Summer isn’t over quite yet and there’s still plenty of time to check off items from your summertime bucket list. Need some inspiration for East Bay fun activities? Here’s a rundown of the top things to do with kids in August.
Big thanks to Children’s Fairyland for sponsoring this guide to the best Bay Area happenings in August for families! Celebrate Fairyland’s 75th Anniversary all summer long with special events including Oakland’s Magic Kitchen, the annual Puppet Fair, and their 75th Birthday Bash.
Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events
- Aug. 1-3: Space Week at Chabot Space and Science Center
- Aug. 1:Â First Friday Nights at CuriOdyssey
- Aug. 2: Oakland Public Library End of Summer Party
- Aug. 2-3: Fremont Festival of Arts
- Aug. 3: Summer Day at Institute of Contemporary Art
- Aug. 4: Free Entrance Day to National Parks
- Aug. 5: National Night Out
- Aug. 6: Locust Street Festival in Walnut Creek
- Aug. 9: Oakland’s Magic Kitchen at Children’s Fairyland and Family Art Day
- Aug. 9-10: The Giant Bay Area Aloha Fest
- Aug. 10: Fiesta en el Parque
- Aug. 14: Perseid Meteor Shower Star Party
- Aug. 16: Family Movie Night on the Farm
- Aug. 20: Albany Concerts in the Park
- Aug. 23: Touch-a-Truck at Stenzel Park
- Aug. 23-24: Puppet Fair at Children’s Fairyland
- Aug. 24: Cal Sailing Club Open House
- Aug. 30: Free Fishing Day
- Aug. 30-31: Scottish Highland Gathering & Games
- Check our kid-friendly events calendar for something special every day >
Celebrate Children’s Fairyland 75th Anniversary
Children’s Fairyland is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year with a summer full of fun.
- Special Themed Days — Visit during the week for a little extra magic. On weekdays, families can enjoy different themed activities including crafts, storytimes, and interactive puppet playdates.
- Adventure Passport — Grab an Adventure Passport, complete activities, and collect stamps along the way, then enter the raffle for a chance to win prizes.
- Oakland’s Magic Kitchen — On August 9th, Oakland’s Magic Kitchen returns! Families can meet Chef Dottie Moore from Everett & Jones BBQ and Quercus, sample new foods, and enjoy an interactive cooking show.
- Annual Puppet Fair — Join the fun at Fairyland’s annual Puppet Fair on August 23rd and 24th, a weekend packed with puppet shows that celebrate the art of puppetry.
- Fairyland 510 Fridays — A Discount Day for Oaklanders! Oakland residents can enjoy discounted admission of $5 for kids and $10 for adults every Friday
- 75th Birthday Party — Children’s Fairyland is throwing its biggest birthday bash yet as they celebrate 75 years of magic.
Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances
Dive into an immersive world at Oakland’s Bubble Planet or San Francisco’s Balloon Museum, or enjoy a live-action kids’ show Danny Go!. Find more upcoming ticketed performances and events >
Watch a Movie Under the Stars
Despicable Me 4 at Jack London Square, Moana 2 in Richmond, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 at Grove Park, and many other opportunities to enjoy your favorite family-friendly films alfresco on the big screen. Movies begin just after sunset at local parks and gathering spaces–such a simple way to earn the title of “best parent ever.” Bring blankets, chairs, and picnic dinners or snacks to make the most of the outing. See the full outdoor movie round-up >
August is National Peach Month
Whether or not you celebrate food-themed holidays, we can all agree that peaches are delicious! And there’s something special about picking your own fruit. Take advantage of the peak season to select your own peaches, apricots, and other stone fruit at local farms within day-trip driving distance. Now is also the time to pick berries and other seasonal fruit. See all the details in our Bay Area Fruit Picking Guide >
Enjoy a Campfire (No camping required)
Discover bats, spiders, and other local animals at one of the East Bay Regional Park District’s evening campfire programs. These community events center around a theme and are filled with songs, games and other activities to spur nature-based discovery. Bonus, they are free and drop-in friendly. Learn more >
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 – El Cerrito splash park
- Tuesdays – Discount Tuesdays at the movies
- Wednesdays –Sulphur Creek Nature Center
- Thursdays – Visit Blake Gardens in Kensington
- Fridays – 510 Summer Fridays at Fairyland
- Saturdays – Anthony Chabot Campfire
- Sundays – Historic Days at Ardenwood
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 >
- Aug. 2 and every Saturday: de Young Museum in San Francisco
- Aug. 2-3: Bank of America Free Museum Days
- Aug. 3: Family Storytelling at Asian Art Museum and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
- Aug. 5: Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
- Aug. 6: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
- Aug. 7: BAMPFA in Berkeley, Museum of Craft and Design, and SFMOMA in San Francisco
- Aug. 12: San Francisco Botanical Garden
s p o n s o r 
Big thanks to Children’s Fairyland for sponsoring this guide to the best Bay Area happenings in August for families! Visit Children’s Fairyland this year to celebrate their 75th Anniversary.
What are your plans for the final month of summer? Tell us in the comments section.
