If you haven’t yet dragged your monkey(s) to the kitschy, vintage delight that is Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland, have I got a reason for you: The park’s popular Summer Sleepovers haven’t yet sold out.
For $40 per adult and $20 per kid, you can linger in Fairyland after its official closing time, pitch a tent in the park’s verdant meadow and sleep overnight with a fantastic view of Lake Merritt and the Oakland skyline. You are fed dinner, and the creaky kiddie rides are open until 9pm. Kids in pajamas careen around the park, eating french fries, hiding in the Alice in Wonderland maze, dementedly jamming their Magic Keys into the storytelling boxes. There’s a special nighttime puppet show too.
The downsides: You are awakened at 6:30am (check-out is at 8:30), and the Lake Merritt area is fairly city-gritty. Fairyland employs strolling all-night security, so rest easy. And at least they’ll give you breakfast (bagels, coffee, hot chocolate, juice) before they boot you.
The July 12 sleepover date is already sold out, but July 26, August 9 and August 23 are still available. Call 510-452-2259, or visit fairyland.org.