Wow, it’s July! Let’s make the most of this warm and carefree month. We’ll kick things off with July 4 festivities and continue with summer festivals, fruit picking, outdoor movies, and many family-friendly events to keep your summer calendar full. Dig into our round-up of exciting East Bay activities to bring fun and joy to families throughout July.
Thank you to our sponsor, CuriOdyssey, for sponsoring this month’s picks. At CuriOdyssey, kids are free to observe wild animals, experiment with scientific phenomena, and let the natural world answer their questions. CuriOdyssey is now open daily 10 am – 5 pm, making this a perfect destination for summer adventures with kids.
Museum Exhibits & Events for Families
Keep your kids’ curiosity growing this summer at a destination that appeals to children and adults:
- Discover CuriOdyssey in San Mateo. Explore this hands-on science museum and native-animal zoo, home to nearly 100 rescued animals. Families can enjoy interactive exhibits like ViewPoint, the Whooosh! Physics-in-Action Playground, Illusions, Nature of Patterns, and Creature FEETures. Learn more >
- Track Makers at Children’s Creativity Museum. Assemble and build at the Children’s Creativity Museum’s new exhibition, Track Makers. Kids can launch cars and design ball tracks while learning about physics through play. Learn more >
- TROLLS: Save the Humans at Filoli. Discover this new outdoor exhibit featuring giant troll sculptures made from reclaimed materials and a new exploratory nature play area. Find them hidden throughout Filoli’s redwoods. Learn more >
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- June 13 – July 6: Alameda County Fair
- July 4: See our Fourth of July Guide for parades, fireworks, and local celebrations
- July 5: Free Fishing Day – try with no license!
- July 5-6: California Classic Fan Fest
- July 12:Â San Francisco Free Folk Fest and Temescal Street Fair
- July 12-13: Family Nature Weekend at Filoli
- July 18: Dive In Movie at Encinal Swim Center
- July 20: Five Dollar Days at the Lawrence
- July 26: Music in the Park: Kids Fest
- July 27: Cal Sailing Club Open House – free sailing!
- July 26-27: Alameda Summer Art Faire
Check our kid-friendly events calendar for something special every day >
All Month: Get Your Swim On
Swim or splash your heart out at a local beach, swimming pool, splash pad, or water park. The sun is warm and the water temperatures are rising. But if the days are still a bit too cool and foggy for your liking, head deeper into the East Bay communities for a more traditional (read hotter) summer experience. Visit the Clarke Swim Center in Walnut Creek for swimming plus an inflatable obstacle course.
Fourth of July Celebrations
Fill your day with all things red, white, and blue for the July 4th holiday. Communities throughout the East Bay are hosting parades, incredible drone shows, fun runs, pancake breakfasts, firework displays, and other festive daytime celebrations.
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
Enjoy the San Francisco Symphony as they perform How to Train Your Dragon, a celebration of music and animation. Find more upcoming ticketed performances and events >
Visit a U-Pick Farm for Fresh Peaches & Stone Fruit
Fruit picking makes a delicious day trip! Visit a U-Pick farm in the East Bay to hand-select the season’s freshest peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines. Find other farms for berry picking. Don’t forget to pack water and a hat — it gets hot out there.
Pro Tip: Check social media pages for current hours and details on available fruit.
Catch a Movie or Listen to a Concert Outdoors
‘Tis the season for outdoor movies and summer concerts. Watch family-friendly films on the big screen just after sunset, or enjoy the smooth sounds of a local band while the kids run around on the lawn. Bring blankets, chairs, and picnic dinners or snacks to make the most of your evening. See the full outdoor movie round-up > View the summer concert guide >
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. Learn more about ways to get into museums for free >
- July 1: Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco and de Young Museum
- July 2: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
- July 3: BAMPFA in Berkeley and SFMOMA in San Francisco
- July 5-6: Bank of America Free Museum Days
- July 6: Family Storytelling at Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- July 8: San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Every Saturday: de Young Museum in San Francisco
Schedule a Parents’ Night Out
Kids aren’t the only ones who can have fun over the summer. Reserve a space at Parents Night Out, also called PNO. It’s evening childcare that’s essentially a drop-off play date. The setup is a win-win for parents who want a date night and children who want to spend the evening eating pizza, making art, watching movies, or playing with other kids their age. Reserve a space for your child in advance; see all the providers >
Favorite Free & Cheap Happenings
Need some planning inspiration? We’ve got you covered! We gathered our favorite free and inexpensive activities in the East Bay to serve as a go-to itinerary when you’re in a pinch. Visit your local library for fantastic events and special programming for kids and families through their summer reading programs. Find more free & cheap events >
- Mondays – Garden Playdate at Melrose Branch, Oakland
- Tuesdays – Family Summer Movie Deals
- Wednesdays – Teddy Bear Picnic in Alameda
- Thursdays – Together Wee Move with the Story-Time Band
- Fridays – 510 Summer Fridays at Fairyland, Oakland
- Saturdays – Campfire Program at Dumbarton Quarry
- Sundays – Summer Puzzle Challenge at the 81st Branch Library, Oakland
Visit an All-Abilities Playground
July is Disability Pride Month. Teach your kids about inclusion and visit an all-abilities playground. These play spaces are universally designed to include adaptive equipment, high-quality surfaces, and many innovative features to welcome children of all ages and capabilities to play. More on how to talk to your kids about people with disabilities >
For lots more ideas, check out our guide to what to do with kids during summer vacation! Plus there are still a few weeks to enroll your children in camp; see our Summer Camp Guide.
Thanks again to CuriOdyssey, our favorite serious science playground, for sponsoring this month’s post. Plan to join CuriOdyssey for First Fridays: an extended evening of bubble science, food, dancing, and games.
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