Give us feedback

Choose your city

Not in Bay Area? Change city

📍 BAY AREA · WITH KIDS

Things to Do With Kids in San Francisco Bay Area

Family-friendly picks in San Francisco Bay Area: 121 verified events and places that welcome kids, from library storytimes to parks and museums.

Updated · every listing links to its official source.

Related Any
MuseumFREE

Gallery190 Opening Reception: Pablo Tapay Bautista

📍 San Francisco · Sandler Neurosciences Center

📅 Thu, Nov 12, 4:30 PM

Join us at Gallery190 for the opening of MY OLD MAN (M.O.M.), an exhibition of photographs by Pablo Tapay Bautista exploring memory, family, and the intimate realities of caregiving. Through documentary photographs, handwritten text, and abstract imagery, Bautista reflects on caring for his father and the shifting roles, memories, and relationships that accompany aging and dementia. Opening Rece

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Details Official page ↗
LibraryFREE

November Museum Minis: Storytime at the Anderson

📍 Stanford · Peninsula · Anderson Collection

📅 Mon, Nov 16, 11:15 AM

Museum Minis is a welcoming monthly storytime at the Anderson Collection for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers. Each session features two engaging, age-appropriate books inspired by the essential elements of art—line, color, shape, and texture—introducing young children to these ideas and connecting them to artworks in the museum’s collection. Together, families are invited to look closely, n

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Details Official page ↗
Arts & cultureFREE

Lincoln Glen Church Community Tree Lighting

📍 San Jose · San Jose & South Bay · Lincoln Glen Church

📅 Fri, Dec 4, 5:00 PM

Free family-friendly community tree lighting at Lincoln Glen Church in South Willow Glen. Official page states festivities start at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, with Christmas music, bounce houses, treats, petting zoo, and face painting. (Page header also shows a 7–8 p.m. window; use on-site confirmation.)

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Details Official page ↗
FamilyFREE

Novato Community Tree Lighting Festival

📍 Novato · Marin & North Bay · Old Town Downtown Novato

📅 Sat, Dec 5, 4:00 PM

Downtown Novato Business Association Community Tree Lighting Festival on Dec. 5, 2026, 4:00–7:30 p.m. Old Town streets become pedestrian-only with live performances, artisan vendors, food and drink, kids’ crafts, tree lighting, and Santa arriving by firetruck.

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Details Official page ↗
Arts & culture

Annual Azure Family Holiday Concert

📍 Stanford · San Jose & South Bay · Braun Music Center

📅 Sun, Dec 6, 2:30 PM

The Annual Azure Family Holiday Concert is a free, friendly and engaging performance for families with children and young adults on the Autism spectrum. These concerts, established by Stephen Prutsman who has gone on to create Azure concert series all over the world, are approximately one hour in length and family members and caregivers of all ages are welcome to attend. Admission Information Fr

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 7, 2026

Details Official page ↗

With kids in San Francisco Bay Area: highlights

Coming up first: Gallery190 Opening Reception: Pablo Tapay Bautista (Thu, Nov 12, 4:30 PM, San Francisco), November Museum Minis: Storytime at the Anderson (Mon, Nov 16, 11:15 AM, Stanford), Nob Hill Association Holiday Tree Lighting at Huntington Park (Mon, Nov 30, 5:30 PM, San Francisco) and Lincoln Glen Church Community Tree Lighting (Fri, Dec 4, 5:00 PM, San Jose). Places you can visit on your own schedule include China Camp State Park in San Rafael, Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo, Exploratorium Family Science Days in Embarcadero / Pier 15 and Golden Gate Park Carousel in Golden Gate Park.

Of the 121 verified listings for with kids in San Francisco Bay Area, 78 are free and 43 are paid; 6 are dated events and 115 are places you can visit any open day. The most common kinds are family (67), museum (12), arts & culture (9), learning (8) and games (5). The most listings are in Fremont (6), Napa (5), Walnut Creek (5), Civic Center (3) and Downtown (3).

Tips for with kids in San Francisco Bay Area

  • Check age ranges on the official page. Storytimes and workshops in San Francisco Bay Area are often split by age group.
  • Library programs and some workshops cap attendance, so arrive early or register where the card says registration is needed.
  • Plan around naps and meals: morning slots are usually calmer for younger kids.
  • Parks and playgrounds make good back-up stops between scheduled events.

More in Bay Area

Topics Any

With kids in other cities

Cities Any

FAQ

What can kids do in San Francisco Bay Area?

121 kid- and family-friendly listings are here. Age ranges, when the organizer posts them, are on the official page.

How many of these are free?

78 of the 121 listings are free to attend or enter; the other 43 show the price from the official site.

Which neighborhoods in San Francisco Bay Area have the most with kids listings?

Right now: Fremont (6), Napa (5), Walnut Creek (5), Civic Center (3) and Downtown (3).

How current is this list?

It is rebuilt from verified listings on every visit and was last updated Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 4:33 AM PST. Ended, cancelled and removed listings drop off automatically.

NEWSLETTER

Free things in the Bay Area, in your inbox.

Sign up for free things in the Bay Area — a weekly email of what’s going on.

Send me

*We’ll only text you about events happening in your city. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP anytime.