While it does cost a lot to live in the Bay Area, there are quite a few fun things to do for free. Check out these museums, live performances, crafts and more offered at no cost.
Bay Area-wide
Shakespeare in the Park – San Francisco Shakespeare Festival offers free outdoor performances of classic plays each summer in parks around the Bay Area.
Public Libraries – Libraries throughout the Bay Area regularly host arts and crafts events, storytimes, performances and more. Check your local library’s online calendar to see what’s being offered.
Discover and Go – Use your local library card to get free and discounted admission to tons of Bay Area museums and cultural institutions.
East Bay
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive – Free first Thursday of each month and always free for ages 18 and under. 2155 Center St. 510-642-0808.
Oakland Museum of California – Every first Sunday of the month, admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, Natural Sciences, and any Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are free.
Richmond Art Center – Check the website for free family-friendly art activities. 2540 Barrett Ave. 510-620-6772.
Sundays at Hagemann Ranch – This is open the last Sunday of every month except July and December for kids’ crafts and games, a petting zoo and more. 1-4 p.m. 455 Olivina Ave., Livermore.
Marin
Bay Model Visitors Center – This center, which features a huge 3-D, working hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta System, is always free. 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415-332-3871.
Peninsula
Courthouse Square Events – Come summer, Redwood City’s Courthouse Square is the place to be for free live music, weekly movies and more. Check website for dates and times.
Free First Fridays, San Mateo County History Museum – The San Mateo County History Museum is free the first Friday of the month. The “Playing in the Past” preschool activity and tour are currently being offered online. 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. 650-299-0104.
The Reading Bug – The children’s bookstore offers outdoor storytimes every Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. 785 Laurel St., San Carlos. 650-591-0100.
San Francisco
Asian Art Museum – Admission is free the first Sunday of the month. Reservations required. 200 Larkin St. 415-581-3500.
Cable Car Museum – Watch the massive cables pulling historic cars and learn about their history for free. 1201 Mason St.415-474-1887.
California Academy of Sciences – Occasional community free days are offered. See website for details. Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive. 415-379-8000.
Charity & the JAMband – Charity & the JAMband performs free concerts on select dates.
Conservatory of Flowers – First Tuesday of each month. 100 John F. Kennedy Drive. 415-831-2090.
de Young Museum – Every Saturday, the museum offers free general admission to all residents of the nine Bay Area counties. This offer applies only to the permanent collection galleries. Full-price admission to special exhibitions still applies. First Tuesday of each month is free for all. 415-750-3600.
Legion of Honor – Every Saturday, the museum offers free general admission to all residents of the nine Bay Area counties. This offer applies only to the permanent collection galleries. Full-price admission to special exhibitions still applies. First Tuesday of each month is free for all. 100 34th Ave. 415-750-3600.
Randall Museum – This family-focused museum, which includes a caboose, wild native California animals and drop-in activities, is always free. 199 Museum Way, San Francisco. 415-554-9600.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – It offers select free family days and community days and there is always free admission for ages 18 and younger. 151 Third St. 415-357-4000.
Stern Grove Festival – The oldest free summer performing arts festival in the country, the festival includes live music and dance performances. A water main rupture damaged the festival’s location in 2021. Organizers are hoping repairs will be completed for the summer 2022 festival.
South Bay
de Saisset Museum – Located next to Mission Santa Clara, this free museum has a collection of 10,000 objects, including Renaissance, Native American and Spanish Colonial art. Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara. 408-554-4000.
Los Altos History Museum and History House – Learn about the history of the Los Altos area for free. 51 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. 650-948-9427.
The Museum of American Heritage – Visit a 1920s kitchen, an early 1900s store, 1940s radio repair shop and historic gardens. Museum is free with suggested donation of $5. 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. 650-321-1004.
NUMU – New Museum Los Gatos – Free the first Sunday of the month (must register). Kids under 18 are always free. 106 E. Main St., Los Gatos. 408-354-2646.
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum – Traces more than 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz through photos, surfboards and more. Always free. Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, Lighthouse Point, 701 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. 831-420-6289.
Anderson Collection and Cantor Arts Center – Stanford’s fine and modern art museums contain a large collection of Rodin sculptures and other classic and modern works. Visit on Second Sundays for tours and family art-making. Stanford University, 314 and 328 Lomita Drive. 650-723-4177.
