Free things to do with kids this weekend in San Francisco Bay Area

Alameda Walks: Encinal Beach to Alameda Promenade

Crown Beach · Alameda · Ages 5–13

Bird Exploration

Sunol · Sunol · Ages 5–13

Discovery Club

Del Valle · Livermore · Ages 5–13

Dixon Back to School Festival

Pardi Plaza - Pardi Plaza · Dixon · Ages 5–12

Pardi Plaza Solano Library and Dixon Unified School District are having a Back to School Festival!

Dungeons & Dragons Club

American Canyon Library - Community Meeting Room · Amer Cyn · Ages 10–13

Join us each month to play the world's most beloved tabletop role-playing game at the American Canyon library.

Puzzle Exchange

Vallejo Springstowne Library · Vallejo · Ages 3–12

Leave a puzzle, take a puzzle Join us for the PUZZLE EXCHANGE! Love puzzles?

Vacaville Town Square Storytime/Programming Break

Vacaville Town Square Library · Vacaville · Ages 1–12

All children's programs on break during August.

Activity: Mini-Makers

Mission Bay · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Activity: Noe Valley Knitting Circle

Noe Valley · San Francisco · Ages 10–13

August 1 Saturday

San Mateo County Parks · San Mateo · Ages 5–12

Books & Brews

La Selva Beach Branch · La Selva Beach · Ages 3–12

La Selva Beach Summer Fair Enjoy shopping for books and crafts, live music, food trucks, local craft beers, and more at the Books & Brews…

Bow-Wow for Books: Read to Henli

Yountville Library · Yountville · Ages 5–12

Young readers are invited to read to a certified listening dog.

Don Edwards SF Bay NWR — family programs

Don Edwards SF Bay NWR · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Free Saturday family walks at the wildlife refuge visitor center.

Early Learning: Big San Francisco Play Date

Glen Park · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Family Storytime

Alameda Main Library · Alameda · Ages 1–5

Family Storytime

Redwood City Main Library · Redwood City · Ages 1–5

Songs, books, and movement for young kids.

Family Storytime

San Rafael Public Library · San Rafael · Ages 1–5

Fremont Festival of the Arts (Saturday)

Downtown Fremont · Fremont · All ages

Free two-day street festival in Downtown Fremont organized by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, with artisan shopping, food, live music stages, and a kids' play area.

Friends of the Calistoga Library Donation Day

Calistoga Library · Calistoga · Ages 5–13

The Friends of the Calistoga Library will be now accepting book donations on the first and third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Goose Caboose

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Puzzle Swap @Claremont

Claremont Branch - Claremont Area Flex Space · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Join us for a community puzzle swap at Claremont Branch.

Space Week Festival – Day 1

Chabot Space & Science Center · Oakland · Ages 5–13

Day 1 - Saturday $24 Adults, $19 Youth, Seniors and Students, Members Free Buy Tickets Prepare for liftoff at the Space Week Festival!

Storytime: For Families

Bernal Heights · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Vallejo Kids Book Fest

Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library · Vallejo · All ages

Calling all bookworms and book dragons! Join us for the Vallejo Kids Book Fest on Saturday, August 1, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at JFK Library.…

Words of Wonder

Vacaville Cultural Center Library · Vacaville · Ages 3–12

Friends of the Library Bookstore Come visit Words of Wonder, the new bookstore within the Vacaville Cultural Center Library, run by the…

Workshop: Birding with Golden Gate Bird Alliance

Presidio · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Activity: Family Music Circle

Potrero · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Baby Sign and Stay and Play

Los Altos Library · Los Altos · Ages 1–12

Bay Breeze and Pickleweed

Coyote Hills · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Bilingual Spanish & English Family Storytime

Morgan Hill Library · Morgan Hill · Ages 5–12

Chess Club

Suisun City Library · Suisun City · Ages 3–12

Play chess and make friends. All ages and skill levels welcome. Join the "It's Your Move Chess Club." Drop-in for chess for all ages and…

Coal Mine Experience

Black Diamond Mines · Antioch · Ages 5–13

Creature Feature

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Family Story Time @Central CCR

Central Library - Children's Non-Fiction Room · Berkeley · Ages 1–5

Join us for fun stories and songs in the Central Children's Room on the 4th Floor of the Central Branch!

Family Storytime at Cupertino Library

Cupertino Library · Cupertino · Ages 5–12

Farmyard Story Time

Ardenwood · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Maracas & Movement

Gilroy Library · Gilroy · Ages 1–12

Music Time with Farmer Arann

West Branch · Berkeley · Ages 1–12

E-i-e-i-o! Lively music for littles all about the farm! Ages 0-6 Music, movement and farm rhythms in an engaging, hands-on sing-along for…

Story Time

Big Break · Oakley · Ages 5–13

Storytime: for Babies

Anza · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Storytime: For Families

Sunset · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Storytime: For Families

Excelsior · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Storytime: For Families

Portola · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Storytime: For Families

Marina · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Час сказок / Russian Storytime!

Marin City · San Rafael · Ages 1–12

1,000 Ways to Hold: A New Work By Erika Chong Shuch

Anderson Collection - Wisch Family Gallery · Stanford · Ages 5–13

1,000 Ways to Hold is the culmination of a year-long participatory project by Stanford Arts’ 2025–26 Visiting Artist Erika Chong Shuch, rooted in conversation and clay.

52nd Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair (Saturday)

Japantown, Post Street · San Francisco · All ages

Free two-day AANHPI cultural street fair in Japantown on Post Street and Osaka Way.

A Real Nature Walk

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Activity: Gardening

Merced · San Francisco · Ages 10–13

Activity: LEGO Free Play

Chinatown · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Annual Back-to-School Celebration/Backpack Giveaway

MAGIC SF (Mo'MAGIC / BMAGIC) · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Join us as we distribute backpacks filled with school supplies to local students in the Fillmore and Bayview neighborhoods!

Arts and Crafts

Miss Muffet’s Garden · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Chill Out with Mindfulness Meditation

Mitchell Park Library · Palo Alto · Ages 3–12

Delta Discovery Craft

Big Break · Oakley · Ages 5–13

Family Storytime

Saratoga Library · Saratoga · Ages 1–12

Line Dance with Carah @THP South

Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch - THPS Branch Meeting Room · Berkeley · Ages 10–13

Come learn line dances in the library with fitness instructor Carah Herring Registration is Encouraged!

Performance: Cuentos Cantados, Stories with Music with Cascada de Flores

Excelsior · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Performance: Stories, Music, and Songs with Kirk Waller

Glen Park · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Puppet Show: The 3 Little Pigs in the 1920’s

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Story Time with Mr. Brian

South Novato · San Rafael · Ages 1–12

Storytime: For Babies

Park · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Storytime: For Families

Main · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Watsonville Strawberry Festival (Saturday)

Historic Downtown Watsonville · Watsonville · All ages

Free family festival in historic downtown Watsonville with live entertainment, carnival rides, kids' activities, local artisans, and…

Coal Mine Experience

Black Diamond Mines · Antioch · Ages 5–13

Jerry Day 2026 at Jerry Garcia Amphitheater

Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, McLaren Park · San Francisco · Ages 3–13

Free 24th-anniversary outdoor music festival honoring Jerry Garcia at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park, presented by Friends…

Oakland’s Magic Kitchen with Chef Thomas

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Meet, Greet, and Eat! Chef Thomas McNaughton of Flour + Water takes the stage alongside Fairyland’s furry puppet mascot, Quercus for a…

Pollinator Power!

Ardenwood · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Presentation: San Francisco Beekeeper's Association

North Beach · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Public Tour | Auguste Rodin

Cantor Arts Center · Stanford · Ages 5–13

This exhibition celebrates Auguste Rodin’s relentless pursuit to convey complex emotions, diverse psychological states, and pure sensuality through the nude.

Union Square Daily Programming: Saturday Juggling Lessons

Union Square · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Activity: DIY Loom Knitting

Ingleside · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

DnD Celebration @Central

Central Library - 1st Floor Non-fiction Room,Teen Room,The Commons · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Join us for crafts, snacks, games, and more at our second annual D&D Celebration!

Poetry Workshop with Nia Pearl

Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Free RSVP In trying times, poetry and music bring people together.

Workshop: National AIDS Memorial Quilt Repair & Panel Making Workshop

Main · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Highlights Tour | Anderson Collection

Anderson Collection · Stanford · Ages 5–13

Come by the Anderson Collection for a free guided tour of our collection!

Activity: Chess Club

Excelsior · San Francisco · Ages 5–13

Fiesta en el Parque at Presidio Tunnel Tops

Presidio Tunnel Tops, East Meadow · San Francisco · All ages

Free family celebration of Latin culture at Presidio Tunnel Tops East Meadow, in its fourth year: salsa, merengue, and cumbia dance…

Garden Helpers

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Ohlone Games

Coyote Hills · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Our City Forest: Free Trees for a Healthy Community

Sunnyvale Public Library · Sunnyvale · Ages 3–12

Public Tour | Cantor Highlights: 1 PM

Cantor Arts Center · Stanford · Ages 5–13

Public Tours: Cantor Highlights Explore the highlights of the Cantor's permanent collection on a public tour that leads you through a…

Animal Closeup

Crown Beach · Alameda · Ages 5–13

Beloved Berries

Ardenwood · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Coal Mine Experience

Black Diamond Mines · Antioch · Ages 5–13

Performer: Rapper RHYMOSAURS Hip-Hop Education

Emerald City Stage · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Activity: Craft Club

Sunset · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Activity: Origami Club

Bernal Heights · San Francisco · Ages 5–13

Big Break Nature Walk

Big Break · Oakley · Ages 5–13

Family Storytime

Vacaville Cultural Center Library - Large Meeting Room · Vacaville · Ages 3–12

Our family storytimes are great for the whole family.

Puppet Show: The 3 Little Pigs in the 1920’s

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Sew Sew Saturday

2nd Floor Program Room · Mountain View · Ages 1–3

Need a sewing machine? The Library has sewing machines (model: Baby Lock Joy) and a serger (model: Brother 1034D) that are available for…

Storytime: For Families

Chinatown · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Wild Explorations

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Workshop: Button Making

Ortega · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Workshop: Chair Yoga 4 Everyone

Visitacion Valley · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Workshop: Meditative Drawing

West Portal · San Francisco · Ages 10–13

YBG ChoreoFest (Day Two) at Yerba Buena Gardens

Yerba Buena Gardens · San Francisco · Ages 3–13

Free site-specific outdoor dance festival with Bay Area choreographers performing through the Gardens, starting at the Great Lawn.

Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day Two)

Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Free RSVP Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest 2026 occurs on two days: Saturday, July 25 and Saturday, August 1.

Highlights Tour | Anderson Collection

Anderson Collection · Stanford · Ages 5–13

Come by the Anderson Collection for a free guided tour of our collection!

Performer: Rapper RHYMOSAURS Hip-Hop Education

Emerald City Stage · Oakland · Ages 1–12

​Presentation: Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of Northern California

Noe Valley · San Francisco · Ages 10–13

Beach Break

Del Valle · Livermore · Ages 5–13

Chess @North

North Branch - North Branch Meeting Room · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Chess on the first Saturday of the month Join us at North Branch for casual chess games on the first Saturday of the month.

Disco Bubbles with Daisy

Children's Library · Palo Alto · Ages 1–12

Fish Feeding

Crown Beach · Alameda · Ages 5–13

FULL Workshop: Mandarin for Beginners

Portola · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Performance: DíaPaSón presents La reSONancia del Barrio

Park · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Public Tour | Cantor Highlights: 3 PM

Cantor Arts Center · Stanford · Ages 5–13

Public Tours: Cantor Highlights Explore the highlights of the Cantor's permanent collection on a public tour that leads you through a…

Workshop: Recording Studio Orientation

Main · San Francisco · Ages 5–13

Workshop: Tween Creative Writing Group

Western Addition · San Francisco · Ages 5–13

Good Night Farm

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

End of Summer Reading Foam Party

Gilroy Library · Gilroy · Ages 5–12

Puppet Show: The 3 Little Pigs in the 1920’s

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Music and Puppets with Mr. Elephant

Children's Library · Palo Alto · Ages 1–12

Night of the Bats

Del Valle · Livermore · Ages 5–13

Anthony Chabot Campfire: Animals of the Night

Anthony Chabot · Castro Valley · Ages 5–13

DQuarry Campfire: Give a HOOT! Sounds and Songs of the Night

Dumbarton Quarry Campground · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Night with a Naturalist

Del Valle · Livermore · Ages 5–13

Community Zine Project

Vallejo Springstowne Library · Vallejo · Ages 3–12

Dreamscape Drop by the Springstowne Library and contribute a page to this month's community zine!

StoryWalk @North

North Branch - North Branch Lawn · Berkeley · Ages 1–12

Take a stroll and enjoy successive pages from a children’s story along your path.

Birding in the Garden with Golden Gate Bird Alliance

SF Botanical Garden · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

This is a free community program. Please consider supporting the Gardens of Golden Gate Park with a recommended donation of $5-20. Your…

Explore the Shore

Crown Beach · Alameda · Ages 5–13

Don Edwards SF Bay NWR — family programs

Don Edwards SF Bay NWR · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Free Saturday family walks at the wildlife refuge visitor center.

Fremont Festival of the Arts (Sunday)

Downtown Fremont · Fremont · All ages

Day two of the free Downtown Fremont street festival: artisan shopping, food, live music, and kids' activities.

Space Week Festival – Day 2

Chabot Space & Science Center · Oakland · Ages 5–13

Day 2 - Sunday $24 Adults, $19 Youth, Seniors and Students, Members Free Buy Tickets Prepare for liftoff at the Space Week Festival!

Tai Chi with Nelson Ng

Rinconada Library · Palo Alto · Ages 5–13

Coal Mine Experience

Black Diamond Mines · Antioch · Ages 5–13

Sunday Storytime

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Wake Up The Farm

Ardenwood · Fremont · Ages 5–13

1,000 Ways to Hold: A New Work By Erika Chong Shuch

Anderson Collection - Wisch Family Gallery · Stanford · Ages 5–13

1,000 Ways to Hold is the culmination of a year-long participatory project by Stanford Arts’ 2025–26 Visiting Artist Erika Chong Shuch, rooted in conversation and clay.

52nd Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair (Sunday)

Japantown, Post Street · San Francisco · All ages

Day two of the free AANHPI cultural street fair in Japantown.

Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) @ Aptos

Aptos Branch - Betty Leonard Community Room · Aptos · Ages 10–13

East Region Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) is the SCPL young adult advisory group.

Arts and Crafts

Miss Muffet’s Garden · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Baby Sign and Sing

Cupertino Library · Cupertino · Ages 1–12

Baby Wearing Dance

Cupertino Library · Cupertino · Ages 1–12

Puppet Show: The 3 Little Pigs in the 1920’s

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Union Square Daily Programming: Sunday Fun Days

Union Square · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Watsonville Strawberry Festival (Sunday)

Historic Downtown Watsonville · Watsonville · All ages

Day two of the free downtown Watsonville festival: live entertainment, carnival rides, kids' activities, artisans, and strawberry treats.

Animal Talk: The Goats

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Coal Mine Experience

Black Diamond Mines · Antioch · Ages 5–13

Polish Storytime

Book Bubble · San Mateo · Ages 1–3

Please join us for Polish Storytime! We'll be hosting this event every FIRST Sunday for the forseeable future and would love if you could…

Summer Garden Chores for Kids

Ardenwood · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Bugs for Lunch!

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Color Your Mind

Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Free RSVP Curated by visionary East Bay percussionist Sameer Gupta of Rootstock Arts, Color Your Mind is a gathering of musicians dedicated…

Color Your Mind at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Yerba Buena Gardens · San Francisco · Ages 3–13

Free outdoor gathering of Indian classical musicians (Carnatic violin, Afghan rubab, sarangi vocals) with a vendor market and visual artists on the Great Lawn.

Highlights Tour | Anderson Collection

Anderson Collection · Stanford · Ages 5–13

Come by the Anderson Collection for a free guided tour of our collection!

Board Games!

Sunnyvale Public Library · Sunnyvale · Ages 3–12

Social: Afternoon Board Games

Sunset · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Storytime: For Toddlers

Ingleside · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Activity: Owl Awareness Day

Bayview · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Cattle Corner

Ardenwood · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Coal Mine Experience

Black Diamond Mines · Antioch · Ages 5–13

DIY Pressed Flower Frame

Napa Library - Lifeworks Room · Napa · Ages 3–13

co de flores secas DIY Join us for this fun and easy DIY Pressed Flower Frame workshop.

FULL: Workshop: Summer Mandarin Class

Ocean View · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Performer: Storyteller Kirk Waller

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Social: Puppy Dog Tales

Ortega · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Storytime: For Families

Parkside · San Francisco · Ages 1–5

Activity: Chinese Chess 中国象棋

Main · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Activity: LEGO and STEM Free Play

Park · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Big Break Nature Walk

Big Break · Oakley · Ages 5–13

Public Tour: Outdoor Sculpture Walk, Campus

Meet at the top of the Oval near the benches. · Stanford · Ages 5–13

Explore the Stanford campus and its distinguished collection of outdoor sculpture.

Puppet Show: The 3 Little Pigs in the 1920’s

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Social: Karaoke

Glen Park · San Francisco · Ages 10–13

Stern Grove Festival: Violent Femmes

Sigmund Stern Grove · San Francisco · Ages 5–13

Free outdoor concert at Stern Grove; confirm lottery and entry details before going.

Workshop: Intro to Photography

West Portal · San Francisco · Ages 3–12

Workshop: Mandarin for Beginners

Marina · San Francisco · Ages 1–12

Workshop: Recording Studio Orientation

Main · San Francisco · Ages 5–13

Activity: Chess Club

Ingleside · San Francisco · Ages 10–13

Activity: LEGO Robotics

Merced · San Francisco · Ages 5–12

Highlights Tour | Anderson Collection

Anderson Collection · Stanford · Ages 5–13

Come by the Anderson Collection for a free guided tour of our collection!

Performer: Storyteller Kirk Waller

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

Activity: Crochet Sunday

Sunset · San Francisco · Ages 5–13

Activity: Free Journal Hour

Eureka Valley · San Francisco · Ages 10–13

Beach Break

Del Valle · Livermore · Ages 5–13

Fish Feeding

Crown Beach · Alameda · Ages 5–13

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Dumbarton Quarry Campground · Fremont · Ages 5–13

Social: Crafting Circle

Western Addition · San Francisco · Ages 10–13

Good Night Farm

Tilden Nature Area · Berkeley · Ages 5–13

Puppet Show: The 3 Little Pigs in the 1920’s

Children's Fairyland · Oakland · Ages 1–12

StoryWalk @North

North Branch - North Branch Lawn · Berkeley · Ages 1–12

Take a stroll and enjoy successive pages from a children’s story along your path.