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
How to Enjoy a Campfire Without Camping
Experience a glowing campfire without the hassle of camping at EBPRD's summertime campfire programs
Get Outside at Hidden Villa Farm in Los Altos Hills
About an hour from Oakland, get your family's quarantine wiggles out at Hidden Villa with friendly farm animals and lots of room to run in ...
Berkeley Park Profile: Cedar-Rose Park
Cedar-Rose Park in North Berkeley has a little fenced-in tot lot, wide open field, and big kid playground making it a great option for mixed ...
Black History Month for Kids and Families in the Bay Area
Celebrate with storytimes, dance performances, and a parade! We'll be adding new kid-friendly Black History Month activities all month.
12 Places to Go Plane-Spotting in the Bay Area
We rounded up the best destinations for plane-loving kids to view airplanes.
20+ Valentine’s Day Outings for East Bay Families
Love is love. Valentine's Day activities for families in the East Bay. We are excited to share this round-up of love- and heart-themed activities
Orinda: A Single BART Stop Past Rockridge
Start your morning at Orinda Village for a cafe, park, library, bookstore, and even a pizza joint if you make it until lunchtime. Here's a ...
What Are The Closest Snow Play Trips for Bay Area Families?
Where to take Bay Area kids to play in the snow? Skip the lifts. Here are five options for kid-friendly snow play with snowshoes or ...
Kensington Gem: Blake Garden
Blake Garden garden is a teaching and research lab for Cal but it is open to the public on weekdays. Expect interesting paths with beautiful ...
Parents’ Guide to Solano Avenue
The one-mile stretch of Solano Avenue, running through Berkeley and Albany features over 200 businesses ranging from ballet to boba.
