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Kids activities in San Jose

San Jose has the biggest spread of indoor kid space in the Bay Area, which makes it the reliable choice on a hot or wet weekend.

What's on for kids in San Jose

Within a short drive of San Jose

  • Santa Clara City Library Comic Con

    Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM · Santa Clara City Library - Central Park · santa clara · 4 mi away · Ages 0–12

  • St. Mary's Country Fair

    Thu, Oct 8 · 5:00 PM · St. Mary's · los gatos · 8 mi away · Ages 5+

    Join for carnival rides, food, games, and live music! The event promotes community spirit and has something for everyone, including a Kid Zone with arts and games.

  • St. Mary’s Country Fair

    Thu, Oct 8 · 5:00 PM · St. Mary's Church · los gatos · 8 mi away · Ages 5–15

    Join us for St. Mary’s Country Fair featuring carnival rides, food, games, and live entertainment. The event includes a variety of attractions such as the Kid Zone, face painting, mini golf, and fun rides.

  • Kids Knitting (Ages 7+)

    Wed, Oct 28 · 3:00 PM · Los Gatos Library - Children's Room · los gatos · 8 mi away · Ages 7–15

    For ages 7+ only: Join Librarian Robert in the Children's Room and learn to knit! Learn the basic skills to get started on a simple project and practice your stitching.

Activity ideas that work any day in San Jose

  • Fizzing Dinosaur Egg Surprise

    Fizzing Dinosaur Egg Surprise

    Create magical, fizzing dinosaur eggs that hatch in water. A hands-on mix of kitchen science and surprise for any dino-lover. How to make the eggs 1. In a bowl, mix 1 cup baking soda with a splash of water (about 1 tablespoon at a time) until it feels like damp sand and holds together when squeezed. 2. Optional: stir in a few drops of food coloring for colored eggs. 3. Scoop a small handful, press a mini dinosaur toy into the middle, then mold more mixture around it into an egg shape. Squeeze firmly so it holds. 4. Set the eggs on a tray and let them dry — 3–4 hours at room temperature, or overnight for extra sturdy shells. (A low oven at 90°C / 200°F for 15 minutes speeds this up.) How to hatch them 5. Place an egg in a shallow tray or bowl. 6. Slowly pour white vinegar over it (about 1/4 cup per egg) and watch it fizz, foam, and crack open to reveal the dinosaur inside. 7. Pipettes or small spoons let little scientists control the reaction and make it last longer.

    4,5,6 · Indoor · 60 min · About $5–$10

    Open
  • Ocean in a Bottle Sensory Craft

    Ocean in a Bottle Sensory Craft

    Capture the magic of the ocean in a bottle you can hold. We'll add water, oil, and sea creatures to create a calming, swirling seascape.

    4,5 · Indoor · 20 min · About $5–$35

    Open
  • Mini Golf Course in the Yard

    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
  • Create a Family Newspaper

    Create a Family Newspaper

    You and your family can become investigative journalists, reporters, and designers to create your very own family newspaper. This is a chance to tell your family's unique stories, share recent news, and even highlight special achievements. Kids in this age group will enjoy taking on different roles, gathering information through interviews, and seeing their ideas come to life on the page in a creative and tangible way. It’s a great way to practice writing, interviewing, and design skills. Start by brainstorming sections like "Family News," "Local Events," "Interviews," or even "Puzzles." Decide who will be the editor, reporters, and photographers. Gather news and photos, then write short articles and captions. Finally, arrange everything onto a single page using paper, markers, or a simple computer program. To stretch the activity, consider adding a "Letters to the Editor" section for family members to submit thoughts.

    9-13 · Indoor · 90 min

    Open

Questions parents ask about San Jose

What can you do with a toddler in San Jose on a rainy day?
San Jose is the easiest Bay Area city for this: large indoor children's venues plus a library system with storytimes across most branches every week. The indoor list for San Jose shows what's scheduled.
Are these activities free?
Library and city park programs are free; the larger indoor venues are ticketed per person, and weekend slots sell out first. 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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