Family Weekend Guide

San Francisco Bay Area family weekend: Friday, October 16 – Sunday, October 18

271 events for the weekend of Oct 16–18, with 255 free and 269 indoors.

Updated

Age
Area
Cost
Weather
Days (pick any)

Top picks this weekend

Big outings first: festivals, farms, shows and attractions, mixing free and paid, for a range of ages.

Oct 17 – Nov 1

Boo at the Zoo at Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

Weekend Halloween festivities with trading-card hunts and Saturday costume contests.

  • Ages 0-2
  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Big outing
  • Paid

Saturdays and Sundays, Oct 17–Nov 1. Admission details on the zoo site.

Details at Oakland Zoo ↗
Oct 17 – Oct 31

Goblin Jamboree at Bay Area Discovery Museum

Bay Area Discovery Museum — Sausalito · Marin Co. · North Bay

A just-spooky-enough Halloween festival that takes over the museum with hands-on activities.

  • Ages 0-2
  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Big outing
  • Paid: $30 general admission; $5 members

Weekends Oct 17–18, 24–25 and Oct 31. Tickets required, including for members.

Details at Bay Area Discovery Museum ↗

Museums, gardens & more

Fri, Oct 16 · 1pm–2pm

SPACETIME

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

12 minutes all ages Telescopes built to detect electromagnetic waves, like visible light, infrared, radio waves, and other forms, give us the ability to see objects and…

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗
Fri, Oct 16 · 2pm–3pm

Phantom of the Universe

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt For Dark Matter 25 minutes Ages 8 and up An exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bang to its anticipated discovery at the…

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗
Sat, Oct 17 · 12pm–1pm

Worlds of Curiosity

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

(15 min) Worlds of Curiosity dives into the questions of “What it would be like to live on an Earth with no Moon?” or “What if the Earth was tilted on its side, like…

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗
Sat, Oct 17 · 1pm–2pm

Tales of the Maya Skies

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

35 minutes All ages Through the magic of technology and imagination, you are about to take a trip across time and space to visit a world as it no longer exists today:…

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗
Sat, Oct 17 · 2pm–3pm

Phantom of the Universe

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt For Dark Matter 25 minutes Ages 8 and up An exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bang to its anticipated discovery at the…

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗
Sat, Oct 17 · 3pm–4pm

Lunaverse

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

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.

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗
Sun, Oct 18 · 11am–12pm

Ohlone Skies (mur taaraxtak)

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

(40 Min) Developed in partnership and solidarity with Cafe Ohlone, mur taaraxtak , or Ohlone Skies, weaves science and storytelling into a rich tapestry of Indigenous…

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗
Sun, Oct 18 · 12pm–1pm

SPACETIME

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

12 minutes all ages Telescopes built to detect electromagnetic waves, like visible light, infrared, radio waves, and other forms, give us the ability to see objects and…

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗
Sun, Oct 18 · 1pm–2pm

Lunaverse

Chabot Space & Science Center — Oakland · Alameda Co. · East Bay

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.

  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Cost not listed
  • Indoors
Details at Chabot Space & Science Center ↗

Library storytimes & programs (255, free)

From San Francisco, Oakland, San José, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Mateo County and Santa Clara County public libraries. Some need registration; check the library page.

Friday, Oct 16

10:15amSTORYTIME · El Cerrito Library, El Cerrito 0-2 · 3-5 · Free
2pmArt Studio · Half Moon Bay Library, Half Moon Bay 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2:30pmThe Bike Fix · 81st Avenue Branch Library, Oakland 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3pmHalloween Crafts · Brookfield Branch Library, Oakland 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3pmLego Club · Portola Valley Library, Portola Valley 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3pmLEGO Club · Woodside Library, Woodside 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3pmMaker Exploration · Millbrae Library, Millbrae 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3:30pmChess Club · San Pablo Library, San Pablo 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3:30pmVideo Game Zone · Seven Trees Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free
4pmDiwali Festival · Village Square Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
4pmHalloween Festival · Santa Teresa Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
4pmNorCal Bats · West Valley Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free
4:30pmAnatoKidz · Alviso Library, San Jose 6-10 · Free

Saturday, Oct 17

10amLEGO® Fun · Evergreen Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amFamily Storytime · Rockridge Branch Library, Oakland 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amFamily Storytime · Main Children's Room Library, Oakland 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amMusic and Movement · Educational Park Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free
11amChess Hour · San Ramon Library, San Ramon 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
11amFamily Storytime · West Valley Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free
11amLEGO Club · Rose Garden Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmFamily STEAM · Calabazas Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmLego Builders Club · Pleasant Hill Library, Pleasant Hill 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmMaker Hangout · Belmont Library, Belmont 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmTeens Talk · Newark Library, Newark 11+ · Free

Sunday, Oct 18

12:30pmFamily Storytime · Hillview Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free
1pmArt Club · Alum Rock Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free
1pmBoard Game Day · East SJ Carnegie Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1pmLego® Club! · Educational Park Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1pmSunday STEAM · West Valley Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1:30pmMath Club · Vineland Library, San Jose 6-10 · Free
1:30pmTrain Storytime · Atherton Library, Atherton 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free
2pmBoard Game Zone · Seven Trees Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmLEGO® Fun! · Bascom Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmMaker Hangout · Belmont Library, Belmont 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free