Boo-ya, it is October! We’re heading into the season of pumpkins, fall festivals, corn mazes, outdoor fun, and of course, Halloween. Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of amazing East Bay activities for the kids in our lives.
We appreciate the Bay Area Discovery Museum for sponsoring our October list of great activities for families. Dive into Halloween Magic at Bay Area Discovery Museum’s Goblin Jamboree, a family fundraiser where the museum transforms into a wickedly fun Halloween wonderland! Reserve tickets now.
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- Oct. 5: Oakland Black Cowboy Parade & Festival (50th annual!)
- Oct. 5-6: Oaktoberfest in Dimond
- Oct. 6: Community Music Day
- Oct. 7-14: San Francisco Fleet Week
- Oct. 17-19: Lake Merritt Autumn Lights Festival
- Oct. 19: Fall Family Day at Richmond Art Center and Berkeley Harvest Festival
- Oct. 19-20: Bay Area Discovery Museum’s Goblin Jamboree & Maker Faire
- Oct. 20: Chalk Festival in Fremont
- Oct. 25-27: Bay Area Discovery Museum’s Goblin Jamboree Weekend
- Oct. 27: Dia de los Muertos Celebration
- Oct. 31: Halloween!
Check our kid-friendly events calendar for something special every day >
Halloween Happenings
Halloween is my family’s favorite holiday. There are so many themed events from annual showstoppers like Goblin Jamboree with its glowing slime swamps, foggy bubble science, and monster crafting. Find more places to wear your costume and join in the fun from Boo at the Zoo to themed storytimes. It’s truly a holiday that children and kids-at-heart can enjoy! See our Halloween Guide for Families >
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
Some outings and activities require tickets this time of year. Plus we have found cool shows and musical performances for kids. Does your child love Thomas and Percy? Or Elephant & Piggy? If you’re interested in Christmas magic, some holiday train rides are selling tickets now.
Find music, magic, and mime among our selection of upcoming ticketed performances and events for families >
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations
Hispanic Heritage Month continues through October 15. There are multiple ways to celebrate the diverse Latinx communities and cultures throughout the East Bay and beyond. Look for drop-in crafting at local libraries and bilingual events and special shows. Find more opportunities to mark the vibrant histories, cultures, and contributions of Latinx individuals in our Hispanic Heritage Month Guide > Later in the month, there are many Dia de los Muertos events, too!
Diwali Celebrations for Children
Festive Diwali events and parties with dancing, food, and lights begin around October 12 and continue through Diwali on November 1. Many Diwali events require a ticket >
High Holidays For Families
This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, and ends in the evening on Friday, October 4, 2024. Yom Kippur begins the evening of Friday, October 11, 2024, and ends the evening of Saturday, Oct 12, 2024. Celebrate the high holidays at local family-friendly events throughout the East Bay. Remember that many activities require a ticket or RSVP; reserve your family’s space in advance. See our High Holidays Guide for programming and resources >
It’s Time for Apple Picking, Pumpkin Patching, and Corn Mazing
If your family is all about apples, we rounded up a handful of apple orchards in the Bay Area that should have a delicious crop well into October. And don’t forget to visit the farm for a day of pumpkin picking and strolling through the corn maze. See our guide to Bay Area Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes with excellent choices for families. Remember to always confirm hours with the orchard or farm by phone or social media in advance.
New Museum Exhibits
- Get into the Autumn spirit at CuriOdyssey’s Fall into Science. At this new temporary exhibit, kids can enjoy the hay bale adventure area, visit the Bone Zone, and learn about Pepper’s Ghost visual effects. Learn more >
- Celebrate the beauty of nature at the California Academy of Science. Visitors of all ages will marvel at the images from the 11th annual BigPicture: Natural World Photography exhibition. Kids can also challenge their grown-ups to a memory game at the interactive kiosk. Learn more >
- Go on a dinosaur adventure at The Lawrence. Starting October 19, visitors can come face-to-face with a Pachycephalosaurus or a T Rex at Dinosaur Lookout. This new outdoor exhibit at The Lawrence Hall of Science features life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. To discover more about T.rex, visit the 3-D theater for a 20-minute film about this popular dino. Learn more >
Favorite Free & Cheap Happenings
Need some planning inspiration? We’ve got you covered! We gathered up our favorite free and inexpensive activities in the East Bay to serve as a go-to, weekday itinerary when you’re in a pinch. Find more free & cheap events this month >
- Mondays – Create at MOCHA Art Workshops in Oakland
- Tuesdays – Join Hikes for Tykes (first and third Tuesdays)
- Wednesdays – View a Fish Feeding at Crab Cove
- Thursdays – Sing and read at English/Spanish Storytime in Hayward
- Fridays – Stroll through Blake Garden in Kensington
Plus, 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 >
- Oct. 1: Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
- Oct. 1, plus every Saturday: de Young Museum in San Francisco
- Oct. 2: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
- Oct. 3 BAMPFA in Berkeley & SFMOMA
- Oct. 4: Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco
- Oct. 5-6: Bank of America Free Museum Days
- Oct. 6: Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- Oct. 8: San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Oct. 12: Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco
- Oct. 20: Free Community Day at SFMOMA
Thanks again to Bay Area Discovery Museum. The Bay Area Discovery Museum’s mission is to create playful learning experiences that inspire a passion for discovery in every child. With mind-blowing exhibits, outdoor adventures, Golden Gate views, and enough fun to tire out the most energetic kids, we’ve got you covered for a day of non-stop giggles and unforgettable memories.
Find more activities on our East Bay Families Events Calendar every day of the month.
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