Let’s give a cheer for September! We’re heading into the season of apples, harvest festivals, community events, and outdoor fun. Here’s a breakdown of amazing activities in the Bay Area for the kids in our lives.
Special thanks to this month’s sponsor: BroadwaySF. We’re big fans of their family-friendly productions. Don’t miss out on the upcoming shows this fall. CAT KID COMIC CLUB: THE MUSICAL, DISNEY JR. LIVE ON TOUR, and PETER PAN are sure to entertain kids of all ages.
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- Aug. 31 – Sep. 1: 158th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games
- Sep. 7: Fall on Solano & Kidical Mass Bike Ride
- Sep. 7-8: Castro Valley Fall Festival & Children’s Fairyland Pride Weekend
- Sep. 8: Solano Stroll &Â Oakland Pride Fest and Parade
- Sep. 14: Splatter Multicultural Festival & Alameda Fun Ride
- Sep. 14-15: CAT KID MUSICAL &Â Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival & Parade
- Sep. 19: Big Truck Day in Antioch
- Sep. 21:Â DISNEY JR. LIVE ON TOUR &Â Fairyland Children’s Book Festival
- Sep. 21-22: Muni Heritage Weekend 2024
- Sep. 22: Piedmont Annual Harvest Festival
- Sep. 28: Free National Park Entry Day & Moraga Pear & Wine Festival
- Check our kid-friendly events calendar for something special every day >
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
Kids and adults alike will enjoy CAT KID COMIC CLUB: THE MUSICAL, a hilarious musical adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man spin-off series playing September 14-15 at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. Join Mickey at the clubhouse for the biggest playdate ever with DISNEY JR. LIVE ON TOUR on September 21 at the Golden Gate Theatre. 510Families readers save 10-25% with our exclusive links.
Find lots more upcoming ticketed performances and events >
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month beginning September 15 through October 15. There are multiple ways to celebrate the diverse Latinx communities and cultures throughout the East Bay and beyond. Look for drop-in crafting at local libraries, bilingual music and dance events, and large-scale gatherings. Find more opportunities to mark the vibrant histories, cultures, and contributions of Latinx individuals in our Hispanic Heritage Month Guide >
Apple Season is Here
If your family is all about apples, September is a prime month to go apple picking. It’s a favorite fall activity for many kids and parents alike, and with good reason: Apples are delicious and picking the fruit is quite enjoyable. Don’t miss the Garin Apple Festival in Hayward on September 7. Or take a road trip to Apple Hill for Kids Weekend and Johnny Appleseed Day at Delfino Farms on September 21. If you’d rather go at your own pace, we rounded up a slew of apple orchards in the Bay Area that should have picking available in early September. Remember to always confirm hours with the orchard or farm by phone or social media in advance.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Marvel at the Harvest Moon this September during the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. Enjoy this cultural holiday with your family by sampling mooncakes of all styles and flavors, and creating colorful paper lanterns. The Bay Area hosts a variety of kid friendly events including the Little Saigon Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncake tastings, and drop-in crafts at local libraries.
Watching Cal Sporting Events with Kids
Wear your gold and blue to a Cal sporting event. These games and matches make for exciting and manageable outings for sport-loving families. Tickets are affordable, or even free. Take advantage of living near a college town and cheer for the Golden Bears at an upcoming athletic event; read all about tips for attending Cal sports with kids >
What’s Open On Labor Day?
Looking to fill your day with activities on Labor Day? Here are a few outings that will keep kids busy while they are off of school or if you’re looking to scratch a few last-minute items off your summer bucket list:
- Free: Crab Cove Open House
- Free: Tilden Little Farm
- $: Ardenwood Historic Farm
- $$: Children’s Fairyland in Oakland
- $$: Dublin Wave Waterpark
- $$$: Oakland Zoo
- $$$: World’s Largest Dinosaurs exhibit at Cal Academy of Sciences
Pro Tip: Labor Day weekend is often the closing time frame for many outdoor splash pads and swimming holes. Plan ahead to get some water fun in before these spaces close for the season.
Favorite Free & Cheap Happenings
Need some planning inspiration? We’ve got you covered! We gathered up our favorite free and inexpensive activities in the East Bay to serve as a go-to itinerary when you’re in a pinch. Find more free & cheap events this month >
- Mondays – Preschool Storytime
- Tuesdays – $5 Tuesdays at the movies
- Wednesdays – Visit Tilden Botanical Garden
- Thursdays – Toddler Thursday at Salesforce Park
- Fridays – Alameda Wee Play
- Saturdays – Richmond Plunge Tot Swim
- Sundays – Ride the Tilden Steam Trains
Plus, plan an outing to one of the world-class museums in the Bay Area; take advantage of free admission on certain days. Learn more about ways to get into museums for free >
- Sep. 1: Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- Sep. 3: Conservatory of Flowers & de Young Museum (also free every Saturday)
- Sep. 4: Bay Area Discovery Museum & GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
- Sep. 5: BAMPFA in Berkeley & SFMOMA
- Sep. 6: Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco
- Sep. 7-8: Bank of America Free Museum Days
- Sep. 8: SFMOMA Free Family Day in San Francisco
- Sep. 10: San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Sep. 14: Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco
Thanks again to our sponsor BroadwaySF. Learn more about their upcoming shows and purchase tickets to one of their many family-friendly performances such as CAT KID COMIC CLUB: THE MUSICAL, DISNEY JR. LIVE ON TOUR, and PETER PAN.
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Find more activities on our East Bay Families Events Calendar every day of the month.Â
