There are so many things to do with kids in the East Bay in November. What month starts with a candy hangover and ends up on Santa’s lap? Yes, November is here already, and it is bursting with family fun! We’ll be celebrating Dia de los Muertos, Veterans Day, Native American Heritage Month, and Thanksgiving while getting in the spirit of the end-of-year holiday season.
Special thanks to this month’s sponsor: Smuin Contemporary Ballet. Tickets are on sale now for their performance on Nov. 22 and 23 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center.
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- Nov. 1 – Halloween Hoopla
- Nov. 2 – Día de los Muertos Festival
- Nov. 7 – Family Night Under the Stars
- Nov. 8 – Aurora’s Tinker Faire and Fourth Street Dazzling “Lights On” Celebration
- Nov. 15 – Diwali Celebration Festival of Lights
- Nov. 18 – Tiny Tuesday at Lindsay Wildlife Experience
- Nov. 22-23 – Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet in Walnut Creek
- Nov. 27 – Happy Thanksgiving! Run a turkey trot in the morning.
- Nov. 29 – Holiday Tree Lighting at Jack London Square
- Nov. 30 – Family Concert: Nutcracker “Sweet”
Check our kid-friendly events calendar for something special every day >
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
A few of our favorite picks: see the aptly named Amazing Bubble Man show in Alameda and Berkeley, celebrate Dia de los Muertos at Luna Mexicana performed by the Oakland Ballet Company, and kick off the holiday season with Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet.
Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet will make your spirits bright from the classical first act to the “Cool Yule” of the second. This big-hearted production will “drive the Grinches away” (San Francisco Chronicle) and is guaranteed to put you in a festive mood and will have you and your family dancing out of the theater.
- November 22-23, Walnut Creek
- December 5-6, Carmel
- December 11-14, Mountain View
- December 18-28, San Francisco
Find more upcoming ticketed performances and events >
(Psst, live performances make great holiday gifts for the kids and families in your life).
Native American Heritage Month
Honor Native American communities this November by learning about their culture and traditions. The Bay Area hosts a variety of kid-friendly events: look for story times, guided hikes, and large-scale gatherings. Find more ways to recognize the month in the East Bay >
Día de Los Muertos
Celebrate Día de los Muertos and honor the vibrant traditions of this beloved holiday with delicious food, lively dance performances, colorful skulls, and festive family fun.
Veterans Day
Thank a veteran during your visit to the USS Hornet. National Parks offer free admission on Veterans Day (Pre-registration is often required, and Muir Woods maybe closed due to the government shutdown).
Thanksgiving
I love Thanksgiving. It’s a day full of tradition and each family celebrates in their own way. Whether your family likes to break a sweat in a local Turkey Trot race, prepare a home-cooked meal, or opt for a local dinner-to-go option, it’s a wonderful day to spend time with family and express gratitude. We like to play at SF Botanic Garden’s children’s garden. Admission is free on Thanksgiving.
With school out that means more 1-1 time with kids. If you’re looking for activity inspiration, try one of 50 ideas for no school day. Explore some of the East Bay’s secret paths and staircases. Or head into the city: Cal Academy is open 356 days a year and SF Botanical Garden offers free admission on Thanksgiving.
Plan Ahead for Holiday Magic
The holiday season is here–ready or not. Get a jump start on booking special moments and experiences for your family. Mark your calendar for when tickets become available to the dazzling Garden of D’Lights in Walnut Creek and the ever-popular Glowfari at Oakland Zoo. Don’t forget about reserving ice skating time slots, seats on a Christmas train, spots on Santa’s lap, time for high tea, or tickets to Holiday ballets and shows like Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet.
Plan Ahead & Reserve Your Spot
- November and Thanksgiving Day Camps.
- Winter Break Camps are just around the corner.
- Book a Parents’ night out so you can have a date night or do some holiday shopping.
Spend a Day at the Museum
There are many exhibits, attractions, and features at Bay Area museums that are worth checking out this month (especially on a day off of school!). If your kids love animals and dinosaurs, head to the Animal Discovery Zone and Dinosaur Lookout at The Lawrence to meet animal ambassadors and life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. If your kids love creating, head to Future Builders at the Children’s Creativity Museum where little innovators create inventions with the mystery box challenge and design new emojis.
Favorite Free & Cheap Happenings
Need some planning inspiration? We’ve got you covered! Our favorite free and inexpensive activities in the East Bay can serve as a go-to itinerary when you’re in a pinch. Find more free & cheap events this month >
- Mondays – Enjoy Evening Story Time.
- Tuesdays – Join Hikes for Tykes (first and third Tuesdays).
- Wednesdays – Drop into Wee Play.
- Thursdays – Sketch and create at MOCHA art workshops.
- Fridays – See mammals, birds, and reptiles at Sulphur Creek Nature Center.
- Saturdays – Drop into the Open Art Lab at BAMPFA.
- Sundays – Gathering fruits and veggies at a Farmers Market
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 >
- Nov. 1-2: Bank of America Free Museum Days
- Nov. 2: Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- Nov. 4 and every Saturday: de Young Museum in San Francisco
- Nov. 4: Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
- Nov. 5: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
- Nov. 6: BAMPFA in Berkeley & SFMOMA in San Francisco
- Nov. 8: Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco
- Nov. 11 & Nov. 27: San Francisco Botanical Garden
Find more activities on our East Bay Families Events Calendar for every day of the month.
Thanks again to this month’s sponsor: Smuin Contemporary Ballet. Tickets are on sale now for performances from Nov. 22 through Dec. 28.
s p o n s o r 
