Things to do this weekend with kids in Oakland

What's on for kids in Oakland

• Nature Walk for Kids

  Fri, Oct 9 · Redwood Regional Park · Ages 4–10

  Discover local wildlife and plants on a guided nature walk designed for kids.

• Kid's Science Day

  Mon, Oct 12 · Oakland Science Center · Ages 6–16

  Explore the wonders of science with hands-on experiments and demonstrations.

• Craft for Kids

  Wed, Oct 14 · 2:00 PM · Lakeview Branch · Ages 6–11

  Come and get creative with us here at Lakeview! We will be doing a different craft every week. Crafts are geared towards ages 6-11 but younger kids are welcome with an adult present. All supplies are provided.

• Rock and Roll Playhouse: Music of the Beatles for Kids

  Wed, Oct 14 · Henry J Kaiser Center for the Arts · Ages 4–11

  Join us for a fun-filled musical experience for kids featuring the beloved songs of The Beatles!

• Art and Craft Workshop

  Wed, Oct 14 · Oakland Community Center · Ages 5–14

  A fun-filled workshop where kids can create their own artwork using various materials.

Within a short drive of Oakland

• Petting Zoo Day at the Farm

  Thu, Oct 8 · Berkeley Farm · berkeley, ca · 5 mi away · Ages 4–11

  Come meet and pet adorable farm animals!

• Family Camping Night

  Thu, Oct 8 · Tilden Regional Park · berkeley · 5 mi away · Ages 4–11

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

• Event 3

  Fri, Oct 9 · 9:00 PM · Cornerstone · berkeley · 5 mi away · Ages 4–10

  Description of event 3.

• Fall Nature Hike for Kids

  Fri, Oct 9 · 10:00 AM · Aquatic Park · berkeley, ca · 5 mi away · Ages 4–11

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

• Ronobir Lahiri Hip-Hop Sitar 🌺 Chapel of the Flowers

  Fri, Oct 9 · 7:30 PM · Chapel of the Flowers · berkeley · 5 mi away · All ages

• Arts & Crafts Fair for Kids

  Sat, Oct 10 · Berkeley Art Center · berkeley · 5 mi away · Ages 4–15

  An opportunity for kids to share their creative works in this fair.

• Berkeley Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow and Indian Market

  Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM · Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park · berkeley · 5 mi away · Ages 4–11

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

Activity ideas that work any day in Oakland

• 

  Start a Comic Book

  Unleash your inner storyteller and cartoonist by creating your very own comic book. Kids this age love to invent worlds and characters, and seeing their ideas come to life visually is incredibly rewarding. You’ll get to design heroes, villains, or everyday characters, and then craft a short, exciting narrative that’s entirely your own. It's satisfying to hold a finished story you imagined and drew yourself. First, brainstorm your characters and a simple plot. Then, sketch out a few comic panels on paper, focusing on the action and expressions. Add dialogue and narration using speech bubbles and captions. Once your pages are complete, you can staple them together to form a mini-comic. For a longer project, try expanding your story into multiple issues or even designing a unique cover.

  9-13 · Indoor · 90 min

  Open
• 

  Paper Plate Animal Masks

  Who do you want to be today? A roaring lion, a cute bunny, or a hooting owl? Let's turn simple paper plates into amazing animal masks.

  4,5,6 · Indoor · 45 min · About $5–$15

  Open
• 

  Family Band Marching Parade

  Let's make some noise! We'll grab our instruments, or make our own, and march around the house or yard playing our favorite songs.

  4,5,6 · Indoor/Outdoor · 25 min · About $22–$30

  Open
• 

  Pretend Play Grocery Store

  Welcome to our family grocery store! We'll gather food from the pantry, make price tags, and take turns being the shopper and the cashier.

  4,5 · Indoor · 50 min · About $5–$10

  Open

Questions parents ask about Oakland

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

Oakland's branch libraries are the fallback most parents use: short storytimes, free, and close enough to home that a wet walk back isn't a disaster. The indoor list for Oakland shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Most of what's listed here — lake paths, markets, library programs — costs nothing. Ticketed indoor play spaces are the expensive part of an Oakland rainy day. 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.