Summertime is the prime season for camping. But, the activity doesn’t appeal to all families. For those who want to enjoy a glowing fire without the hassle of camping, East Bay Regional Park District offers family-friendly evening campfire programs throughout the summer—no camping reservations required.

What to Expect at a Campfire Program
The campfire programs take place at various sites throughout the East Bay. Participating families can expect games, stories, songs, show and tell, and other engaging activities. Of course, there’s also a warm campfire.
Our family visited a campfire program at Dumbarton Quarry Campground on a Saturday evening. We arrived just before sunset and were welcomed by friendly EBRPD naturalists passing out supplies to make s’mores. We settled in by the fire and roasted marshmallows.

As the sun set, a naturalist begin the programming that was all about animal trivia. Families sat in the amphitheater area, which had plenty of bench seating and was well lit. My kids, 6 and 3 years old, enjoyed munching on their fire-roasted treats while answering trivia questions like “do bats drink blood?” or “what are the names for a mountain lion?”. Eventually, they became antsy and decided to run around in the nearby grassy area. The naturalists were so patient and understanding that some kids needed to move around after eating sugary dessert. The trivia portion lasted about 30 minutes.
When the program ended, participants were invited to see and touch samples of animal skins, furs and replica skulls, plus ask questions. My oldest child spend a lot of time talking to the naturalist and touching all the samples.

The Bottom Line on Campfire Programs
We all found the program’s content really fun and engaging. Each session has a different theme to keep things fresh. The space was well-maintained, inviting and spacious. Astonishingly clean bathrooms were nearby. Our family dropped in, but there were several other families who walked over from the nearby campsites. We had to pay for day-use parking ($5), but the session itself was free and didn’t require a reservation.
The thing my kids love most about camping is making and eating s’mores. So this event was extremely satisfying for them. Fair warning that I asked a naturalist if all the locations will be providing s’mores supplies and the answer was “likely yes”. Though not a guarantee, s’mores are a wonderful bonus.
My husband and I liked spending time outside and being near a fire. The fire was propane gas fueled, likely because of fire restrictions. But there was still that magical light from the flames.
One possible downside for families with young children is the timing. The program began at my kids’ normal bedtime. But it’s really not as fun to have a campfire during the daylight hours, so this was a special activity where we knew the bedtime routine would be pushed back.
As a camping enthusiast, I personally don’t think this replaces the campfire experience of a true camping trip. But, it was certainly a fun way to spend our evening and snack on a couple of s’mores. We’ll likely return for another visit.

Future EBRPD Campfire Programs
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm |
Family Nature Fun Hour - Crab Cove Campfire Crab Cove Visitor Center, Alameda |
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Campfire Event @ Anthony Chabot: Sharks Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley |
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Mystery Skulls...And Skins Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Sunday, July 2, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm |
Family Nature Fun Hour - Crab Cove Campfire Crab Cove Visitor Center, Alameda |
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Campfire Event @ Anthony Chabot: Bay Area Bats Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley |
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Nocturnal Animals Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Campfire Event @ Anthony Chabot: Night Owl Party Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley |
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Birds of the Bay Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Saturday, July 22, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Campfire Event @ Anthony Chabot: Nocturnal Animals (Pt 1) Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley |
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Conchas and Seashells Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Campfire Event @ Anthony Chabot: Nocturnal Animals (Pt 2) Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley |
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Animal Celebrities Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Star Stories Around the World Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Campfire Event @ Anthony Chabot: Talent Show Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley |
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Animal Tracks and Animal Signs Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Campfire Event @ Anthony Chabot: Animals of the Park Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley |
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Spiders Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Dinos Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Time | Event |
---|---|
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Family Campfire Program: Fascinating Fire Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay, Fremont |