Best Things to Do With Kids in August

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.

📅 Save the Date for These Exciting Community Events

• August 1: Hikes for Tykes & National Night Out
• August 2: First Wednesday Street Festival in Walnut Creek
• August 3: West Oakland Kid’s Jamboree
• August 4: Free Entrance Day to National Parks
• August 5: Oakland Public Library Summer Party
• August 5-6: Fremont Festival of Arts
• August 8: Hacienda Nights Food Trucks in Moraga
• August 11: Family Friday at Aqua Adventure Waterpark
• August 12: Bay Area Aloha Fest and Laurel Street Fair
• August 16: Boswick the Clown Show in Lafayette
• August 17: Hayward Community Street Party
• August 20: Family Art Day at the Lesher Center
• August 25: Eden Night Live in Hayward
• August 26: Kids Zone at 21st Ammendment Brewery’s Augustfest
• August 29: Hikes for Tykes
• Check our kid-friendly events calendar for something special every day >

New Playgrounds & Places to Play

A top joy in my child’s life (and likely yours) is visiting a new playground: crossing the monkey bars, zooming down the slide, catching air on the swings and running through the offerings are super exciting. We’re loving these new(ish) destinations for play in the East Bay:

• Whale Park in Alameda Point — Kids will enjoy climbing the whale play structure or riding on platform swings. Plus there’s opportunity for other games with ping-pong & chess tables, half-court basketball, a field with a small hill, and spinny and balancing features.
• Dusterberry Neighborhood in Fremont — Ideal for climbers and slide lovers, this new playground will keep school-aged kids moving. A multi-use field, walking paths, and nature play space
• San Pablo Park in Berkeley — The giant climbing tower-clubhouse-slide structure returned to the park, with some added details to keep kids safe and parents at ease.
• Tot-Friendly Splash Pads — Treat your child to a new-to-your-family splash pad. We found 5 options that are welcoming to tots and a romping fun time for older kids, too!
• Tactile Dome at Exploratorium in SF — Summer is a wonderful time to visit the area’s world-class museums, especially with bigger kids. The reopening of the Tactile Dome, a journey through the dark to awaken your senses, sounds like it’s worth the drive into the city. Tickets are highly suggested; for people 7 or older who aren’t afraid of dark or claustrophobic.

Watch a Movie Under the Stars

Encanto at Christie Park, Turning Red at Piedmont Park, Shrek 2 at Alameda, plus eight 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 that are within day-trip driving distance. Now is also the time for picking berries and other seasonal fruit. See all the details in our Bay Area Fruit Picking Guide >

Reserve Tickets to Shows & Performances

Join the amazing Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live Glow Party in San Francisco, or enjoy the empowering and magical performance of Matilda the Musical in Walnut Creek. Find more upcoming ticketed performances and events >

Enjoy a Campfire (No camping required)

Discover constellations, dinosaurs, spiders and other local animals at one of the East Bay Regional Park District evening campfire programs. With six events happening in August, these community events center around a theme and are filled with songs, games or 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 – Visit Tilden Little Farm (bring lettuce and celery, too)
• Tuesdays – Explore and play at West Oakland Farm Park 
• Wednesdays – $1.50 kids’ movies in Hayward (August 2 & 9)
• Thursdays – Visit the Create-with-Nature Zone at Blake Gardens in Kensington
• Fridays – Open hours at Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center
• Saturdays – Richmond Plunge Tot Swim and Rec Swim Hours
• Sundays – Kids can go to A’s games for free with paying adult (August 6 & 20)

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 >

• August 1 & 19-20, plus every Saturday: de Young Museum in San Francisco
• August 1: Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
• August 2: GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco
• August 3: BAMPFA in Berkeley and SFMOMA in San Francisco
• August 4: Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco
• August 5-6: Bank of America Free Museum Days
• August 6: Family Fun Day at Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and First Sunday at OMCA (nearly free!)
• August 8: San Francisco Botanical Garden
• August 12: Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco

What are your plans for the final month of summer? Tell us in the comments section.