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, May 9, 2025
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Story Time @ Crab Cove @ Crab Cove Visitor Center12:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Visit with Wildlife @ Sulphur Creek Nature Center
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: MOCHA Art Workshop @ West Oakland Branch | Oakland Public Library
Saturday, May 10, 2025
9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Children & Nature Pop-up @ Emeryville Marina10:00 am – 5:00 pm: $5 Admission Day @ Lawrence Hall of Science
10:00 am – 10:30 am: Chinese American Storytime @ Hercules Library
10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Plant & Paint @ Outdoor Supply Hardware, Berkeley
10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Taiwanese American Cultural Festival @ Union Square
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Rockridge Family Storytime @ Rockridge Branch | Oakland Public Library
11:00 am – 2:00 pm: AAPI Heritage & Mother's Day Craft @ Hayward Area Historical Society
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
Bay Area Fruit Picking Guide
Fruit picking is a year-round activity in California. Here's your guide to the what/where/when/how of Bay Area farms and orchards.
Larkey Spray Ground in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek's Larkey Spray Ground is the perfect place to spend a sunny day in the Bay with kids 5 and under.
Open Memorial Day 2025: Meadow Home Spray Park in Concord
If you are in Concord, CA looking for a refreshing stop for little ones, the Meadow Homes Spray Park is free and open for the ...
A Daycation at Don Castro Swimming Lagoon in Hayward
The clear blue water, sandy toddler-friendly beach and shallows, and affordable price all make for the perfect East Bay daycation with your family.
Opening Memorial Day 2025: Spray Ground at Cannery Park in Hayward
The water feature at Cannery Park in Hayward is the big draw on hot days, operating specific days from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Opening: Swimming at Cull Canyon in Castro Valley
A swimmable lake within a stones throw from Oakland, perfect for little kids.
Lake Anza is Best for a Hot Day (Open for 2025)
Berkeley in summer is unpredictable weather-wise. For the hot days, I recommend packing up the requisite beach gear and heading for Lake Anza.
When are Lake Temescal and Lake Anza Open for Swimming?
As of Summer 2023, Lake Temescal in Oakland is closed for swimming and Lake Anza is open. Be sure to check water quality before you ...
Open for Swimming & Recreation: Lake Temescal in Oakland
Lake Temescal is a beautiful (almost hidden) gem nestled next to the Highway 24/13 interchange, near Montclair, in Oakland.
6 Tot-Friendly Splash Parks in the East Bay
We've rounded up our favorite splash pads in the East Bay - perfect for pre-swimmers and toddlers to get cool in the summer heat.
