FreeSan Francisco Bay Area · The Bay

Free things to do with kids in San Francisco Bay Area, this week and every week.

Yes, plenty is free with little kids in San Francisco Bay Area this week: we found 23 free outings, including Halloween Parade with the Marina Library, Bernal Community Día de los Muertos and Halloween Extravaganza with the Berkeley Public Library, plus five library programs. Four free days and events are coming up, each with its date. And four places never charge admission, like San Francisco Public Library and San José Public Library.

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

23free outings this weekincl. 5 library programs4free days and events coming upwith dates from each venue4places that are always freeSan Francisco Public Library, San José Public Library3free storytime calendarsSan Francisco Public Library, Oakland Public Library

This week

Free things to do with kids in Bay Area this week

Every free outing on this week’s Bay Area list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.

Sun Nov 11–3pm

Bernal Community Día de los Muertos

Bernal Heights Branch Library · 500 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110

An outdoor celebration on the Moultrie Street side of the library, with music by La Familia Peña-Govea. Bring something for the community ofrenda.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAll ages
Showing all 23 free outings

Mark the calendar

Free days and free events coming up in Bay Area

Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.

Who gets in free:EveryoneResidents onlyCardholders only
Nov27
to
Jan1

Christmas in the Park, San Jose

Plaza de César Chávez · Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA

Daily noon–10pm, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Rows of decorated trees, more than 40 animated displays and a 50-foot tree you can walk inside. Sensory-friendly mornings run 9am–2pm on Sundays Dec 13 and Dec 27.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree
Nov28
to
Dec24

Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park, Plaza de César Chávez · Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA

Evenings; the park is open noon–10pm. Santa sits for free photos every night from opening night through Christmas Eve, inside a park full of decorated trees and animated displays.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree

Any day

Places that are always free in Bay Area

Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.

Children’s Fairyland on 510 Fridays

699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610Oakland residents walk up for $5 a child and $10 an adult on Fridays.Official site ↗Report a problem
Free to get in, but parking, special exhibits and seasonal extras can cost money. Check each place’s site before you go.

Every week

Free library storytimes

San Francisco Public Library

Free story times and playtimes at the Main Library and branches.

Most weekday mornings, plus Saturday playtimes

Free
Find a storytime near you ↗

Oakland Public Library

Free story times at the Main Library and neighborhood branches.

Weekday mornings

Free
Find a storytime near you ↗

San José Public Library

Free baby, toddler and family story times across the city.

Weekday mornings

BabiesToddlersFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Every weekly storytime by day and branch: library storytimes in Bay Area.

Keep planning

More for little kids in Bay Area

November: things to do in Bay AreaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in Bay AreaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekIndoor play in Bay AreaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in Bay AreaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchIce skating in Bay AreaHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in Bay AreaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in Bay AreaKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in Bay AreaParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in Bay AreaPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in Bay AreaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in Bay AreaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas break in Bay AreaWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in Bay AreaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Free things to do with kids in San Francisco Bay Area: the FAQ

This week we found 23 free outings for ages 0–6, including Halloween Parade with the Marina Library, Bernal Community Día de los Muertos, Halloween Extravaganza with the Berkeley Public Library and Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treating (Oakland Main Library). See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

Halloween Parade with the Marina Library: Fri Oct 30. Halloween Extravaganza with the Berkeley Public Library: Sat Oct 31. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.

Christmas in the Park, San Jose and Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.

San Francisco Public Library, San José Public Library, Children’s Fairyland on 510 Fridays and Bay Area Discovery Museum with EBT don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

Yes. San Francisco Public Library, Oakland Public Library and San José Public Library run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.

Free things to do, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Bay Area that weekend, free ones flagged.

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