GUIDE Bakersfield · Bako

Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Bakersfield: the parent guide.

Bakersfield sits at the south end of California’s Central Valley, about two hours north of Los Angeles on I-5 and Highway 99.

Around town5 spots · checked Oct 30

The Bakersfield places we go back to, again and again.

The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.

Play

Indoor play and rainy days

For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.

All indoors2 spots2 free
Free

Beale Library

Downtown, 701 Truxtun Ave.

The main county library, with family storytimes and kids’ classes on Saturdays.

Good for: A free outing downtown.
Skip if: you need Sunday hours.
Site ↗ for Beale Library
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Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Bakersfield that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Splash & ride

Parks and outdoor play

Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.

1 spot
Northeast, 10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy$

CALM Zoo

A zoo of California native animals and plants in northeast Bakersfield.

Tickets
  • Kids 3–12 $8
  • Adults $12
Good for: A cool morning outing.
Skip if: it is Monday; the zoo is closed.
Tue–Sun 9am–4pmSite ↗ for CALM Zoo
Report a problem
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Bakersfield that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore

Museums, zoos and big outings

Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.

2 spots

Kern County Museum and Lori Brock Discovery Center

$
Downtown, 3801 Chester Ave

A history museum whose admission includes the Lori Brock Discovery Center, a learn-through-play space for kids.

Tickets
  • Kids 3–12 $5
  • Adults $10
  • Kids 2 and under
Good for: A morning with kids under 8.
Skip if: it is Monday or Tuesday; the museum is closed.
Wed–Sun 9am–4pm, last entry 3:30pmSite ↗ for Kern County Museum and Lori Brock Discovery Center
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Buena Vista Museum of Natural History

$
Downtown, 2018 Chester Avenue

A small natural history museum with fossils and rocks to look at downtown.

Tickets
  • Kids 3–11 $6
  • Adults $10
  • Kids 2 and under
Good for: Kids who like dinosaurs and fossils.
Skip if: it is Monday through Wednesday; the museum is closed.
Thu–Sat 10am–4pm, Sun noon–4pmSite ↗ for Buena Vista Museum of Natural History
Report a problem
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Bakersfield that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →

These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.

Every week

Library storytimes

Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar.

Toddler Time Tue 11am and Preschool Storytime Thu 11am at Northeast and Holloway-Gonzales; family storytime Saturdays at Northeast

Kern County Library

Each branch posts its storytimes in a monthly kids’ event guide.

Schedule ↗
Babies and 1-year-olds

Things to do with a baby or a 1-year-old in Bakersfield

Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.

Baby and lap-sit storytimes

Fridays at 10:30am on Nov 6 and Nov 20

Baby Bounce (Northeast) · Kern County Library

Rhymes, songs and bouncing for ages 0 to 2.

Storytime calendar ↗
Tuesdays at 11am on Nov 10 and Nov 24

Baby Bounce (Holloway-Gonzales) · Kern County Library

A baby storytime for ages 0 to 2.

Storytime calendar ↗

Babies get in free

By season

Seasonal spots

Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices. For holiday and indoor rinks with season dates, prices and skate aids, see ice skating with kids in Bakersfield.

Santa in BakersfieldBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 pricesChristmas lights in BakersfieldDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices
This week

What’s on this week in Bakersfield

The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Bakersfield right now.

  1. Safe HalloweenKern County Museum · $10 kids 4 and up, $5 adults, kids 3 and under free
  2. Costume Family StorytimeBeale Library · Free
  3. Magic NapoleonRathbun Library · Free
See all 11 this week →
Good questions

Things to do with toddlers in Bakersfield: the FAQ

Is Bakersfield good for toddlers?

Yes. The Lori Brock Discovery Center is built for young kids, and the county library runs toddler and preschool storytimes at several branches.

Are there storytimes in Spanish?

Yes. Northeast Branch Library has Hora del Cuento en Español on Thursday, Nov 5, 2026.

Are there free things to do with little kids in Bakersfield?

Yes. Beale Library and Northeast Branch Library are free or have a free entry. See the free list.

What can we do in Bakersfield on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?

Go indoors: Beale Library and Northeast Branch Library. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.

What can we do with a baby, 1-year-old or 2-year-old in Bakersfield?

Kern County Museum and Lori Brock Discovery Center: Kids 2 and under get in free. Beale Library: Preschool storytime on Tuesday mornings. Northeast Branch Library is also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: Buena Vista Museum of Natural History (Kids 2 and under). See best for under 3s.

How do you choose the places in the Bakersfield guide?

Every one of the 5 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 3 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we choose and check.

How much is the CALM Zoo for a toddler?

Kids 3–12: $8; adults: $12. We checked this on its official site on Oct 30, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Bakersfield.