Outdoor activities with kids in Berkeley

What's on for kids in Berkeley

• Family Camping Night

  Thu, Oct 8 · Tilden Regional Park · Ages 4–11

  A fun-filled evening of camping activities, storytelling, and stargazing!

• Event 3

  Fri, Oct 9 · 9:00 PM · Cornerstone · Ages 4–10

  Description of event 3.

• Fall Nature Hike for Kids

  Fri, Oct 9 · 10:00 AM · Aquatic Park · Ages 4–11

  Explore the beautiful trails and learn about nature on our guided hike!

• Berkeley Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow and Indian Market

  Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM · Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park · Ages 4–11

  Join the celebrations of Indigenous culture with music, food, and community activities.

• Gallery+Studio / Echoes of Nature

  Sat, Oct 10 · 11:30 AM · BAMPFA · Ages 6–12

  See how Maren Hassinger incorporates knotting and repetition into her work to make forms that echo natural rhythms and express her commitment to the environment.

• Gallery + Studio / Wind Chime Sculpture

  Sat, Oct 10 · 11:30 AM · BAMPFA · Ages 6–12

  Find echoes of nature in Maren Hassinger’s work as you create a wind-activated sculpture using natural and recycled materials.

• Kids Outdoor Art Workshop

  Sat, Oct 10 · Nature Center · Ages 4–11

  A creative workshop where kids can express themselves through art in nature!

• Kids’ Nature Craft Event

  Sat, Oct 10 · Berkeley Community Center · Ages 4–11

  Join us for a day of crafting with natural materials found in the park!

• Family Bike Ride Along The Bay Trail

  Mon, Oct 12 · 10:00 AM · Bay Trail · Ages 4–11

  Join us for a fun family bike ride on the scenic Bay Trail!

• Community Garden Day

  Tue, Oct 13 · 9:00 AM · Community Garden · Ages 4–11

  Join us for a fun day of gardening activities and nature exploration!

• Rainbow Scavenger Hunt in the Park

  Wed, Oct 14 · Berkeley Park · Ages 4–11

  Join our scavenger hunt and look for colorful treasures in the park!

• Family Gardening Day

  Wed, Oct 14 · Berkeley Community Garden · Ages 4–11

  Get your hands dirty and learn about gardening with the family!

• Harvest Festival at UC Botanical Gardens

  Thu, Oct 15 · UC Botanical Gardens · Ages 4–11

  Celebrate fall with us! Enjoy crafts, games, and more at the beautiful botanical gardens!

• Art in Nature Workshop

  Thu, Oct 15 · 10:00 AM · Nature Center · Ages 4–11

  Get creative with art projects inspired by nature!

• Kids Day in the Park 2026

  Thu, Oct 15 · Berkeley Community Park · Ages 4–11

  Join us for a day of fun activities for kids including games, crafts, and nature exploration! Enjoy the great outdoors and make new friends.

• Family Nature Hike at Tilden Park

  Fri, Oct 16 · Tilden Regional Park · Ages 4–11

  Explore the wonders of nature on this guided family hike through Tilden Regional Park! Perfect for kids!

• Junior Scientists: Nature Exploration

  Sat, Oct 17 · 10:00 AM · Nature Center · Ages 4–11

  Engage in fun activities while learning about the environment!

• Harvest Festival Food Contest

  Sun, Oct 18 · 9:00 AM · Cedar Rose Park · All ages

  Enter the contest to showcase your culinary creations using home-grown ingredients. Categories for individual or group participation.

• Camping Basics for Kids

  Sun, Oct 18 · Berkeley Marina · Ages 6–11

  Learn the basics of camping in this interactive workshop. Kids will learn to set up tents, make s'mores, and explore nature safely.

• Family Nature Walk

  Tue, Oct 20 · Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve · Ages 4–11

  Join us for a guided nature walk, perfect for families looking to explore and learn more about local wildlife in the area.

• Crafting in Nature Workshop

  Thu, Oct 22 · Berkeley Art Center · Ages 4–11

  Get creative with a fun outdoor crafting session! Kids will love making nature-inspired art.

• Fall Colors Hiking Adventure

  Thu, Oct 22 · Tilden Regional Park · Ages 5–11

  Experience the beauty of fall colors on this guided hike designed for kids. Learn about local flora while enjoying the great outdoors.

• Floating Pumpkin Patch

  Sat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AM · 2100 Browning St · Ages 0–12

  A fun community event where kids can float around to find pumpkins!

• SPIDERAMA! Spiders in Your Neighborhood

  Sat, Oct 24 · Tilden Environmental Education Center · Ages 5–12

  How do spiders help us? How do they help our community? Embark on your own family spider experience for our kickoff BOOK FUN program this October and November!

Activity ideas that work any day in Berkeley

• 

  Learn to Juggle

  Learning to juggle is a super satisfying skill to master. You'll start with simple throws and catches, gradually building up to a smooth, rhythmic sequence. It's a fun challenge that helps you focus and develop your coordination. The feeling of keeping those objects in the air is a real confidence boost, and it's a cool trick you can share with friends and family. Start by practicing with scarves, which fall slowly and give you more time to react. Once you're comfortable, switch to soft balls or beanbags, focusing on two-ball patterns before adding a third for the classic cascade. A good tip is to practice against a wall to prevent your props from rolling far away. For an extra challenge, try juggling different sized objects or even juggling while moving.

  9-13 · Indoor/Outdoor · 30 min

  Open
• 

  Dinosaur Fossil Excavation Dig

  Transform your sandbox or a simple tray into a paleontologist's dream. Your little one will love carefully brushing away 'earth' to uncover ancient dinosaur fossils.

  4,5,6,7 · Outdoor · 45 min · About $13–$20

  Open
• 

  Volunteer Together

  Spending a morning volunteering at a food bank, animal shelter, or for a park cleanup helps kids understand the impact they can have on their community. It offers a tangible way for them to contribute, seeing firsthand how their efforts directly benefit others, whether it's helping pack food boxes, caring for animals, or making a local park cleaner. This experience fosters empathy and a sense of responsibility, showing them that even small actions can make a big difference and that they are part of something larger than themselves. Begin by researching local organizations that welcome volunteers, then contact them to understand their needs and sign up for a specific date. Before you go, talk with your child about what to expect and why this work is important. Afterward, reflect together on the experience: what they did, who they helped, and how it made them feel. To stretch this activity, consider making it a regular commitment or exploring other ways your family can support the chosen cause.

  10-13 · Outdoor · 180 min

  Open
• 

  Mini Golf Course in the Yard

  Design and build your very own nine-hole mini golf course right in your yard. Kids love the challenge of transforming everyday items into fun obstacles, and seeing their creative course come to life offers a real sense of accomplishment. It’s satisfying to invent the rules and challenges for each hole, then get to play on a course you’ve engineered yourself. This activity combines outdoor play with creative problem-solving and a bit of engineering. Start by gathering household items like empty boxes, old towels, toy blocks, or even garden hoses to create ramps, tunnels, and barriers. Map out your nine-hole course, perhaps drawing a simple sketch first, then arrange your obstacles. Use an outdoor ball like a tennis ball and a broom or stick as a club. To stretch the activity, create a scorecard for everyone to track their strokes, or challenge yourselves to design a themed course, like a "jungle" or "space" golf adventure.

  9-12 · Outdoor · 90 min

  Open

Questions parents ask about Berkeley

What can you do with a toddler in Berkeley on a rainy day?

Berkeley has an unusually full weekday morning calendar — library storytimes plus hands-on science programs — so a rainy Tuesday is easier here than most Bay Area cities. The indoor list for Berkeley shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Library and community events are free. Campus science and museum programs usually charge per child, and often cap the group size, so book ahead. Anything ticketed links out to the organizer so you can check the price before you go.

How often is this page updated?

Event listings refresh automatically from local sources, so past dates drop off on their own.