Art & Music

Family-friendly Bay Area Arts, Music, & Performances

Art museums, plays, classes, camps, and kid-friendly shows for East Bay Area children.

Kid in the audience

Upcoming Shows & Special Events {Ticket Alerts}

kids doing steam art projects together

Favorite Visual Art Classes for Kids in the East Bay

Child playing with pretend garden/kitchen toys near parent

How to Get in FREE to Dozens of Bay Area Museums, Science Centers, + Gardens

children playing cellos

Music Classes for East Bay Kids

Child painting at Color Me Mine

Drop-in Art Studios for Families

theater class with children

Theater & Performing Arts Classes for Kids in the East Bay

Upcoming Art or Music Events in the East Bay

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

10:30 am – 11:30 am: Music in the Parks @ Jean Sweeney Open Space Park
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Linocut Block Printing @ 81st Avenue Branch | Oakland Public Library

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

10:30 am – 11:00 am: Oaktown Jazz Storytime @ El Sobrante Library
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Rockin' Kids Sing-Along @ Albany Library
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Kids Craft Hour @ Albany Library

Thursday, September 24, 2026

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Music in the Parks @ Franklin Park
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Papel Picado Workshop – RSVP @ West End Branch | Alameda Free Library

Friday, September 25, 2026

10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Maker Faire Bay Area @ Mare Island
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Kids Zone at Oktoberfest @ Civic Park & Community Center (Walnut Creek)

Saturday, September 26, 2026

10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Kids Club: Fabric Ghosts @ Michaels, Emeryville

Arts & Music Resources for Families

kid in Oakland Ballers merch at a baseball game

Cheer On Oakland Ballers Baseball Team

My family is so excited to cheer for the Ballers at Raimondi Park in West Oakland.

Ticket Alert: Family Matinees at Rialto Cinemas

Cerrito Rialto and Elmwood Theatre welcome families to their free weekend matinees. Tickets available in advance.

Black Joy Parade in Oakland

Black History Month for Kids and Families in the Bay Area

Celebrate with storytimes, dance performances, and a parade! We'll be adding new kid-friendly Black History Month activities all month.

two adults and a child walking through a large tunnel at OMCA

Kid-Friendly OMCA: Oakland Museum of California

Children under 12 are free. Kid-friendly exhibits and beautiful gardens make the Oakland Museum of California a win for families.

lion dance at fairyland performed by Cal VSA Lion Dance children greet the performer

Giddy-up! Lunar New Year at Fairyland

Come to the party: lion dances, lucky crafts, delicious eats, and rhythmic beats promise plenty of good fortune and fun.

Children's Theatre Association of San Francisco

Ticket Alert: Once Upon a Mattress at the Presidio Theatre

Children will enjoy a magical fairytale about a silly prince finding his perfect mate using 20 mattresses and a pea at the Presidio Theatre.

Children's Creativity Museum

Children’s Creativity Museum in SF

The Children's Creativity Museum in Yerba Buena Gardens is a hands-on, multimedia art and technology experience for kids 2-12.

Valentine Crafts at Habitot

20+ Valentine’s Day Outings for East Bay Families

Love is love. Valentine's Day activities for families in the East Bay. We are excited to share this round-up of love- and heart-themed activities

museum-children-art MOCHA

Drop-in art-making hours for preschoolers at MOCHA in Oakland

MOCHA offers children as young as 18 months the opportunity to explore art materials in a space designed just for them.

easter decorated train

Ticket Alert: Train Ride with Easter Bunny Visit

Easter Bunny and a steam train ride through the redwoods! Just, wow. Buy tickets now for one of these train rides in April.