The Newport Beach waterfront resort closes out summer with four days of live music, Movies on the Beach, its massive Inflatable Water Park, food trucks, water sports and family-friendly activities.
Labor Day weekend may signal the unofficial end of summer, but Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina isn’t letting the season disappear quietly. From Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7, 2026, the Newport Beach waterfront destination is turning the long weekend into a four-day daycation, with plenty happening both on the sand and in the water.
The weekend brings together free live music, Movies on the Beach, food trucks, cocktails, aquatic adventures and some serious floating-around time on the calm waters of the Upper Newport Back Bay. Visitors can come for an afternoon, settle in for the evening entertainment or make a full getaway out of it with camping and RV accommodations.
Take On the Inflatable Water Park
One of Newport Dunes’ biggest summer attractions, the Inflatable Water Park, remains open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day.
The floating playground features more than 25 oversized inflatables, with slides, bounce platforms, icebergs and a floating jungle gym creating what amounts to an enormous obstacle course on the water.
Those who prefer exploring rather than climbing and jumping can head out into the Upper Newport Back Bay. Newport Dunes offers rentals for kayaks, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards and electric Duffy boats, providing options ranging from a quiet paddle to cruising the bay with a group.
Water sports and Inflatable Water Park pricing and reservations are available at NewportDunes.com/Watersports.
Three Nights of Tunes at the Dunes
The sand becomes the concert venue Friday through Sunday with Tunes at the Dunes, a free waterfront music series running from 5 to 8 p.m.
This year’s Labor Day weekend lineup covers three very different sounds:
- Friday, September 4: Kelly Boyz Band brings country rock to the beach.
- Saturday, September 5: Family Style takes over with soul and rock.
- Sunday, September 6: Flashback Heart Attack turns back the clock with an evening of ’80s hits.
Beach chairs, blankets and floats are welcome, so concertgoers can find a spot on the sand and make themselves comfortable for the evening.
Food trucks and full bars will be available Friday through Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m., with beer, wine and cocktails served and last call at 7:30 p.m.
Admission to Tunes at the Dunes is free and open to the public, although parking fees apply.
Movies Under the Stars
Friday and Saturday nights add another classic summer tradition with Movies on the Beach.
The complimentary family-friendly screenings begin at dusk, with guests and members of the public invited to bring blankets and beach chairs and settle into the sand for an outdoor movie beside the water. Movies on the Beach are free to attend.
Burgers, Pizza and Drinks at Moe B’s Munchies
Anyone spending an entire day by the water eventually has to eat, and Moe B’s Munchies, Newport Dunes’ walk-up beachfront bar and grill, will be open throughout Labor Day weekend.
The casual menu includes burgers, pizza, sandwiches, salads and snacks, along with beer, wine, cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages.
Guests can grab a table on the patio for alfresco dining or take their food outside for a picnic beside the water. Hours vary Friday through Monday, so visitors should check NewportDunes.com for current operating hours.
More Ways to Spend the Day
The concerts and water park are only part of the weekend. Visitors can rent beach cruisers to explore Newport Dunes and the surrounding Back Bay or spend the afternoon at the resort’s waveless swimming lagoon, public beach and pirate-themed playground.
For those who would rather establish their own little headquarters by the water, private beachfront cabanas are available for daily rental to both resort guests and day visitors. Each provides a shaded shoreside retreat between trips into the bay.
Overnight resort guests also have access to Newport Dunes’ pool complex, including heated swimming pools and spas.
Private beach cabanas can be reserved through the resort’s online booking system at NewportDunes.com/Daycation.
Turn Labor Day Into a Waterfront Getaway
Visitors who want more than a daycation can stay overnight at Newport Dunes in an RV or tent camping site.
Those who don’t own an RV aren’t necessarily out of luck. A local RV rental company can deliver an RV directly to a guest’s reserved site and have it fully set up and waiting upon arrival.
Holiday weekends fill quickly, so advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Newport Dunes’ beach cottages are already sold out for Labor Day weekend.
Extend Summer and Save 40% on an RV Site
Labor Day weekend itself is excluded, but anyone who isn’t quite ready to give up on summer can take advantage of Newport Dunes’ Endless Summer Offer.
The promotion provides 40% off RV sites for Sunday-through-Thursday stays from August 16 through September 17, 2026, excluding Labor Day weekend.
Guests can enter promo code ENDLESSSUMMER26 when booking online or mention the offer when calling Reservations.
Labor Day Weekend Schedule
Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7, 2026
Inflatable Water Park and Water Sports:
Daily, 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Moe B’s Munchies:
Friday–Monday; hours vary. Check NewportDunes.com for current hours.
Tunes at the Dunes:
Friday–Sunday, 5–8 p.m.
Food Trucks and Full Bars:
Friday–Sunday, 2–7 p.m.
Last call: 7:30 p.m.
Movies on the Beach:
Friday and Saturday at dusk.
Tunes at the Dunes and Movies on the Beach are free and open to the public. Food and beverages, Inflatable Water Park admission, water sports rentals and parking are additional.
Labor Day Weekend Parking
Parking rates for Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7 are: 0–30 minutes: Free, 30 minutes–2 hours: $15, 2–4 hours: $20, 4–8 hours: $25, 8–24 hours: $30
On Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, a $35 flat holiday parking rate applies.
Parking is limited during holiday weekends, so visitors are encouraged to arrive early or use a rideshare service.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina
1131 Back Bay Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
To book an overnight stay, call (949) 729-3863 or visit NewportDunes.com.
Inflatable Water Park admission and rentals for kayaks, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards and Duffy boats can be booked at NewportDunes.com/Watersports or by calling the Water Sports Office at (949) 279-4507.
Private beachfront cabanas can be reserved at NewportDunes.com/Daycation.
Newport Dunes also hosts weddings, company picnics, team-building events and other private social and corporate gatherings. Venue inquiries can be made by calling (949) 729-3800 or visiting NewportDunes.com/Meet.
For additional information about Labor Day weekend, Tunes at the Dunes and the resort’s festivities, visit NewportDunes.com/Tunes-at-the-Dunes or call (949) 729-3863.