Beach

You worked hard last semester — now it’s time to relax and explore the exciting activities our Bay Area has to offer. Whether you like festivals, hiking, or want to have fun with your family, a lot is happening this summer. Get out there and enjoy!

Festivals and more

Find info on Bay Area Summer Festivals, Fairs, and Block Parties on eventbrite and everfest.

Redwood Grove Summer Concert Series
June – August, Thursdays + Special Tuesdays, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Ticket includes Garden admission before 5 pm — picnics welcome!
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden outdoor amphitheater
Enjoy a magical music experience this summer under towering redwoods in the Berkeley Hills.

Point Richmond Summer Concert Series
June 14 – September 13, 2nd Friday of the month at 5:30 pm
Washington Avenue & Park Place, Point Richmond
An outdoor concert venue is at the corner of Park Place and Washington Avenue in historic downtown Point Richmond. Concerts are held on the second Friday of each Summer month through September, from 5:30 pm to 7:45 pm and feature a diverse range of top-notch musicians. Free.

Alameda County Fair
June 14 – July 7, 2019
Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton
Entertainment, concerts, contests, agriculture, horse racing, carnival, food, and more.

Stern Grove Festival
June 16 – August 18, Sundays at 2 pm
19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, San Francisco
The Stern Grove festival has a great concert line-up. Free.

San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade
Saturday – Sunday, June 29 – 30, 2019
Two days of community engagement and entertainment. On Sunday, the annual Parade kicks off at 10:30 am along Market Street at Beale and ends at Market & 8th Streets in downtown San Francisco [MAP]. Join the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) and and the Gender Equity Resource Center (GenEq), show your pride and register to march with them on Sunday June 30, 2019!

Fillmore Jazz Festival
July 6 – 7, 10 am – 6 pm
Fillmore Street — Jackson to Eddy Streets, San Francisco
Blending art and soul in one of the country’s most unique neighborhoods, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is the largest free Jazz festival on the West Coast. Free.

Gilroy Garlic Festival
July 26 – 28, 10 am – 7 pm
Christmas Hill Park, Miller Avenue and Santa Teresa Boulevard, Gilroy
Great food, chef demos, competitions and tips on cooking with garlic.

Pedalfest 
August 3, 11 am – 6 pm
Jack London Square, Oakland
Pedalfest is a free annual festival, bringing together an estimated 20,000 bike lovers and bike-curious people to Jack London Square. A celebration of bikes, cycling, food, and family, Pedalfest is produced by Bike East Bay to promote bicycling and bike-friendly communities across the East Bay. A day of bicycle shenanigans, an amphibious bike race, dare-devil stunts, art bikes, and live music on a pedal-powered stage. Free.

Berkeley Kite Festival
July 27 – 28, 10 am – 6 pm
Cesar E. Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina
Kites aren’t just for kids anymore. Experience the excitement and artistry of modern kite flying. You’ll find something for everyone, from the Giant Creature Kites as big as houses to the free Kite Making and Candy Drops for kids. Free.

Art + Soul Oakland
July 27 – 28, noon – 6 pm
Downtown Oakland adjacent to the 12th Street/City Center BART station
Listen to great music, dance, buy original arts and crafts. Youth can enjoy hands-on arts activities organized by the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse and the Museum of Children’s Art.

family fare at BAM/PFAFamily Fun

Families at BAM/PFA
Check out BAMPFA, in the galleries, theater, Art Lab, and Reading Room, or at one of the family workshops. There are summer events designed to engage the entire family.

The Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley
Bring your family, friends, and students to our maker events, special exhibit happenings, holiday science parties, trips to other UC Berkeley locales and much more.

California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Science’s current exhibits, shows, tours, special events, and lectures include frolicking penguins and out-of-this-world planetarium shows to scientist chats, nature crafts, and sleepovers, there’s plenty to explore.

Free or Cheap Family Fun in the Bay Area
Bay Area Kid Fun
Red Tricycle
510 Families
funcheapsf
Bay Area Parent

Places to Celebrate Independence Day

East Bay Fourth of July Celebrations
Various Fourth of July celebrations, parades and festivals will take place throughout the East Bay. They range from the Annual Parade in Vallejo to the worldOne Live Music Festival in El Cerrito.

Fourth of July San Francisco Top Activities & Events
Fourth of July in San Francisco is always a busy holiday. You can enjoy fireworks along the waterfront, activities all day at Pier 39 and a ferry ride around the Bay.

 

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Oakland A's Baseball
Oakland A’s Baseball

Oakland Athleticsan American League professional baseball team; schedule can be found here.

San Francisco Giants, a National League professional baseball team; schedule can be found here.

Get Outdoors

The Bay Nature Event Calendar features guided hikes, learn about Bay Area wildlife, enjoy nature festivals, and more!

The Bay Area Hiker website offers a guide loaded with suggestions for great places to visit. Here are just a few to begin to inspire you:

North Bay / Marin
Angel Island State Park
Mount Tamalpais State Park: Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop
Point Reyes National Seashore: Palomarin to Alamere Falls
Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Tomales Bay State Park

East Bay
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Huckleberry Regional Botanic Reserve
Redwood Regional Park
Mission Peak Regional Preserve
Mount Diablo State Park: Donner Canyon Waterfall Loop

Peninsula and South Bay:
Año Nuevo State Park
Castle Rock State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Portola Redwoods State Park
San Bruno Mountain County Park

Bay Hills