30 Things to Do With East Bay Kids in September

Hooray, it is September! We’re heading into the season of apples, harvest festivals, community events, and outdoor fun. Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of amazing East Bay activities for the kids in our lives.

Special thanks to this month’s sponsor Save The Bay, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the San Francisco Bay. Bay Day is a month-long region-wide event beginning September 2—it’s free, family fun!

Plan ahead for these activities

• Buy tickets to performances that bring children’s favorite books and movies to life!
• Enjoy 50% off BART rides throughout the month when you use a Clipper Card.
• Sign up for the Bay Activity Challenge. Whether it’s kite flying, bird-watching, or picnicking, there are so many ways to experience the Bay.

Week of Thursday, September 1

9/1: 🆓 Jam with the Berkeley Library’s Story Time Band at musical storytime.
9/2: 🆓 Bay Day officially begins! Register to participate in the Bay Day Challenge as a family.
9/3: Bring the family to the Scottish Games. Cheer for the Golden Bears football team.
9/4: Go crazy for trains at Ardenwood’s Rail Fest. It’s Oakland Pride Parade and Festival.

Week of Monday, September 5

9/5: 🆓 Ride a bike along a Bay-front trail at Brickyard Cove at McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.
9/6: 🆓 Try out a new sport in a supportive, fun environment.
9/7: 🆓 Meet animal ambassadors from 5 continents during an entertaining wildlife show.
9/8: 🆓 Little ones will love the music, finger play, and book-centered fun at storytime in El Cerrito.
9/9: Visit OMCA—pretend in the nature playspace or be inspired by the Hella Feminist exhibit.
9/10: 🆓 Eat, dance, and play your way through Splatter, a multicultural community festival.
9/11: 🆓 Enjoy a mile worth of free entertainment for families at Solano Avenue Stroll.

Week of Monday, September 12

9/12: Introduce your child to tree pose and downward dog at Preschool Yoga.
9/13: 🆓 Walk through a garden wonderland; admission is free to the SF Botanical Garden.
9/14: 🆓 Play at Tassajara Playground—it’s like a real-life version of Chutes and Ladders.
9/15: 🆓 Kick off Latinx Heritage Month by playing a game of lotería for families.
9/16: See the rescued tigers, Mia and Lola, that now call the Oakland Zoo home.
9/17: 🆓 Take care of the Bay and coasts; volunteer at a Community Coastal Cleanup.
9/18: 🆓 Go to Piedmont Harvest Fest for old-fashioned fun!

Week of Monday, September 19

9/19: 🆓 Search for tiny fairy doors on Alameda’s Bay Farm Island, hidden along the Bay Trail.
9/20: Register for a morning about creepy crawlers at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.
9/21: 🆓 Surprise your plane-loving kiddo with a visit to a prime airplane-spotting destination.
9/22: Cross the bridge to explore one of these SF playgrounds that are worth the trip.
9/23: Reserve a slot to go apple picking at a local orchard. Be awed by the Oakland A’s post-game fireworks show.
9/24: 🆓 Sip on wine while kids jump in the bounce house at Moraga Pear and Wine Festival.
9/25: 🆓 Ring in the new year at a Rosh Hashanah celebration for tots. See our High Holidays Guide>

Week of Monday, September 26

9/26: 🆓 Feed lettuce and celery to cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens at Tilden Little Farm.
9/27: 🆓 Spend the day at a delightful park by the Bay. Our top pick is Marina Park in San Leandro.
9/28: Drop into a sing-along-style music class in Albany.
9/29: 🆓 Bring the popcorn & push back bedtime for the movie in the park. More outdoor movies >
9/30: 🆓 Dance along to a live musical performance at City Center in San Ramon.

Remember to register in advance

• Sign up for the Bay Day Month of Challenges. Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered to win a grand prize, a $500 gift card to Sports Basement. 2 runners-up will receive $50 gift cards to Sports Basement and 50 people who complete the challenge will be sent fun Save The Bay gear.
• Buy tickets to Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in A  Play and Disney on Ice! More shows to know about >
• Book a space at Kid’s Night Out so YOU can enjoy a child-free date night.

Thanks again to our sponsor Save The Bay. Register your family for Bay Day, which runs throughout the entire month. Walk, run, bike, wheel, or paddle 30 miles along the San Francisco Bay Trail as part of the Bay Day Trail Challenge, or complete ten activities of your choice as part of the Bay Activity Challenge – on the trail, or even in your own neighborhood. Spend time on the Bay and rediscover how amazing this natural resource truly is!

Find more activities on our East Bay Families Events Calendar every day of the month.