Ronnie's Awesome List

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50 FREE Things To Do With Kids This June

You don't have to go broke to have fun with the kiddos this summer in the Bay Area. There are TONS of FREE events, festivals, crafts, music, movies, and more for the month of June. 

EVENT LISTINGS ARE CHECKED AT THE TIME OF POSTING BUT SCHEDULES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. LINKS ARE AVAILABLE BELOW TO ALL VENUES FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. PLEASE CONFIRM INFORMATION WITH THE WEBSITE.

  1. Explore the land with an organized tour from Marin Parks & Open Space and Golden Gate Conservancy park rangers.
  2. Worship our water with an awesome waterfall hike.
  3. Sign your child up for a summer reading incentive program at your local library and book stores.
  4. Walk across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
  5. Stroll around one of Marin's precious reservoirs.
  6. Picnic, splash in the waves and build a sand castle at any of our gorgeous beaches.
  7. Catch free children's performers at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival including Alphabet Rockers, Red Panda Acrobats, Chelle and Friends and Circus Bella.
  8. Get up close and personal with Bay Area wildlife at Wildcare in San Rafael.
  9. Stroll through a local farmers market with great live music and festive atmosphere.
  10. Guided City Walking Tours, Contact 557-4266 to discuss which tours are most appropriate for kids.
  11. Head to the Headlands History Hike at the Point Bonita YMCA (6/2).
  12. Tap your toes at the Union Street Music Festival (6/2-3).
  13. Play in the magic gardens at Cornerstone Gardens, Sonoma.
  14. Join a Summer Solstice Celebration at the Children’s Program at Green Gulch Farm and Zen Center (6/3).
  15. Join the Planetary Dance on Mt. Tam (6/3).
  16. Mark your calendar for the Strawberry Festival! (6/3).
  17. Diggn' it at Alameda's Sand Castle/Sculpture Contest on Crown Memorial Beach (6/2).
  18. Chill out anytime at the Maria B. Freitas Water Park in San Rafael. 
  19. Traffic free fun in the Sunset/Golden Gate Park with Sunday Streets (6/11).
  20. Cheer 'em on at the Dipsea Race in Mill Valley (6/10).
  21. Get Smart at the Marine Science Sunday at the Marine Mammal Center (6/10 & 6/24).
  22. Beat the heat at the Bay Model, Sausalito.
  23. Learn to Lindy every Sunday at Golden Gate Park.
  24. Enjoy a full day of music, dance and storytelling at the San Francisco Free Folk Festival (6/9).
  25. Va-room at the Tiburon Classic Car Show (6/16).
  26. Check out the 105 year old steam powered sawmill at Sturgeon’s Mill in Sebastopol. (6/16-17).
  27. Commemoratie the American Civil War on Angel Island (6/16-17).
  28. Channel your inner Italian at the North Beach Festival in San Francisco (6/16-17).
  29. Free kickoff concert at Stern Grove with Jeffrey Osborne and Peabo Bryson (6/17).
  30. Go fly a kite at the Presidio Kite Festival (6/16).
  31. Split a rib at Comedy on the Plaza, Mill Valley (6/20).
  32. Come sail away at the Summer Sailstace (6/23-24).
  33. Head to Tomales Point to see the Tule Elk.
  34. Free 3-day camps at Stern Grove.
  35. Get crafty at the Presidio's Creative Family Fun series every Saturday.
  36. Explore the casting pools, come face-to-face with a buffalo, and more at Golden Gate Park.
  37. Kidchella, Because Kids Get To Rock Too! (6/24).
  38. GeocacheGeocacheGeocache!
  39. BYOC (Bring Your Own Cardboard) to these awesome slides: Golden Gate Park Children’s PlaygroundChildren’s Creativity Playground at Yerba Buena, Seward Street Slides
  40. Take the Crissy Field Mystery Challenge, start at the Warming Hut.
  41. Explore nature at the Richardson Bay Audubon Society in Tiburon.
  42. Learn more about the marsh with the Experience Backpack and Take It Make It Experience Kits at the Mill Valley Library.
  43. Explore the tidepools at low tide on Muir Beach or the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
  44. Free museum days (Tip: some libraries offer day-use museum passes!)
  45. Party on at Friday’s on Main, Tiburon.
  46. Climb up to the Tin How Temple, the oldest of the Chinese temples in SF Chinatown.
  47. Hammer, saw, nail, paint at Adventure Playground.
  48. Feed the animals at The Little Farm in Tilden Park in the East Bay (Tip: they like lettuce best.)
  49. Soak in a perfect summer soundtrack of reggae rhythms and inspiring lyrics with Ziggy Marley (6/24).
  50. Take the elevators at the deYoung Museum's Hamon Education Tower Observation Deck for stunning panoramic views of the city.