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, Xtracycle, a local cargo bike brand that’s celebrating 25 years of helping families ride together. Their lineup of electric family-cargo bikes make it easy to go car-free and spend more time outside, without compromising on safety or budget.Â
📅 Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- September 1: Friday Nights at OMCA honoring the legacy of Rosie the Riveter
- September 2: Crab Cove Fish Festival & Statewide Free Fishing Day
- September 2-3: 157th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games
- September 2-4: Ardenwood Historic Farm Rail Fest (Pro Tip: Book tickets in advance)
- September 6: Wild Animal Ambassadors Presentation
- September 9: Splatter Multicultural Festival & Rockridge Rock-N-Stroll
- September 9-10: Castro Valley Fall Festival &Â Oakland Pride Fest and Parade
- September 10: Xtracycle Family Bike Day & 25th Anniversary Celebration & Solano Stroll
- September 16: Xtracycle Riding with Kids & Ask-a-Mechanic Happy Hour
- September 17: Oakland Art & Soul FestivalÂ
- September 19: Hikes for Tykes
- September 21: Big Truck Day
- September 23: Xtracycle September Cargo Bike Party Rally & Ride & Free National Park Entry Day
- September 23-24: Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival and Parade
- September 24: Piedmont 25th Annual Harvest Festival & PedalFest on Mare Island
- September 30: Moraga Pear & Wine Festival & Oaktoberfest
- Check our kid-friendly events calendar for something special every day >
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 mark the vibrant histories, cultures, and contributions of Latinx individuals in our Hispanic Heritage Month Guide >
High Holidays For Families
Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of Friday, September 15, and ends on the evening of Sunday, September 17. Yom Kippur begins Sunday, September 24, and ends Monday, September 25. Celebrate the high holidays at local family-friendly events throughout the East Bay. Keep in mind that many activities require a ticket or RSVP; reserve your family’s space in advance. See our High Holidays Guide for programming and resources >
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
See a hilarious take on beloved characters in Dog Man: The Musical, or head to Walnut Creek to watch The Three Feathers, a musical opera based on the Grimm’s fairy tale. Find more upcoming ticketed performances and events >
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 9. Or take a road trip to Apple Hill for Kids Weekend and Johnny Appleseed Day at Delfino Farms on September 16. 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.
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 free 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 (September 2-3) 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 – Join Family Storytime in Hayward
- Tuesdays – Sing at Baby Bounce in Oakland
- Wednesdays – Visit Tilden Botanical Garden
- Thursdays – Take a sweet walk past Fairy Houses of Point Richmond
- Fridays – See animals at Sulphur Creek Nature Center
- Saturdays – Get a free rental of an Xtracycle in September with code 510RENTAL. Learn more about riding a Cargo eBike >
- 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 >
- September 1: Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco
- September 2-3: Bank of America Free Museum Days
- September 3: Family Fun Day at Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- September 5 & 16-17, plus every Saturday: de Young Museum in San Francisco
- September 5: Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
- September 6: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
- September 7: BAMPFA in Berkeley & SFMOMA
- September 9: Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco
- September 10: SFMOMA Free Family Day in San Francisco
- September 12: San Francisco Botanical Garden
Thanks again to our sponsor Xtracycle. Join Xtracycle’s Family Bike Day & 25th Anniversary Celebration at their Flagship Store in Mill Valley on September 10. There will be Learn-to-Ride clinics for kids, group rides, games, bounce house, free ice cream, and bike giveaways. And don’t pass up Xtracycle’s Back-to-School Sale (ends Labor Day Weekend). Families can save $1000 off a new cargo bike. Read our recent test ride review here >
s p o n s o r 
Find more activities on our East Bay Families Events Calendar every day of the month.Â
