Our Passover Guide for East Bay kids and families is sponsored by Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund. This year, Passover begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 5, and lasts until sundown on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
Passover is a spring festival commemorating the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt, using many symbols and rituals. The story of Passover is a collective remembrance of the Jewish people, passed down for generations.
During the Passover seder, we recount the miracle of freedom. PJ Library has you covered with all the Passover resources families need in the Passover Hub including a simple step-by-step video playlist for the Passover seder. Follow along with a downloadable PJ Library Family Haggadah, the book that recounts the Passover story, and you are set. Look for a 15-minute seder for the youngest kids at your Passover table. The Haggadah is available for free download in several languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Calendar of Kid-Friendly East Bay Passover Events
More kid-friendly community celebrations and events will be added as they are announced so keep checking back here!
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Passover Pajama Party with PJ Library
Location: Congregation Beth Emek – 3400 Nevada Court Pleasanton
Please join us for a Passover Pajama Party with PJ Library! Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families will gather for Passover themed crafts, as well as entertainment by Tkiya Music.…
Time: 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Cost: FREE; RSVP requested
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Passover Fun in the Park for Young Children
Location: Virginia-McGee Totland Playground – 1644 Virginia St Berkeley
Passover Fun in the Park for Young Children with Jewish Gateways and PJ Library Bay Area Connect, play, relax, and get ready for Passover at a casual hangout in the…
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Cost: Free; Please register
Pesach StoryBook Trail
Location: James R. Meyer Memorial Park – 38220 Glenmoor Drive Fremont
Follow the trail to read a beautifully illustrated Passover Story and collect treats and surprises along the way. The trail ends with a beautiful Art Project for your Seder Table.…
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Cost: FREE; RSVP requested
Saturday, April 15, 2023
ShaJam & PJ Playdate: Passover Palooza
Location: Hap Magee Ranch Park – 1025 La Gonda Way Danville
Join PJ Library and Tkiya on the 3rd Saturday of each month in Hap McGee Park! Come meet families in your neighborhood and join us for some singing, movement, stories,…
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Cost: Free; Please register in advance
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Post-Passover Playdate
Location: Lake Temescal, South Entrance – 6502 Broadway Terrace Oakland
Keep the Passover fun going with schmoozing, music, crafts, snacks, stories and more! Join Jewish Baby Network with its partner PJ Library Bay Area for a morning of fun. This event…
Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: Free; $10 suggested donation; Please register in advance
More Family-friendly Passover Events
March 25, Art Workshop for Kids, Alameda. Kids age 7 to 12 can join a special workshop to learn how to make a Matzah Plate. Participants will glaze and fire it in time to use at your Seder! Register >
April 5 & 6, Community Passover Seder, El Cerrito. Join meaningful, engaging and interactive Seders, complete with a delicious gourmet dinner, Matzah and wine. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Free, but RSVP is required. Register >
April 5 & 6, Passover Seder, Berkeley. Enjoy gourmet Passover cuisine in a warm and inviting atmosphere. $36 per adult; children under 12 are free. Register >
Read Passover books together at home
PJ Library and PJ Our Way have a large collection of Passover books for preschoolers and elementary-aged children. You can read the Passover Story in 10 scenes together as a family.
More Passover crafts and activities
Create: You can make simple Passover crafts from materials found at home such 10 plagues finger puppets (with beautiful printables from the artist, Brenda Ponnay, pictured above).
Play: People from ages 9 to 99 can play Escape the Plagues. This family-friendly game includes 5 scenes of script-style dialogue, family-friendly puzzles, and thoughtful discussion questions about climate justice and Jewish anti-racism among many other engaging topics. Print at home for $15.
Sing: Shaboom has a wonderful selection of Passover songs. Some of our favorites are Bang Your Hammers, Frogs Here, Frogs There, and Chad Gadya.
Watch: There are many online videos that teach children about Passover. We love these Shaboom renditions of the Four Questions.
Cook: Many Passover-friendly recipes beyond eating Matzah. Here are some flavorful meals you can make together with children of all ages.
Paint: Color Me Mine Alameda has some beautiful seder plates you can paint together. Here’s an adorable kids’ make-your-own Afikoman Bag for young ones to paint and decorate ($20).
If you aren’t already enrolled in PJ Library, sign up to get more Jewish holiday and parenting resources as well as free children’s books mailed to your home.
Chag Pesach Sameach! Wishing you and your family a meaningful Passover.
Shop local!
Afikomen on Claremont Ave. is a terrific local store in the Elmwood district with everything you need to celebrate at home — we are lucky to have it in our neighborhood. This Judaica shop offers wonderful customer service and so many great Passover products for your family. They have seder plates, Passover books, ritual items, Kosher food products including matzah, and special treats. And don’t forget the prize for finding the Afikomen!
Order in for your seder
If you can’t or don’t want to cook at home, there are delicious options for delivery or takeout seder meals in the Bay Area! A few of our favorite places to order delicious Passover meals are Saul’s Berkeley, Wise Sons Jewish Deli, Italian Colors Restaurant, and Market Hall Foods. Choose one, and you can’t go wrong.
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PJ Library provides free, developmentally appropriate, Jewish books to children from birth through eight years old. For more information or to sign up please click here.
PJ Our Way provides the gift of exceptional books with Jewish themes — that they choose themselves — to kids 9-12. Check it out.
Follow along and be part of the conversation on social media on either Instagram and Facebook or both @pjlibrarybayarea.
Thanks again to PJ Library Bay Area. for supporting 510 Families. Images used with permission.
