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
Friday, November 7, 2025
9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Pop-N-Play @ Ruby’s Tumbling9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Tot Splash (Ages 7 and Under) @ Richmond Plunge
10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Fairyland 510 Fridays @ Children’s Fairyland
10:15 am – 11:00 am: Bouncing Babies Storytime @ Fremont Main Library
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Story Time @ Crab Cove @ Crab Cove Visitor Center
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Toddler Plus Storytime @ Main | Alameda Free Library
11:00 am – 11:30 am: Bilingual Baby Bounce @ West Branch | Berkeley Public Library
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm: Musical Storytime with Ms. Vita @ Fremont Main Library
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: MOCHA Art Workshop @ West Oakland Branch | Oakland Public Library
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: MOCHA at the Library @ Central Library | Berkeley Public Library
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
May 4: de Youngsters Day Out is a Celebration of Art
Reserve tickets to the annual free community day for children – the de Youngsters Day Out - a must-do for art-loving kids.
Family Day at The Bay Area Book Festival
Bring your little ones, middle graders, and teens to Bay Area Book Festival Family Day at the Berkeley Public Library downtown.
Orinda: A Single BART Stop Past Rockridge
Start your morning at Orinda Village for a cafe, park, library, bookstore, and even a pizza joint if you make it until lunchtime. Here's a ...
Impress Your Kids: Hike into a Real Volcano & Labyrinth in OaklandÂ
Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve's Special Labyrinth can be hiked to with school-aged kids in less than two hours, round trip.
Movie Theater Fun for ALL Ages at The New Parkway
See new movies with your baby in tow or bring your child to enjoy classic cartoons with sweet cereal at Oakland's beloved movie theater.
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.
Getting Sandy at Keller Beach in Richmond, CA
My family loved our four-hour getaway to Keller Beach in Richmond. Bring sand toys and snacks to make the most of your day.
Now Open: The Gardens at Lake Merritt
As we strolled The Gardens at Lake Merritt, near Children's Fairyland, my husband and I agreed that botanical gardens are usually a big win with ...
It’s Free! Indian Rock Park
Wear athletic shoes and bring a camera because Berkeley's Indian Rock will make you want to scale it and start snapping pictures immediately.
Park Profile: Grove Park & Playground in Berkeley
See what's up at the grand reopening of Berkeley's neighborhood playground for the Lorin District. Wood chips.
