Outdoor street festivals and Bay Area County Fairs fill the summer calendar from May through October. Here is our list of outdoor street fairs, carnivals, and festivals to pencil into your Summer plans and beyond including kid-friendly features. Pack up your wagon and have a blast.
May County Fairs and Street Festivals in the Bay Area
ParkFest 90, Castro Valley
Celebrating 90 years of East Bay Regional Parks with a family music stage, food, kids’ activities, magic show, silly circus store, and enjoying the Lake Chabot Regional Park.
When: May 11, 2024, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Lake Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley Details here >
Contra Costa County Fair, Antioch
This County Fair kicks off a full season of fairs and festivals with entertainers, animals, rides, carnival games, and food. Looks like fun!
When: May 16-19, 2024
Where: Contra Costa County Event Park, Antioch Details here >
Greek Festival, Oakland
The Oakland Greek Festival is back to celebrate its 52nd year as an Oakland historical treasure with its delicious homemade cuisine and breathtaking panoramic view of the entire SF Bay Area! Expect tasty treats and lots of Greek dancing including child performers.
When: May 17-19, 2024
Where: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland Details here >
Himalayan Fair, Berkeley
Live music & dance performances, arts & crafts, and delicious regional food. Stop by the kids’ booth for crafts and games. Since it is hosted at Live Oak Park, there’s also room to run, a creek to explore, trees to climb, and a nearby playground.
When: May 18-19, 2024
Where: Live Oak Park, Berkeley Details here >
Ardenwood Rail Fair, Fremont
A celebration of big, medium, and small trains that your young train enthusiast will love. Also, live music and toddler activities.
When: May 25-27, 2024 11 am to 6 pm
Where: Ardenwood Historic Farm Details here >
Bay Area KidFest, Concord
Memorial Day weekend comes alive with things kids love: 15 kid-friendly rides, arts, sports, popular characters, and other live entertainment. Find lots of food, too.
When: May 25-27, 2024 11 am to 6 pm
Where: Downtown Concord Details here >
Art & Wind Festival, San Ramon
Children’s shows, professionally choreographed kite demonstrations, free kite making, and music. Though I’m not sure what’s included in the “family amusement zones”, expect a pet-friendly, bike-friendly, and family-friendly vibe.
When: May 26-27, 2024 (11 am to 6 pm)
Where: Central Park, San Ramon Details here >
June county fairs and street festivals in the Bay Area
Sand Castle & Sculpture Contest, Alameda
Build sandcastles or create something even more original in this traditional party on the beach. Super family-friendly and fun.
When: June 1, 2024, 9 am to 1 pm
Where: Robert Crown Memorial Beach, Alameda More details >
Oakland Carnival
Held on the first Saturday in June, Oakland Carnival’s unique inclusion of Caribbean, African, Brazilian, and African American cultures makes for a family-friendly showcase of local and international talent, art, food, and music. Youth Zone, three stages of performers, bands, costumes, a colorful parade, wellness themes, and international food.
When: June 1, 2024 noon to 8 pm
Where: Mosswood Park, Oakland. Website >
Cherry Parade & Festival, San Leandro
Celebrate all things San Leandro during the Cherry Parade, which kicks off at 10 am. A family-friendly festival follows from 11 am to 6 pm and is filled with live entertainment, a Fun Zone, food and drink, and of course, plenty of cherries. This event is filled with small-town charm.
When: June 1, 2024, 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Downtown San Leandro Details >
San Mateo County Fair, San Mateo
This County Fair will have the whole shebang: rides, carnival games, and food. Looks like fun!
When: June 1-4, 2024
Where: San Mateo County Event Center, San Mateo Details here >
Solano County Fair, Vallejo
This good old-fashioned county fair with free admission and a la carte pricing for rides, games, balloon art, music, animals, and surprises; are all kid-friendly. Prices vary.
When: June 13 – 16, 2024
Where:Â Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo More details >
Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton
County fair with all sorts of kid-friendly delights like carnival rides and games; award-winning quilts and pigs; and booths offering treats like funnel cakes and deep-fried pickles. Pricing varies wildly based on when you go and how much you ride. Look for deal days. ALWAYS CLOSED ON MONDAYS & TUESDAYS.
When: June 14 – July 7, 2024
Where: Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton More details >
King of the County BBQ & Music Festival, Martinez
Kid-friendly features include carnival rides, kids’ zone, and face painting. Parent-friendly features include lots of tasty BBQ and live music. Free admission and parking.
When: Father’s Day Weekend, June 14 – 16, 2024, hours vary
Where: Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, 1 Ferry St., Martinez More details >
Berkeley Juneteenth Festival, Berkeley
Look for a kids’ zone with a rock wall, skating, and STEM activities. More family-friendly activities like dance, art, clowns, and stories. Lots of live music, too. (Find other local Juneteenth celebrations here)
When: Sunday, June 16, 2024, 11 am to 7 pm.
Where: Adeline at Alcatraz in Berkeley. More details >
Northern California Pirate Festival, Vallejo
Discover ship to shore cannon battles, swimming mermaids, giant slides, jumpies and a pirate school with swashbuckling sword-fight lessons. Children are always invited to come in costume and participate in treasure hunts.
When: Usually Father’s Day weekend, 10 am to 6 pm
Where:Â Vallejo Waterfront Park next to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal
Website >
Lakefest, Oakland
Lakefest Oakland is a family-friendly annual event bringing together the city’s vast range of artists, musicians, retailers, and non-profits featuring over 100 vendors, a kids’ fun zone, a Tech Pavilion, an outdoor beer garden, and food.
When: June 22, 2024
Where: Lake Merritt, Oakland. Website >
Fiesta Cultural Street Fair, Walnut Creek
This street fair is a celebration of Latin American art and culture. Families can enjoy music and dance performances.
When: June 24, 2024
Where: Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek. Website >
Beaver Festival, Martinez
Martinez ‘Worth a Dam’ Beaver Festival is a family-friendly annual event that focuses on nature and how beavers are essential animals in the fight against climate change. There are children’s activities, music, and opportunities to meet with animals at this niche event.
When: June 29, 2024, 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Susana Street, Martinez. Website >
July County Fairs and Street Festivals in the Bay Area
Marin County Fair, San Rafael
County fair with all the trimmings like carnival rides for big and small, and booths offering treats like funnel cakes and deep-fried pickles. Concerts may appeal to parents more than kids. Pricing varies wildly based on when you go and how much you ride. Children under 4 are always free. Look for deal days.
When: July 3-7, 2024
Where: Marin County Fairgrounds, San Rafael. Website >
Alameda Art Fair & Maker Market, Alameda
Another place to get your kid’s face painted by the pros while you wander around looking at cool art together. Special kid-friendly features like a play zone or kindie rock performances TBD
When: Sunday, July TBD, 2024, 10 am – 6 pm
Where: 2309 Encinal Ave between Park Street and Oak in Alameda. More details >
Fourth of July, OMG
There are so many Fourth of July events for families in the East Bay that we created a whole separate guide! Check it out and pick one (or two, but probably just one!) in Berkeley, Alameda, Oakland, Albany, Fremont, Piedmont, El Cerrito. You’ll find fireworks, parades, and carnivals.
Santa Clara County Fair
This County Fair is all about the livestock with a Horse show, Livestock shows, and Livestock auctions. I am not sure how kid-friendly it will be so stay tuned!
When: July 25-28 and August 1-4 2024
Where: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, San Jose Details here >
August County Fairs and Neighborhood Festivals in the East Bay
Watsonville Strawberry Festival, Watsonville
A family-friendly day celebrating strawberries with a carnival, performances, rides, and people dressed like berries.
When: August 2-4, 2024
Where: Downtown Fremont More details >
Fremont Festival of the Arts, Fremont
Fremont Festival of Arts – has a Kid City with carnival rides, arts & crafts, music, etc; Free admission
When: August 3-4, 2024 from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Downtown Fremont More details >
Laurel Street Fair, Oakland
Kid-friendly features: children’s carnival & petting zoo. Admission FREE
When: Saturday, August 10, 2024, 11 am – 7 pm
Where: MacArthur Blvd between 35th Ave and High in Oakland Details here >
{ROAD TRIP} 51st Gravenstein Apple Fair, Sebastopol
Enjoy good old-fashioned fun on the farm with a kid-friendly celebration of apples, a climbing wall, juggling, bubbles, a petting zoo, hula hoops, pie-eating, silliness, room to run around, and a children’s corner.
When: August 10-11, 2024
Where:Â Ragle Ranch Park, Sebastopol Details here >
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1 thought on “Summer Fairs and Festivals for Bay Area Families”
https://alamedacountyfair.com/ is June 14 to 7/7 this year.
Ardenwood Rail Fair May 25th-May 27th: 2024