OCT 26 – NOV 1 San Francisco Bay Area · The Bay

Things to do with kids in San Francisco Bay Area this weekend, found and checked for you.

Halloween falls on a Saturday, and both big zoos hold Boo at the Zoo, with toddler costume contests at noon in San Francisco and Oakland. The Bay Area Discovery Museum closes out Goblin Jamboree the same day, and libraries from Albany to San Jose run parades and haunted houses. Sunday turns to Día de los Muertos at Children’s Fairyland and outside the Bernal Heights library. This week has 30 outings, 23 of them free and 19 indoors.

What’s on today, Friday, Oct 30: Bouncing Babies Storytime (Fremont), Family Storytime (Palo Alto Downtown) and Halloween Baby Bash (Pleasant Hill), plus 3 more.

Last checked · 30 kids events and outings at 28 places · 23 free · 19 indoor. Every listing links to the page we checked it on. How we choose

Top 5 picks

Get this weekend’s list every Thursday.

One short email with the San Francisco Bay Area picks, already found and checked. Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.

Saturday, sorted

Our plan for Saturday

Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 31. Tap a stop for the details.

  1. MORNINGBoo at the Zoo, San Francisco Zoo10am–3pm · San Francisco Zoo & Gardens · Included with zoo admission (weekends: kids 2–11 $24, adults $34; SF residents $21/$31; under 2 free)
  2. NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
  3. AFTER NAPHalloween Jam: Mad Magic! at Children’s Fairyland12–7pm · Children’s Fairyland · Ticketed; see the event page for prices

Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan

Every outing this week

Find your thing

Sat 10am–3pmBoo at the Zoo, San Francisco ZooSan Francisco Zoo & Gardens · San FranciscoIncluded with zoo admission
Sat & Sun 9:30am–2pmBoo at the Zoo, Oakland ZooOakland Zoo · OaklandIncluded with zoo admission
Sat 9am–4pmGoblin Jamboree at the Bay Area Discovery MuseumBay Area Discovery Museum · Sausalito$30 per ticketIndoor
Sat 10am–5pmSpooky Science at Chabot Space & Science CenterChabot Space & Science Center · OaklandIncluded with admissionIndoor
12–1pm and 2–3pmStorytime Science: Halloween at the ExploratoriumExploratorium · San FranciscoIncluded with museum admission
Sat 12–7pmHalloween Jam: Mad Magic! at Children’s FairylandChildren’s Fairyland · OaklandTicketed
Sun 10am–4pmDía de los Muertos at Children’s FairylandChildren’s Fairyland · OaklandFairyland admission: kids 1–17 $18
Fri 11am–noonHalloween Parade with the Marina LibraryMarina Branch Library · San FranciscoFree
Sat 11:30am–noonHalloween Storytime for Families at the Main LibrarySan Francisco Main Library · San FranciscoFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30am–12:30pmSaturday Morning Playtimes at the Glen Park LibraryGlen Park Branch Library · San FranciscoFreeIndoor
Sun 1–3pmBernal Community Día de los MuertosBernal Heights Branch Library · San FranciscoFree
Sat 10am–noonHalloween Extravaganza with the Berkeley Public LibraryThe Freight (Freight & Salvage) · BerkeleyFree
Sat 1–3pmHalloween Parade and Trick-or-Treating (Oakland Main Library)Main Library · San Francisco Bay AreaFree
Sat 1:30–2:15pmThe Not-So-Scary Halloween Show (Fruitvale)Fruitvale Branch Library · San Francisco Bay AreaFreeIndoor
Sat 3:30–4:15pmThe Not-So-Scary Halloween Show (Piedmont Avenue)Piedmont Avenue Branch Library · San Francisco Bay AreaFreeIndoor
Fri 3:30–5pmSpooktacular Haunted House (Willow Glen)Willow Glen Library · San JoseFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11amHalloween Storytime & Costume Parade (Educational Park)Educational Park Library · San JoseFree
Sat 2:30–4pmHalloween Party (Berryessa)Berryessa Library · San JoseFreeIndoor
Sat 2–3:30pmHalloween Festival (Joyce Ellington)Joyce Ellington Library · San JoseFreeIndoor
Fri 4–4:45pmSpooky Mad Science Show (Pearl Avenue)Pearl Avenue Library · San JoseFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11amFamily Storytime: Celebrate Halloween (Mitchell Park)Mitchell Park Library · Palo AltoFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11amFamily Storytime (Palo Alto Downtown)Downtown Library · Palo AltoFreeIndoor
Sun 10:30–11:30amDiwali Storytime & Drawing Demo with Nidhi Chanani (Foster City)Foster City Library · Foster CityFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11:15amUna Ofrenda Musical with Cascada de Flores (San Carlos)San Carlos Library · San CarlosFreeIndoor
Sat 1:45–3pmDía de Muertos Storytime (North Fair Oaks)North Fair Oaks Library · Redwood CityFreeIndoor
Fri 11am–12pmHalloween Baby Bash (Pleasant Hill)Pleasant Hill Library · Pleasant HillFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11amHalloween Storytime (Albany)Albany Library · AlbanyFreeIndoor
Sun 1:30–3:30pmDía de los Muertos Celebration (Albany)Albany Library · AlbanyFreeIndoor
Sat 2:30–4pmSpooktacular Outdoor Fun (Union City)Union City Library · Union CityFree
Fri 10:15–11amBouncing Babies Storytime (Fremont)Fremont Library · FremontFreeIndoor

Holiday season in Bay Area

Around town

Bay Area favorites

A few of the places we keep going back to. The full list, with prices, hours and kid-friendly restaurants, lives in the guide.

OAKLAND, 699 BELLEVUE AVENUE
Children’s Fairyland
A storybook park on Lake Merritt.
Kids $18Adults $20under 1
This week: Halloween Jam: Mad Magic! at Children’s Fairyland
SAUSALITO, 557 MCREYNOLDS ROAD
Bay Area Discovery Museum
A museum for kids under 10 under the Golden Gate Bridge.
$25 eachunder 1
This week: Goblin Jamboree at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE, 180 WOZ WAY
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Hands-on play rooms downtown.
$22 eachunder 1Indoor
SUNSET DISTRICT, SLOAT BLVD. AT THE GREAT HIGHWAY
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
A big zoo by Ocean Beach.
This week: Boo at the Zoo, San Francisco Zoo
See the full San Francisco Bay Area guide →Visiting with little kids
On the horizon

Coming up

FROM NOV 6Christmas lights3 light displays on our list so far. Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo opens first, on Nov 6.See the list → NOV – DECSanta visits6 places to see Santa so far, with dates, times and prices.See the list →
Good questions

What to do with kids this weekend in San Francisco Bay Area: the FAQ

What can we do with kids this weekend in San Francisco Bay Area?

This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) our top picks are Boo at the Zoo, San Francisco Zoo (Sat, Oct 31); Goblin Jamboree at the Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sat, Oct 31); Halloween Jam: Mad Magic! at Children’s Fairyland (Sat, Oct 31); Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treating (Oakland Main Library) (Sat, Oct 31). That’s four of 30 outings on this weekend, all checked on the organizer’s page and picked for kids ages 0–6. See the full list.

What are kid-friendly things to do in San Francisco Bay Area this weekend?

This week we found 30 outings that work for kids ages 0–6, all of them this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Our top three: Boo at the Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Goblin Jamboree at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Halloween Jam: Mad Magic! at Children’s Fairyland. See the full list.

Where are the Halloween events for kids in San Francisco Bay Area this week?

18 Halloween outings are on this week’s list for ages 0–6, including Boo at the Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Halloween Jam: Mad Magic! at Children’s Fairyland, Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treating (Oakland Main Library) and Boo at the Zoo, Oakland Zoo. Each one’s page has the date, time, price and the organizer’s link. See them in the list.

Are there free things to do with little ones in Bay Area this week?

Yes, 23 of this week’s 30 picks are free, including library storytimes and Halloween Parade with the Marina Library. Tap “Free” in Find your thing. For free places you can visit any week, see free things to do in San Francisco Bay Area in the city guide. Free museum days and free events coming up are on free things to do with kids in Bay Area.

What are good indoor activities for kids in San Francisco Bay Area when it rains?

19 picks this week are indoors, mostly at the libraries. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing. For indoor playgrounds and play spaces you can visit any week, see indoor play places in Bay Area.

Where is storytime for little kids in San Francisco Bay Area this week?

9 storytimes are on this week’s list, including Storytime Science: Halloween at the Exploratorium (12–1pm and 2–3pm, Exploratorium), Halloween Storytime for Families at the Main Library (Sat 11:30am–noon, San Francisco Main Library), Halloween Storytime & Costume Parade (Educational Park) (Sat 10:30–11am) and Family Storytime: Celebrate Halloween (Mitchell Park) (Sat 10:30–11am). Each one links to the library or venue page we checked it on, so check there for registration. See them in the list. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Bay Area.

What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in San Francisco Bay Area this week?

2 of this week’s picks are baby or toddler programs or made for ages 3 and under, including Halloween Baby Bash (Pleasant Hill) and Bouncing Babies Storytime (Fremont). All of them are free, and all are indoors. See them in the list.

How do you pick what goes on the San Francisco Bay Area list?

We go through Bay Area’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we choose and check listings.

How do I get this list every week?

Sign up for the Thursday email at the bottom of the page. It’s one short email, and you can unsubscribe any time.

Get this weekend’s list every Thursday.

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