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 beach days, 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. This summer, visit CuriOdyssey for their latest temporary exhibition: Kinetic Creations — a celebration of mechanical motion!
New Museum Exhibits & Events for Families
Keep your kids’ curiosity growing at a museum exhibit that appeals to children and adults:
- Discover Kinetic Creations at CuriOdyssey in San Mateo. This temporary interactive exhibit is a celebration of mechanical motion; combining fascinating physics, sculptural science, and whimsical mechanics. Activate a cast of mechanical characters with wooden automata, watch hundreds of glass marbles cascade into a mesmerizing bell curve, or get hands-on with the physics of air pressure as colorful balls race through clear tubes. From June 1 through August 4. Learn more >
- Blast off to the new NASA Ames Visitor Center at Chabot Space & Science Center. Explore exciting artifacts, and learn about the latest developments in space exploration. Learn more >
- Visit Habitot’s Little Town at Bay Street in Emeryville. Spark kids’ imaginations as they shop at the grocery store, create their own pizza, and drive a fire truck. Learn more >
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- June 14 – July 7: Alameda County Fair
- July 4: See our Fourth of July Guide for parades, fireworks, and local celebrations
- July 5:Â First Friday at CuriOddysey (family fun party)
- July 6: Free Fishing Day – try with no license! See Honey, I Shrunk The Kids
- July 6-7: California Classic Fan Fest
- July 7: Alameda Summer Art Fair
- July 13:Â San Francisco Free Folk Fest and Temescal Street Fair
- July 18: Lucky Diaz & the Family Jam Band bilingual indie music show
- July 19: Dive In Movie at Encinal Swim Center
- July 20: Fiesta Cultural Street Fair – free for all ages
- July 21: Cal Sailing Club Open House – free sailing!
- July 27: Music in the Park: Kids Jam
- July 27-28: BubbleFest at Chabot Space and Science Center
- 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. Take a day trip to the new CaliBunga Waterpark in San Jose or visit the Clarke Swim Center in Walnut Creek, where Wednesdays are half off. Check out our favorite swimming spots >
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 Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic; a celebration of Disney music, animation, and memories. 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. 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 2: Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco and de Young Museum
- July 3: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
- July 4: BAMPFA in Berkeley and SFMOMA in San Francisco
- July 5: Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco
- July 6-7: Bank of America Free Museum Days
- July 7: Family Fun Day at Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- July 9: San Francisco Botanical Garden
- July 13: Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco
- Every Saturday: de Young Museum in San Francisco
Don’t Miss Water Park After Dark
Antioch Water Park, one of our favorite local water parks, is a fantastic option for sunny, hot days. But don’t pass up the exciting evening events hosted by the park. Called Water Park After Dark, families are invited to join from 7 pm to 9:30 pm every Friday throughout July. Each night has a unique theme and planned activities. Sounds worth the drive and late night!
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 – Wee Play at James Kenney Community Center
- Tuesdays – Music and Movement at Bay Farm Island Library
- Wednesdays – Half of swimming at Clarke Swim Center, Walnut Creek
- Thursdays – $1.75 kids’ movies in Richmond and Hayward
- 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. Be sure to catch their new exhibit, Kinetic Creations, where art and science collide. Also, plan to join CuriOdyssey on July 5 for First Friday: an extended evening of bubble science, food, dancing, and games.
