31 Things to Do With Kids in May

This May is filled with family-friendly activities: seasonal favorites like fruit picking, classics like storytime, community festivals, and everything in between. Let’s explore new places and take full advantage of springtime weather.

This post of May’s best activities for families is sponsored by Cherry Time, a family-owned and operated U-Pick cherry farm. Located in Brentwood, Cherry Time is one of the largest U-Pick Cherry farms in the Bay Area. The farm grows over six different types of cherries. The season starts in May and runs until mid-late June. On the farm, families can enjoy nature while picking cherries. Visit www.Cherry–time.com for more tips and information to plan your trip to the farm.

Plan Ahead for these activities

• Attend the truly unique SF Symphony’s Music for Families performance on May 7.
• Younger audiences will like this family-friendly performance of Wizard of Oz May 12-15.
• Enjoy an outrageously funny story of a swamp-dwelling ogre in a kid-friendly performance of Shrek.
• Reserve a space at Kid’s Night Out so YOU can enjoy a child-free date night.
• More shows and tickets to know about for families >

Week beginning Sunday, May 1

5/1: Head to Solano Avenue for a Spring Stroll event, then play at the nearby Thousand Oaks Tot Lot.
5/2: Show the teachers in your life some love—it’s Teacher Appreciation Week!
5/3: Enjoy stories & rhymes at Toddler Storytime.
5/4: Play, climb, and make-believe at Mia’s Dream Come True Playground in Hayward.
5/5: It’s Cinco de Mayo; Consider dining out for Mexican food at one of these kid-friendly restaurants.
5/6: Kick off the weekend with food, music, and community at Oakland’s First Friday street party.
5/7:  Free Comic Book Day & the season opener for the Oakland Spiders Ultimate Disc team.
5/8: Happy Mother’s Day! Check out our Mother’s Day Guide for ideas to celebrate moms.

Week of Monday, May 9

5/9: Stroll through a natural treasure in Kensington: Blake Garden.
5/10: Register for Tiny Tuesdays at Lindsay Wildlife Experience for dino-themed crafts, music, and animals!
5/11: Drop into a school-aged kids’ storytime in Alameda.
5/12: Join other littles for outdoor playtime at Together Wee Play.
5/13: Grab your magic key and head to Children’s Fairyland for rides, puppet shows, and all-around fun.
🍒 Weekend Bonus! U-Pick cherries in Brentwood. Visit Cherry Time for kid-friendly cherry-picking info.
5/14: Marvel at beautiful murals and make your own art at the Art Festival in Jack London Square.
5/15:  Play Like a Girl sports expo in Piedmont

Week of Monday, May 16

5/16: Go on a family bike ride; May is Bike Month. Angel Island makes a fun biking day trip.
5/17: Explore an East Bay Regional Park on a tot-friendly hike.
5/18: Build and fly paper airplanes at The Lawrence Hall of Science.
5/19:  Let the good times roll at an all-ages skate party in Berkeley’s Grove Street Park.
5/20: Push back bedtime for Family Movie Night in the park in Walnut Creek.
5/21: Join the festivities at Salsa Festival 2022: food, music, dancing, kids zone, and more!
5/22: Choo Choo! See elaborate model train displays at Golden State Model Railroad Museum.

Week of Monday, May 23

5/23: Search for hummingbirds at UC Botanical Garden – always FREE for kids under 6.
5/24: Sing and play at Baby Bounce storytime.
5/25: Create works of art at the library with MOCHA. It’s free and perfect for afternoon fun >
5/26: Root, root, root for the home team at an A’s Game!
5/27: Head to the farm for morning cherry-picking; bake a pie for Memorial Day weekend.
5/28: Meet Paw Patrol characters, go on the Ferris wheel, and play games at KidFest.
5/29: Watch the huge smiles while riding the merry-go-round or steam trains at Tilden Park.

Week of Monday, May 30

5/30: Happy Memorial Day; Attend a tribute to honor lost military heroes aboard the USS Hornet.
5/31: Celebrate Family Pride at a Drag Queen Storytime.

We appreciate Cherry Time for sponsoring our May list of great activities for families. Register for the Cherry Time newsletter or follow on Facebook or Instagram for updates around the season. 

Plan your visit to Cherry Time

Season Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 9 am – 5 pm. Season typically begins in early May and runs into June. Check the website for updates. Sign up for Cherry Time’s newsletter to receive updates on the beginning of cherry harvest season in Brentwood.

Costs: Pay for what you pick. $4.00 per pound. No entry fees or reservations.

After cherry-picking, enjoy many of the beautiful parks and play structures in Brentwood. My family likes to visit Veteran’s Park, which features a pirate-themed playground, picnic tables, grassy areas, and more.