When the sun drops behind the hills and the day-trippers head back on the last boat, Avalon shifts into a different kind of energy. Streetlights flicker on along Crescent Avenue, the harbor lights start to twinkle, and a whole second island wakes up. Here's how to spend your evening on Catalina, from classic movie nights to ghost tours to a bar scene that keeps the island's vacation spirit going well past sunset.
Catch a Movie Under the Stars
Two ways to see a film on Catalina, and both are memorable for different reasons.
The Avalon Theatre sits inside the historic Catalina Casino, an Art Deco landmark that opened as one of the first theaters built for talking pictures. Catch a weekend screening here, and the ceiling lights dim into a field of twinkling stars once the film starts, so you feel like you're watching under the open night sky. Check the theatre's site for the current showtimes before you plan your night.
Prefer sand between your toes? Movies on the Beach runs Wednesday nights at 8 pm through August 19, free and open to everyone. Bring a blanket, grab a spot on the beach, and settle in for a family-friendly film with the harbor as your backdrop.
Get Spooked: Ghost Tours and Haunted History
Catalina has more ghost stories per square mile than you'd expect from a small resort town, and two tours let you dig into them after dark.
Haunted Catalina runs an hour-long walking tour that starts at 8 pm from 121 Clarissa Avenue. A local historian leads you through downtown Avalon, sharing the documented history and unexplained happenings tied to the island's most talked about landmarks and former residents. It's built around real research rather than jump scares, so it appeals to history buffs as much as thrill seekers.
For something set entirely inside one of the island's most iconic buildings, the Haunting Tales & Mysterious Melodies guided tour takes place at the Catalina Casino on weekend nights starting at 10 pm. You'll get access to backstage areas of the historic theatre and ballroom, the same spaces investigated by Discovery's Ghost Adventures team, while your guide walks you through documented events and firsthand paranormal accounts tied to the building's nearly hundred year history.
Puzzle Your Way Through an Escape Room
Escape Room Catalina offers two themed one-hour experiences, the Catalina Pirate Challenge and the Catalina Submarine Escape, both built around puzzles that reward teamwork. Later tours run at 7 and 8:30 pm on weekends, making it an easy fit for a post-dinner activity with friends, family, or a group that likes a little friendly competition.
Glow Golf and Late-Night Games
Avalon's Mini Golf Gardens, tucked into a garden setting a block from the beach, swaps its regular balls for glow-in-the-dark ones once the sun goes down. The 18-hole course has been an island fixture for decades, and playing it lit up at night gives the same challenging layout a completely different feel.
For arcade games and island-style bowling, Three Palms Arcade in the Metropole Marketplace keeps the fun going until 10 pm most days. It's a family-run bar and grill by day and a casual hangout by night, with food, drinks, and enough games to entertain kids and adults alike.
Head Out on the Water for Flying Fish
One of Catalina's most unique nighttime experiences happens offshore. Flying Fish Tours run through August, with departures around 8:30 pm from the Green Pleasure Pier. Boats are rigged with bright lights that draw the fish to the surface, where they glide and skim across the water in a display that's been delighting visitors for over a century. A handful of local operators run these tours, so it's worth comparing options and booking ahead during peak summer weeks.
Skate the Historic Wrigley Ballroom
The Catalina Casino's famous circular ballroom, once the largest in the world, opens up for skating on weekends until 9 pm. Gliding across the same floor where big bands once played is a genuinely one-of-a-kind way to spend an evening on the island.
Sing, Sip, and Stay Out Late
Once the family-friendly activities wind down, Avalon's nightlife takes over.
Karaoke at El Galleon kicks off at 9 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, always a favorite for visitors looking to belt out a few favorites with a harborside crowd. Luau Larry's brings live music most nights, keeping the energy high with an island soundtrack and tropical drinks to match.
For a lively bar scene beyond that, Avalon has plenty of spots worth a stop: the Marlin Club, a longtime local favorite with a laid-back vibe, and the Chi Chi Club. Flx Biergarten rounds things out with a family-friendly atmosphere, hosting bingo on Thursdays and Sundays at 7 pm along with lawn games like cornhole. Each spot has its own personality, so a night of bar hopping down Crescent Avenue means a new scene every block.
Don't Forget to Check the Calendar
Beyond the regulars listed here, Catalina hosts concerts, festivals, and one-off events throughout the year that add even more to do after dark. Don't miss the free summer concert featuring The Xceptional tribute to ABBA, on August 29. Before you finalize your evening plans, check the Love Catalina events calendar for what's happening during your visit.
Whether you're after a quiet movie on the beach or a night of karaoke and bar hopping, Catalina after dark has a rhythm all its own. Come see it for yourself.
