Children’s Fairyland in Oakland: Rides and More - 510 Families
KSS ad

Children’s Fairyland in Oakland: Rides and More

Oakland’s beloved Children’s Fairyland is a must-see for East Bay kids. Expect a mini-size fantasy world straight out of 1950 with fairytale sets, farm animals, and quirky exhibits from a bygone era. Located on the shore of Lake Merritt, this storybook-themed park is best for children under age 8.

woman in a shoe wears a mask
There was a MASKED old woman who lived in a shoe welcoming children | Photo provided by Fairyland

A snack bar near the famous Jolly Trolly serves contemporary kid-friendly food (think chicken quesadillas and sunbutter sandwiches) and a latte shack near the entrance. For great food, the Oakland Whole Foods is less than a half mile away, and I often plan my Fairyland visits to include a grocery stop.

The park is quite large for a small person. It is situated on about 10 acres with about 40-50 nursery rhyme-inspired buildings and playsets to explore and climb on.

Map of Children's Fairyland in Oakland

Download your own pdf Fairyland map to have on your phone during your visit in case you get as easily lost as I do.

All Fairyland attractions are included with the price of admission. Rides are for children ages 3 to 8. Puppet shows, a petting zoo, and the Jolly Trolly train are accessible to younger toddlers. The dragon slide is only for kids over age four.

Though toddlers and young preschoolers love Fairyland, I would not recommend being a sole guardian to more than one little kid. The many open paths, blind spots, and water hazards stress me out too much when two children go in opposite directions. Instead, bring enough adults so that you can all have fun.

Take the exciting Alice in Wonderland playing-card maze for example: Milo, age 3, can exit from the front or back; he can also get lost inside and sit down to cry. Where is his 5-year-old brother when all this is happening? That’s right… I lost him!

Visiting Fairyland in Oakland

Admission costs $16 per person (babies under 1 are free) and memberships start at $139. Puppet shows, live performances, and rides are all included. During the winter, the park is open only Friday-Sunday. Summer hours are daily. See the schedule on the Fairyland website >

Bonuses for magic key-holders

When you purchase a magic key(s), you can use it immediately and for future visits. There are music boxes around the park that play an audio story or song when you “unlock” them.

fairyland ride
Insert a magic key to hear about Anansi’s Magic Web | Photo: Fairyland
Unlocking the story music boxes was a highlight for my two-year-old. | Photo: Julia Gidwani

Say hello to the Fairyland farm animals and swing by the gift shop if you need a new key, souvenir, or even a toy.

The Fairyland goats are so adorable. | Photo: Julia Gidwani

Fairyland has also been very busy painting in recent years and the entire property has a fresh coat of brightly colored paint.

Plenty of space to spread out near the garden inside Fairyland. | Photo: Julia Gidwani

There are also some touchless faucets and hand-sanitizing stations throughout the park.

Tip: Start your visit at Old Town and head against the flow of traffic. | Photo: Julia Gidwani

Plan your visit to Fairyland:

Hours & Days:

  • 9 am to 4 pm
  • Open days change based on season. Check website for schedule.

Prices: Guests from age 1 to 100 are $15

Parking costs between $2 and $10 depending on when you come and how long you stay. Or try your luck at the meters outside the parking lot.

For safety reasons, Fairyland admits adults only when they’re accompanied by children and children only when they’re accompanied by adults.

Helpful links:
Purchase tickets >
Website >
Address: 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland (there is paid parking on-site)
Phone: (510) 452-2259

Children's Fairyland sign
Children’s Fairyland sign with Zayn for scale | Photo: Anna Azimi

 

Fairyland's Jolly Trolly
Fairyland’s Jolly Trolly train

Related:

[All photos 510families, all rights reserved]

Get the {510} Families weekend planner in your inbox. It's free!

* indicates required

2 thoughts on “Children’s Fairyland in Oakland: Rides and More”

  1. Great post 🙂 We usually pack our own lunch and love having a picnic in the Big Apple in the eating area or Los Cantaros, my fave taqueria, is across the street. We sometimes bring that in. We hit the train either early or late, it seems to get really crowded around lunch. We usually bring old bread too to feed the geese before we head home (by our parked car). And I have been known to bring 3 kids here alone. Luckily they all came home with me! Kids under voice control are key in this situation. Love Fairyland!

  2. I just went with my 4 & 6 year olds – a totally different experience than when they were 2 & 4 or 3 & 5. Much more pleasant, doable in a morning, and restful for the parent!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

We've got your instructions for family fun right here!
Sign up today and get a list of kid-friendly activities for East Bay parents every Friday.
Stay Updated
You can unsubscribe anytime.
close-link
logo
Scroll to Top