A four-day weekend is here, which sounds wonderfully spacious until you realize you now have four whole days to answer, “What are we doing today?”

Luckily, this one has options.

You can wander through art under the redwoods, eat your way through a Greek festival, take a train ride through the Santa Cruz Mountains, catch Shakespeare in the park, or keep things wonderfully simple with a movie on the lawn.

There’s plenty happening, but no need to do it all. Pick one bigger outing, leave some room for a slow morning, and enjoy the extra day.

⭐ Weekend Pick

Kings Mountain Art Fair
Saturday–Monday • 10:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 Kings Mountain Community Center, Woodside
One of those Bay Area traditions that feels genuinely special. Wander among 125+ artist booths tucked beneath the redwoods, and make a morning of it with the fair’s pancake breakfast from 8:00–10:30 am before exploring.
All ages | Free admission | Learn more

🚗 A Quick SF Planning Note

Heading into San Francisco this weekend? Northbound Highway 101 will be fully closed between Cesar Chavez Street and 10th Street from Friday at 11:00 pm through Monday at 6:00 am.

Caltrans recommends using I-280 as an alternate route. Expect extra traffic and give yourself more time, especially if you’re heading to the Zoo, Presidio, or Golden Gate Park.

Get details

Happening All Weekend

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival
Saturday & Sunday • 10:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 Broadway, Downtown Millbrae
A close-to-home Labor Day weekend classic with 170+ artists and crafters, food, live music, and family activities. Easy to dip into for an hour or make an afternoon of it.
All ages | Free admission | Learn more

Belmont Greek Festival
Saturday & Sunday • 12:00–10:00 pm | 📍 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Belmont
Come hungry. There’s Greek food and pastries, live music, dancing, mythology plays, and cultural performances throughout the weekend. A lively community festival that works well when everyone in the family wants something different.
All ages | Admission applies | Get details

Labor Day Weekend at Roaring Camp
Saturday–Monday | 📍 Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton
Turn the long weekend into a little mountain adventure. Ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train or Santa Cruz Beach Train, then stick around for live music, gold panning, blacksmithing, a printing press, and mini tractors.
All ages | Train tickets required | Get tickets

Free Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra
Saturday–Monday • 2:00 pm | 📍 Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, McLaren Park, San Francisco
Bring a blanket and settle in for free outdoor Shakespeare. This year’s 90-minute production of Antony and Cleopatra is a nice option for families with older kids or teens who are ready for something beyond the usual festival circuit.
Best for older kids & teens | Free, no tickets required | Learn more

Friday, Sept 4

Sunset Fridays at the San Francisco Zoo
5:00–7:00 pm | 📍 San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco
A different way to experience the Zoo after hours, with live music, kid-friendly activities, ambassador animals, and more. A fun kickoff if you’re ready to start the long weekend right after school.
All ages | Admission applies | Get details

Movies in the Park: Zootopia 2
Activities from 6:00 pm • Movie around 7:30 pm | 📍 Central Park, San Mateo
Pack the blankets, pajamas, and movie snacks for an easy outdoor movie night. Games and crafts start at 6:00 pm, followed by Zootopia 2 at dusk.
All ages | Free | Get details

First Friday Nights at CuriOdyssey
5:00–8:00 pm | 📍 CuriOdyssey, San Mateo
Kick off the long weekend with an evening at CuriOdyssey. The museum stays open late with live music, food trucks, animal encounters, and hands-on science and play. An easy Peninsula option if you want to do something Friday without heading into the city.
All ages | Admission applies | Get details

Saturday, Sept 5

Home Depot Kids Workshop: School Bus Organizer
9:00 am | 📍 Participating Home Depot stores
A low-key morning plan for kids who love building things. This month’s free workshop has kids making a school bus organizer they can take home afterward.
Kids | Free, while supplies last | Register

Family Storytime at Mitchell Park Library
10:30–11:00 am | 📍 Mitchell Park Library, Palo Alto
If the rest of the weekend is feeling full, this is your intentionally simple option. Stories, songs, and rhymes make for an easy outing with younger kids without committing the whole day.
Babies–preschoolers | Free | Learn more

California Free Fishing Day
Saturday | 📍 Fishing spots across California
Ever wanted to take the kids fishing without committing to all the gear and licenses first? Saturday is one of California’s two Free Fishing Days of the year, when you can fish without a sport fishing license. Pack a picnic, borrow some gear, and make a slow morning of it by the water.
All ages | No fishing license required | Get details

Sunday, Sept 6

The Big Draw Community Day
10:00 am–3:00 pm | 📍 Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco
A whole day built around drawing, movement, and making together. Kids can try rapid gesture drawing, marble painting, claymation, sticker-making, and other hands-on activities around the museum.
All ages | Activities free; museum admission required for some | Get details

World Arts West Dance Festival
1:00–4:00 pm | 📍 Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco
Dance from around the world, outdoors with the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop. Expect live performances and interactive dance workshops, with plenty of room for the kids to run around Tunnel Tops between sets.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Monday, Sept 7

Golden Gate Park Band Labor Day Concert
1:00–2:30 pm | 📍 Spreckels Temple of Music, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
A wonderfully old-school way to spend Labor Day. Bring a picnic and listen to a free afternoon concert in the park, with plenty of room to wander before or afterward.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Golden Gate Free Jam with Grahame Lesh & Friends
2:00–6:00 pm | 📍 Robin Williams Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
If your family’s energy leans more music-on-the-grass than formal plans, end the long weekend here. Grahame Lesh & Friends are playing a free community jam from a flatbed truck, bringing a little of San Francisco’s free-concert tradition back to the park.
Bring a picnic, blanket or low chairs. No food will be sold on site, but water refill stations will be available.
All ages | Free | Get details

🌿 Little Joy

Four-day weekends don’t need four days of plans.

Choose one thing worth getting everyone out the door for. Leave one morning completely unscheduled. Get ice cream somewhere along the way.

That’s enough.

Enjoy the long weekend,

Akriti

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August is going out on a delightfully playful note.

There are zucchini cars racing through a farmers market, a baby flamingo getting its own storytime, art and Bowie in Redwood City, and quite a lot of Pokémon around San Francisco.

The official Pokémon convention is sold out, but you don’t need a badge to join all the fun. There’s a free movie in Union Square, drone shows over the waterfront, and a local library party closer to home.

This might be a good weekend to choose the slightly odd plan. Race a vegetable. Fold a dragon. Dance in the park.

⭐ Weekend Pick

Zucchini Car Race
Sunday • Race starts at 11:00 am |📍 Mountain View Farmers’ Market, Mountain View
Bring a zucchini and turn it into a tiny race car using free wheels and decorating supplies at the market. Cars must be checked in by 10:45 am before racing down the track, with prizes for speed and creativity.
All ages | Free | Get details

Happening All Weekend

Creating Home at Filoli
Friday–Sunday • 10:00 am–5:00 pm |📍 Filoli, Woodside
This is the final weekend to explore Filoli’s summer family experience. Track down giant nest sculptures, follow a redwood scavenger hunt, visit the hands-on Discovery Den, and climb inside Rose, the estate’s 27-foot wooden troll.
All ages | General admission from $35 | Get tickets

Pokémon, No Badge Needed

PokémonXP and the World Championships are sold out, but these free events are open to everyone.

Pokémon Drone Shows
Friday • Approximately 9:35 pm
Saturday & Sunday • Approximately 9:20 pm |📍 Near the Ferry Building, San Francisco
Hundreds of drones will light up the waterfront with Pokémon characters each night. It’s a late one for younger kids, but potentially worth stretching bedtime for serious fans.
Best for older kids | Free | Get details

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu in Union Square
Saturday • Preshow 5:00 pm • Movie 8:00 pm |📍 Union Square, San Francisco
Settle in for a free outdoor screening of Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, timed to celebrate Pokémon’s big weekend in the city. Arrive early for the preshow and bring an extra layer for the evening.
Best for 7+ | Free | Learn more

Friday, Aug 28

Flamingo Chick Storytime
2:00–3:00 pm |📍 Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, Palo Alto
Celebrate the zoo’s newest baby flamingo with flamingo-themed stories and songs from Palo Alto City Library. Stay for the 3:00 pm feeding and a closer look at the chick.
Best for 2–8 | Museum admission and advance reservation required | Get tickets

ART on the Square + Starman SF
5:00–8:30 pm |📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Browse work from local artists and makers while Starman SF performs a free David Bowie tribute concert. An easy Friday plan if you want dinner downtown, live music, and room for the kids to move around.
All ages | Free | Get details

San Bruno Concerts in the Park
6:00–8:00 pm |📍 San Bruno City Park, San Bruno
Bring a blanket and settle in for blues and R&B from High Water Blues. Food, drinks, and frozen treats will be available, making this an easy picnic evening without much planning.
All ages | Free | Get details

Saturday, Aug 29

Foodwise Tomato Celebration
11:00 am–1:00 pm |📍 Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, San Francisco
Taste different tomato varieties, vote for a favorite, and pick up recipes and cooking tips while you wander the market. There will also be tomato-themed games and activities for kids.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Pokémon Party
11:00 am–12:30 pm |📍 San Bruno Public Library, San Bruno
Trade Pokémon cards, catch characters at the library’s PokéStop, and try themed crafts, puzzles, games, and a scavenger hunt. A much calmer local alternative to the crowds around Moscone Center.
Best for 5–12 | Free | Get details

Imagine Together Festival
11:00 am–3:00 pm |📍 Barrett Community Center, Belmont
Spend the afternoon trying short classes, playing games, browsing craft vendors, and meeting more than 30 local community groups. There will also be food, tours, and family-friendly activities focused on emergency preparedness.
All ages | Free admission; food available for purchase | Get details

San Mateo Main Library 20th Anniversary
12:00–3:00 pm |📍 San Mateo Main Library, San Mateo
Celebrate the library’s birthday and the opening of its new café with taiko drumming, folklórico dance, ukulele, jazz, and Persian music. Performances run throughout the afternoon, with light refreshments available.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Rock the Gates Summer Fleadh
2:00–10:00 pm |📍 United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco
Three stages bring together Celtic rock, Irish music, dance, jazz, and classic-rock tributes. Kids can dip into crafts, storytelling, face painting, a bounce house, and a new Irish Mini Camp designed for ages 6–10.
All ages | Adults $25–30; under 18 free with an adult | Get tickets

Sunday, Aug 30

Origami Palooza
11:00 am–4:00 pm |📍 Hotel Kabuki and Japan Center East Mall, San Francisco
Drop into free folding stations for beginner and intermediate models, watch origami competitions, or learn from visiting artists Boice Wong and John Collins, also known as the Paper Airplane Guy. Paid classes are available for families who want more instruction.
Best for 5+ | Free activities; classes from $10 | Get details

Chinatown Family Block Party
11:30 am–2:30 pm |📍 Grant Avenue between Clay and Sacramento, San Francisco
This community celebration begins with a traditional lion dance, followed by cultural performances, music, games, and gifts for kids. There are no commercial vendors, so the focus stays on families, culture, and community.
All ages | Free | Get details

BonPOP 2026
2:00–6:00 pm |📍 San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park
Spend the first half of the afternoon exploring vendors and activities, then join the circle for communal Bon Odori dancing from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Memorial lanterns and a yukata dressing station add to this welcoming Japanese summer tradition.
All ages | Free for SF residents and children 4 and under; garden admission otherwise | Get details

A Little Joy

Save one summer moment

Ask everyone in the family to name or draw one moment from this summer they want to remember. Tuck the notes into an envelope marked “Summer 2026” and open it together next year.

No scrapbook required. A scribble, a sentence, or a printed photo counts.

Whatever you choose, I hope it gives everyone a little room to play before September begins.

Have a lovely weekend,
Akriti

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Late August is doing its usual trick: school routines are returning, summer is still lingering, and everyone may be a little more tired than expected.

This weekend has a good mix of easy neighborhood plans and bigger outings. There’s a free international kids festival in Cupertino, cookies and LEGO building in Palo Alto, a Michael Jackson tribute in Redwood City, and a brand-new stretch of Peninsula coast to explore.

Pick the thing that matches your family’s energy. A picnic blanket at a concert counts. So does a slow walk to an ocean overlook.

⭐ Weekend Pick

International Kids Fun Festival
Saturday • 10:00 am–4:00 pm
📍 Cupertino Memorial Park, Cupertino
This free festival turns one park into a trip around the world, with 120+ booths representing 20 countries. Kids can collect passport stamps, try traditional games, make crafts, explore robotics, join a Home Depot family build, and watch cultural performances.
All ages | Free | Get details

Happening All Weekend

Summer Cactus & Succulent Fair
Friday 6:00–9:00 pm • Saturday 8:00 am–6:00 pm • Sunday 11:00 am–3:00 pm
📍 Peterson Middle School, Sunnyvale
More than 40 vendors fill the space with tiny living stones, dramatic cacti, unusual succulents, and handmade pottery. The judged plant show makes this more interesting than a standard plant sale, even if you’re only there to look.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Oakland Chinatown StreetFest
Saturday & Sunday • 10:00 am–5:00 pm
📍 Oakland Chinatown
One of the bigger cultural festivals this weekend, with three stages of live entertainment, lion dances, food, local artists, family activities, and a ping-pong tournament. It’s a longer drive from the Peninsula, but worth considering if you want a full-day outing.
All ages | Free | Get details

Santa Clara County Fair
Friday & Saturday • 1:00–11:00 pm • Sunday 1:00–10:00 pm
📍 Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, San Jose
Carnival rides, livestock, fair food, live entertainment, home arts, and community exhibits fill the final three days of the fair. Go earlier for the animals and exhibits; stay later if rides and lights are the main attraction.
All ages | $12 youth 6–13, $17 adults online; ages 5 and under free; rides and parking extra | Get tickets

Summer of Love Weekend at PIER 39
Saturday & Sunday • Daytime activities; free tie-dye 12:00–5:00 pm
📍 PIER 39, San Francisco
Live music, a free DIY tie-dye station, colorful ’60s-inspired displays, and the sea lions make this an easy add-on to a waterfront day. Bandanas are provided for tie-dye while supplies last, or bring a small item from home.
All ages | Free; food and attractions extra | Learn more

Friday

Music on the Square: Foreverland
6:00–8:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Foreverland brings Michael Jackson’s music to the square with a full live band and no impersonator theatrics. Bring a picnic or pick up dinner downtown, then let the kids dance out the last bit of first-week-back energy.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sundown Cinema: The Parent Trap
Arrive from 5:00 pm • Movie around 8:00 pm | 📍 Marina Green, San Francisco
The 1998 favorite plays outdoors with the Golden Gate Bridge nearby. Food trucks and family activities open at 6:00 pm, but this series gets busy, so arriving early with blankets, layers, and dinner is part of the plan.
Best for ages 6+ and kids who can manage a late night | Free; RSVP encouraged | Get details

Saturday

10th Annual Car Show for Veterans
11:00 am–3:00 pm | 📍 Veterans Memorial Building, Redwood City
Classic and custom cars, trucks, and motorcycles share the lot with live music, BBQ, raffles, and a bounce house. The event supports Swords to Plowshares and includes a Wall of Heroes honoring local veterans.
All ages | Free admission and parking; food and raffle purchases extra | Learn more

Chocolate Chip Cookie Festival
1:00–4:00 pm | 📍 Museum of American Heritage, Palo Alto
Cookies and milk are only the beginning. Families can build with LEGO, play historic games, get faces painted, listen to live music in the garden, and explore the museum’s antique technology collection.
All ages | Free | RSVP

Free Art at Magical Bridge Playground
1:30–3:30 pm | 📍 Magical Bridge Playground, Redwood City
Pair playground time with a free, child-friendly art project in the Kindness Corner. Materials are first come, first served, all abilities are welcome, and the program is weather permitting.
Kids of all ages | Free | Get details

Sunday

Marine Science Sunday: Marine Mammals of San Francisco Bay
10:30 am, 12:00 pm & 2:00 pm | 📍 The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito
This 30-minute interactive program introduces the sea lions, harbor seals, dolphins, and whales found in and around the Bay. A local art educator will join the day, and tours and programs on August 23 include ASL interpretation.
All ages; especially good for ages 5+ | Free; advance reservation required | Reserve

Festival of Chariots
10:15 am–4:00 pm | 📍 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
The 60th annual Ratha-yātrā fills the park with elaborately decorated chariots, music, dance, cultural exhibits, and a free vegetarian feast. Families can watch the procession or help pull the chariots along the route.
All ages | Free | Get details

Sunday Streets: Bayview Community Block Party
12:00–5:00 pm | 📍 Lane Street & K.C. Jones Playground, San Francisco
Car-free streets make room for a YMCA Kids Zone, Exploratorium activities, double dutch, giant games, kickball, African dance, live jazz, and neighborhood food. Parking will be limited, so transit is the easier option if it works for your family.
All ages | Free | Get details

🌊 New & Worth Knowing

Don Horsley Park at Tunitas Creek Beach
Daily 8:00 am–8:00 pm through August
📍 Halfway between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero
The Peninsula’s newest county park opened this week, creating safe public access to nearly a mile of beach. There are picnic areas, restrooms, ocean overlooks, and a half-mile accessible trail that works for strollers and wheelchairs.
The beach is rugged and there are no lifeguards, so this is better for exploring and taking in the view than for swimming. Dogs are not allowed.
All ages | Free | Plan your visit

💛 Little Joy

Late summer weekends can carry a strange mix of beginnings and endings: new teachers, old routines returning, and just enough daylight left for one more picnic outside.

You don’t have to squeeze every last drop out of summer. One small plan, chosen well, is plenty.

Have a lovely weekend,

Akriti

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This feels like one of those weekends where summer is making a strong case for itself.

There are carnival rides by the lagoon, music on park lawns, giant kites at Coyote Point, Burlingame Avenue taken over for the weekend, and even a little Shakespeare under the trees.

You definitely don’t need to do it all. Pick one thing that sounds good for your crew, pack the sunscreen (and probably a picnic blanket), and call that enough.

Here are the ones I’d put on your radar this weekend.

Weekend Pick

Foster City Summer Days
Friday–Sunday | 📍 Leo J. Ryan Park, Foster City
Three days of carnival rides, live music, food trucks, a Friday classic car show, 65+ vendors, and a Rubber Ducky Scavenger Hunt. There’s enough happening to make an afternoon of it, but you could just as easily pop over for a few rides and dinner by the lagoon.
All ages | Free admission, carnival rides separate | Get details

Happening All Weekend

Burlingame on the Avenue
Saturday–Sunday, all day | 📍 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame
Burlingame Avenue closes to cars for a weekend of live music, food, an artisan marketplace, and family activities. Easy to wander without much of a plan, especially if you have kids of different ages in tow.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Free Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra
Saturday & Sunday, 6:00 pm | 📍 Red Morton Park, Redwood City
Bring a picnic and a blanket for Shakespeare under the trees. Saturday is the preview and Sunday is opening night. The performance runs about 90 minutes without an intermission, so I’d save this one for kids who can settle into a longer story.
Best for older kids & teens | Free, no reservations needed | Learn more

West Coast Asian Foodie Festival
Saturday–Sunday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County Event Center, San Mateo
More than 100 food vendors plus live performances and cultural experiences make this a good option for families who prefer to explore by eating their way through the afternoon.
All ages | From $3.79; kids 7 & under free; parking $20 | Get details

Friday, Aug 14

Magical Bridge Summer Concert: Andy Z
6:00–7:30 pm | 📍 Magical Bridge Playground, Palo Alto
The final concert of the season pairs music, movement, storytelling, and puppetry with one of the Peninsula’s most inclusive playgrounds. A particularly good pick if you have younger kids or siblings with a wider age spread.
All ages and abilities | Free | Learn more

Music in the Park: Burnin’ Vernon Davis
6:00–8:00 pm | 📍 Burton Park, San Carlos
Funk and soul on the Burton Park lawn. Bring dinner and a blanket, let the kids move around, and ease into Friday night.
All ages | Free | Get details

Concerts on the Plaza + Outdoor Movie Night
Concert 6:00–7:30 pm | Movie 8:30 pm | 📍 Mountain View
For families with enough Friday-night stamina, make it a double-header. Start with the free concert at Civic Center Plaza, then head to Rengstorff Park for Lilo & Stitch under the stars.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Saturday, Aug 15

Coyote Point Summerfest
12:00–4:00 pm | 📍 Coyote Point Recreation Area, San Mateo
Giant kites over the Bay, taiko drumming, Ballet Folklórico, kiddie train rides, crafts, and food trucks. There’s enough variety here for mixed-age siblings, plus plenty of room to picnic and wander.
All ages | Free event; $6 vehicle entrance fee | Get details

Millbrae Machines Car Show
All day | 📍 Broadway Avenue, Millbrae
More than 300 classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles take over downtown Broadway. A fun, easy stop for kids who love anything with wheels.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Bay Area Games Day
10:00 am–8:00 pm | 📍 Los Altos Library
An all-day gathering for board game lovers, with everything from familiar favorites to hobby games. Drop in for an hour or settle in for a longer game if you’ve got older kids.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Mandarin Storytime
11:00 am | 📍 Burlingame Main Library
A gentle bilingual Mandarin-English storytime blending stories, language, and culture. No sign-up needed, which makes this an especially easy Saturday morning option.
Ages 0–6 | Free | Learn more

Sunday, Aug 16

Burlingame on the Avenue
All day | 📍 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame
If Saturday gets away from you, the street festival continues Sunday with live music, food, local makers, and family activities.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Free Shakespeare in the Park: Opening Night
6:00 pm | 📍 Red Morton Park, Redwood City
Sunday is the official opening performance of Antony and Cleopatra. Pack an early picnic and make an evening of it before the school-week rhythm starts again.
Best for older kids & teens | Free | Learn more

Little Joy 🌼

Dahlia Competition in Golden Gate Park
Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm & Sunday 10:00 am–4:00 pm | 📍 County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park
Rows and rows of dahlias in shapes and colors you didn’t know dahlias came in. It’s free, low-commitment, and an easy little detour if you’re already spending the day in Golden Gate Park.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Whatever you choose this weekend, I hope there’s a little room to linger. Summer weekends are starting to feel numbered, and maybe that’s reason enough not to over-plan this one.

See you next week,

Akriti

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August always sneaks up on me. One minute we’re talking about summer plans, and the next the backpacks are coming out, and school is only a couple of weeks away.

Maybe that’s why this weekend feels worth slowing down for.

There are concerts where the kids can dance barefoot on the grass, an overnight campout without leaving town, Victorian crafts in a historic courthouse, and enough farmers markets to keep everyone stocked with late-summer peaches.

Whether you’re squeezing in one last summer adventure or simply looking for an easy outing together, I hope this guide makes planning your weekend a little simpler.

🌿 Weekend Pick

San Carlos Family Campout
Friday 4:00 pm – Saturday 10:00 am | 📍 Burton Park, San Carlos
If your kids have been asking to go camping but you’re not quite ready for the full wilderness experience, this is such a fun middle ground. Pitch a tent without leaving town, enjoy dinner, s’mores, lawn games, an outdoor movie, and wake up to breakfast together the next morning.
Families | Registration required | Register

Happening All Weekend

Robotics Fair 2026
Saturday & Sunday • 9:30 am–5:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County Event Center, San Mateo
Curious kids will have plenty to explore here, from robot demonstrations and hands-on workshops to an international youth robotics competition. Whether your child already loves STEM or simply enjoys watching things come to life, there's something to discover around every corner.
All ages | Free general admission | Register

Los Altos Rotary Fine Art in the Park
Saturday & Sunday • 10:00 am–5:30 pm | 📍 Lincoln Park, Los Altos
More than 150 artists fill Lincoln Park with paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and handmade goods, while kids enjoy face painting, balloon artists, live performances, and plenty of room to explore beneath the redwoods.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Friday

San Mateo County History Museum – Free First Friday
10:00 am–4:00 pm | 📍 Redwood City
If you’re looking for an indoor outing before the evening festivities begin, the historic courthouse opens its doors free of charge. It’s easy to pair with lunch or a stroll through downtown Redwood City.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Los Altos First Friday
5:00–8:00 pm | 📍 Downtown Los Altos
Downtown transforms into one big neighborhood music festival, with live bands spread across streets, plazas, and storefronts. Wander at your own pace, grab dinner, and enjoy a relaxed summer evening.
Families | Free | Learn more

CuriOdyssey First Friday Nights
5:00–8:00 pm | 📍 CuriOdyssey, San Mateo
Science demonstrations, live animal presentations, and after-hours museum fun make this a great Friday evening option, especially if you don’t usually make it during the day.
All ages | Museum admission | Get details

Summer Concert Series: Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
6:00 pm | 📍 Karl E. Clark Park, Menlo Park
Something a little different from the usual cover bands. Zydeco music has an infectious rhythm that’s hard not to dance to, making this a fun evening for kids and grown-ups alike.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Magical Bridge Summer Concert Series
6:00–7:30 pm | 📍 Magical Bridge Playground, Palo Alto
Classic favorites and Disney songs in one of the Peninsula’s most inclusive playgrounds. Kids can play before and after the concert while parents settle in for a relaxed evening.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sunset Movie: The Wild Robot
Around 7:40 pm (sunset) | 📍 Serra Park, Sunnyvale
Bring a blanket, pack a few snacks, and don’t be surprised if bedtime slides a little later than usual. Summer movie nights are always worth it.
Families | Free | Get details

Saturday

College of San Mateo Farmers Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 College of San Mateo
One of the Peninsula’s biggest farmers markets, filled with seasonal produce, flowers, baked goods, and breakfast options. An easy Saturday morning tradition.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Victorian Days at the Old Courthouse
10:00 am–2:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City
Step back in time with Victorian crafts, scavenger hunts, and a vintage fashion show. Kids can make hats and fans before exploring one of the Peninsula’s most beautiful historic buildings.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Mega Ran at Children’s Discovery Museum
11:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Children’s Discovery Museum, San Jose
A live family concert included with museum admission makes this a fun excuse to spend the day exploring one of the Bay Area’s best children’s museums.
All ages | Museum admission | Learn more

Sunday

Mountain View Farmers Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Caltrain Station, Mountain View
A dependable Sunday favorite with dozens of local farms, fresh flowers, and plenty of nearby breakfast spots if you’d like to linger.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Stern Grove Festival: Patti LaBelle
Kid Zone 12:30–3:00 pm | 📍 Stern Grove, San Francisco
If you already have tickets, this is one of the summer’s standout concerts. The Kid Zone includes face painting, instrument exploration, games, and activities before the performance begins. Please note that the general admission lottery has already closed.
All ages | Free (reservation required) | Get details

🌼 Little Joy

Pick one fruit at the farmers market this weekend that your kids have never tried before.

Maybe it’s a donut peach, a pluot, or a fresh fig.

Let everyone vote on whether it deserves a spot on next week’s grocery list.

Coming Up Later This Month

Foster City Summer Days • August 14–16
Three days of carnival rides, live music, food, and one of the Peninsula’s favorite summer festivals.

Burlingame on the Avenue • August 15–16
Downtown Burlingame’s biggest street festival returns with local vendors, music, shopping, and great food.

KidStock • Saturday, August 15
Mountain View’s family festival returns with performances, hands-on activities, and plenty designed for younger kids.

Summer has a way of making even the simplest plans feel memorable. Whether it's a concert on the lawn, a morning at the farmers market, or just a little extra time together outside, I hope you find something your family enjoys this weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Akriti

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Some weekends ask you to choose a lane, and this is one of them. Maybe it’s a Friday evening concert on a picnic blanket, a Saturday street fair, or a slow Sunday morning at the farmers market with a coffee in hand.

As August quietly arrives, there’s just enough summer left to lean into those long evenings. This weekend is full of music, community celebrations, and easy outings that don’t require much planning; just a blanket, a few snacks, and a little curiosity.

⭐ Weekend Pick

Nihonmachi Street Fair
11:00 am–6:00 pm | 📍 Japantown, San Francisco
One of San Francisco’s longest-running summer traditions returns for its 52nd year, filling Japantown with taiko drumming, cultural performances, food stalls, artists, and community celebrations. There’s plenty to explore, so let the kids choose one or two must-see stops (and yes, shave ice is usually a great negotiation tool).
All ages | Free | Get details

Happening All Weekend

Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra
6:00 pm (Saturday & Sunday) | 📍 Memorial Park Amphitheater, Cupertino
Pack a blanket and enjoy an evening of outdoor theater under the trees. San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s free productions are wonderfully accessible, even for families new to Shakespeare, and the relaxed outdoor setting makes it feel far less formal than a traditional theater.
Best for 8+ | Free | Learn more

Renegade Craft Fair
11:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
Over 250 independent makers bring ceramics, artwork, home goods, jewelry, and textiles to Fort Mason for one of the Bay Area’s favorite craft fairs. Even if you’re just browsing, the waterfront location makes for a lovely family outing.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
10:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 Palo Alto
One of our favorite Peninsula destinations for curious kids, with more than 50 animal species, hands-on science exhibits, and daily flamingo feedings at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Reserve tickets ahead of time, as timed entry often fills up.
All ages | $16 ($3 for qualifying families) | Get tickets

Friday, July 31

Friday is all about outdoor music this week. If you’ve been meaning to pack a picnic blanket and spend the evening outside, you have plenty of great options.

Family Resource Day
1:30–5:30 pm | 📍 Daly City Community Service Center
A wonderful back-to-school event offering free backpacks, school supplies, shoes, community resources, music, art activities, and a farmers market. Open to families living in Daly City, Colma, and Broadmoor with advance registration.
School-age children | Free (registration required) | Register

Music on the Square: Mercy and the Heartbeats
6:00–8:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
One of the Peninsula’s best summer traditions. Dance under the evening sky, grab dinner downtown, and enjoy live music in the heart of Redwood City.
All ages | Free | Get details

Summer Concert Series: Get Lucky
6:00–8:00 pm | 📍 Leo Ryan Amphitheater, Foster City
Top 40 favorites by the lagoon make for an easy family evening. Bring dinner, a blanket, and let the kids dance on the lawn.
All ages | Free | Get details

Summer Concert Series: Patrón Latin Rhythms
6:00 pm | 📍 Karl E. Clark Park, Menlo Park
Latin jazz, salsa, R&B, and plenty of energy make this one of the liveliest concerts in Menlo Park’s summer series.
All ages | Free | Get details

Saturday, August 1

Pub in the Park: Savannah Blu
11:00 am–4:00 pm | 📍 Red Morton Park, Redwood City
Live bluegrass, lawn games, food trucks, and a relaxed park atmosphere that’s easy for families with kids of different ages.
All ages | Free entry | Get details

Fiesta en el Parque
1:00–4:00 pm | 📍 Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco
Spend the afternoon learning salsa, merengue, and cumbia, enjoying live performances, and making crafts with the Golden Gate Bridge as your backdrop. One of the more unique family events happening this weekend.
All ages | Free | Get details

Coastside Farmers’ Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Shoreline Station, Half Moon Bay
If you’re heading to the coast anyway, start here. Fresh produce, local vendors, and an easy walk along the bluffs make for a wonderfully slow Saturday morning.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sunday, August 2

San Carlos Farmers’ Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Downtown San Carlos
One of the Peninsula’s nicest Sunday markets, with fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, and plenty of room to wander before the new week begins.
All ages | Free | Learn more

💛 Little Joy

There’s something about these late summer evenings that feels different. The rush of June has settled, school is just beginning to peek over the horizon, and somehow a simple concert in the park or a stroll through a neighborhood fair feels like enough.

Wherever your weekend takes you, I hope you find a little space to slow down and enjoy it.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Akriti

Late July has a way of slowing everything down. The days are long, the evenings stay warm past bedtime, and even the farmers markets feel a little more unhurried.

This weekend leans into that rhythm, with outdoor concerts you can wander into with a picnic blanket, Circus Bella bringing its joyful spectacle to Burlingame, and a stretch of coastline that’s perfect for a slow morning.

If your family’s calendar has been packed all summer, this might be the weekend to leave a little space for spontaneity.

Happening All Weekend

TheatreWorks: The Employee Dharma Handbook
Fri 7:30 pm • Sun 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm | 📍 Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto
A professional mainstage production with performances across the weekend. A nice option if you’re looking for a parents’ night out, or have older teens who enjoy live theater.
Best for 13+ | $54–104 | Get tickets

CuriOdyssey Science Playground & Zoo
10:00 am–5:00 pm (last entry 4:30 pm) | 📍 San Mateo
Otters, bobcats, and hands-on science exhibits make this an easy anchor for a family day out. Don't miss the daily Animals in Action presentations.
Ages 2–12 | $24.95 child, $29.95 adult | Learn more

Friday, July 24

Storytime for Ages 2–5
10:30–11:00 am | 📍 Burlingame Public Library
Books, songs, and rhymes in the Lane Community Room make for a gentle start to the weekend with little ones.
Ages 2–5 | Free | Learn more

Music on the Square
6:00–8:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
One of the Peninsula’s favorite summer traditions. Bring a picnic blanket, grab dinner nearby, and let the kids dance while the band plays.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Wheels on the Bus – The Musical
6:30–7:30 pm | 📍 Palo Alto Children’s Theatre
A cheerful sing-along musical full of familiar songs and playful surprises. A great introduction to live theater for younger kids.
Ages 2–8 | $20 | Get tickets

Once Upon a Mattress
7:00–10:00 pm | 📍 Coastal Repertory Theatre, Half Moon Bay
A playful retelling of The Princess and the Pea that’s worth pairing with an evening by the coast.
Best for 6+ | $67–101 | Get tickets

Saturday, July 25

Baylands Fun Run & Walk
9:00 am | 📍 Palo Alto Baylands
A relaxed community walk through one of the Peninsula’s most beautiful marsh landscapes. Come for the movement, stay for the views.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Half Moon Bay Coastside Farmers Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Shoreline Station, Half Moon Bay
Fresh produce, flowers, pastries, and ocean air. One of those markets where there’s no rush to get anywhere.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Kick Start 4 Kidz
11:00 am–4:00 pm | 📍 Joel Davis Park, East Palo Alto
A community event helping families get ready for the school year with free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, food, and activities.
Ages 4–12 | Free | Learn more

Circus Bella: AH HA!
1:00 pm & 3:00 pm | 📍 Burlingame Town Square
Acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, clowns, and a live six-piece band transform the town square into an open-air circus; one of the Bay Area's best free family traditions each summer.
All ages | Free (suggested $25 donation) | Learn more

Loving the Silent Tears
2:00–5:00 pm | 📍 Capuchino Performing Arts Center, Millbrae
A free musical screening followed by vegan refreshments. A nice indoor option if the afternoon gets warm.
All ages | Free | Register

Free Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra
6:00–7:30 pm | 📍 Memorial Park, Cupertino
The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival returns with its first-ever production of Antony and Cleopatra. Bring low chairs or a blanket and enjoy theater under the trees.
Best for 10+ | Free | Learn more

Redwood Symphony: Summer Classics
7:30 pm (pre-concert talk at 6:45 pm) | 📍 Cañada College, Redwood City
A beautiful evening of Beethoven, Mozart, and Prokofiev for families with older music lovers.
Best for 10+ | $15–35 | Get tickets

Sunday, July 26

Baylands Bird & Art Loop
Anytime (best in the morning) | 📍 Byxbee Park, Palo Alto
A peaceful self-guided walk through marshland trails, public art, and one of the Bay Area's best birdwatching spots. The perfect excuse to slow down on a Sunday morning.
All ages | Free | Get details

Handmade Pacifica Artisan Fair
1:00–5:00 pm | 📍 Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica
Browse handmade goods, local artists, and coastal creativity while enjoying a relaxed Sunday afternoon.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Little Joy

Stretch the evening a little longer.

One of my favorite parts of summer is that magical hour after dinner when it’s still light outside.

Take a walk around the neighborhood. Let the kids scooter a little farther than usual. Stop for ice cream. Sit outside and watch the sky change colors.

No agenda. Just one more slow summer evening together before August starts creeping in. ❤️

Whether your weekend includes a circus performance, a picnic concert, or simply an evening walk around the neighborhood, I hope you find a little time to slow down and enjoy it.

If this guide helped make your weekend a little easier to plan, I'd love it if you shared it with another family who might enjoy it too.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Akriti

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By mid-July, weekends seem to settle into an easier rhythm. Farmers markets become part of the routine, dinner happens a little later, and there’s finally enough daylight for one more stop at the playground.

This weekend adds a few extras to that rhythm: a free circus under the sky, a musical your little one probably already knows by heart, and a World Cup final that will have Redwood City’s Courthouse Square buzzing.

Pick one or two things, leave room for the unexpected, and don't forget to enjoy the slower moments too.

Happening All Weekend

Wheels on the Bus: The Musical
6:30 pm–7:30 pm | 📍 Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, Palo Alto
An outdoor singalong musical built around the song your little one probably already has memorized. Bring a blanket for ground seating, and settle in for a lively evening under the summer sky.
Ages 2–8 | $20 per person | Get tickets

Friday, July 17

Family Storytime
11:00 am–11:30 am | 📍 Downtown Library, Palo Alto
Librarian Heidi leads a cheerful Friday morning storytime with songs, rhymes, and read-alouds. Geared toward ages 2 and up, but wiggly babies are welcome too.
Ages 0–5 | Free | Learn more

Movie Night + Field Day: Zootopia 2
6:00 pm–10:00 pm | 📍 Orange Memorial Park Meadow, South San Francisco
The summer’s first Movie Night begins with lawn games and field-day activities, followed by free hot dogs at 6:30 pm while supplies last. The movie starts at dusk, around 8:30 pm, so bring a blanket or low chair and settle in.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Circus Bella: AH HA!
6:00 pm | 📍 Salesian Boys & Girls Club, San Francisco
Circus Bella brings acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and a live six-piece band to North Beach. There’s no assigned seating, so bring a blanket or low chair and arrive early if you can.
All ages | Free, suggested donation | Learn more

Music on the Square: Native Elements
6:00 pm–8:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Redwood City’s Friday-night tradition continues with Native Elements, a horn-driven reggae group that has been part of the Bay Area music scene for nearly two decades. Bring dinner, a blanket, and settle in for an easy summer evening.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Saturday, July 18

Downtown Palo Alto Farmers’ Market
8:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Gilman Street, Palo Alto
A Peninsula staple since 1981, with seasonal produce, fresh bread, flowers, and live music throughout the morning. Kids tend to enjoy the fruit samples almost as much as the grown-ups enjoy the coffee and slow wander.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

Kids Rock!: Lori & RJ
10:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Redwood City’s kid-focused concert series returns with live music, an inflatable playland, and MC Andy-Z keeping everyone moving. High-energy, easygoing, and genuinely fun for grown-ups too.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Happy Birds
11:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
Parrots, macaws, and cockatoos perform tricks, impersonations, and even a little opera. Arrive early for good seats, then stay to explore the museum’s planes, cockpits, and hands-on exhibits.
All ages | Included with museum admission | Learn more

Circus Bella: AH HA!
1:00 pm and 3:00 pm | 📍 PROXY Hayes Valley, San Francisco
Circus Bella makes its second stop of the weekend in Hayes Valley’s outdoor plaza. With two performances to choose from, this one offers a little flexibility if your morning plans run long.
All ages | Free, suggested donation | Learn more

World Cup Third-Place Match Watch Party
2:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Watch the tournament’s third-place match on the big screen, with climbing walls, inflatables, lawn games, and other Fan Zone activities surrounding the square.
All ages | Free | Get details

Portola Valley Summer Music Series: Fog City Swampers
5:30 pm–8:00 pm | 📍 Portola Valley Town Center, Portola Valley
A relaxed lawn concert with classic rock covers, food trucks, and the farmers market open alongside it. An easy option for turning dinner and music into the evening plan.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sunday, July 19

Belmont Farmers Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Belmont
A well-loved Peninsula market with California-grown produce and an easy, small-town feel. Pair it with breakfast and a nearby playground stop for a low-key Sunday morning.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

Feathered Friends: Birdwatching and Nature Art for Families
8:30 am–10:30 am | 📍 San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco
A guided morning of birdwatching basics followed by a nature-art activity using materials gathered along the way. Small, hands-on, and led by a local birder and art educator.
Ages 6–12 with an adult | $50 per pair | Register

Paint-A-Plane
10:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
Kids can help paint a real Cessna Cardinal, explore open cockpits, build paper helicopters, and try other hands-on aviation activities. One of those wonderfully specific Peninsula experiences that is hard to find anywhere else.
Ages 3–12 | Included with museum admission | Learn more

Storytime with Anna: Steve the Dung Beetle
10:30 am–11:30 am | 📍 The Foster Museum, Palo Alto
A gentle Sunday storytime with songs, an egg-carton bug craft, and a story about the tiny creatures that help keep ecosystems running. Walk-ins are welcome.
Ages 0–6 | Free | Learn more

Sunday Streets: Mission
11:00 am–4:00 pm | 📍 Valencia Street, San Francisco
Ten car-free blocks of Valencia Street turn into one large neighborhood playground, with bikes, live music, dance performances, activities, and local vendors along the route.
All ages | Free | Learn more

World Cup Final Watch Party
12:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
The tournament wraps up on the big screen in Redwood City, with climbing walls, inflatables, lawn games, and a full Fan Zone surrounding the square. A festive way to close out the World Cup and the weekend together.
All ages | Free | Get details

Little Joy

Summer has a way of making ordinary places feel new again.

A picnic dinner at the park. Picking the ripest peach at the farmers market. Letting the kids stay outside for ten more minutes because the sun is still up.

You don’t always need a big plan to make the weekend feel special. Sometimes it’s the smallest, most ordinary part that everyone remembers.

It’s a full weekend if you want it to be, and a quiet one if you don’t. That’s part of the beauty of July.

Wherever you land, I hope there’s a little sunshine, a little mess, and plenty of good company.

Hope you find a little pocket of joy this weekend.
Akriti

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This is one of those weekends where you genuinely can’t go wrong. Friday brings live music and lawn chairs, Saturday is packed with fairs, art, and farm mornings, and Sunday is perfect for slowing down with a farmers market or cheering on the World Cup with the community.

Pick your family’s pace. We’ve done the sorting for you.

Happening All Weekend

ACGA Clay & Glass Festival
10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto
One of the West Coast’s largest juried clay and glass festivals, featuring more than 140 California artists, a hands-on Clay For All activity for kids, and exciting live pottery throwdowns each afternoon. Food trucks will be on-site, making it easy to spend a few hours exploring.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Today at Apple: Kids Workshops
Sessions throughout the day | 📍 Apple Burlingame, Burlingame
Free, hands-on workshops where kids can explore coding, comics, filmmaking, and more. Activities vary by day, so check the schedule before heading over.
Best for ages 6–14 | Free | Learn more

Friday, July 10

Jewelry on the Square
5:00 pm – 8:30 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Browse handcrafted jewelry, glasswork, and artisan creations while live music fills the square. A relaxed way to kick off the weekend before or during the evening concert.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

Music on the Square: Sounds of Skynyrd
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Redwood City’s beloved summer concert series continues with a high-energy Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band. Bring lawn chairs or simply wander through downtown and enjoy the atmosphere.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Family Movie Night: Zootopia 2
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm (seating begins at 7:00 pm) | 📍 Mitchell Park Athletic Field, Palo Alto
Pack a blanket and settle in for a family movie under the stars. Arrive early to grab a good spot before the movie begins at sunset.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Saturday, July 11

Second Saturday at Gamble Garden
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
July’s theme celebrates the sun with guided garden tours, a scavenger hunt, an orrery hosted by the San Mateo County Astronomical Society, and a suncatcher craft to take home.
All ages | Free (registration suggested) | Get details

Nature Play Grove at CuriOdyssey
10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 CuriOdyssey, San Mateo
Explore CuriOdyssey’s newest outdoor nature play area with willow sculptures, climbing features, stone chimes, and beautiful Bay views. It feels more like an adventure than a playground.
Best for ages 2–10 | Museum admission | Learn more

Colma Community Fair
11:00 am – 3:00 pm | 📍 Colma Town Hall, Colma
A friendly neighborhood fair with local vendors, food trucks, live music, and a dedicated kids’ zone. Easygoing and perfect for younger families.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Pub in the Park featuring Wildcat Mountain Ramblers
11:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 Red Morton Park, Redwood City
Spend the afternoon listening to live bluegrass while the kids enjoy lawn games and open space. Bring a blanket, grab lunch from a food truck, and stay as long as you’d like.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Library Day at The New Farm
11:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 The New Farm, San Francisco
Books, goats, live music, and a self-guided bird walk come together for a wonderfully different family outing by the Bay.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Family Storytime with Stay & Play
11:15 am – 12:15 pm | 📍 Pacifica Sanchez Library, Pacifica
Stories, songs, movement, and open-ended play make this a gentle way to spend a Saturday morning with little ones.
Best for ages 0–5 | Free | Get details

Big Bubble Show
2:00 pm | 📍 Main Library, South San Francisco
Expect giant bubbles, bubble tricks, and plenty of laughter during this interactive outdoor performance next to the playground.
Best for ages 2–10 | Free | Learn more

Sunday, July 12

Soccer on the Square — World Cup Watch Party
Ongoing throughout the day | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Catch the World Cup on giant outdoor screens while the kids enjoy inflatable play areas, lawn games, climbing walls, cornhole, and the Youth Interactive Zone. It’s part sports viewing, part family festival, and an easy place to spend a few hours together.
All ages | Free | Get details

Weekend Wander

If you’re craving a slower start to the weekend, a local farmers market is always a good idea. Pick up fresh fruit, flowers, pastries, or let the kids choose something colorful for the week ahead.

Saturday

• College of San Mateo Farmers’ Market (9:00 am–1:00 pm)

Sunday

• San Carlos Farmers’ Market (9:00 am–1:00 pm)

• Menlo Park Farmers’ Market (9:00 am–1:00 pm)

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Little Joy

Let each child choose one thing to lead this weekend. Maybe it’s stopping to watch a street musician, picking the brightest tomato at the market, or spending ten extra minutes at the playground. Those little detours are often the parts they remember most.

Whether you end up discovering a new favorite artist, dancing to bluegrass in the park, or simply wandering your local farmers market with an iced coffee in hand, we hope this weekend gives your family a little room to slow down together.

Thanks for letting us be part of your weekend planning. Have a wonderful weekend!

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Every town on the Peninsula seems to be throwing its own parade this weekend, and honestly, that’s the best kind of problem to have.

With America’s 250th birthday, there’s a little more excitement than usual. Parades, festivals, fireworks, and community celebrations are happening everywhere. Whether your crew wants pancakes before a parade in Half Moon Bay, Circus Bella in Menlo Park, or a quiet Sunday farmers market after all the festivities, there’s a version of this weekend that fits.

You definitely don’t have to do it all. Pick one adventure, pack plenty of water and sunscreen, and enjoy the long weekend together.

Happening All Weekend

Fillmore Jazz Festival
10:00 am–6:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday | 📍 Fillmore Street, San Francisco
The West Coast’s largest free jazz festival takes over 12 blocks with five stages, live music, neighborhood food, and plenty of space to wander. The Curtis Family C-Notes, a talented family band with kid musicians, perform Saturday afternoon and are always a crowd favorite.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Free National Parks Weekend
Friday–Sunday, July 3–5 | 📍 Muir Woods, Point Reyes National Seashore & participating National Parks
National park entrance fees are waived for the holiday weekend, making it a great excuse to trade the crowds for redwoods, beaches, or tide pools. Muir Woods still requires a parking or shuttle reservation.
All ages | Free entry (parking/shuttle reservations may apply) | Learn more

Saturday, July 4

Redwood City 4th of July Parade, Festival & Fireworks
8:00 am–9:30 pm | 📍 Downtown & Port of Redwood City
Start with a pancake breakfast, watch one of Northern California’s largest Independence Day parades, spend the afternoon enjoying festival booths and food trucks, then stay for fireworks over the Port.
All ages | Free (pancake breakfast $10) | Learn more

Foster City Festival & Family/Dog Parade
8:30 am–4:00 pm | 📍 Leo Ryan Park, Foster City
A Rotary pancake breakfast kicks off the day before families, decorated bikes, wagons, and dogs parade through the park. Expect live music, a kids’ play zone, and plenty of community spirit.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Woodside Junior Rodeo
9:00 am–5:00 pm (Grand Entry 1:00 pm) | 📍 Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County, Woodside
Young cowboys and cowgirls compete in barrel racing, roping, and more while families enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, and a mechanical bull.
All ages | $20 adults, $15 kids under 18, free under 5 | Get tickets

An Old-Fashioned Fourth: Victorian Crafts
10:00 am–4:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City
Celebrate Independence Day the Victorian way by making paper flags and spinning pinwheels while exploring the museum.
All ages | $4–6 (free for members) | Learn more

Menlo Park Parade, Picnic & Circus
10:45 am–3:00 pm | 📍 Burgess Park, Menlo Park
Decorate a bike or wagon for the neighborhood parade, then enjoy two free Circus Bella performances, food trucks, and a relaxed community picnic.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Palo Alto Chili Cook-Off & Summer Festival
11:00 am–3:00 pm | 📍 Mitchell Park, Palo Alto
Free chili tasting, inflatables, live music, food trucks, and a sensory-friendly tent with lower stimulation and calming activities for kids who need a quieter break.
All ages | Free | Learn more

South San Francisco Parade & Picnic
Morning–Afternoon | 📍 Orange Memorial Park to Grand Avenue, South San Francisco
Watch the community parade before heading to the picnic featuring free hot dogs, a classic car show, and a pet costume contest.
All ages | Free | Get details

Half Moon Bay Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Festival
8:00 am–4:00 pm | 📍 Main Street, Half Moon Bay
A Coastside tradition featuring a pancake breakfast, a noon parade, live music, and local vendors throughout downtown.
All ages | Free (breakfast extra) | Learn more

Fireworks Watch

Not planning to spend the whole day at a Fourth of July celebration? Here are two great spots to end the evening with fireworks.

Redwood City Fireworks
9:30 pm | 📍 Port of Redwood City
Part of Redwood City’s all-day Fourth of July celebration, the fireworks launch over the Port and are easy to pair with the afternoon festival. Arrive early if you plan to park nearby.
All ages | Free | Get details

Golden Gate Bridge Fireworks
9:30 pm | 📍 Best viewed from Crissy Field, Marina Green or Pier 39, San Francisco
A rare fireworks show launching directly from the Golden Gate Bridge. Expect large crowds, road closures, and limited parking. Taking public transit and arriving before sunset will make for a much smoother evening.
All ages | Free | Get details

Sunday, July 5

Menlo Park Farmers Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Chestnut Street, Menlo Park
Fresh produce, pastries, flowers, local vendors, and live music make this an easy, low-key Sunday outing.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

San Carlos Farmers Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Laurel Street, San Carlos
Downtown San Carlos fills with fresh produce, specialty foods, and local vendors every Sunday. Easy to stroll with little ones and grab breakfast along the way.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

Asian Art Museum: Free First Sunday
10:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
Explore more than 18,000 works of Asian art with free general admission on the first Sunday of the month. Reserve tickets online ahead of time.
All ages | Free | Get details

Golden Gate Park Band: Symphony in the Park
1:00 pm–2:45 pm | 📍 Spreckels Temple of Music, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Pack a blanket and enjoy an afternoon of live orchestral music in one of San Francisco’s most beautiful parks.
All ages | Free | Learn more

This is one of those weekends where there’s more happening than any family could possibly fit in, and that’s part of the fun. Whether you spend it at a neighborhood parade, wandering a festival, or simply enjoying a slower Sunday together, I hope you find a little time to make summer memories.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, and I’ll see you next week.

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If you’re still figuring out the weekend, this one came together rather beautifully. A brand-new children’s garden opens in Atherton, there are concerts under the stars, parrots performing at Hiller, and plenty of slow summer moments tucked between.

Whether you’re looking for a full day out or simply somewhere lovely to wander, here are a few ideas to help make the most of the weekend.

🌿 Weekend Pick

Atherton Library Children’s Garden Grand Opening
10:00 am (Ribbon Cutting) | 📍 Atherton Library Civic Court Plaza, Atherton
After months of community input and careful design, Atherton Library’s new 6,200 sq ft Children’s Garden officially opens this Saturday. Wander through a willow hut, accessible treehouse, branch tunnel, climbing boulder, and shaded play spaces nestled beneath towering redwoods. After the ribbon cutting, stay for Garden Party Storytime at 10:30 am followed by free play in the new garden.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Happening All Weekend

Pop-Up Parcade @ Red Morton Park
10:00 am–8:00 pm (Sunday until 6:00 pm) | 📍 Red Morton Park, Redwood City
Classic arcade games, skeeball, and outdoor fun come together in this relaxed pop-up arcade inside the park. It’s an easy place to spend an hour (or three) between playground time and a picnic.
All ages | Free entry (games may have a cost) | Get details

Friday, June 26

Music on the Square: Bululú (Latin & Caribbean Night)
6:00–8:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Kick off the weekend with live Latin and Caribbean music under the summer sky. Bring dinner from a nearby restaurant, spread out a blanket, and let the kids dance while the sun goes down.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Saturday, June 27

Millbrae Certified Farmers Market
8:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Broadway, Millbrae
Fresh produce, flowers, pastries, and local vendors fill downtown Millbrae every Saturday morning. A simple way to ease into the weekend before heading to your next adventure.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Happy Birds at Hiller Aviation Museum
11:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
Watch talented parrots, macaws, and cockatoos perform everything from opera singing to funny animal impressions. It’s a surprisingly entertaining live show that’s included with museum admission.
All ages | Museum admission applies | Get details

Board Games in the Baylands
2:00–5:00 pm | 📍 Environmental Volunteers EcoCenter, Palo Alto
Spend the afternoon playing nature-themed board games like Wingspan, Cascadia, and Parks inside the beautiful EcoCenter, with Baylands trails just outside if anyone needs a stretch between games.
All ages | Free (suggested donation) | Get details

Tales of the Arabian Nights
6:30–7:30 pm | 📍 Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, Palo Alto
Genies, clever tricksters, magical adventures, and an outdoor stage make this one of the Peninsula’s favorite summer traditions. This is the final weekend to catch the show.
All ages | $20 per person | Get tickets

Classical on the Square: Redwood Symphony
7:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Pack lawn chairs or a picnic blanket for a free outdoor concert featuring Dvořák’s New World Symphony and other family-friendly classics beneath the evening sky.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sunday, June 28

Burlingame Fresh Market
9:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Park Road & Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame
Browse fresh produce, flowers, baked treats, and local vendors before wandering Burlingame Avenue for brunch or coffee. An easy, low-key Sunday morning.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Bubble Bonanza at Hiller Aviation Museum
10:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
Experiment with giant bubbles while learning the science behind surface tension through hands-on stations designed especially for curious kids.
Best for ages 3–10 | Museum admission applies | Get details

All Summer Long

SMCL Summer Adventure: Dive Into a Story
June 1–August 31 | 📍 All San Mateo County Library locations
Pick up a free activity log, complete reading and creative challenges, and earn prizes all summer long. There are storytimes, maker events, and activities happening across every San Mateo County Library branch.
Ages 0–18 | Free | Get started

This feels like one of those weekends that doesn’t need much planning. Wander through a new garden, linger at a farmers market, catch a concert after dinner, or simply let the kids explore somewhere new.

However you spend it, I hope you find a little space to slow down.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Akriti

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Our house spent yesterday celebrating a newly minted eight-year-old, so this week’s guide is arriving a little later than usual.

Between birthday cake, family, and trying to soak in the fact that another year has somehow gone by, the newsletters took a back seat for a day. But as we head into the weekend, it turns out there’s plenty worth making time for.

Juneteenth. The summer solstice. Father’s Day.

Three reasons to get outside, slow down a little, and enjoy the start of summer. We rounded up our favorite picks so you can spend less time scrolling and more time enjoying the weekend.

Weekend Pick

East Palo Alto Juneteenth Celebration
Noon | 📍 Bell Street Park, East Palo Alto
Day two of East Palo Alto’s Juneteenth weekend brings the community together with live music, food, dancing, and celebration.
It’s one of the Peninsula’s most vibrant gatherings this weekend and a meaningful way to honor Juneteenth with the whole family.
All ages | Free | Get details

Happening All Weekend

North Beach Festival
11:00 am–7:00 pm | 📍 Columbus Ave & Green St, San Francisco
One of San Francisco’s most beloved street fairs, with artisan vendors, live music, food, and family-friendly activities. A great option if you’re looking for a full day out with plenty to explore.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Friday, June 19

East Palo Alto Juneteenth Jubilee Concert & Dinner
6:00 pm–10:00 pm | 📍 EPACenter, East Palo Alto
The City of East Palo Alto opens its three-day Juneteenth celebration with a community dinner and live performances from Smooth Jazz Alley and Descendant: The Legends of Funk. A joyful evening of music, history, and community.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Saturday, June 20

Redwood City Kiwanis Certified Farmers Market
8:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 500 Block of Arguello St, Redwood City
The oldest and largest farmers’ market on the Peninsula. Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, and plenty of reasons to linger over a Saturday morning.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

Vegetable Gardening for Kids
9:30 am–11:00 am | 📍 Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
Kids will plant summer vegetables and explore Gamble Garden’s edible beds while learning the basics of growing food. A lovely, hands-on start to the first weekend of summer.
Best for ages 12 & under with adult | $16–$20 | Get details

Kids Rock! James Henry’s House of Samba Kids
10:00 am–noon | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Drumming, rhythm, movement, and plenty of audience participation. This free outdoor program turns Courthouse Square into an energetic musical playground.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Juneteenth Storytelling & Music with Kirk Waller
11:00 am | 📍 Redwood Shores Branch Library, Redwood City
Storyteller and musician Kirk Waller shares African and African American folktales through music, movement, and storytelling. An engaging and age-appropriate way to learn about Juneteenth.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Stop Motion Animation Workshop
11:00 am | 📍 Cubberley Community Center, Palo Alto
Kids create their own stop-motion animation films while learning the basics of filmmaking, photography, and design. Registration required.
Best for ages 7–14 | Free | Get details

Together in Pride
11:00 am–3:00 pm | 📍 Civic Center Plaza & Pioneer Park, Mountain View
Live performances, community booths, art projects, lawn games, a Family Fun Zone, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate Pride together.
Joyful, welcoming, and easy to enjoy with kids of different ages.
All ages | Free | Learn more

East Palo Alto Juneteenth Celebration
Noon | 📍 Bell Street Park, East Palo Alto
Day two of East Palo Alto’s Juneteenth weekend brings the community together with live music, food, dancing, and celebration.
It’s one of the Peninsula’s most vibrant gatherings this weekend and a meaningful way to honor Juneteenth with the whole family.
All ages | Free | Get details

Sunday, June 21 • Father’s Day

Paint-A-Plane at Hiller Aviation Museum
10:00 am–noon | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
Kids can paint a real airplane, climb into aircraft cockpits, build paper helicopters, and explore hands-on aviation activities throughout the museum. A standout Father’s Day outing for curious kids and aviation-loving grownups.
Best for ages 4–12 | Museum admission applies | Get details

Burlingame Fresh Market
9:00 am–1:30 pm | 📍 Park Rd at Burlingame Ave, Burlingame
Fresh produce, flowers, prepared foods, and one of the Peninsula’s most pleasant Sunday strolls. Easy to pair with brunch or a coffee nearby.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

Cantor Arts Center | Family Sundays
12:30 pm–3:00 pm | 📍 Stanford University, Stanford
Family gallery tours, hands-on art making, and Art Packs for exploring the sculpture garden. One of the best free arts experiences for families on the Peninsula.
Best for ages 5+ | Free | Learn more

East Palo Alto Juneteenth Gospel Showcase
1:00 pm | 📍 Community Church, East Palo Alto
The final event of East Palo Alto’s Juneteenth weekend features an uplifting afternoon of gospel music and community gathering.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Juneteenth & Father’s Day Concert — Golden Gate Park Band
1:00 pm–2:30 pm | 📍 Spreckels Temple of Music, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
The Golden Gate Park Band celebrates Juneteenth and Father’s Day with gospel, R&B, and classic American favorites in a free outdoor performance.
Bring a blanket and make an afternoon of it.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Little Joy

Summer officially arrives this Saturday.

If your kids still notice things like shadows, bugs, clouds, or how late the sun stays up, take a few minutes after dinner and step outside together.

The sun won’t set until after 8:30 pm this weekend. One of those small seasonal moments that somehow feels bigger when you share it.

Whether your weekend looks like a festival, a farmers market, a backyard barbecue, or simply a slower morning together, we hope you find a little space to enjoy the start of summer.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, grandfathers, father figures, and caregivers celebrating this weekend.

Thanks for being here.

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This is one of those weekends where the calendar feels generous.

The San Mateo County Fair wraps up its centennial run Sunday night, Pride lands in Central Park, the Fillmore hosts California’s biggest Juneteenth celebration, and the Exploratorium launches a new exhibition about life in space.

You don’t need to do it all. One good outing, maybe two, is plenty. Pick what fits your crew and let the rest go.

Happening All Weekend

San Mateo County Fair: Final Weekend
11:00 am – 10:00 pm daily | 📍 San Mateo County Event Center, San Mateo
The centennial “In Bloom” fair closes Sunday night. Carnival rides, racing pigs and ducks, daily Make It & Take It crafts for kids, and a packed stage lineup. Saturday brings Winds of the Pacific with hula and Māori performances, while Sunday’s Día de la Feria finale features Ballet Folklórico, mariachi, and the kids’ champion eating contest.
All ages | Admission varies (kids 12 and under free Friday) | Get details

Life in Space Festival at the Exploratorium
11:00 am – 4:30 pm Sat & Sun | 📍 Exploratorium, San Francisco
The museum’s new summer exhibition opens with a festival weekend. Meet astronomers, hear what Beethoven sounds like on Mars, build a mini Mars rover, and try on a replica astronaut helmet. The exhibition runs all summer, but the festival extras are this weekend only.
All ages | Free with museum admission | Learn more

Friday, June 12

Music on the Square: Shades of Blue
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Redwood City’s free Friday concert series returns with an evening of classic blues. Bring a blanket, grab dinner nearby, and let the kids dance while the sun goes down.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Saturday, June 13

Foster City Farmers Market
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 1010 Metro Center Blvd, Foster City
A relaxed year-round market with fresh produce, flowers, and baked goods. Easy with strollers and close to the Bay Trail if you want to turn it into a longer morning.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

Coastside Farmers Market
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Shoreline Station, Half Moon Bay
Fresh coastal produce, seafood, artisan goods, and ocean air. Pair it with a beach walk and you’ve built a pretty great Saturday morning.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

Second Saturday at Gamble Garden
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
This month’s theme celebrates pollinators and Pride. Expect scavenger hunts, flower crowns, bee crafts, garden tours, and plenty of room to wander.
All ages | Free (registration required) | Get details

Biggest Little Air Show
10:30 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
RC jets, aerobatic helicopters, model rockets, a Coast Guard rescue demonstration, and full-size aerobatic performances. Kids can fly drones inside the museum afterward.
Best for ages 5+ | Tickets required | Get details

Disco Dance Party with DJ Chico Chi
11:00 am | 📍 Library | Parks and Recreation Center, South San Francisco
The Summer Learning Challenge kicks off with music, a photo booth, and a glowing dance floor. Sparkles and costumes encouraged.
Ages 0–11 | Free | Learn more

San Mateo County Pride Celebration
11:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 Central Park, San Mateo
A family-friendly Pride celebration with live performances, food trucks, community booths, and activities for kids under the park’s shady trees.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
11:00 am – 6:00 pm | 📍 Fillmore Street, San Francisco
Live music, a Kids Zone with rides and games, local vendors, food, and community celebration. One of the largest Juneteenth gatherings in California.
All ages | Free | Get details

Rock the Dock: Neon Velvet
3:30 pm – 6:00 pm | 📍 Port of Redwood City, Redwood City
A waterfront Pride dance party with live music, food vendors, lawn chairs, and Bay breezes. An easy afternoon outing that wraps up right around dinner time.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sunday, June 14

San Carlos Farmers Market
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Laurel Street at Cherry Street, San Carlos
A neighborhood favorite with local farms, artisan bakers, fresh flowers, and plenty of people-watching along Laurel Street.
All ages | Free to browse | Learn more

SFMOMA Family Day: Line, Shape, and Color
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 SFMOMA, San Francisco
The museum opens free to families with hands-on art making, storytimes, block building, artist-led activities, and take-home projects throughout the day.
All ages | Free with RSVP | Get details

Viva CalleSJ
10:00 am – 3:00 pm | 📍 Starts near Japantown, San Jose
Six miles of city streets close to cars and open to bikes, scooters, skates, strollers, and wandering feet. Activity hubs along the route make it easy to join for an hour or stay all day.
All ages | Free | Get details

Little Joy

If your kids are the kind who collect treasures everywhere they go, hand them a small paper bag before heading out this weekend and challenge them to bring home three things that remind them of the day.

A flower petal. A ticket stub. A sketch. A funny quote.

Sometimes the smallest souvenirs become the stories they remember most.

Whatever you choose, a last fair corn dog, a flower crown, or six miles of open road, we hope it leaves room for a slow Sunday evening too.

If this guide saved you a planning headache, pass it along to another Peninsula parent. That’s how this little community grows.

Akriti

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Summer is officially here. ☀️

The San Mateo County Fair opened its gates, outdoor movie nights are back, and the Peninsula is starting to slip into that long-day, sunscreen-in-the-car rhythm again.

This weekend can be as full or as simple as you want it to be. A fair day, a pollinator party, bubbles at an aviation museum, or just one good outing before heading home for popsicles and pajamas.

Either way, the season has started. You made it.

Opening Weekend Pick

San Mateo County Fair “In Bloom”
Saturday–Sunday, 11:00 am – 10:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County Event Center
The Peninsula’s biggest summer tradition is back. Carnival rides, Fair Farm animals, live music, maker exhibits, and enough fair food to fully commit to summer mode. Saturday brings Family Pride Day, while Sunday celebrates Asian Cultural Day with performances, art, and food from across the Bay Area.
All ages | $21 adults / $16 youth online, under 5 free | Get tickets

Happening All Weekend

Union Street Festival
Saturday–Sunday, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm | 📍 Union Street, San Francisco
Cow Hollow turns into one giant neighborhood block party this weekend with local artists, live music, food vendors, family activities, and plenty of spots to wander with a snack in hand. Sunday’s annual Waiters Race is especially fun to catch with kids.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Friday, June 5

Family Movie Night: Dogman
7:30 pm (at sunset) | 📍 Mitchell Park, Palo Alto
Palo Alto’s outdoor movie series returns for summer with a relaxed evening under the sky. Bring blankets, easy dinner, and let the kids run around before the movie starts. A simple Friday night that feels very June.
Best for ages 10+ | Free | Learn more

Saturday, June 6

Family Fun Day: Summer Kickoff
10:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Los Altos Community Center
A cheerful mix of crafts, games, scavenger hunts, and low-pressure family activities hosted by Los Altos Parks & Recreation and the library team. Easy to drop into for an hour or stay longer, depending on your family’s energy.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Juneteenth on the Waterfront
11:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 Ferry Building Front Plaza, San Francisco
An early Juneteenth celebration filled with Black-owned small businesses, local food, music, crafts, and community gathering along the waterfront. Easy to pair with ferry watching, playground time, or a slow Embarcadero walk afterward.
All ages | Free entry | Learn more

Magical Bridge Community Partner Day
10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 Magical Bridge Playground, Palo Alto
A full day of inclusive performances, music, art activities, and community partners filling the playground with energy and movement. You could stop by for an hour or easily spend most of the afternoon here.
All ages and abilities | Free | Learn more

Burlingame Library Summer Reading Kickoff
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm | 📍 Burlingame Main Library, Burlingame
The library kicks off summer reading season with outdoor activities, books, and a festive start to the long reading days ahead. A nice hyperlocal option if you want something easy and close to home.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sunday, June 7

Bubble Bonanza at Hiller Aviation Museum
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
Kids can experiment with giant bubbles, bubble shapes, and floating science stations before heading inside to explore aircraft and aviation exhibits. One of those outings that quietly burns a full morning in the best way.
Best for ages 2–10 | Included with museum admission | Get details

Storytime with Anna at The Foster Museum
10:30 am – 11:30 am | 📍 The Foster Museum, Palo Alto
A gentle morning of songs, movement, storytelling, and simple crafts inside one of Palo Alto’s most underrated museums. This week’s theme centers around helping others, with cardboard tube puppet-making for little hands.
Best for ages 0–6 | Free | Register

Magical Music & Motion: Fun with Fernside Dragons
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Magical Bridge Playground, Redwood City
Inflatable dragons, music, dancing, and performers take over one of the Peninsula’s most joyful playgrounds. The kind of event that feels delightfully random and surprisingly memorable once you’re there.
All ages and abilities | Free | Learn more

Pollinator Day at Presidio Tunnel Tops
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 📍 Field Station at Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco
Celebrate California’s native pollinators with scavenger hunts, art stations, community science activities, and nature observation overlooking the Bay. No formal schedule, just a beautiful space to explore at your own pace.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Little Joy

If your weekend ends without making it to a single official event, that still counts.

June is carrying a lot right now. School winding down, calendars filling up, summer logistics beginning to creep in. Sometimes the best part of the weekend is just letting the kids stay outside a little longer after dinner.

Summer has a way of filling itself up quickly. But this weekend felt like a gentle start with fairs opening, music outside again, bubbles floating through museum courtyards, and families slowly returning to parks and plazas after a long school year rhythm.

Thanks for spending part of your weekend with us.

Warmly,
Akriti

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Something about late May gives you permission to loosen the schedule a little.

To stay out longer. To wander a farmers’ market without rushing. To let the kids pick the activity instead of optimizing the day.

This weekend has a little bit of everything: a 75-year-old community festival in Redwood City, coastside artist studios open to the public, free telescope nights, handmade markets, and one very good excuse to finally revisit CuriOdyssey.

You definitely don’t need to do it all.

But this is one of those weekends where the Bay Area really shows off.

Happening All Weekend

St. Pius Festival: Home on the Ranch
Friday, 6:00 pm – Sunday | 📍 St. Pius Catholic Church, Redwood City
A longtime Redwood City favorite celebrating its 75th year with carnival rides, live music, food booths, games, and full neighborhood festival energy. Easy to pop into for an hour, and equally easy to stay much longer than planned.
All ages | Free entry, ride tickets available | Learn more

CoCA Spring Open Studios
Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 Multiple studios from Montara to Half Moon Bay
A self guided coastside art crawl where families can step inside real artist studios and watch painters, ceramicists, and sculptors at work. Makes for a beautiful slow day along Highway 1.
All ages | Free | Learn more

CuriOdyssey
Open daily, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 Coyote Point, San Mateo
One of the Peninsula’s most reliable family outings. Meet river otters, bobcats, foxes, and raptors, then move through hands on science exhibits designed for curious kids who like to touch everything.
Best for toddlers – age 12 | Adults $29.95, Children $24.95, parking extra | Get details

Friday, May 29

Theo Baker: How to Rule the World
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | 📍 Kepler’s Books, Menlo Park
Stanford student journalist Theo Baker discusses the investigation that exposed misconduct by Stanford’s president. A fascinating conversation for teens interested in journalism, media, and power.
Best for ages 12+ | From $11.49 | Get tickets

Redwood Symphony: A Little Night Music
7:30 pm | 📍 Cañada College Main Theater, Redwood City
The West Coast premiere of a new full orchestra arrangement of Sondheim’s beloved musical. Kids under 18 attend free with a paying adult, which makes this a surprisingly accessible family theater night.
Best for ages 10+ | Adults $45, kids under 18 free with adult | Get tickets

Friday Night Stargazing
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm | 📍 Foothill College Observatory, Los Altos Hills
A free observatory night where families can look through a massive telescope at planets, moons, and distant star clusters. Check weather conditions before heading out.
Best for ages 8+ | Free | Learn more

Saturday, May 30

Peninsula Farmers Markets
8:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Multiple Peninsula locations
Saturday market options include Foster City, Millbrae, College of San Mateo, Redwood City, and Half Moon Bay. Peak strawberry season is officially here.
All ages | Free to browse | See markets

Solar Viewing at Foothill Observatory
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Foothill College Observatory, Los Altos Hills
A daytime astronomy session where kids can safely observe sunspots and solar activity through filtered telescopes with volunteers explaining what they’re seeing.
Best for ages 6+ | Free | Learn more

Lakeshore Learning Free Kids Craft
11:00 am – 3:00 pm | 📍 Lakeshore Learning stores, Bay Area
This week’s free drop-in activity is a butterfly bookmark craft using markers and nature-inspired materials. Good for younger kids and an easy addition between larger weekend plans.
Best for ages 3–8 | Free | Find your store

Kevin Wilson with Kate Folk
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm | 📍 Kepler’s Books, Menlo Park
Kevin Wilson discusses his new novel, Run for the Hills, a funny and heartfelt road trip story about unexpected siblings searching for their father across America.
Best for teens + parents | Tickets required | Get tickets

Sunday, May 31

Sunday Farmers Markets
9:00 am – 2:00 pm | 📍 Burlingame, San Carlos, Belmont, Menlo Park + more
Sunday market season is in full swing with fresh fruit, flowers, pastries, and live music across the Peninsula. An easy way to fill a morning without overplanning.
All ages | Free to browse | See markets

Patchwork Show Makers Market
11:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
One of the Peninsula’s best craft markets returns with handmade ceramics, jewelry, art, clothing, small batch food vendors, and live music throughout downtown.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Wishing your family a weekend with a little breathing room in it, whether that looks like a coastside drive, strawberries at the market, or an unexpectedly good afternoon somewhere you almost skipped.

See you out there,
Akriti

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Memorial Day weekend always feels a little softer around the edges. A little less rush, a little more wandering.

This is the kind of weekend for tidepool mornings, farmers market snacks that somehow become lunch, and finding one good thing to anchor the day around. There are brain dissections in a park (yes, really), shadow puppet shows, beach cleanups, live music by the coast, and plenty of low-effort outings if your family energy is somewhere between “let’s do everything” and “please no complicated logistics.”

As usual, use this as a menu, not a plan.

Happening All Weekend

Breakwater Barbecue 6th Anniversary Festival
Friday–Monday, 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm | 📍 Breakwater BBQ, El Granada
Six years on the Coastside, celebrated with live music all four days. Think smoked meats, local acts, ocean breezes, and picnic-table energy, the kind of place that turns a holiday lunch into a real memory. Worth the drive if you’re headed to Half Moon Bay anyway.
All ages | Free entry (food & drinks for purchase) | Learn more

The Three Little Pigs
Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 am & 12:00 pm | 📍 Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, Palo Alto
Storyteller style theater for your youngest, simple sets, lots of wiggles, and a 55-minute runtime that’s just right. Two performances each day. All attendees need a ticket, even babies, so book ahead.
Best for ages 2–6 | ~$15/ticket | Get tickets

CuriOdyssey Museum & Zoo
10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 CuriOdyssey, San Mateo
Open all weekend, and Memorial Day Monday too. Get up close with otters, bobcats, eagles, foxes, and native California wildlife, then explore interactive science stations along the bay.
Best for ages 2–12 | Adults $24.95, Kids $19.95 (+ $6 Parking fee) | Get tickets

Today at Apple: Kids Workshops
11:00 am daily | 📍 Apple Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto
Free drop-in sessions Saturday and Sunday, Making a Theme Song, Code Your First App, Create Comics Inspired by Planet Earth, and more. Popular with the 6–12 crowd, so arrive a few minutes early.
Best for ages 6–12 | Free | Learn more

Saturday, May 23

Free Go Kart Racing + Shadow Puppet Theater
10:00 am – 12:30 pm | 📍 Scaffold Play Lab, Palo Alto
Two events for the price of zero. Older kids build, test, and race real go karts while exploring engineering concepts. Younger ones step into an ocean themed shadow puppet show, with performances at 10:15 am and 11:30 am.
Ages 4–11 | Free | Get tickets

College of San Mateo Farmers Market
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 College of San Mateo, San Mateo
A Peninsula stalwart with hilltop views, fresh produce, seafood, artisan bread, and food trucks. Wide open space and usually live music make this one of the best slow Saturday morning options.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Coastside Farmers Market
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Shoreline Station, Half Moon Bay
A farmer run market in a seaside setting that makes it one of the most scenic on the Bay Area circuit. Peak May picks include strawberries, artichokes, snap peas, and early stone fruit.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Dunes Beach Cleanup with Sea Hugger
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Dunes Beach, Half Moon Bay
A monthly volunteer cleanup that Sea Hugger makes genuinely family friendly. Kids learn ocean stewardship the best way, by doing something about it. Bring reusable gloves if you have them.
All ages | Free | Register

Saturday Storytime at Barnes & Noble
11:00 am | 📍 Barnes & Noble Hillsdale, San Mateo
A weekly drop in for little readers with storytime, crafts, and snacks in a welcoming bookstore setting. Easy, no fuss, and a nice anchor for a slower Saturday morning.
Best for ages 2–8 | Free | Learn more

Sunday, May 24

BioCompass Kids: Brainstorm Expedition
9:30 am – 2:00 pm | 📍 Beresford Park, San Mateo
Don’t skip this one. Real neuroscientists set up an outdoor pop up lab where kids can hold brain specimens, play neuron games, run experiments, and compete at brain trivia with prizes.
All ages | Free (RSVP appreciated) | Register

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Tidepool Exploring
From 8:00 am | 📍 Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Moss Beach
One of the most magical free nature spots on the California coast. At low tide, kids can spot sea stars, crabs, anemones, octopuses, and more in the protected reef.
Best for ages 5+ | Free | Get details

Burlingame Fresh Market
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Park Rd at Burlingame Ave, Burlingame
A Sunday morning stroll on Burlingame Avenue is quietly one of the Peninsula’s best simple pleasures. Seasonal produce, flowers, and local treats, best paired with breakfast nearby.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Menlo Park Farmers Market
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Chestnut St, Menlo Park
A year-round Sunday market in a beautiful neighborhood setting with fresh fish, produce, cheese, flowers, and artisan goods. Consistently one of the Peninsula’s most reliable markets.
All ages | Free | Learn more

A Few Parent Pocket Guide Picks

• If you only choose one nature outing this weekend, make it the Fitzgerald tidepools. Kids remember that kind of thing for years.

• The BioCompass brain event feels like one of those wonderfully random Bay Area experiences that could either become a core memory or a future science obsession.

• Memorial Day weekends can get crowded fast. Earlier mornings will almost always feel calmer.

Wishing you a weekend with at least one truly easy moment in it.

See you out there,
Akriti

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This weekend feels Peninsula in the best way.

San Carlos Hometown Days runs from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon with parades, rides, pancake breakfasts, and the kind of old-school community energy that feels harder to find. Around it, the rest of the calendar fills in beautifully. Baby Prom in Palo Alto. Stargazing in Los Altos Hills. Samba at Magical Bridge Playground. A nature hike at Edgewood with local families.

And if you want to make a day of San Francisco, Laurie Berkner is at the Palace of Fine Arts on Saturday morning.

There’s a little something for every age and every energy level this weekend.

Happening All Weekend

San Carlos Hometown Days

Friday, May 15, 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday, May 16, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday, May 17, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
📍 Burton Park & Downtown San Carlos

One of the Peninsula’s most beloved community festivals returns for three full days of rides, live music, food vendors, local artisans, and warm neighborhood energy. Saturday brings the parade through downtown while Sunday starts with a family fun run and pancake breakfast before the festival continues through the afternoon.
All ages | Free entry; rides, food, and fun run registration extra | Get details

Friday, May 15

Dragons Love Tacos

Multiple showings | 📍 Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View
The wildly popular picture book comes to life on stage with silly humor, bright visuals, and just enough chaos to keep preschoolers completely locked in. A sweet first theater experience.
All ages | Tickets required | Get tickets

Friday Night Stargazing

9:00 pm – 11:00 pm | 📍 Foothill College Observatory, Los Altos Hills
Free public stargazing through a real observatory telescope. Planets, star clusters, and night sky views that feel genuinely magical for curious school-age kids.
Ages 6+ | Free; parking $3 | Get details

Saturday, May 16

College of San Mateo Farmers Market

9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Galileo Parking Lot, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo
A dependable Peninsula favorite for fresh produce, flowers, and local vendors. Stroller-friendly, easygoing, and a nice slower-paced alternative if the parade crowds feel like too much.
All ages | Free entry | Learn more

San Carlos Hometown Days Parade

9:45 am | 📍 Downtown San Carlos
School bands, floats, dancers, and community groups take over downtown before the festival opens. Loud, joyful, and old-school in the best possible way.
All ages | Free | Get details

Solar Viewing at Foothill Observatory

10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Foothill College Observatory, Los Altos Hills
Safely observe the sun through professional solar telescopes and spot sunspots, flares, and solar activity in real time. A surprisingly cool STEM outing.
All ages | Free; parking $3 | Get details

Baby Prom

10:30 am – 11:00 am | 📍 Children’s Library, Palo Alto
Music, dancing, sensory play, and tiny formal outfits for the under-two crowd. This one is exactly as adorable as it sounds.
Ages 0–2 | Free | Learn more

Laurie Berkner: The Greatest Hits Solo Tour

11:00 am | 📍 Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
The queen of children’s music performs all the classics live, including “We Are the Dinosaurs” and “Victor Vito.” Expect lots of dancing, singing, and deeply enthusiastic kids.
Ages 2–8 | Tickets required | Get tickets

Also in SF on Saturday: de Youngsters Day Out at the de Young Museum with free family art-making and performances, plus the Songkran Southeast Asian New Year Festival at Civic Center. Both are worth the trip if you’re already making a city day of it.

South Bay AANHPI Festival

11:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 History Park, San Jose
A vibrant celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage with cultural performances, food trucks, games, crafts, and community booths throughout History Park.
All ages | Free; parking $10 | Learn more

Sunday, May 17

House of Samba Kids at Magical Bridge Playground

11:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Magical Bridge Playground, Redwood City
Live samba music and movement at one of the Peninsula’s most loved inclusive playgrounds. Easy, joyful Sunday energy.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Children’s Business Fair

11:30 am – 2:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Young entrepreneurs run their own booths and businesses for the day. Quietly inspiring for creative and business-minded elementary-age kids.
All ages | Free to attend | Learn more

Little Explorers Nature Club: Edgewood Hike

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm | 📍 Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve, Redwood City
A relaxed, kid-friendly Peninsula hike designed more for connection than cardio. Kids can explore trails at their own pace while parents actually get to finish conversations. This month’s hike includes local nature docents helping guide the group and teach kids about local flora and fauna.
All ages | $15 per parent; kids free | Get details

Super Family Sunday

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm | 📍 Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, Palo Alto
A quieter evening at the museum created specifically for families with children with disabilities and learning differences. Thoughtful, welcoming, and free with registration.
All ages | Free; registration required | Register

Parade in the morning, samba in the afternoon, stars on Friday night. This is a Peninsula weekend doing what it does best.

However much of it you catch, we hope it feels like a breath of fresh air this weekend. See you out there.

— Akriti

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This week got away from me a little. The kind of week where the cup is full enough that things start gently spilling over the edges.

So this guide is arriving on a Friday morning instead of Thursday night, but honestly, that feels fitting for a Mother’s Day weekend issue. A reminder that most of us are carrying a lot right now.

Inside: Powwow drumming under the trees at Stanford, kids painting a real airplane, a waterfront drone show, garden mornings, concerts, crafts, and a few genuinely lovely ways to spend time together without overcomplicating the weekend.

Use this as a menu, not a plan.

Happening All Weekend

55th Annual Stanford Powwow
Fri May 8: booths from 5:00 pm, intertribal dancing 7:00–11:00 pm | Sat May 9: Grand Entries at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm | Sun May 10: 11:00 am–6:00 pm, Grand Entry at 1:00 pm | 📍 Eucalyptus Grove, Stanford
One of the largest student run Powwows in the country returns for its 55th year on Mother’s Day weekend. Three days of intertribal dancing, drum competitions, Native art vendors, traditional food, and Tiny Tots categories that younger kids love watching. Sunday’s Mother & Daughter Honor Song makes for a genuinely moving close.
All ages welcome | Free admission; parking pass may apply | Learn more

Friday, May 8

Disney’s Frozen
7:30 pm | 📍 Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto
Palo Alto Players brings Frozen to the stage for its final weekend. Big songs, full community cast, and all the Elsa energy your household can handle. Best for kids ready for a full musical with an intermission.
Recommended ages 4+; no children under 3 | From $20 | Get tickets

Saturday, May 9

San Francisco Bike Rodeo for Kids
Sessions begin at 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, and 10:30 am | 📍 Stonestown Galleria, San Francisco
Kids get helmet checks, bike inspections, hand signal practice, and a short neighborhood ride with volunteers and mechanics on site. A surprisingly fun confidence builder for newer riders.
Ages 5–17 | Free; registration required | Register

“Almost” Mother’s Day Kids’ Concert
10:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Andy Z and the Andyland Band bring their high energy kindie rock show to the square, along with inflatable play areas and Mother’s Day craft stations. Easy to pair with the History Museum event right next door.
Best for ages 2–10 | Free | Learn more

Family Past Times: Celebrating Moms and Migratory Birds
10:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City
Bird themed crafts, scavenger hunts, and hands on activities take over the courthouse in honor of World Migratory Bird Day. A sweet add on if you’re already at Courthouse Square.
All ages | Free | Learn more

May Second Saturday at Gamble Garden
10:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
Mother’s Day crafts, guided garden walks, storytime, scavenger hunts, and one of the prettiest gardens on the Peninsula fully in bloom for May. Calm and easy in the best way.
All ages | Free; timed registration recommended | Learn more

10th Hungarian Heritage Festival
12:00 pm–10:00 pm | 📍 Twin Pines Park, Belmont
This beloved Peninsula festival celebrates its tenth year with folk dance, live music, traditional food, puppet shows, children’s crafts, and a large cultural marketplace. Festive without feeling overwhelming.
All ages | Adults $20; ages 6–17 $5; under 5 free | Learn more

Hiller Aviation Museum: Starlab Planetarium
Museum 10:00 am–5:00 pm; Starlab shows at 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
Explore cockpits, helicopters, and flight simulators before stepping inside the inflatable Starlab dome for a constellation show. One of those outings that works surprisingly well across age ranges.
Starlab best for ages 5+; museum all ages | Museum admission + $5 Starlab add on | Get tickets

Disney’s Frozen: Relaxed Performance
2:00 pm | 📍 Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto
This relaxed performance welcomes audience movement, noise, and flexibility, with adjusted lighting and lower sensory pressure. One of the most thoughtful theater options around for families who need it.
Recommended ages 4+; no children under 3 | From $20 | Get tickets

Rock on Water + Drone Show
Concert 6:30 pm–8:30 pm; drone show begins at 8:30 pm | 📍 Port of Redwood City, Redwood City
A waterfront Rolling Stones tribute concert turns into a 400 drone light show over the harbor after sunset. There are glow activities and kid zones before the show starts, so arriving early helps.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sunday, May 10 | Mother’s Day

Hiller Aviation Museum: Paint A Plane
10:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
Kids get to help paint a real airplane before exploring the museum’s cockpits and helicopters. Pair it with the San Carlos Farmers’ Market on Laurel Street for a very easy Mother’s Day morning.
Best for ages 3–12 | Museum admission | Learn more

Downtown San Mateo Mother’s Day Pop Up
12:00 pm–2:00 pm | 📍 B Street, San Mateo
Live jazz and free family photos bring a little extra energy to downtown San Mateo for Mother’s Day afternoon. A nice low key option if you want something simple after brunch.
All ages | Free | Get details

Disney’s Frozen: Final Performance
2:00 pm | 📍 Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto
The final performance of the run. Good for families who’ve been meaning to make it happen all spring and finally have the weekend for it.
Recommended ages 4+; no children under 3 | From $20 | Get tickets

Whether this weekend finds you at a Powwow, watching drones over the water, or simply standing beside your child while they paint a real airplane, we hope it gives you a few moments that feel genuinely good.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the parents doing this alongside their kids.

See you next week,
Akriti

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May is finally here, and it arrives in style. This weekend is all about community, parades, festivals, and free events that feel genuinely warm rather than obligatory.

Hidden Villa is shearing its sheep on Saturday, and yes, you can watch and help card the wool. Japantown is celebrating Children’s Day. And somewhere in SF, kids are solving Alice in Wonderland math puzzles in a park on a Sunday.

A little magic for every kind of family.

Happening all weekend

Bank of America Museums on Us
Saturday–Sunday museum hours | 📍 de Young Museum & Legion of Honor, San Francisco
Free general admission for Bank of America cardholders this weekend. Two of SF’s most iconic museums, with plenty of space to wander and explore at your own pace.
All ages | Free (cardholders) | Learn more

Friday, May 1

Free First Fridays, AAPI Heritage Month
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City
A free museum day with a special AAPI Heritage Month theme. Includes a simple hands-on craft for kids and a docent-led tour in a beautiful historic courthouse setting.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Saturday, May 2

Sheep Shearing & Fiber Arts Festival
9:30 am – 3:00 pm | 📍 Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills
Watch sheep shearing up close, then follow the journey from raw wool to finished fabric through interactive stations. Add music, food, and open space for kids to roam.
All ages | $30 (kids under 4 free) | Get details

102nd Annual May Fete Parade & Fair
10:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 University Ave to Heritage Park, Palo Alto
A long-running Peninsula tradition with marching groups, music, and community spirit. Follow the parade to the fair for games, food, and an easygoing afternoon.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Free Comic Book Day
10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County Libraries (multiple locations)
Free comics for all ages while supplies last, from superheroes to manga. Some branches add small activities, making it an easy and low-effort stop with kids.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Japantown Children’s Day Festival
11:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 Sutter Street, San Francisco
A lively outdoor celebration with games, crafts, performances, and a festive atmosphere. Easy to wander through, especially if you’re already in the city.
All ages | Free | Learn more

AAPI Heritage Celebration
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm | 📍 Central Park, San Mateo
Live performances, cultural showcases, and food in a relaxed park setting. It feels more like a neighborhood gathering than a formal event, which works well with kids.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Sunday, May 3

Burlingame Fresh Market
9:00 am – 1:30 pm | 📍 Park Rd & Burlingame Ave, Burlingame
A relaxed Sunday farmers market with fresh produce, baked goods, and space to wander. Pair it with a stroll down Burlingame Ave or an easy brunch nearby.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Plant Sale & Craft Fair
10:00 am – 3:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo Garden Center, San Mateo
Browse plants and local vendors while kids explore a small gardening table and activities. Live music in the background makes this feel easy and festive.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Go-Kart Build & Drive Open House
10:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Scaffold Play Lab, Palo Alto
Kids design, build, and test their own go-karts in a hands-on setup. A great fit for kids who like tinkering, building, and figuring things out.
Ages 6–11 | Free | Get details

Alice in Wonderland Math Quest
11:00 am – 2:00 pm | 📍 Salesforce Park, San Francisco
A playful outdoor puzzle experience where families follow clues and solve challenges across the park. It feels more like a game than a math activity.
Ages 5–12 | Free (RSVP) | Get details

Gifted, Mother’s Day Pop-Up by Masala on Mind
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 📍 Laurel Street, San Carlos
A cozy, thoughtfully curated pop-up with chai, snacks, and small brands. A nice pre–Mother’s Day stop to browse, pick something up, or just slow down for a bit.
All ages | RSVP required | Get details

This weekend leans joyful in a very Bay Area way, parades, nature, hands-on play, and small moments in between.

If something works for your family, pass this along to another parent who’d appreciate it.

Akriti

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Cherry blossom season has one more weekend left in it, and this might be the one to catch it.

Cupertino’s festival is in full swing, Half Moon Bay fills with dream machines, and across the Bay, there’s music, books, and just enough going on to make the weekend feel full without needing a plan.

Pick one thing. Let the rest be a bonus.

Happening All Weekend

42nd Annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival
10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 Memorial Park, Cupertino
A Bay Area favorite with performances, crafts, food, and a lively KidZone. Don’t miss the free kimono try-on inside the Quinlan Center.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Gamble Garden 40th Annual Spring Tour & Marketplace
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
Runs Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25
Tour four private Palo Alto gardens at your own pace, with docents at each stop. Back at Gamble Garden, expect music, demos, and a lively plant sale.
All ages (kids 12 & under free) | Marketplace only: $10/adult; Full garden tour: $45–$55/adult | Get tickets

Pete the Cat the Musical
10:00 am & 2:00 pm | 📍 Children’s Creativity Museum (Creativity Theater), San Francisco
Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26
A high-energy, interactive show with songs, dancing, and a playful story that keeps kids engaged. Book ahead for the best seats.
Ages 2–10 | From $20 | Get tickets

Friday, April 24

Bay Area Dance Week Kickoff, “One Dance”
noon | 📍 Jesse Square, San Francisco
A joyful, all-ages flash dance in the plaza led by Rhythm & Motion. Easy-to-follow moves and a short Soul Line Dance class make it fun for kids.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Saturday, April 25

Generations Day, San Mateo Public Library
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo Public Library, San Mateo
A full day of free programming with story time, live music, a cooking demo, and a community cake-cutting. Drop in anytime.
All ages | Free, no registration needed | Learn more

Love Our Earth Festival
noon – 3:00 pm | 📍 Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School, East Palo Alto
A hands-on Earth Month celebration with crafts, screenprinting, live entertainment, and food trucks. Bring a shirt to print.
All ages | Free | Register

Hansel & Gretel, Peninsula Youth Theatre
11:30 am & 1:30 pm | 📍 MVCPA SecondStage, Mountain View
A modern, one-hour take on the classic fairytale with no intermission. Each show ends with a cast talk-back that kids enjoy.
All ages | $20/person (includes $2 facility fee) | Get tickets

Music@Menlo: Carnival of the Animals
4:00 pm | 📍 The Center for Performing Arts at Menlo-Atherton, Atherton
A lively afternoon of music featuring new and classic pieces inspired by animals. Short, vivid performances keep kids engaged.
All ages | $20–$80 | Get tickets

Sunday, April 26

Family Storytime, Rinconada Library
11:00 am – 11:30 am | 📍 Rinconada Library (Children’s Library), Palo Alto
A cozy storytime with songs, rhymes, and picture books for little ones. A gentle, no-registration start to Sunday.
Ages 0–5 | Free | Learn more

32nd Annual Pacific Coast Dream Machines
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 Half Moon Bay Airport, Half Moon Bay
Over 2,000 vehicles take over the airfield, from classic cars to aircraft. A large kids zone, live music, and food make it a full outing.
All ages | Paid admission (see website for pricing) | Get details

Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros
11:00 am – 3:00 pm | 📍 Parque Niños Unidos, San Francisco (Mission District)
A beloved Mission festival with performances, crafts, and free books for kids. Sensory-friendly time starts in the morning.
All ages | Free | Learn more

Downtown San Mateo Boba Day
noon – 3:00 pm | 📍 B Street between 1st and 3rd Aves, Downtown San Mateo
Downtown fills with boba specials, booths, and family activities. Stop by the live judging or just wander and sample.
All ages | Free to attend | Get details

Spring shows up all at once this time of year, blossoms, festivals, open parks, everything competing for your attention.

You don’t have to do it all. Pick what feels easy, and let that be enough.

If you find something you love, tell us. We’re always looking for the next good weekend plan.

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