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
Saturday, May 30, 2026
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Anthony Chabot Campfire @ Anthony Chabot Regional Park8:30 pm – 9:30 pm: Dumbarton Quarry Campfire @ Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Sunday, May 31, 2026
9:00 am – 12:30 pm: Splash Park @ El Cerrito Swim Center10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Tall Ship Tour – RSVP @ Richmond Ferry Terminal
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Sunday Storytime @ Tilden Regional Park
11:00 am – 5:00 pm: Bookworm Block Party @ Downtown Berkeley
11:00 am – 2:30 pm: Sand Globe Festivity @ Albany Bulb
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Wax: It's The Bee's Knees! @ Ardenwood Historic Farm
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Music with Sara Jayne & Friends @ Starry Plough Pub
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Cal Sailing Club Open House @ Cal Sailing Club
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
Kids Like IKEA Emeryville, Too
The Emeryville monster store, Ikea, is a colorful and fascinating place for a child with a bunch of hidden perks!
14 East Bay Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free
Did you know there's a handful of restaurants where kids eat free? Skip cooking on Tuesday night and head to one of these places.
How to Find Salamanders in Wet Weather at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
Here's a mission for your little explorers and instructions on how to have a successful search for salamanders in the Oakland hills.
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.
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 ...
