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, October 23, 2026
9:00 am – 4:00 pm: Explore Blake Garden @ Blake Garden10:00 am – 10:50 am: Community Preschool Yoga @ Yama Kids Yoga
10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Shabbat & Play @ Temple Sinai
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Story Time @ Crab Cove @ Crab Cove Visitor Center
11:15 am – 12:15 pm: Oaktown Jazz Storytime @ Richmond Library | West Side Branch
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Trunk or Treat @ Civic Park & Community Center (Walnut Creek)
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Costume Swap @ Swings and Wings
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: MOCHA Creative Art Play @ Central Library | Berkeley Public Library
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Petting Zoo @ The Backyard
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Haunted Trail @ Pleasant Hill Park
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
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 ...
26 Places Where Kids Can Ride Scooters
Wondering where your little one can ride a scooter around Oakland? I have 2 scooters and 2 helmets permanently in my trunk, and I know ...
Take a Tour of the Boichik Bagel Factory
Take a FREE tour of the Boichik Bagel Factory in West Berkeley. Carbs, coffee, and heavy machinery - what's not to love?
Point Molate: Sea Glass Treasure & Burning Man Art in Richmond
Combine a tranquil beach with a steampunk art scene for a memorable day in Richmond. We also love the sea glass!
12 Things to Do at Memorial Park in Albany
Memorial Park in Albany is home to so many family-friendly resources and events, that all parents in communities north of Berkeley should know about it.
