Best Things to Do With Kids in June - 510 Families
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Best Things to Do With Kids in June

Hooray, it is June! Time for long summer days and plenty of family fun. Fill your calendar with street fairs and festivals, plus special events to celebrate Father’s Day, Juneteenth, and Pride Month. Here’s a round-up of amazing East Bay activities with kids throughout June.

Father's Day at farm
Plan a special day with father figures this month | Photo: Maureen Burke

New Museum Exhibits for Families

Keep your kids’ curiosity growing at a museum exhibit that appeals to children and adults:

  • Exploratorium: Adventures in AI – Opens June 12th at the Exploratorium. Discover how AI works, think like a computer, and create with image generators.
  • California Academy of Sciences: Unseen Oceans & Dino Days – This new exhibit at the Cal Academy plunges into the deep where strange sea creatures, daring scientists, and amazing tech bring the ocean’s mysteries to life! Dino Days is a prehistoric party! Walk among 13 life-size, animatronic dinosaurs—no time machine required.
  • OMCA: Fairyland @ 75 : A Legacy of MagicDive into Fairyland’s history, evolution, and everlasting magic. Walk through the beloved park’s timeline with “then and now”photos, including a display of Magic Keys through the decades.

Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances

See magical musicals Anastasia or Shrek The Musical. Pick up tickets to Gilroy Gardens’ Three-Pit Circus–it’s all cherries and circus charm. Find more upcoming ticketed performances and events >

All Month: Pride Month

June is Pride Month. Celebrate and be an ally at LGBTQ+ events for the whole family, like the exciting and tot-friendly Proud of my Family Day at Children’s Discovery Museum on June 7 or Pride Weekend at Filoli on June 14-15. Watch one of the local Pride Parades; don’t forget to wear your rainbow colors.

Juneteenth in Berkeley | Photo: Berkeley California Juneteenth Festival Facebook

Juneteenth Celebrations

Juneteenth, a celebration of black liberation, is recognized with events throughout the East Bay. There’s the Richmond Juneteenth Parade, Oakland First Friday, and many other family-friendly festivals.

Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events

Take Me Out to the Game

The Oakland Roots (soccer), Oakland Ballers (baseball), and Oakland Spiders (ultimate frisbee) games make for a fun family outing.

Visit a U-Pick Farm for Stone Fruit

Peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, and other seasonal offerings are prime for picking at U-Pick farms in the East Bay. Hand-select the season’s freshest produce for a memorable and delicious family outing. Don’t forget to pack water and a hat — it gets hot out there.

child holding peach
Do hand-picked peaches taste more delicious? We think so! | Photo: Maureen Burke

Watch a Movie Under the Stars

The outdoor movie season is here! Watch family-friendly films on the big screen just after sunset. It’s one of those must-do summer activities that’s also totally free. Many movie showings invite families to bring blankets, chairs, and picnic dinners or snacks to make the most of their evening. See the full outdoor movie round-up >

Free Museum Days

Plan an outing to one of the world-class museums in the Bay Area; take advantage of free admission on certain days. Pro Tip: Children 12 and under always receive free admission to OMCA. Learn more about ways to get into museums for free >

  • June 1: First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
  • June 3: Conservatory of Flowers and Cartoon Art Museum Pay What You Wish Day
  • June 4: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
  • June 5: BAMPFA, Museum of Craft and Design, and SFMOMA
  • June 7-8: Bank of America Free Museum Days
  • June 8: Free Family Day at SFMOMA
  • June 10: San Francisco Botanical Garden
  • June 14, 21 & 28: Free Saturdays at de Young Museum in San Francisco
  • June 19: Free Entrance Day at National Parks
parent and child dancing at an outdoor music concert in the summer
Find a free outdoor concert | Photo by Jeff Heyman for Lafayette Chamber

Visit Swimming Pools, Splash Parks and Beaches

Splash into swimming. Pools, splash pads, beaches, and water parks are open for water play. Check out our favorite swimming destinations >

Schedule a Parents’ Night Out

Parents Night Out, also called PNO, is evening childcare that’s essentially a drop-off play date. It’s super convenient for parents who want a date night and fun for kids! Children typically spend the evening doing some combination of eating pizza and dessert, playing with other kids of a similar age, making art, and watching movies. Reserve a space for your child in advance; see all the providers >

Favorite Free & Cheap Happenings

Sign Up for Summer Reading at a Library

Your local library’s summer reading program is kicking off this month. Visit a branch to register your child and keep their mind engaged with the power of books. Most summer reading programs offer special perks to participants, plus there’s often a range of exciting events like performances or puppet shows. Sign up today!

Family movies at Jack London Square: waterfront flicks
Build out a list of go-to summer activities and events, like outdoor movies | Source: Jack London Square

For lots more ideas, check out our guide to what to do with kids during summer vacation! Plus there’s still time to sign up for camp; see our Summer Camp Guide.

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Disclaimer: 510families urges you to confirm any event details, like date, time, location, vaccine requirements, and admission prices with the third party hosting the event.

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