Never run out of family fun ideas for your Bay Area summer break with our epic bucket list! We have gathered all our faves between Memorial Day and Labor Day (99 days worth!). We hope you’ll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in the East Bay — and beyond! — this summer.
Thank you to Filoli for sponsoring our guide to summer activities in the East Bay and beyond. Super popular with kids and families, Filoli is open every Wednesday and Thursday until 8 pm for Summer Nights to enjoy the House and Garden in the golden hour! Visitors can enjoy music, food, and drinks while they soak up the extra hours of sunlight.
Water Play, Pools, Beaches | Summertime Events + Outings | Fourth of July for Kids | Outdoor Dining + Treats | Summer at Filoli | All About Camps
Summertime Events + Outings
This Summer, the Bay Area is rich with county fairs, outdoor movies, celebrations, gardens, and ripe fruit for the picking. Hike outdoors, splash in the lakes, and celebrate the sunshine with outings in the woods! Enjoy beaches, campfires, dinner outside, and a giant scoop of ice cream. See our kid-friendly calendar for lots more ideas >
Best Things To Do With Kids in August
Plan Your Day: Free & Cheap Drop-in Activities Tomorrow
Sunday, October 6, 2024
10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Community Music Day @ Crowden Music Center, Berkeley10:00 am - 11:30 am: Free Family Matinee: Monster House @ Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, El Cerrito
10:00 am - 3:00 pm: Gathering of Ohlone Peoples @ Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont
10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Kensington Farmers' Market @ Kensington Farmers’ Market, Kensington
10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Oaktoberfest in the Dimond @ Dimond District, Oakland
11:00 am - 6:00 pm: Carnival at Oktoberfest @ Downtown Clayton, Clayton
11:00 am - 7:00 pm: Drop-In Art Making @ Berkeley Art Museum (BAMPFA), Berkeley
11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Elmwood Free Family Matinee: Monster House @ Rialto Cinemas Elmwood, Berkeley
11:00 am - 5:00 pm: First Sundays at OMCA @ Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), Oakland
11:00 am - 5:00 pm: Roller Boogie @ Downtown Berkeley, Berkeley
See more free & cheap activities on our calendar >
Best Beaches for Kids
Bay Area beaches run the full gamut from sandy and warm to covered in pottery or sea glass. Do you want a protected cove with little critters or a stunning view? See our Family-friendly guide to Bay Area Beaches >
Summer Nights at Filoli
Our sponsor, Filoli, hosts many programs to accompany the blooms of roses and dahlias. In addition to Summer Nights, enjoy regular concerts and Pride celebrations.
Shown above are the blooming fields of roses, Ribbons of Remembrance draped on the London Plane trees for Pride Weekend (5/31-6/2), and Summer Nights (Until 9/19) on the Bowling Green at Filoli.
What makes Filoli special?
This one-of-a-kind setting is just South of San Francisco with 16 acres of outdoor space and a one-mile Estate Trail with room to run, play, and enjoy each other.
Water Play: Where to Cool Off & Beat the Heat
Outdoor Dining & Treats
Summertime outdoor eating is the best. Enjoy the later sunshine and let the bugs clean up while getting a pizza delivered to the playground or pay a visit to one of these places to eat with kids:
Thank you again to Filoli for sponsoring our guide to summer activities in the East Bay and beyond.
