Free & Cheap
Family-friendly Bay Area Fun on The Cheap
Discounted admission to museums, plays, classes and other tips to discover free fun for East Bay Area children.
Upcoming Free or Cheap Events in the East Bay
Sunday, November 1, 2026
9:00 am – 5:30 pm: Farm Animals Visit @ Orchard Nursery and Florist10:00 am – 5:00 pm: Dia de los Muertos Festival @ International Ave & Fruitvale Ave
10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Diwali Celebration @ Asian Art Museum
10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Historic Days at Ardenwood @ Ardenwood Historic Farm
10:00 am – 6:00 pm: Pumpkin Play Patch @ Whimsy Willow
11:00 am – 5:00 pm: First Sundays at OMCA @ Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Cal Men's Water Polo @ Spieker Aquatics Complex
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: DÃa de los Muertos Family Fun Fest @ Jack London Square
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: DÃa de los Muertos Celebration @ Albany Library
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Una Ofrenda Musical @ Main | Alameda Free Library
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
25 Places to Take Preschoolers in the East Bay – Indoors
Places to take East Bay toddlers and preschoolers: Bay Area destinations for younger kids featuring amazing indoor play spaces and museums.
50 Things to Do With Kids When School is Out
Where to go to have the best day when kids are out of school.
Oakland’s Aurora School for TK-8 Nurtures The Whole Child
Discover a vibrant community at Aurora School, an independent TK-8 institution in Oakland's Upper Rockridge neighborhood.
30 Things to Do With Kids in Emeryville
30 fun activities, destinations, and places to wander with kids in Emeryville, CA. We love this little town with fab Bay views and hidden gems.
East Bay Candy Buyback — Turn Candy into Cash!
East Bay children can exchange Halloween candy for cash at a Halloween candy buyback at the dentist's office.
On Sale Now: Inexpensive Ticketed Experiences
These limited-capacity, high-demand kids' experiences sell out fast! RSVP to save your place. Most are free or cheap.
DÃa de Los Muertos with East Bay Kids
In the East Bay, there are lots of ways to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos including festivals, performances, and crafts with children in tow.
Yay For a Toddler’s Day Out at Crab Cove!
To create a magical morning like the one we had, you only need Crab Cove + Kind Bubbles + Snacks + Rebecca to snap the ...
Coming Soon: Independent Schools Fair at OMCA
Oct 17, Meet representatives from 21 local independent schools & enjoy free admission to OMCA with your family’s attendance.
Celebrating Diwali with Kids in the East Bay
Buy your tickets now for these family-friendly Navratri and Diwali events in the East Bay and South Bay. Tickets will sell out.
