Padres vs. Dodgers at Petco Park: KidsFest Sunday Series Finale, June 28

Overview

The San Diego Padres wrap up their three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, June 28, 2026 with a 1:10 PM first pitch at Petco Park. Sunday is also a KidsFest, presented by Nuna — meaning Gallagher Square turns into a full kid-friendly takeover, and after the game, kids 14 and under can run the bases on the actual Petco Park field.

It's the family-friendly capstone of the season's biggest rivalry weekend — and probably the easiest of the three Dodgers games to attend with the kids.

What You Actually Need to Know

• First pitch: 1:10 PM at Petco Park
• Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers — series finale, biggest rivalry of the year
• KidsFest in Gallagher Square — bounce houses, inflatables, the Nuna playground, face painters, balloon artists
• Kids Run the Bases after the game — line up in Gallagher Square after the 8th inning (ages 14 and under)
• Parking: $15–$55 or trolley for $5 round-trip
• Expect rivalry-game premium pricing across all sections

Why Sunday Padres-Dodgers Is the Family Day

If Saturday is the loudest rivalry crowd of the year, Sunday is the most family-friendly. The 1:10 PM start time, the KidsFest activations in Gallagher Square, and the post-game Kids Run the Bases all combine to make this the natural Padres game for parents bringing kids.

A few specific advantages of the Sunday rivalry game:

1. The 1:10 PM start. You're home by dinner, kids aren't burning out by the 7th inning, and daylight makes everything from the concourse activities to the photo opportunities easier on parents.

2. KidsFest goes harder on Dodgers weekend. All Sunday games include KidsFest, but Padres-Dodgers Sundays draw a bigger crowd, which means more activations, more vendors, and more energy in Gallagher Square.

3. Series finale stakes. Win Sunday and the Padres can clinch the rivalry weekend — every Padres-Dodgers Sunday matters.

4. The Kids Run the Bases experience. Running the bases on the actual Petco Park field after a Padres-Dodgers win is one of the most memorable kid sports experiences in San Diego.

What to Expect at KidsFest

KidsFest, presented by Nuna, takes over Gallagher Square (formerly the Park at the Park):

• Bounce houses and inflatables
• Face painters and balloon artists
• The Nuna playground — open all game long, not just pregame
• Play Ball field — open through the end of the 7th inning
• Games and other kid-friendly activities

Important timing note: Some activities end before first pitch, but the inflatables and Play Ball field stay open through the 7th inning, and the Nuna playground is open the entire game. Get there when gates open (about 2 hours before first pitch) for the full pregame experience.

Kids Run the Bases (The Reason to Stay Through the 8th)

After most Sunday home games, kids and their families can run the bases on the Petco Park field. It's presented by Chick-fil-A, and the line forms in Gallagher Square after the 8th inning.

A few things parents should know:

• Ages 14 and under can participate
• Padres Season Ticket Members get front-of-the-line privileges — if you're not a member, expect a wait
• Get in line by the 8th inning for a reasonable spot
• This is a bucket-list experience for kids — and honestly for plenty of adults too

Getting to Petco Park

Sunday day games are easier than Friday/Saturday night games, but Padres-Dodgers crowds still create significant traffic. Parking ranges from $15 to $55 depending on proximity. The three Padres Preferred lots open four hours before first pitch:

• Padres Parkade — 10th Avenue between Island and J Street
• Tailgate Park — entrance on 13th Street at K Street
• Lexus Premier Lot — enter via 11th Avenue at Imperial Avenue

For families, the MTS Trolley is often the easier choice. Service costs $5 round-trip with free parking at transit lots. The 12th & Imperial Station and Gaslamp Quarter Station are within one block of Petco Park.

For tickets and stadium questions, call the Padres at (619) 795-5000.

Tickets and Pricing

Pricing varies significantly by section — Padres-Dodgers Sunday games are still in the rivalry-game premium pricing tier, though typically lower than Friday or Saturday. A few things to know:

• No First Responder or GOVX discounts apply to Padres-Dodgers home games (excluded from the 10% off program)
• Resale market prices for Sunday rivalry games are routinely 2x the price of a typical Padres Sunday home game
• No theme game package is tied to June 28 — it's a straight rivalry game with the standard KidsFest programming
• Buy direct through MLB.com/padres to avoid inflated resale markup

What to Bring

• Photo ID
• Your ticket (printed or mobile via the MLB Ballpark App)
• Cash and cards (Petco Park is largely cashless)
• Sunscreen and a hat — Sunday day games at Petco get hot
• A water bottle (refill stations available)
• Light layers — Petco cools off as marine layer rolls in later afternoon

Good to Know

• No specific theme night or giveaway is tied to the June 28 game beyond the standard KidsFest
• Friday's game is the Padres-Dodgers Party in the Park opener at 6:45 PM
• Saturday's game is the Padres-Dodgers Saturday rivalry game at 5:40 PM with the Padres House Band pregame
• The Padres-Dodgers rivalry is 979 meetings strong and counting
• Pair with the Little Italy Mercato Sunday morning if you're up for the food crawl plus baseball doubleheader
• The MLB Ballpark App is the easiest way to enter — download it before you arrive

For more events happening in San Diego this June, check out our full June events calendar or browse our downtown San Diego neighborhood guide.