Last Updated on July 31, 2025 by Dana Aliaga
The summer of 1975 was electric, alive with music, bold fashion, carefree days by the water, and the growing pulse of pop culture. With beach days, Kool-Aid, and rising stars with disco nights. These vintage photos that capture the summer of 1975 offer a window into the sunny, hazy, and joy-filled days of one of the most iconic mid-70s summers.
1. Summer in Hermosa Beach, California
Sun-bleached sand, bikes lined up along the boardwalk, and carefree teens soaking up the season, Hermosa Beach in 1975 was a perfect image of California summer living.
2. Foreigner playing in Summer Jam
Before they became household names, Foreigner took the stage at summer festivals like Summer Jam, and they heated the crowds with their early sound and energy.
3. The most popular guy for children in 1975
The hope on kids´ faces says it all. Ice cream is the best part of summer, and the white truck on the street was the sign of happiness.
4. Brenda Vaccaro, Dolly Parton, and Donna Summer
Three powerful women, each defining a part of 1970s culture, caught in one summer moment, exuding glam, talent, and star presence.
5. Kool-Aid´s best moment
Backyard pitchers of neon-colored Kool-Aid were essential to surviving the heat. Few things were more satisfying on a hot afternoon in 1975.
6. Summer jazz vacations in Harlem
Jazz floated through open windows and echoed from street corners in Harlem, as people took to the stoops and parks for live music and long, laid-back nights.
7. Donna Summer era
Disco reigned in 1975, and Donna Summer was quickly becoming its queen. Her music was everywhere, in radio and roller rinks, and late-night parties.
8. Studio 54 all summer
Though its peak came a bit later, the buzz around Studio 54 was building. The scene was already drawing in fashion, music, and film icons in the summer of 75.
9. Fort Lauderdale, 1975
A classic beach town scene, surfboards in the sand, convertibles parked near diners, and that unmistakable feel of youth and freedom under the sun.
10. Bruce Springsteen is playing everywhere
Bruce´s energy was infectious in 1975. Fresh off the release of Born to Run, his summer shows were raw, passionate, and legendary.
11. Leather fabric in The Rolling Stone
Style in 1975 was daring, and Rolling Stone captured it perfectly: musicians in tight leather, wind-blown hair, and that effortless 70s cool.
12. McDonald´s after a beach day
Nothing hit the spot like salty fries and a cold Coke after hours in the sun. McDonald´s was a go-to stop for beachgoers in flip-flops and sunburns.
13. Playing with water on the street
Sprinklers, buckets, and hoses became neighborhood fun zones. Kids turned city sidewalks into splash zones to cool off from the blazing sun.
14. Motorbike week in Daytona Beach
The rumble of engines, leather vests, and sunny highways, Daytona´s summer scene brought bikers together for a loud and thrilling celebration.
15. Holland Pop festival
This European event brought together music lovers and counterculture vibes, echoing Woodstock´s spirit across the Atlantic with a 1975 twist.
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These moments may be long gone, but they still have a lot to say. Summer vibes were high in 1975, and we can see it. Step back into the sunny vibes of the mid-70s with these vintage photos. For more snapshots of life across the decades, check out: 35 Vintage Photos of the Mid 1960s, or 24 Vintage Photos that Perfectly Capture 1977.
