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, December 7, 2025
10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Holiday Arts Festival @ Richmond Art Center11:00 am – 7:00 pm: Drop-In Art Making @ Berkeley Art Museum (BAMPFA)
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Selfies with Santa @ Jack London Square
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm: WINTER on Solano Ave. @ Solano Avenue
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Laurel District Santa Stroll @ Laurel District
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Cal Women's Basketball Game @ Haas Pavilion, UC Berkeley
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Winter Puzzle Challenge @ 81st Avenue Branch | Oakland Public Library
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Holiday Tree Lighting @ Hercules City Hall
Monday, December 8, 2025
7:30 am – 9:00 am: Free Admission Hours @ San Francisco Botanical Garden9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Pop-N-Play @ Ruby’s Tumbling
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
Codornices Park in the Berkeley Hills
Codornices Park in Berkeley has so many features that my visits have changed completely as my kids have grown older with new parts to enjoy.
Winter Brainstorm: 25 Things to Do that Cost $10 or Less
$10 is enough for a fun family outing with a little kid in the Bay Area. Here are 25 low-cost ideas!
Oakland’s Mountain View Cemetery Holiday Circle of Lights
This easy evening outing includes a festive holiday light display and it's located near tons of dinner spots.
A Driving Christmas Light Tour of Walnut Creek and Concord
See who is bringing holiday cheer to their neighbors with the best Christmas Lights in the greater East Bay. We've got a map for you.
Tilden Park’s Miniature Trains
Each Sunday between now and the end of September, the Golden Gate Live Steamers open their tracks to the public for rides.
Mia’s Dream Come True: All-Abilities Playground in Hayward
There is so much to do and see at Mia's Dream Come True, an all-abilities playground in South Hayward.
Worth the Drive: Heather Farm Park & Playground in Walnut Creek
One unique feature of the colorful Heather Farm playground in Walnut Creek is a set of turf covered mounds that children can slide down on. ...
Tilden Park’s Merry-Go-Round Is a Classic
The merry-go-round in Tilden Regional Park is an antique carousel with hand-carved and painted wooden carousel animals to ride.
Walk or Drive Through Christmas Lights: Candy Cane Lane in Pleasanton
My favorite part part about the Christmas lights at Candy Cane Lane is that it is a dazzling holiday outing that doesn’t require unbuckling car ...
Good Free Fun: The East Bay Vivarium
East Bay Vivarium has it all: Cute turtles swimming in tanks, giant tortoises munching on lettuce, tiny lizards, boas, enormous pythons, and more.
