable Summer Programs in 2026

Strong summer recreation programs create meaningful opportunities for residents to connect with friends, stay active, and enjoy their community. Parks and recreation departments are in a unique position to offer inclusive, engaging activities that reflect the diverse interests and tastes of the people they serve.

With the right approach, you can build a summer programming lineup that residents will wait for all year. Focus on creative outreach, well-organized events, and consistent digital engagement to keep your community excited and informed. CivicPlus Recreation Management can support these efforts by simplifying registration, managing membership, and reducing administrative stress.

By combining thoughtful strategy with the right technology, your department can deliver memorable experiences that strengthen community bonds and keep participation growing year after year. Take a self-guided tour of CivicPlus Recreation Management or contact us to learn more.