Have fun with your family with these May events taking place around the Bay Area. For even more items, visit our online calendar.
1
“Hello From Japan”
THROUGH SEPT. 2. Sing karaoke, design adorable kawaii mascots, crawl through a forest, encounter kami spirits and more in a special exhibit that brings Tokyo to San Jose. Included with admission of $18, under 1 FREE.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose
3
Jump and Shake Time
Walkers, toddlers and preschoolers can jump, shake, dance, march and more every other Fri. 10:30am. FREE.
Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library, 1901 Russell St., Berkeley
berkeleypubliclibrary.org/events
Kids Night Out
Kids ages 5-10 can “catch them all” at this Pokemon-themed drop-off event. Pizza dinner included. 6-9pm. $35. Pre-registration required.
Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City
4
Hike for Hope
This annual memorial hike and fundraiser generates support for Hope Hospice with a 4.4-mile route with an optional moderate loop that climbs to a scenic overlook or an easy, flat 1.7-mile stroll. A complimentary barbeque lunch will be served at 11am. 8:30am. $35 adult, $15 ages 13-17, 12 and under FREE.
Del Valle Regional Park, 7000 Del Valle Road, Livermore
Palo Alto May Fete Parade
It’s the 100th anniversary of this annual parade, followed by a community fair at Heritage Park with music, games, prizes, community booths and food trucks. 10am. FREE.
University Avenue, Palo Alto
Morgan Hill Art a la Carte
May the Fourth be with you at this out-of-the-world events with intergalactic arts and crafts, a police car and fire truck, local talent and youth arts exhibition. 11am-2pm. FREE.
The Amphitheater, Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill
facebook.com/events/1055212278922231
5
Music and Wellness
Science, art and wellness converge in a cosmic celebration of sound, light and the transformative properties of music. Create music with water glasses, enjoy a Celestial Sound Oasis in the planetarium and hear the latest research on the impact of intentional listening on well-being. 2:00-5:30pm. FREE with admission of $20, 2 and under FREE.
The Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley
A Perfect Prince and Princess Party
Enjoy a royal mini feast of finger food followed by stories, songs and party games and crafts. The event includes a fun pack of goodies, character meet-and-greet and audience participation. Recommended for ages 4-12. 11am. $35.
The Clubhouse at 3Below Theatres, 288 S. Second St., San Jose
sanjoseplayhouse.org/2024-clubhouse-events
10
Preschool Storytime
Join Librarian Emily for stories, songs and lots of fun for preschoolers and their caregivers at this weekly storytime. 11am. FREE.
Scotts Valley Library, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley
santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/11723502?hs=a
“The Princess and the Pea”
ALSO MAY 11. See this world-premiere adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic for Peninsula Youth Theatre’s Stories on Stage. Times vary. $15.
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts SecondStage, 500 Castro St.,
Mountain View
11
Scout-O-Rama Family Festival
Enjoy more than 100 outdoor activities for boys and girls ages 6-18, including a climbing wall, blacksmithing, obstacle and ropes courses, plus food trucks and more. Scouting experience not necessary. 10am-4pm. $10 per family.
History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose
eventbrite.com/e/family-festival-scout-o-rama-tickets-850993332967?aff=oddtdtcreator
May Madness Car Show and Parade
See the longest-running car show and parade in Northern California, with more than 200 classic and custom cars. 12pm car viewing, music, food and drink; 5pm parade. FREE.
Fourth Street, Downtown San Rafael
17
Jurassic Quest
THROUGH MAY 27. Walk through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods to learn about the creatures that ruled the Earth. In addition to life-like dinosaurs, Jurassic Quest includes largest rideable dinosaurs, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities including a fossil dig and real fossils like T-Rex teeth, a “Triceratots” soft play area, bounce houses and inflatable attractions, photo opportunities and more. $24 and up, under 2 FREE.
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road, San Jose
18
New Ballet Presents “Cinderella”
THROUGH MAY 20. New Ballet performs this classic story ballet with Prokofiev’s beloved score and stunning costumes and scenery. A special one-hour “My Very First Ballet” performance for families with toddlers and preschoolers will take place on Sun. at 11am. $12.50-100.
Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
San Carlos Hometown Days
ALSO MAY 19. Enjoy parades, games, food, drinks, handmade goods, a beer garden, community organizations, live music and more. Festivities kick off with a concert on May 17 at 5:30pm. 10am-5pm. FREE.
Burton Park, 900 Chestnut St., San Carlos
cityofsancarlos.org/hometowndays
San Jose Ao Dai Festival
This festival celebrating Vietnamese art and culture returns with dancers, stilt walkers, fashion, musicians, drummers and more. It is followed by a ticketed indoor fashion show and gala. 2-4pm. FREE.
San Jose City Hall Plaza, 200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose
19
InsectPalooza
Get up close and hands-on with live arthropods from animals from SaveNature.Org’s Insect Discovery Lab, including an Australian Walking Stick and Giant African Millipede. Make insect-inspired art and try a mealworm chocolate chip cookie. Advance tickets available online. 12pm. FREE.
Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota St., San Francisco
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/insectpalooza-tickets-858402183037?aff=oddtdtcreator
Sensory-Friendly Storytime
Families with children experiencing learning challenges or ASD are invited to a sensory-friendly event with stories, songs and crafts before the library opens. 11am. FREE.
Downtown Library, 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City
24
“California: State of Nature”
See the new permanent exhibit opening today that explores the surprising and unexpected connections between species, places and people that enable California to thrive. Visitors will encounter interactive experiences, specimen displays and multimedia featuring ecosystems across California – from redwood forests to deserts to urban environments – and learn how Academy research, Indigenous partnerships and community science initiatives are helping to restore and regenerate these connections for the future. $35-47.95, 2 and under FREE.
California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco
25
Bay Area KidFest
THROUGH MAY 27. Enjoy family entertainment, fascinating traveling attractions,
arts and sports activities for kids, two food courts, nearly 20 kid-friendly rides, plus arts and crafts and other vendors for an additional charge. 10am-6pm Sat.-Sun., 10am-5pm Mon. $9, under 2 FREE.
Mt. Diablo High School, 2450 Grant St., Concord
kidfestconcord.com/bay-area-kidfest
26
Art and Wind Festival
ALSO MAY 27. This annual event features fine arts, crafts and specialty food vendors, three entertainment stages, family amusement zones, professional choreographed kite flying demonstrations and a free kite-making workshop. 11am-6pm. FREE.
Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Boulevard, San Ramon
30
Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”
THROUGH JUNE 30. San Francisco Opera opens its summer season with an energetic and visually stunning staging of Mozart’s timeless fairytale that draws inspiration from early animation, silent film and 1920s cabaret. $26-426, $10 tickets are available to Bay Area residents at sfopera.com/dolby.
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco