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
Thursday, September 18, 2025
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Big Truck Day @ Antioch Community Center6:00 pm – 10:30 pm: Free Drive-In Movies @ West Wind Solano Drive-In
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Kindness Festival with Concerts in the Park @ Orinda Community Park
Friday, September 19, 2025
8:00 am – 4:30 pm: Explore Blake Garden @ Blake Garden9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Pop-N-Play @ Ruby’s Tumbling
9:00 am – 5:00 pm: Talk like a Pirate Day @ El Cerrito Library
9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Tot Splash (Ages 7 and Under) @ Richmond Plunge
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Bilingual Baby Bounce @ West Branch | Berkeley Public Library
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Story Time @ Crab Cove @ Crab Cove Visitor Center
11:30 am – 1:00 pm: Drop-In Tot Public Swim @ Hayward Plunge
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
Family Summer Movies Deals
The Century 14 Walnut Creek will show eight kid-friendly movies for the summer with a deal on admission and snacks.
Free Storytimes Around the East Bay
A round-up of kid-friendly storytimes in the next 30 days including libraries, bookstores, and other fun places. Let someone else read your baby a book.
Cheap Summer Movies in Alameda
For $10 per person, you can go to every movie in the Kids Movie Series this summer hosted by The Alameda Theatre & Cineplex on ...
Event Alert: Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire
July 26-27, you'll want to be in Downtown Alameda for the Annual Art & Wine Faire. Attending is free, but attractions have a fee.
Summer Fairs and Festivals for Bay Area Families
Here is a list of outdoor street fairs, carnivals, county fairs, and festivals to pencil into your Summer plans from May to August.
Swings on Bridgeview Trail are Delightfully Dangerous
The handbuilt swings hidden among the majestic redwoods and dripping vines make this small hike much more exciting for children.
Roberts Regional Recreation Area: An Oakland Park with a Swimming Pool
Roberts Park AKA Roberts Regional Recreation Area is tucked away in the Oakland Hills with a huge playground, a calm pool, plus hiking trails and ...
Open for Danger: Adventure Playground Berkeley
Adventure Playground Berkeley lets kids imagine, build, and decorate their own play structures with saws, hammers, nails, and paint.
44 Best Activities for Teens in the East Bay & Beyond
What to do with East Bay teens? Our teenagers' Bay Area favorites include museum deals, hiking, beach day, little farm, & fire pits at ocean ...
Splashing & Swimming at the San Leandro Family Aquatic Center
The San Leandro Family Aquatic Center is a summertime gem with splash pool, water play structure, swimming pool, spray park, and waterslide.
