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!
Special thanks to this month’s sponsor: Oakland Museum of California. There’s plenty to explore this spring at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), with something for every member of the family—and kids ages 12 and under always enjoy free admission.
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- May 1: Cinco de Mayo Celebration
- May 2: Berkeley Bay Festival & Free Comic Book Day
- May 2+3: Hillside Festival in El Cerrito
- May 3: Play Like a Girl+
- May 4: Star Wars Day
- May 8: Kensington Park’d Food Truck Night
- May 9: KQED Fest Block Party
- May 10: Mother’s Day
- May 12: Sea Squirts: Busy Bees!
- May 14: Bike to Wherever Day
- May 15-17: Oakland Greek Festival
- May 16: de Youngsters Day Out
- May 19: Oakland Ballers Opening Day
- May 22: Friday Nights at OMCA
- May 23-25: Ardenwood Rail Fair
- May 24: Free Community Day at SFMOMA
- May 24+25: Art & Wind Festival & Kid Fest in Concord
- May 25: Free Entrance Day at National Parks
- May 30: Family Day at Bay Area Book Festival
- May 31: Cal Sailing Club Open House
Find lots more Seasonal Fairs & Festivals >>
Plan a Visit to OMCA
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) offers something for all ages, with engaging exhibits and interactive experiences that spark curiosity in both kids and adults. The museum also features a spacious outdoor garden and three main galleries—California Art, California History, and California Natural Sciences
- Good Fire: Tending Native Lands
Designed for all ages, this exhibition features engaging elements like interactive dioramas and reimagines fire not just as a destructive force, but as a vital tool for sustaining healthy ecosystems. - Nature Play Space in the Gallery of California Natural Science
Little learners can explore, imagine, and play in OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace, a hands-on environment thoughtfully designed for children ages 2–5 and their caregivers. - Friday Nights at OMCA
Every Friday from April through October, families can enjoy a free evening of live music, interactive activities, and Off the Grid food trucks, along with games, engaging programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere.
Mother’s Day Celebrations
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10, 2026. There are so many sweet ways to celebrate the mothers in your life all month long: reserve tickets for a family hike to pancakes, enjoy an afternoon tea party, or design a craft together. The Exploratorium offers “Pay What you Wish” admission and the Charles Schulz Museum offers free admission to Moms on Mother’s Day. Check out more ways to thank moms for all they do in our East Bay Mother’s Day Guide >
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Learn and celebrate cultures with your kids with storytimes, dance performances, and events like Children’s Fairyland’s AAPI Heritage Celebration. The Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival in Tiburon on May 16 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.
Go Cherry & Berry Picking
May is the prime time for picking strawberries 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.
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
This month, reserve tickets for kid-friendly performances like Magic in May and Matilda the Musical or plan a visit to Alameda’s Ocean Photographer of the Year Exhibition, an immersive gallery showcasing ocean photography from around the world. Recommended for kids ages 10 and up. Find more upcoming ticketed performances and events >
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 Roots SC and Oakland Soul SC — or the Bay Area’s professional team, Bay FC. The Oakland Spiders and the Bay Area Falcons host Ultimate Disc games that are also very family-friendly. The Golden Gate Storm wrap up their season on May 2, and the Golden State Valkyries tip off their season on May 10. And of course, there’s baseball—the Cal Bears baseball team plays at Stu Gordon Stadium and hosts Cal Kids’ Day on May 3, and the Oakland Ballers’ home opener is May 20. Save 10% on admission to Oakland Ballers Games with our code: OB510FAM.
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
- Tuesdays – Storytime and Garden Play
- Wednesdays – Baby and Me
- Thursdays – Sulphur Creek Nature Center
- Fridays – Friday Nights at OMCA
- Saturdays – Family Rec Swim
- 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 2-3:Â Bank of America Free Museum Days
- May 3: Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- May 5: deYoung Museum, Legion of Honor and Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
- May 7: BAMPFA in Berkeley
- May 10: The Exploratorium
- May 12: San Francisco Botanical Garden
- May 24: Free Community Day at SFMOMA
- Every Saturday for Bay Area residents w/ ID:Â Legion of Honor & de Young Museum
- Everyday: Children under 12 years of age receive free admission to OMCA
Find more activities on our East Bay Families Events Calendar for every day of the month.Â
Thanks again to this month’s sponsor: Oakland Museum of California.Â
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