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
Saturday, August 15, 2026
9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Farmers' Market Watermelon Festival @ Shadelands Art Center9:30 am – 11:30 am: Touch-a-Truck @ San Lorenzo Community Park
10:00 am – 10:30 am: Goose Caboose @ Tilden Little Farm
10:00 am – 5:30 pm: Richmond Plunge 100th Anniversary Celebration @ Richmond Plunge
10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Cereal Cinema @ The New Parkway Theater
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Family Story Time @ Central Library | Berkeley Public Library
10:30 am – 2:30 pm: National Honey Bee Day @ Del Valle Regional Park
11:00 am – 3:00 pm: Day at the Bay @ Emeryville Marina
11:00 am – 2:30 pm: Family Fun Saturday – Explore the Shoreline @ Hayward Area Historical Society
11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Kids Yoga @ West Branch | Berkeley Public Library
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
Simple, Creative Halloween Costumes
Super simple but creative Halloween costumes for kids or clever parents with easy DIY instructions.
DIY Outdoor School: Redwood Regional + Botany Exploration
We took this Montessori-inspired leaf classification activity out to the local trails to extend the learning and heighten our environmental awareness.
Delicious Strawberry U-Pick at Blue House Farm
Enjoy the fresh coastal air while picking delicious organic strawberries with your children, it is a practically perfect, stress-free outing near Half Moon Bay
Photo Scavenger Hunt for Families: Take a Shape Walk
My son and I like to walk around the neighborhood. We decided to make our walks more interesting by turning our walks into scavenger hunts ...
10 Soothing Sensory Activities for Preschoolers Worth the Mess
Easy sensory projects to do with basic household objects that will delight your little one. Almost definitely worth the mess & clean up!
Archery in Oakland at Redwood Bowmen
Bring your own bow and arrows to this archery range among the redwoods. Officially for archers 10 and up.
Join Us Wednesdays at Noon: Berkeley Music Circus
Grab an instrument -or just your voice- for a Wednesday at noon city sing-along. We'd love to see everyone sing and play along!
The Latest In Stay-Home Entertainment: Create an I Spy Game In Your Front Yard
A front yard scavenger hunt is easy to make, uses items you probably have around the house, and can even be made educational if your ...
How I Set Up a Quarantine Book and Toy Swap
My four kids are burning through every book, toy, puzzle and snack in the house. Here's what I did to refresh our toys and games ...
5 Tips to Get Your Teenager to Play Outside
As my kids get older, it is harder to take them outside into nature. Here are five strategies I’ve used to get my kids to ...
