Family Weekend Guide

San Francisco Bay Area family weekend: Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25

271 events for the weekend of Oct 23–25, 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 23 · 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 23 · 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 24 · 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 24 · 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 24 · 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 24 · 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 25 · 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 25 · 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 25 · 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 23

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
2pmTeen Scape · Lakeview Branch Library, Oakland 11+ · Free
2:30pmThe Bike Fix · 81st Avenue 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
4pmFamily Coloring · Los Altos Library, Los Altos 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
4:30pmAnatoKidz · Alviso Library, San Jose 6-10 · Free

Saturday, Oct 24

10amOpen Sewing · Millbrae Library, Millbrae 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10amOpen Sewing · Half Moon Bay Library, Half Moon Bay 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
10:30amSaturday Storytime · Half Moon Bay Library, Half Moon Bay 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
12pmCrochet Club · Evergreen 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
3pm3D Printeen · Almaden Library, San Jose 11+ · Free
3pmAthena Project · Seven Trees Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free
4pmTrunk Or Treat · Educational Park Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

Sunday, Oct 25

10:30amOpen Mic · Saratoga Library, Saratoga 11+ · Free
1pmArt Club · Alum Rock Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free
1pmBoardtime! · San Carlos Library, San Carlos 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1pmEngineering Hub · Half Moon Bay Library, Half Moon Bay 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1pmHalloween Craft · Hillview Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1pmLego® Club! · Educational Park Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1:30pmMath Club · Vineland Library, San Jose 6-10 · Free
2pmBoard Game Zone · Seven Trees Library, San Jose 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmFandom Swap · Cambrian Library, San Jose 11+ · Free
2pmMaker Hangout · Belmont Library, Belmont 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3pmMath Festival · Alviso Library, San Jose 6-10 · 11+ · Free