Best Things to Do With Kids in June - 510 Families

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.

Thank you to our sponsor, The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). We’re big fans of the OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace, plus the museum’s welcoming garden, community events, and numerous family-friendly exhibits. See Into the Brightness: Artists from Creativity Explored, Creative Growth & NIAD, a colorful display of art from contemporary artists with developmental disabilities that will provoke emotions and conversation across all ages.

Art museum exhibit at OMCA
Into the Brightness at OMCA is on view now through 2024 | Source: OMCA

New Museum Exhibits for Families

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

  • Step Into the Brightness at OMCA to see the major, new art exhibition featuring artists from Creativity Explored, Creative Growth & NIAD (on view now through 2024). Children 12 and under always receive free admission to OMCA.
  • The World’s Largest Dinosaurs are on view at Cal Academy this summer. View life-size dinosaur models, interactive displays and unique specimens to discover the amazing life and biology of the long-necked and long-tailed sauropods.
  • ¡Plantásticas! showcases the wonder of plants and how they shape culture and the planet. On display at the Exploratorium, the all-ages exhibit was developed with collaborators from the Latinx and Indigenous communities.

Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances

Berkeley Playhouse presents Becoming Robin Hood, a family-friendly performance that shares the origin story of Sherwood Forest’s most notorious outlaw. 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 Kick-Off June with Pride event at OMCA featuring Alphabet Rockers on June 2.

Walkway with rainbow flags for lgbtq+ pride
Celebrate Pride at wonderful events throughout the Bay Area | Photo: Filoli

Juneteenth Celebrations

Juneteenth, a celebration of black liberation, is recognized with events throughout the East Bay — from parades to family-friendly festivals. And don’t miss OMCA’s exhibit “Angela Davis: Seize the Time” before it closes on June 11.

Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events

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 picks peaches
Fruit lovers will enjoy selecting their own snack at peak freshness | Photo: Katie

Run the Bases or See Fireworks after a Ball Game

Take the kids to catch an Oakland Athletics game. Their family ticket packages are hard to beat. On Sunday home games, kids ages 14 and younger receive free admission and can run the bases after a game! This season, don’t miss special post-game shows in the sky. Take a seat on the field to see a Pixar Drone Light Show on Friday, June 16 and Hip Hop Firework Show on Friday, June 30.

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 moving showing invite families to bring blankets, chairs and picnic dinners or snacks to make the most of your 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: BAMPFA in Berkeley and SFMOMA in San Francisco
  • June 2: Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco
  • June 3-4: Bank of America Free Museum Days
  • June 4: Family Fun Day at Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
  • June 6: Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
  • June 7: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
  • June 10: Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco
  • June 13: San Francisco Botanical Garden
  • June 17-18: Free Weekend at de Young Museum in San Francisco
OMCA events and performance
Enjoy dinner and entertainment during Friday Nights at OMCA, in partnership with Off the Grid | Source: OMCA

Spend Friday Nights at OMCA

Meet up with friends and family at OMCA — an ideal gathering space that’s centrally located in Oakland. Celebrate Juneteenth, Pride, and local artists and performers every Friday evening from 5 to 9 pm at OMCA’s beloved Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid events.

Visit Swimming Pools, Splash Parks and Beaches

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

Garden space is open to the public at OMCA
Frolic in OMCA’s lush Garden and check-out the superbloom that is in full effect. You might also spy turtles, herons, and butterflies. The Garden is free and open to the public Wed.–Sun., 11 am –5 pm and until 9 pm on Fridays. | Source: OMCA

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.

Thanks again to The Museum of California (OMCA) for sponsoring this month’s post. Celebrate Juneteenth, Pride, and local artists and performers every Friday evening from 5 to 9 pm at OMCA’s beloved Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid events. Into the Brightness, a colorful new exhibit, is on view now.

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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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