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
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Wee Play: Drop-In Playtime @ Alameda Veterans Memorial Building10:30 am – 11:00 am: Family Storytime @ El Sobrante Library
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Sing Me a Storytime @ Lafayette Library and Learning Center
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Storytime on the Lawn @ North Branch | Berkeley Public Library
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Rockin' Kids Sing-Along @ Albany Library
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Kids Craft Hour @ Albany Library
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Read to a Dog! @ Lakeview Branch | Oakland Public Library
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Concerts in the Park @ Memorial Park | Albany
Thursday, September 10, 2026
7:30 am – 9:00 am: Free Admission Hours @ San Francisco Botanical Garden10:00 am – 11:30 am: Play Cafe @ 81st Avenue Branch | Oakland Public Library
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
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.
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.
Explore Dinosaur Gardens in the East Bay
Delight in a magical treasure: dinosaur gardens. Perfect to work into a family walk, we found seven locations walking around the East Bay.
Top Things to Do With Kids at Cal
Here are our top things to do with our kids at University of California at Berkeley's "Cal" Campus: climb, sing, dinosaurs, research, run, and play!
Best Idea Ever: A Playground with Coffee in Berkeley
With ample parking, a huge field, a creek to explore, a playground, and now, a cafe onsite, Strawberry Creek Park is a perfect destination.
Home Depot Offers Free Weekend Workshops for Kids
Spend a FREE morning at Home Depot building craft projects with your kid on the first Saturday of each month.
Where to Find Monarch Butterflies in the East Bay
It's that time of year where Western monarchs gather in Northern California. Find out where to find them in the East Bay!
Oakland Parks and Playgrounds
Best free thing to do with kids in Oakland? A playground or park! Stay as long or short as you like.
Profile: Fremont’s Central Park
Fremont's Central Park offers tons of space to run and play, picnic, boat, and exercise, there is a unique playground unlike any I've seen.
