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Take in culture at the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival. Photo by Tri Nguyen via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
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4/24/24 - By Sandra Lee

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list. ​

May the 4th be with you! Fans can celebrate all things Star Wars this weekend with a screening of The Empire Strikes Back with the SF Symphony in San Francisco or a walk around the park in Livermore to find Mystical Creatures. 

Bay Area museums are also hosting many kid-friendly events this weekend like the Big Art Weekend at the Bay Area Discovery Museum and de Youngsters Day Out in San Francisco. With spring in full bloom, take a stroll through Half Moon Bay at the Coastal Wildflower Day Festival. 

More Things To Do in San Francisco Bay Area This Week with Kids:

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Enjoy free family-friendly activities at Second Saturday at the Gamble Garden. Photo by Ed Bierman, via Flickr. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Enjoy free family-friendly activities at Second Saturday at the Gamble Garden. Photo by Ed Bierman, via Flickr. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Best Things To Do in San Francisco Bay Area This Weekend with Kids

Film with Live Orchestra: Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back

San Francisco
Thursday - Saturday, May 2 - 4
See one of Star Wars' most popular films, The Empire Strikes Back, on the big screen while the San Francisco Symphony performs the Oscar-winning score live by John Williams.   May the 4th be with you!  READ MORE

Natural Science Days at Gilroy Gardens

Gilroy
Starts Friday, May 3
Bring your little scientist for a day of learning at Gilroy Gardens. With 3 hours of dedicated education, kids will go through 6 grade-appropriate learning stations like looking at the anatomy of a flower, learning which rocks float in water, meeting animals in the food chain, and doing other activities.  READ MORE

Castro Art Walk

San Francisco - FREE
Friday, May 3
The first Friday of every month on Noe St. between Market and Beaver St. turns into an Art event in the Castro district. See the work of local artists, and enjoy live performances, including some of the Castro's top drag talent.  READ MORE

Big Climb San Francisco

San Francisco
Saturday, May 4
It's time to join The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in the fight to cure blood cancers while also getting the chance to climb up and down the iconic steps of Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. Families can head out on a high-energy journey through the ballpark by the bay as you "fly" up steps, down ramps and "around the horn" with incredible views from the upper deck. There's no better way to show your Giants love AND help LLS save lives while taking on the challenge of a lifetime! READ MORE

Star Wars: Mystical Creatures! in Livermore

Livermore - FREE
Saturday, May 4
May the 4th be with you! The galaxy far, far away is full of many strange creatures. Did you know that many of the creatures from Star Wars are based on wildlife found right around here? Take a walk around the park and find the origins of these cool creatures from this awesome world. READ MORE

Family Day at Berkeley Public Library

Berkeley - FREE
Saturday, May 4
This year, for the first time ever, the Bay Area Book Festival is hosting a day for our free family programming. And we’re showcasing it all in a venue that couldn’t be more perfect: the Berkeley Public Library downtown! Bring your little ones, your middle graders, your teens for a full day of interactive, unforgettable fun! READ MORE

2024 Japantown Children's Day Festival

San Francisco - FREE
Saturday, May 4
Bring out the kids and friends to enjoy the annual festival with a ton of activities like fun games and prizes, craft activities, face painting, bounce houses, and more. Festival performances in past years have included stage performances by Japanese taiko group Genryu Arts, the Center's Ito Yosakoi dance group,  acapella singing from MEaN Nikkei Acapella group, kendo (traditional Japanese sword fencing) demonstration by SF Kendo Dojo and more! The festival stage schedule will also include the 2023 Cherry Blossom Queen Court announcing the winners of the festival’s Sakura Art... READ MORE

Free Community Day: The Art of Noise

San Francisco - FREE
Saturday, May 4
To celebrate the opening of Art of Noise, SFMOMA has teamed up with the San Francisco Public Library’s Bay Beats to bring you an unforgettable battle of the bands! An eclectic lineup of six local Bay Beats artists will perform in the Jean and James Douglas Sculpture Garden and play for your vote in various categories. Between sets, enjoy special food and drink available for purchase and free admission to the museum, including the exhibition Art of Noise, which presents more than 800 works exploring the relationship between music and design. READ MORE

Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Hillsdale Mall

Hillsdale - FREE
Saturday, May 4
Get ready to Fiesta! Experience the ultimate Cinco de Mayo Celebration, featuring a Ballet Folklorico performance. Dance to the soulful melodies of a live mariachi band, plus kids activities.  READ MORE

Kids' Day in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz - FREE
Saturday, May 4
Kids can take over downtown Santa Cruz for a day just for them. Performances, demonstrations, discounts, and specials are all on display with families in mind.  Additional activities include performances from The Climbing Trees and Joe Ferrara, free ice cream from Penny's Ice Cream, and complimentary admission to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.  READ MORE

de Youngsters Day Out

San Francisco - FREE
Saturday, May 4
The popular de Young Museum is hosting its annual de Youngster's Day Out, a day filled with art programs, in-gallery activations, and musical celebrations for Bay Area families. Families can enjoy books-on-wheels from the SF Public Library, large-scale artmaking from the Bay Area Mural Project, collage-making tutorials with Favianna Rodriguez, capoeira dance classes, printmaking lessons from Suavecita Press, and live performances from Rene y Familia and students from the SF Unified School District.  READ MORE

Mother's Day Selfie Experience at Jack London Square

Oakland - FREE
Saturday, May 4
Take a Mother's Day selfie with the unique Mother's Day-themed background in Jack London Square in April and May.  READ MORE

Big Art Weekend at Bay Area Discovery Museum

Sausalito
Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5
BADM is hosting a Big Art Weekend in honor of Earth Day, with a ton of family-friendly activities for all ages. Kids can play with bubbles, decorate rocks and add them to the community rock garden, create cardboard flowers, use natural elements to create a work of art, press flowers into clay, enjoy musical performances, and more.  READ MORE

Coastal Wildflower Day Festival

Half Moon Bay - FREE
Sunday, May 5
Celebrate Spring at the Half Moon Bay Wildflower Festival at Francis Beach. With live music, interactive booths, and a native plant sale, this family-friendly event has a ton of activities for kids of all ages.  READ MORE

First Sundays at OMCA

Oakland
Sunday, May 5
Spend the first Sunday of every month at OMCA with free admission, and a discounted rate of $6 for Great Hall exhibits. Families can experience the galleries, shop for local goods at the store, or relax in the beautiful outdoor garden spaces.  READ MORE

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