We've got a ton of free and cheap activities for your family this month. Some of the best things in life are FREE, right? Now go do them with your kids in the East Bay already. Put your wallet away. Clicking the red title will take you right to our calendar entry with lots more info.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Friday Family Day at Albany Bowl
Location: Albany Bowl – 540 San Pablo Ave Albany
Come bowl for $1.50 per person, per game. Not limited to only families, open to all bowlers! Special price is for walk-ins only.
Time: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cost: $1.50 per person, per game.
Wee Play (6mo-3yrs)
Location: Alameda Veterans Memorial Building – 2203 Central Avenue Alameda
Come and experience Alameda’s play center for infants and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years! Activities include developmental and exploratory play, music time, and coloring/crafts. Activities are minimally structured which allows children to enjoy and explore on their own terms. Children must be accompanied and supervised, by a parent…
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cost: $6 Drop-in per day per child / $60 Drop-in Card for 12 visits
Sponsor
Winnie-the-Pooh Day Celebration
Location: El Cerrito Library – 6510 Stockton Ave El Cerrito
Celebrate National Winnie-the-Pooh Day one day early with a movie marathon at the library! Drop by to catch one film, or stay all day to hang out with everybody's favorite honey-loving bear. Bring your own teddy bear with you to enjoy the fun! Coloring sheets, and a limited number of books for…
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Make a Peace Flag for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Location: West Oakland Branch | Oakland Public Library – 1801 Adeline St Oakland
Drop-in to the West Branch Library any day during the week of January 13th-18th and make a peace flag in preparation for MLK Day on January 20th. Everyone's flags will be hung at the library.
Time: 12:15 pm - 4:45 pm
Cost: FREE
Sponsor
BAMPFA Drop-in Art Lab
Location: Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) – 2155 Center Street Berkeley
Drop-in and draw! Visiting the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is free for adults and children who come together. Stroll through the museum and then visit the Art Lab to participate in an evolving series of hands-on projects with a focus on drawing, collage, prints, and books.…
Time: 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Cost: FREE for one adult per child 13 & under
Build Fridays @Piedmont Ave Branch
Location: Piedmont Ave. Branch | Oakland Public Library – 80 Echo Avenue Oakland
Design, build and explore every Friday after school. Legos and Duplos every week, plus building surprises... come see what we have this week! Will it be Keva planks, marble run, or something new?
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Family Yoga @Dimond Branch
Location: Dimond Branch | Oakland Public Library – 3565 Fruitvale Ave Oakland
Explore poses that are inspired from nature, animals, and your imagination with yoga instructor Laxman Panthi. Breathing, focus, self-control and awareness techniques are all explored through exercises designed specifically for children ages 3-12 and their parents and caregivers. Please check the library's website for closures.
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cost: FREEE
LEGO in the Library @THP South
Location: Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch | Berkeley Public Library – 1901 Russell Street Berkeley
Build your imagination while creating buildings, vehicles, or worlds of your own design! Third Friday of the month at Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch. Ages 5-18. Brought to you by the Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch teen leadership group. Please check the library's website for closures.
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Saturday, January 18, 2020
FIT4MOM Strides 360 Mommy & Me Workout
Location: Christie Park – 6200 Christie Ave. Emeryville
Strides 360™ promises a heart-pumping workout designed to increase your endurance while also developing speed, agility, and quickness to help you sprint through mom life. Bodyweight conditioning is strategically placed to provide recovery, strength and round out your workout. It's for any mom interested in a workout that can be…
Time: 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Cost: First class is free!
Grand Lake Farmers Market
Location: Grand Lake – Grand Ave and Lake Park Ave Oakland
Head over to Splash Pad Park to pick up fruits and vegetables direct from the farmer and enjoy lunch on the lawn. The Oakland farmers market is open every Saturday, year-round, rain or shine, from 9am to 2pm. The Oakland Grand Lake market features over 40 local farmers, 30 specialty…
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Freighter Tots Preschool Song Circle
Location: Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse – 2020 Addison St. Berkeley
Photo: Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse In this song circle, children will sing, dance to, and act out folk songs about things kids care about: things like animals, nature, vehicles, their bodies, family, friends and being silly. Little children can start to understand tempo and rhythm using toy instruments; parents and…
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Cost: $10 per family
Baby Café Coffee and Playtime @Piedmont Ave Branch
Location: Piedmont Ave. Branch | Oakland Public Library – 80 Echo Avenue Oakland
Bring your baby or toddler to Baby Café for coffee and playtime! Most Saturdays, meet at the library and make new friends. The second Saturday of each month, meet at the Piedmont Gardens retirement community, for music and playtime with seniors in nursing and memory care. Siblings welcome. Check the…
Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Cost: FREE
Family Storytime (3-7yrs) @Central
Location: Central Library | Berkeley Public Library – 2090 Kittredge Berkeley
Join the children's librarians for stories, songs, and other activities! A great way to rediscover favorite titles and meet some of the best new books for early listeners. ages 3-7. 4th floor, Central Children's Room. Check the library's website for any closures.
Time: 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Cost: FREE
Family Storytime @Rockridge Branch
Location: Rockridge Branch | Oakland Public Library – 5366 College Avenue Oakland
Stories, songs, and rhymes for all ages, followed by playtime! Please check the library's website for any closures.
Time: 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Cost: FREE
Family Yoga (2-5yrs) @Main Library
Location: Main Library | Oakland Public Library – 125 14th St Oakland
Join for a series of caregiver and toddler yoga workshops where caregivers will support their children, ages 2-5, in guided song and movement. Children will learn yoga poses through stories and games. Please check the library's website for closures.
Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Cost: FREE
Children's Storytime - Nobody Hugs a Cactus
Location: Barnes & Noble, Bay Street – 5604 Bay Street Emeryville
Join for Children's Storytime at Barnes & Noble. Plus, get a coupon for a grilled cheese sandwich with milk or juice for $4 (Café stores only). Check the website for more details and future events.
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Children's Storytime - Nobody Hugs a Cactus
Location: Barnes & Noble, El Cerrito – 6050 El Cerrito Plaza El Cerrito
Join for Children's Storytime at Barnes & Noble. Plus, get a coupon for a grilled cheese sandwich with milk or juice for $4 (Café stores only). Check the website for more details and future events.
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Family Dance @Dimond Branch
Location: Dimond Branch | Oakland Public Library – 3565 Fruitvale Ave Oakland
Play, connect, & dance together as a family. Led by experienced dance instructor Rossana Alves, this special series of classes will be a joyful space for kids and parents to exercise bodies, activate imaginations, and express yourselves in fun and creative ways.
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Free Crafts for Kids - Fast-Flying Glider
Location: Lakeshore Learning Outlet – 1144 Montague Ave San Leandro
Join every Saturday for FREE crafts for kids. No reservation necessary. To find out what you will be making, check here>
Time: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cost: Free
WCMRS Train Show
Location: Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society – 2751 Buena Vista Avenue Walnut Creek
The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) operates the Diablo Valley Lines (DVL) model railroad, one of the most mountainous and one of the largest exclusively HO scale model railroads in the United States. This model railroad features standard gauge, narrow gauge, and interurban (overhead electric) freight and trolley lines. Note: Accepts cash or…
Time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cost: $3/Adults; $2/Seniors&Children (6 to 12 years); Free children under 6
Make a Peace Flag for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Location: West Oakland Branch | Oakland Public Library – 1801 Adeline St Oakland
Drop-in to the West Branch Library any day during the week of January 13th-18th and make a peace flag in preparation for MLK Day on January 20th. Everyone's flags will be hung at the library.
Time: 12:15 pm - 4:45 pm
Cost: FREE
STEM Maker Series @North Branch
Location: North Branch | Berkeley Public Library – 1170 The Alameda Berkeley
Come one, come all for an afternoon of crafting and STEM learning! Each Maker Series date will feature a different project. Call 510-981-6250 for more information.
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Learn to Rollerblade - Free Trial Class (ages 4-7)
Location: Dry Ice Inline Hockey Rink – 210 Hegenberger Loop Oakland
Children learn to inline skate forward, backward, change direction, cross over and stop. Skaters will play fun activities designed to build confidence, coordination and socialization skills in a safe environment. MUST REQUEST A FREE TRIAL AND RESERVE IN ADVANCE OF CLASS. FREE TRIALS ARE NOT SCHEDULED AFTER THE CLASS IS…
Time: 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Cost: Free Class (45 mins.) for New Players
Big Blue Block Party
Location: Claremont Branch | Berkeley Public Library – 2940 Benvenue Avenue Berkeley
Come and build with Big Blue Blocks at the library. This program is most suitable for children ages 3-8 and a caregiver.
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Family Nature Fun & Fish Feeding - Low Tide Exploration
Location: Crab Cove Visitor Center – 1231 McKay Ave Alameda
The tides roll in and out making each day a chance to discover something new. The shoreline is bursting with bird life and other signs of the season. Come explore the Crab Cove Visitor Center for family friendly nature activities and stay for fish feeding at 3pm. To see what's…
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Cost: Free
Learning about Dr. King’s Legacy: Activities for Children
Location: African American Museum Library At Oakland – 659 14th St. Oakland
Bring the young ones! Enjoy Learning about Dr. King’s Legacy: Activities for Children through a series of 30-minute spirited sessions that reexamine the African American quest for civil rights. The fun-filled sessions include: remembering the quotable MLK through word puzzles, singing songs of the civil rights movement, designing your own…
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Live Painting Sessions with Artist Leon Kennedy
Location: 81st Avenue branch | Oakland Public Library – 1021 81st Ave. Oakland
Leon Kennedy has created art for more than fifty years in various media, including found materials from the streets of Oakland. He has been an artist in residence at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum owns one of his pieces. There will be…
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Drop-In Crafts (5yrs+) @Main Library
Location: Main Library | Alameda Free Library – 1550 Oak St. Alameda
Come to the Main Library and find out what they're up to this month. Will it be a take-home craft? Process craft? Maker craft? You'll have to come and find out for yourself! Perfect for curious, crafty kids, ages 5 and up (five- and six-year-olds may need help from a…
Time: 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Japanese Storytime
Location: Albany Library – 1247 Marin Avenue Albany
Reading of Japanese picture books and singing Japanese songs.
Time: 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Baby Boot Camp
Location: Joaquin Miller Park – 3600 Joaquin Miller Rd. Oakland
Mommy and me programs, led by nationally certified fitness professionals, provide exercise classes, nutrition, and community support for moms. Cardio drills, strength training exercises, and stretching improves overall fitness, and the ab assault at the end of class means you get a total body workout! The classes cater to all…
Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Cost: first class free!
Montclair Village Sunday Farmers' Market
Location: Montclair Village – Mountain and Medau Place Oakland
Started in 2005 this Sunday gathering of fresh, organic produce, coupled with a wonderful selection of prepared foods to go, has become a Montclair tradition for area shoppers. The Market is managed by Urban Village Farmers’ Market Association and features fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood and prepared foods from approximately 40 area farmers…
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
Temescal Farmers Market
Location: North Oakland DMV – 5300 Claremont Ave Oakland
Open year round, rain or shine on Sundays. Perfect Edge Knife Sharpening attends every 4th Sunday/month (exceptions in Nov & Dec holiday months: 3rd Sunday/mo. Pls check their website to confirm).
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Tot Splash Drop-in Swim
Location: Richmond Swim Center – 4300 Cutting Blvd Richmond
Splash pool drop-in for parents or caregivers and their tots who are 5 & under. Parents must remain with child in shallow area. Tue-Fri & Sundays from 9:45 am to 10:45 am. Please check the website for closures.
Time: 9:45 am - 10:45 am
Cost: $2 Resident; $2.50 Non-resident
Farmers Market and Hands-On Crafts at the Kids' Corner
Location: Jack London Square – 70 Washington Street Oakland
The Jack London Square Farmers Market is operated by CUESA at Oakland’s Jack London Square on Sundays (10 am to 3 pm), year round, rain or shine. Founded in 1989, the Jack London Square Farmers Market has deep roots in Oakland, providing a vibrant waterfront marketplace for Bay Area families. Every Sunday…
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Kensington Farmers' Market
Location: Kensington Farmers' Market – 379-389 Colusa Ave Kensington
Kensington Farmers' Market is open for business every Sunday from 10am to 2pm, rain or shine, on Oakview Avenue between Colusa Circle and Santa Fe Avenue in Kensington, California and serving the neighboring communities of Berkeley, Albany and El Cerrito. The market features live music and live produce. A non-profit,…
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Baby & Me Storytime
Location: Barnes & Noble, El Cerrito – 6050 El Cerrito Plaza El Cerrito
Join for a Storytime filled with interactive activities and books for little one's age 0-2 and their caretaker, every Sunday at 11 AM. Plus, get a coupon for a free tall, hot or iced Starbucks coffee (Café stores only). Check the website for details.
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Baby & Me Storytime
Location: Barnes & Noble, Bay Street – 5604 Bay Street Emeryville
Join for a Storytime filled with interactive activities and books for little one's age 0-2 and their caretaker, every Sunday at 11 AM. Plus, get a coupon for a free tall, hot or iced Starbucks coffee (Café stores only). Check the website for details.
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Soul Sanctuary Dance Event
Location: Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center – 1317 San Pablo Avenue Berkeley
Soul Sanctuary Dance is a welcoming and inclusive all-ages community freestyle/ecstatic/shoes optional dance that supports free expression, community, physical and emotional health, and a spirit of generosity. We dance to an irresistible eclectic blend of world music, funk, house, soul, electro swing, positive hip hop, reggae, dance classics, jazz, blues,…
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cost: Free, donations accepted
Storytime and Nature Fun
Location: Crab Cove Visitor Center – 1231 McKay Ave Alameda
Come meet characters like the Lorax, hermit crabs, and Swimmy the Fish through stories. Afterward, meet live animals, make nature crafts, do a scavenger hunt, or watch nature videos! Meet on Sundays. Call for more info: (510) 544-3187
Time: 11:00 am - 11:30 am
Cost: FREE
WCMRS Train Show
Location: Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society – 2751 Buena Vista Avenue Walnut Creek
The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) operates the Diablo Valley Lines (DVL) model railroad, one of the most mountainous and one of the largest exclusively HO scale model railroads in the United States. This model railroad features standard gauge, narrow gauge, and interurban (overhead electric) freight and trolley lines. Note: Accepts cash or…
Time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cost: $3/Adults; $2/Seniors&Children (6 to 12 years); Free children under 6
Chicken of the Sea: A Children's Book Reading
Location: Oakland Asian Cultural Center – 388 9th St (Suite 290) Oakland
Enjoy a live reading by the authors of Chicken of the Sea, a collaborative children’s book from Viet Thanh Nguyen and Thi Bui, and their children Ellison Nguyen and Hien Bui-Stafford. A band of intrepid chickens leave behind the boredom of farm life, joining the crew of the pirate ship…
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Family Nature Fun & Fish Feeding - Low Tide Exploration
Location: Crab Cove Visitor Center – 1231 McKay Ave Alameda
The tides roll in and out making each day a chance to discover something new. The shoreline is bursting with bird life and other signs of the season. Come explore the Crab Cove Visitor Center for family friendly nature activities and stay for fish feeding at 3pm. To see what's…
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Cost: Free
Monday, January 20, 2020
MLK Day of Service - Habitat Restoration and Shoreline Cleanup (2 locations)
Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline – Doolittle Dr. & Swan Way Oakland
The Park District celebrates a Day of Service that continues Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of solidarity, improving lives, bridging social barriers and move our country closer together. People from all walks of life are encouraged to work mutually in bringing a better community. East Bay Regional Park District…
Time: 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE
El Cerrito Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Parade & Rally
Location: El Cerrito City Hall – 10890 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito
The City of El Cerrito, St. Peter Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the El Cerrito Branch NAACP, and the West Contra Costa County Unified School District are proud to sponsor the 31st Annual El Cerrito Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. Join for this historic 31st year celebration as the community…
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE
FIT4MOM Stroller Strides, Mommy & Me Outdoor Fitness
Location: Grove Park – 1730 Oregon St Berkeley
Stroller Strides® is a functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow. Each 60-minute workout is comprised of strength training, cardio and core restoration, all while entertaining the little ones with songs, activities and fun! Each Stroller Strides instructor is skilled to meet you where you are…
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Cost: First class is free!
MLK Day of Service on the Richmond Greenway (RSVP)
Location: Unity Park on the Richmond Greenway – 16th and Ohio Ave Richmond
Join on the Richmond Greenway, and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service with friends, family, and neighbors. Be a part of this annual festive and inspirational event. From 9 am – 12 pm, volunteer projects will be held at sites near Unity Park on the Richmond Greenway (at…
Time: 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Location: Senior Community Center – 13909 E. 14th St San Leandro
The City of San Leandro invites the community to attend a celebration honoring a great American leader. San Leandro students (grades 3-12) will perform an original or well-known essay, speech, or poem honoring MLK, Jr. and celebrating his message of peace, tolerance, and social justice. This event includes: Oratorical Festival…
Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Cost: FREE
Park Core - Kid Friendly Pelvic Floor Core Workout in the Park
Location: Grove Park – 1730 Oregon St Berkeley
Park Core is a pilates based, 30 minute, mat class open to mamas looking to regain core strength. Moms will learn tools to regain proper lumbopelvic stabilization, spine articulation, and lower extremity flexibility with modifications to assist limitations in pelvic floor and abdominal separation (DRA). Taught by Romy Havard, MS,…
Time: 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Cost: first class is free!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Films and Discussions
Location: African American Museum Library At Oakland – 659 14th St. Oakland
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a day-long session of documentary films that capture the life, times, and struggles of the ordained minister, orator, iconic civil rights leader, Nobel Laureate for Peace, and antiwar activist who helped shape freedom in America today. A brief question and answer period follows…
Time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Baby Boot Camp
Location: Lake Temescal, North Entrance – 6500 Broadway Oakland
Mommy and me programs, led by nationally certified fitness professionals, provide exercise classes, nutrition, and community support for moms. Cardio drills, strength training exercises, and stretching improves overall fitness, and the ab assault at the end of class means you get a total body workout! The classes cater to all…
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Cost: First Class is Free
These and other amazing family-friendly activities are kept on our calendar. Find more over there >
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