Kids activities in Santa Clara

What's on for kids in Santa Clara

• Santa Clara City Library Comic Con

  Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM · Santa Clara City Library - Central Park · Ages 0–12

Within a short drive of Santa Clara

• CrimeStery Fest 2026

  Fri, Oct 9 · 4:00 PM · san jose · 4 mi away · All ages

• San Jose | Cupertino Dandiya Nite

  Sat, Oct 10 · 6:00 PM · Mt. Pleasant High School · san jose · 4 mi away · All ages

• (Mon) Music & Movement - Dance Arts Academy

  Fri, Oct 16 · Camden Cmty Ctr · san jose · 4 mi away · Ages 2–4

  A fun introductory class for younger children that combines music and movement activities to enhance physical development and rhythm.

• San Jose International Short Film Festival

  Thu, Oct 22 · 10:00 AM · Cinemark CinéArts Santana Row · san jose · 4 mi away · All ages

• Pickleball @ Paul Moore Park - Skyhawks

  Fri, Oct 30 · Paul Moore Park · san jose · 4 mi away · Ages 8–11

  Engage in exciting Pickleball games for younger players!

• 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.

• Super Family Sundays

  Sun, Oct 18 · Junior Museum & Zoo · palo alto · 12 mi away · Ages 0–12

  A free event when the JMZ is open exclusively to families with children who have disabilities. Children with all disabilities are welcome, as well as parents, siblings, and grandparents. Come meet zoo animals up-close.

• 16th Annual Peninsula Private Elementary School Fair

  Sun, Oct 18 · 11:00 AM · Center for Children and Youth · palo alto · 12 mi away · Age 4

  A unique opportunity to engage in-person with more than 30 schools located on the Peninsula. Families can speak informally with school representatives and find the right fit for their child. Light snacks will be provided.

Activity ideas that work any day in Santa Clara

• 

  Hiking Trail Challenge

  Embark on a hiking trail challenge, where you get to pick a new path to explore and take charge of your own adventure. Packing your own day bag and tracking your distance and elevation provides a sense of independence and accomplishment. It's rewarding to see how far you've traveled and how high you've climbed, using tools like a map, a compass, or a tracking app. This activity encourages self-reliance and builds confidence in navigating the outdoors. To begin, research local trails that are 2-4 miles long and choose one that sounds interesting. Before you go, gather essentials like water, snacks, a first-aid kit, and a way to track your progress. On the trail, pay attention to landmarks and enjoy the natural surroundings. Afterwards, reflect on your journey and consider making a simple journal entry about what you saw and felt. For an extra challenge, try identifying a few plants or birds along the way.

  9-13 · Outdoor · 180 min

  Open
• 

  Learn to Bake Cookies Solo

  Step into the kitchen and bake a batch of delicious cookies all by yourself! This is a chance to show off your growing independence and follow instructions carefully, which feels really good when you see and taste the yummy results. You'll gain confidence in the kitchen and create something tasty to share, or to enjoy as a reward for your hard work. First, you'll choose a simple cookie recipe and read it through, making sure you have all the ingredients. Next, measure everything precisely and mix the dough together. Finally, you'll scoop or shape your cookies and bake them to golden perfection. To stretch this activity, try a recipe with slightly more steps, like adding a frosting or glaze after they cool.

  9-12 · Indoor · 60 min

  Open
• 

  Cardboard Box Spaceship Adventure

  Let's turn a big cardboard box into an interstellar spaceship! We'll decorate our control panel, plot a course for Mars, and blast off.

  4,5,6 · Indoor · 90 min · About $0–$20

  Open
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  Family Trivia Night You Host

  You'll take the lead in hosting a fantastic family trivia night! It's a chance to show off your creativity by designing interesting questions and managing the whole game. Creating your own categories and challenging everyone to think makes this activity especially rewarding, giving you a fun way to share what you know and learn new things together. To start, pick five categories, like "Animal Facts," "Movie Quotes," or "History." Write a few questions for each, making some easy and some trickier. Then, create a simple scoreboard to keep track of points. On game night, you'll read the questions, decide on correct answers, and crown the winning team. To make it extra fun, try adding a "Lightning Round" where questions are asked quickly.

  9-13 · Indoor · 60 min

  Open

Questions parents ask about Santa Clara

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

Santa Clara's central library has a large children's area and runs storytimes most weekday mornings — a better bet than driving to a paid indoor playground. The indoor list for Santa Clara shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Library and park programs are free. The theme-park and museum outings nearby are the ones that need a budget and a booking. 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.