Sunny skies, beautiful blooms, and seasonal fruit picking make May an exciting month filled with family-friendly events. Take advantage of the longer days and warm springtime weather to venture to new playgrounds or revisit beloved activities. Here are our favorite family events for the month – let’s go!
This post of May’s best things to do with kids in the East Bay is sponsored by Jack London Square. Visit Jack London Square’s Art Festival on May 10th to experience chalk artists, interactive art, kids chalk zone, music and live painting.
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
Reserve tickets to race, dance and play through bubbles at Bubble Run. Find more upcoming ticketed performances and events >
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- May 1: Musical Story Time at Freight & Salvage
- May 3: Free Comic Book Day & Lindsay Wildlife Experience Community Day
- May 3+4: Hillside Festival in El Cerrito
- May 6: Hikes for Tykes at Lake Chabot
- May 8: Hawaiian May Day in San Ramon
- May 10: Jack London Square Art Festival & NSF STEM Day at The Lawrence
- May 11: Mother’s Day
- May 15: Bike to Wherever Day
- May 16-18: Oakland Greek Festival
- May 17+18: Himalayan Fair in Berkeley & Tinkerfest in Oakland
- May 18: Cal Sailing Club Open House
- May 20: Oakland Ballers Opening Day
- May 24-26: Kidfest in Concord & Ardenwood Rail Fair in Fremont
- May 25+26: Art & Wind Festival in San Ramon
- May 31: Family Day at Bay Area Book Festival
Find lots more Seasonal Fairs & Festivals >>
All Month: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Learn and celebrate cultures with your kids at storytimes, dance performances, and events like Children’s Fairyland’s month-long celebration. The Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival in Tiburon on May 17 looks fun, too.
All Spring: Go on a Color Search in the Garden
Springtime flowers are in full bloom. Spot fruit blossoms, roses, wildflowers, and other cheery flowers in local gardens. Our favorite free destinations include Blake Garden (open on weekdays) and Gardens at Lake Merritt. UC Berkeley Botanical Garden and Filoli are top ticketed picks. Refer to our Parents’ Guide to East Bay Gardens to help you find a local garden to explore.
Mother’s Day Celebrations
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11, 2025. There are so many sweet ways to celebrate the mothers in your life all month long: plan a family hike to pancakes, make afternoon tea reservations, or design a craft together. The Exploratorim offers “Pay What you Wish” admission on Mother’s Day. Check out more ways to thank moms for all they do in our East Bay Mother’s Day Guide >
Go Cherry Picking
May is the prime time for picking cherries and berries. U-Pick farms are located throughout the Bay Area, however, you’ll find the bulk of them in Brentwood. Cherries can be plucked through about early June and sometimes into July for berries. Fruit picking guide >
Take Advantage of Parents’ Night Out
Parents’ Night Out, also called PNO, is evening childcare that’s essentially a drop-off play date. It’s super convenient for parents who want a date night, and really fun for kids! Children usually eat pizza, have dessert (gasp!), watch movies, make art, and play with other kids of a similar age. Reserve a space for your child in advance; see all the providers >
Reserve Space In Summer Camp
It’s not too late to plan an amazing summer for your children by reserving a spot in a terrific summer camp. Use our comprehensive Summer Camp Guide to search by city, week, age, and special interests – such as STEM, dance, theater, adventure, or cooking. Don’t miss the Northern California Overnight Camp Guide too!
Root for the Home Team
Take the kids to a local sporting event this spring. Soccer fans will enjoy cheering for Oakland’s soccer club teams – Roots (men’s) and Soul (women’s) — or our Bay Area professional team, Bay FC. The Oakland Spiders Ultimate Disc team hosts games that are also very family-friendly. And of course, there’s baseball. The Oakland Ballers’ home season opener is May 20.
Free & Cheap Family Picks for May
We’ve gathered our favorite free and inexpensive activities in the East Bay to serve as a go-to itinerary when you’re in a pinch. Find more free & cheap events this month >
- Mondays – Music & Movement Storytime in Richmond
- Tuesdays – Tilden Botanic Garden in Berkeley
- Wednesdays –Â MOCHA Art Sessions at Oakland Libraries (thru May 21)
- Thursdays – El Cerrito Splash Park (7 & under only on weekdays)
- Fridays – Visit with Wildlife at Sulphur Creek
- Saturdays – Outdoor skating rink at THE ZONE at Liberation Park
- Sundays – Drop-In Art Lab at BAMPFA in Berkeley
Plan an outing to one of the world-class museums in the Bay Area. Several offer free admission on select days. Learn more about ways to get into museums for free >
- May 1:Â BAMPFA in Berkeley & SFMOMA in San Francisco
- May 3-4:Â Bank of America Free Museum Days
- May 4: Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- May 6: deYoung Museum, Legion of Honor and Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
- May 11: The Exploratorium
- May 13: San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Every Saturday for Bay Area residents w/ ID:Â Legion of Honor & de Young Museum
s p o n s o r 
Thanks again to Jack London Square for sponsoring this May events post. Located in Oakland, Jack London Square is a family-friendly destination for dining, community events, and entertainment. See all the events at Jack London Square >>
