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.
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- Sep. 1: Fairyland’s 75th Birthday Party
- Sep. 2: Hikes for Tykes
- Sep: 3: Free Admission to Bay Area Discovery Museum
- Sep. 5: First Nights at OMCA with Alphabet Rockers
- Sep. 6: Cal Football Season Home Opener
- Sep. 6-7: Castro Valley Fall Festival & Children’s Fairyland Pride Weekend
- Sep. 7: Oakland Pride Fest and Parade & Open Cockpit Day
- Sep. 13: Splatter Multicultural Festival
- Sep. 14: Solano Stroll & Claude’s Hatchday Party
- Sep. 18: Big Truck Day in Antioch & Free Movies at the Drive-In
- Sep. 20: Fairyland Children’s Book Festival
- Sep. 20-21: Muni Heritage Weekend
- Sep. 21: Piedmont Annual Harvest Festival
- Sep. 26-28: Maker Faire Bay Area at Mare Island
- Sep. 27: Free National Park Entry Day & Alameda Fun Ride
- Sep. 27-28: Autumn Moon Festival
- Sep. 28: Community Music Day
Check our kid-friendly events calendar for something special every day >
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
Kids and adults alike will enjoy Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga Concert Experience with the highlights of beloved films on the big screen at Davies Symphony Hall with the SF Symphony performing the score live.
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 games and 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 20. 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 special storytimes 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
- $: Ardenwood Historic Farm
- $$: Children’s Fairyland 75th Birthday Party
- $$: Dublin Wave Waterpark
- $$$: Oakland Zoo
- $$$: Claude’s Hatchday Celebration 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 – Pop-N-Play at Ruby’s Tumbling
- 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. 2: Conservatory of Flowers & de Young Museum (also free every Saturday)
- Sep. 3: Bay Area Discovery Museum & GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
- Sep. 4: BAMPFA in Berkeley, Museum of Craft and Design, & SFMOMA
- Sep. 6-7: Bank of America Free Museum Days
- Sep. 7: Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- Sep. 9: San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Sep. 14: SFMOMA Free Family Day in San Francisco
s p o n s o r 
Find more activities on our East Bay Families Events Calendar every day of the month.Â
