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, June 25, 2026
9:00 am – 7:00 pm: Splash Park @ El Cerrito Swim Center9:00 am – 11:00 am: Tiny Tides @ The Wave at Emerald Glen Park
10:00 am – 11:30 am: Play Cafe @ 81st Avenue Branch | Oakland Public Library
10:15 am – 10:45 am: Storytime @ El Cerrito Library
10:30 am – 11:30 am: Summer Tinker Tots @ Main Branch | San Leandro Public Library
11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Exploration Station @ San Pablo Public Library
11:00 am – 11:45 am: Insect Discovery Lab @ Melrose Branch | Oakland Public Library
11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Story Stroll @ Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Read to a Dog @ Rockridge Branch | Oakland Public Library
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Stories that Dance: Laya Arts Collective @ Hercules Library
Free & Cheap Resources for Families
Good Free Fun: The East Bay Vivarium
East Bay Vivarium has it all: Cute turtles swimming in tanks, giant tortoises munching on lettuce, tiny lizards, boas, enormous pythons, and more.
Golden Gate Park, Koret Children’s Playground and Carousel
Koret Playground at Golden Gate Park has a mix of nostalgic features I loved as a child (cement slide, carousel) plus newer playground structures.
It’s Free! Indian Rock Park
Wear athletic shoes because Berkeley's Indian Rock will make you want to scale it and start snapping pictures immediately, and you don't want to fall!
How to Get in FREE to Dozens of Bay Area Museums, Science Centers, + Gardens
Many of the Bay Area's very best museums are free at least one day each month. If you arrive early, you can visit world-class museums ...
Cool Off at Castro Valley Park Splash Pad
During the summertime, a water feature at Castro Valley Community Park turns into a splash pad on Wednesdays & weekends.
Swimming at Cull Canyon in Castro Valley
A swimmable lake within a stones throw from Oakland, perfect for little kids.
The Gardens at Lake Merritt
As we strolled The Gardens at Lake Merritt, near Children's Fairyland, my husband and I agreed that botanical gardens are usually a big win with ...
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.
Crown Beach in Alameda Is Perfect For Kids
The water of Crown Memorial Beach in Alameda is shallow for hundreds of feet into the Bay. This results in a huge wave-free baby pool, ...
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.
