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Things to do this weekend with kids in Berkeley

What's actually on in the next few days, with times and ages.

Berkeley runs on library storytimes, hands-on science and campus events, most of them free and most of them mid-morning.

What's on for kids in Berkeley

Activity ideas that work any day in Berkeley

  • Make Candles or Soap

    Make Candles or Soap

    Make something both useful and beautiful: a custom candle or a fragrant bar of soap. Kids at this age enjoy the hands-on process of transforming raw materials into a finished product they can be proud of, or even gift to someone special. The satisfaction comes from choosing their own colors and scents, creating something unique, and seeing it harden into a solid form they can use or display. Gather your ingredients, then carefully melt the wax or soap base with adult supervision. Kids can then mix in their chosen colors and essential oils for a personalized touch before pouring the liquid into molds. Waiting for it to cool and harden is part of the fun. To stretch this activity, design custom labels or packaging for your finished candles or soaps.

    10-13 · Indoor · 75 min

    Open
  • Make Slime Science Lab

    Make Slime Science Lab

    Get ready to dive into the gooey world of slime and become a junior scientist. You’ll experiment with different ingredient ratios to see how they change your slime's stretchiness, bounciness, and overall texture. It's incredibly satisfying for this age group to conduct their own experiments, observe results, and see how small changes can lead to big differences in their creations. You'll gain a hands-on understanding of how materials behave and the importance of precise measurements. First, gather your slime ingredients and basic measuring tools. You'll create several batches of slime, carefully adjusting the amounts of glue, activator, and any other add-ins for each one. Test each batch by stretching, poking, and bouncing it, recording your observations in a notebook. To stretch this activity further, try to create a 'perfect' slime recipe for a specific purpose, like the bounciest or the stretchiest slime.

    9-11 · Indoor · 45 min

    Open
  • Neighborhood Nature Scavenger Hunt

    Neighborhood Nature Scavenger Hunt

    Let's become nature detectives and go on a hunt! We'll look for fuzzy leaves, interesting rocks, colorful flowers, and other natural treasures.

    4,5,6,7 · Outdoor · 45 min · About $0–$5

    Open
  • Fizzy Ocean Potion Lab

    Fizzy Ocean Potion Lab

    Put on your lab coats and mix up some colorful, bubbling potions fit for a mermaid Queen or King. Watch the fun, fizzy reactions!

    4,5,6 · Indoor · 30 min · About $5–$10

    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.
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