Summer Starts Here
Your Peninsula Weekend Guide • June 5–7
Hi parents,
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