THURSDAY
3
SEPTEMBER
The Ember List · the Bay Area
Things to do with kids in the Bay Area
Find things to do with kids in the Bay Area, from story times and classes to family festivals and puppet shows.
We reviewed 550+ Bay Area event sources to pick the 32 best kids & family events in the Bay Area between September 2 and September 8. Updated daily.
Highlights for September 2 – September 7
Playdates for Children and Their Caregivers (Seven Trees, San Jose)
Weekly themed playdates where kids practice sharing, taking turns and caregivers connect. Wednesday, September 2, 11am–12:30pm. Free. Ages 0‑5; theme changes each week.
Baby Storytime (Saratoga Library, Saratoga)
Interactive nursery rhymes, fingerplays and songs for babies up to 12 months. Wednesday, September 2, 11am–11:15am. Free. Strollers welcome; accessibility form required.
Bean Sprouts Family Days (SF Botanical Garden, San Francisco)
Hands‑on garden stations let kids dig, water, build and explore in the Children’s Garden’s “yes space.” Thursday, September 3, 10am–12pm. Free. Included with garden admission; no registration required.
Play Cafe (81st Avenue Branch, Oakland)
Storytime, songs and playtime with snacks for kids and caregivers. Thursday, September 3, 10am–11:30am. Free. Ages 0‑5; snacks provided.
Tarantula Trek for Families (Save Mount Diablo)
Guided night walk to observe tarantulas and learn about their habits. Friday, September 4, 5pm–8pm. low. All ages; bring a flashlight.
Baylands Explorations (Palo Alto Baylands, Palo Alto)
Expert EV docents lead a low‑impact hike exploring how plants and animals survive the salty marsh habitat. Saturday, September 5, 10am–11:30am. Free. Ages 6+; no children under 6.
Bioblitzing (Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley)
Community walk to record plants and wildlife using the iNaturalist app. Sunday, September 6, 10:30am. Ages 5+; parent participation required.
Music & Movement (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose)
Family music session with songs, rhymes and movement activities for early learners. Monday, September 7, 11am–12pm. Free. Ages 0‑5; limited capacity.
Our best picks: kids & family events in the Bay Area — September 2–8
Join us for family fun in the Children’s Garden: dig, water, pick, build, explore, and investigate in the Botanical Garden’s “yes space” for kids! Grab some garden tools at our welcome station or bring your own to enjoy hands-on activity stations and explore and tend to the Garden. — This program is included with garde…
16 minutes All ages “ Lunaverse ” explores the nature of Earth’s moon: its motion and phases, lunar and solar eclipses, tides, and the Moon’s origin. The story unfolds as a conversation between a curious young child and the Moon—Luna—over the course of a night, from moonrise to moonset. Chabot Space & Science Center in…
Children can improve their reading skills and boost their confidence by reading to gentle and patient, certified therapy dogs who love books! Kids will have a 10-15-minute session with a dog to read out loud the book of their choice (if you don't have a book, a librarian will suggest one). The main purpose is to provid…
Are you curious about electronics? Would you enjoy turning your friends into piano keys, making your pencil sing, or turning your stuffed animals into doorbells? We'll work on fun projects like these using Makey Makey, an electronics invention tool that lets us connect ordinary objects to a computer, and then, make the…
FRIDAY
4
SEPTEMBER
AGE 10-17 Friday, September 4 | 3:00pm-5:30pm Red Morton Youth Center / Youth Center Parking Lot Free! Come hang with us at the Red Morton Youth Center school year kickoff party! Bring some friends and have a blast with an inflatable obstacle course, rock climbing wall, Mobile Recreation, DJ on the turn tables, food, g…
TILDEN NATURE AREA: Help our Naturalist staff close the Little Farm for the night! Meet our friendly farm residents, learn what they eat, and bring them their evening meal provided by the farmer (food provided by staff only). Meet at the pig pen. Activities may vary depending on the animals’ needs, weather, and season.…
This week, we'll make beautiful bunny lanterns to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival. All supplies will be provided. Free. No registration required. For ages 6 and up. Supplies are limited so priority will be given to children and teens who are present at the program. Parents who wish to take supplies home for their kid…
Enjoy FREE movie nights under the stars every Friday in September! ✨ Mobile Rec games and crafts start at 6 p.m. Movies start at dusk, around 7:30 p.m. Bring your own blanket and chair!
SATURDAY
5
SEPTEMBER
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of Star Trek with interstellar crafts and activities for all ages. Attend in costume as your favorite character and boldly honor six decades of exploration, imagination, and adventure!
Join us on Saturday, September 5, as CuriOdyssey welcomes the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival! This non-profit brings interactive math puzzles and games designed to invite participants of all ages into collaborative problem-solving and mathematical play. No competition, no clock, just hands-on math exploration for…
Celebrate with the Asian Community Cultural Association of San Leandro, including cultural entertainment, moon cake samples, and vendor displays! Everyone is invited to this family friendly community festival.
Discover the exciting world of robotics through hands-on learning and creative problem-solving. Can a robot find its way out of a maze? How does a robot “see” obstacles and make decisions? In this interactive workshop, students will program robot cars to complete engaging challenges while exploring coding, sensors, eng…
Ages : 6 and up Description : Explore the habitat of local scorpions along the north face of Mount Diablo, starting at the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center. Experience the excitement of finding scorpions glowing like green neon signs in the dark. Led by our experienced naturalist, participants will look for local scorpio…
DEL VALLE - The evening glow gives way to the roaring fire, as families gather along the creekside. We will discover the wonders of nature and this camping tradition each Saturday night. 8-9pm, Saturday, September 5th Location: Del Valle Campground Amphitheater. If you are not camping, please park behind the camp store…
SUNDAY
6
SEPTEMBER
Join the excitement with special activities just for kids! Paint the Cessna Cardinal, check out in an airplane or helicopter, and more! \n
GARIN/DRY CREEK PIONEER REGIONAL PARK – Discover a bushel of Orchard-inary adventures at the Garin Apple Festival - sink your teeth into history while exploring the timeless beauty of nature's bounty. All ages. Parent participation required. Parking fees apply where charged. Drop-in program; no registration required. F…
ARDENWOOD - Rise and shine little farmers! Say "Good morning!" to the sheep and goats and lend a hand as we prepare a morning snack for the farm animals. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible. Ardenwood admission fee applies. For information, call (510) 544-2797.
TILDEN NATURE AREA – Join us for a community bioblitz to capture a snapshot of Tilden Nature Area’s biodiversity. Find, identify, and record life on a walk to Jewel Lake. We will use the iNaturalist mobile app to record our observations of the area’s wildlife, plants, and more! Get a head start and download the iNatura…
The worlds of science and art collide at STEAM Sundays! Help us clean out our closets in this project filled STEAM Sunday afternoon. We'll have mini lessons and projects at the ready for you to pick what you'd like to work on. Will you make slime or maybe create a cactus rock sculpture after learning about succulents?…
Join us for a hands-on exploration of robotics and the design thinking process! We will be learning how to interview, brainstorm, and make as we build solutions to real problems we find in the world around us. Participants will practice hands-on engineering and learn what it's like to compete in the FIRST Robotics Comp…
MONDAY
7
SEPTEMBER
Enjoy Redwood Forest Steam Train or Santa Cruz Beach Train with live music.
DOUG SIDEN VISITOR CENTER AT CRAB COVE: Enjoy a day of fun at the shoreline! SCHEDULED PROGRAMS 11:30 am Turtle Talk 1:30 pm Beautify the beach by picking up trash (we provide supplies) 2:30 pm S nake Secrets All Day Make a nature craft on the park-side deck of the Visitor Center Drop-in, no registration required. For…
Looking for something to do with the kids out of school on Labor Day? Join us for the ultimate day of discovery for less! On Monday, September 7, dive in and explore The Lawrence for a special discounted admission of just $5! A free shuttle runs from the Downtown Berkeley BART station to The Lawrence all day. Come face…
ARDENWOOD - Hop on over for a warm welcome from some of the farm’s furriest residents. Learn why rabbits are great hoppers and how they use their long ears to sense danger. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible. Ardenwood admission fee applies. For information, call (510) 544-2797.
TUESDAY
8
SEPTEMBER
Visit Lindsay Wildlife Experience each month outside of regular hours! Tiny Tuesday is a special day for children ages 2–5 to play and learn along with an adult caregiver. Explore the natural world on this themed day specifically designed for you and your little one. Join us and learn about insects, spiders, and more o…
BLACK DIAMOND MINES REGIONAL PRESERVE - Bring your little gems out to Black Diamond Mines for a morning of learning, playing, and enjoying the great outdoors. Each month is a different theme where children ages 2-5 will discover the joys of nature. Siblings welcome! Meet at the upper parking lot, at the end of Somersvi…
In this interactive program, author Jasmine Fang will read her book Beneath the Same Round Moon: A Mooncake Festival Story with audience participation, followed by Q&A time. We'll learn all about the mooncake festival and Mid-Autumn cultural traditions! Jasmine Fang is the author of Beneath the Same Round Moon (Beaming…
Explore the future through STEM and space! Students build, create, and discover robotics, rockets, and galaxies while engaging in hands-on activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. An additional $25 Material Fess is due to the instructor at the first class.
WEDNESDAY
9
SEPTEMBER
Sing, shake, and shimmy with your toddler! This lively class uses instruments and movement games to spark creativity, boost motor skills, and ease little ones into the classroom setting.
Ages : 3-5 Why does an owl hoot, when does a snake hiss, and what does the coyote say? Join us for an all-around good time as we learn the kinds of sounds that animals make and why they make them. Our preschool workshops are designed for budding nature lovers 3 to 5 years old, plus a caregiver. Register for individual…
Explore the colors and textures of autumn leaves in our sensory painting program! Using leaf-shaped cardstock and fall-inspired colors, children will create unique artworks while enhancing fine motor skills and fostering creativity. Guided by our librarians, kids will experiment with paint mixing and texture blending,…
In this interactive program, author Jasmine Fang will read her book Beneath the Same Round Moon: A Mooncake Festival Story with audience participation, followed by Q&A time. We'll learn all about the mooncake festival and Mid-Autumn cultural traditions! Jasmine Fang is the author of Beneath the Same Round Moon (Beaming…
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