The East Bay Regional Park District offers families drop-in birding walks at Tilden Nature Area. 

Families will take a short walk to look for birds around Jewel Lake and learn about local species with park staff. The activity is designed for all ages. 

Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026 

Time: 9AM - 10AM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Tilden Nature Area-Visitor Center, 1550 Central Park Dr., Berkeley 

Link: Click here for more information. 

The Oakland Public Library is hosting a Lantern Festival celebration in Chinatown. 

Families can enjoy food, performances, a maker market, and other activities suitable for all ages during the Lantern Festival. The event blends seasonal celebrations with cultural expression and community engagement. 

Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026 

Time: 3PM - 8PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Pacific Renaissance Plaza, 388 9th St., Oakland 

Link: Click here for more information. 

Del Valle Regional Park invites families a drop-in wildlife tracking program. 

Families can learn to identify common animal footprints and receive a simple track guide to use during future park visits. Adult participation is required. 

Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026 

Time: 10:30AM - 12:30PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Del Valle Regional Park-Visitor Center, 7000 Del Valle Rd., Livermore 

Link: Click here for more information. 

The Albany Branch is hosting a hands-on fun event  with LEGO, Duplo, and More! 

Participants are invited to drop in and explore their creativity using a variety of building materials. With supplies like LEGO, Duplo, and Straw Connectors provided, all that's needed is imagination. 

Date: Every Monday

Time: 3:30PM - 5PM

Cost: Free 

Location: Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany 

Link: Click here for more information.

Oakland residents are invited to a free family centered playgroup. 

Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center welcomes parents and caregivers with children under 5 to enjoy free play, art, story time, and weekly enrichment activities and access to local resources.

Date: Monday, Wednesday - Friday 

Time: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:30AM - 12PM, Fridays 9:30AM -11AM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Lotus Bloom Downtown, 555 19th St., Oakland 

Room to Bloom, 8711 MacArthur Blvd., Portable B. Oakland 

Link: Click here for more information. 

Enjoy free weekday meals provided by Open Heart Kitchen in Livermore. 

Open Heart Kitchen offers freshly prepared lunches for anyone in need, served Monday through Friday. No reservations are required.

Date: Monday - Friday 

Time: 12PM - 5PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Open Heart Kitchen, 450 N Livermore Ave., Livermore

Link: Click here for more information. 

Pick up free groceries and pantry staples from McGee Avenue Baptist Church in Berkeley. 

The community pantry provides food distribution three days a week and welcomes all community members. Please bring your own bags. 

Date: Every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 

Time: 12PM - 1PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: McGee Avenue Baptist Church, 1640 Stuart St., Berkeley 

Link: Click here for more information. 

The Oakland Public Library is offering families a weekly LEGO building program at the Elmhurst Branch. 

Families are invited to build creative LEGO designs together during an open building session led by library staff. Selected creations may be displayed at the branch for community viewing. 

Date: Every Monday

Time: 3PM - 5PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Elmhurst Branch, 1427 88th Ave., Oakland 

Link: Click here for more information. 

Family Paths invites young parents to join a supportive education program designed to empower families and build healing communities. 

This 10-week series features an evidence-based, interactive curriculum led by a certified facilitator to help caregivers grow their skills. Families who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion and a gift card incentive for their participation. 

Date: Every Monday 

Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM 

Cost: Free or sliding scale for qualifying residents.  

Location: Family Paths, 1727 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, or online (Zoom) 

Link: Click here for more information or call 1-800-829-3777 to register. 

Free groceries are available every Tuesday and Thursday at St. Vincent de Paul Mission San Jose. 

This walk-in food distribution offers bags of fresh produce and pantry items to those in need. No registration is required. 

Date: Every Tuesday & Thursday 

Time: 1PM - 2PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: 43148 Mission San Jose Dr., Fremont 

Link: Click here for more information. 

The Fremont Library celebrates Holi.

The fun art and crafts event includes making custom Holi buttons and a take-home kit with color packets to keep the celebration going in a friendly, family-focused environment.  

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 

Time: 4PM - 5PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Fremont Library-Fukaya Room A & B, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont 

Link: Click here for more information. 

The Oakland Public Library invites fathers and paternal figures to a Father Circle.

Date: Every Tuesday 

Time: 6PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: 81st Avenue Branch Library, 1021 81st Ave., Oakland 

Link: Click here to register. 

TVH provides free groceries for families.

Tri - Valley Haven Food Pantry distributes free groceries to low-income Tri-Valley residents.

Date: Monday - Thursday

Time: 1PM – 5PM

Location: 150 N. L St., Livermore

Cost: Free

Link: Click here for more information.

Pick up free groceries and pantry staples from McGee Avenue Baptist Church in Berkeley. 

The community pantry provides food distribution three days a week and welcomes all community members. Please bring your own bags. 

Date: Every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 

Time: 12PM - 1PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: McGee Avenue Baptist Church, 1640 Stuart St., Berkeley 

Link: Click here for more information. 

The San Lorenzo Library is offering families a drop-in early learning play program. 

Families with children ages 0-5 can play with toys and activities that support early learning and social interaction. Caregivers and children can engage, play and build community. 

Date: Every Wednesday 

Time: 2PM - 3PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: San Lorenzo Library, 395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo 

Link: Click here for more information. 

The Castro Valley Library is inviting families to a storytime that combines music and American Sign Language (ASL). 

Children and caregivers are invited to participate in an interactive signing and music session led by Teacher Bill, author of Signs of a Happy Baby. The program supports early language development by introducing simple signs through themed activities focused on animals, family, and mealtime. 

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 

Time: 10:30AM - 11:30AM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley 

Link: Click here for more information. 

The Oakland Public Library  & MOCHA invites children for a creative hands-on art workshop.

Children ages 5 to 15 and their caregivers are invited to join participate monthly art sessions led by teachers from the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA).  

Date: Every 1st Wednesday 

Time: 2:30PM - 4PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Montclair Branch, 1687 Mountain Blvd., Oakland 

Link: Click here for more information.

Eden Youth Center Hayward Hot Meal Giveaway. 

Eden Youth and 5 Sikh Seva invites anyone in need to come and receive free hot meals and grocery supplies, offered with dignity and compassion. Their community-driven service is open to all - no applications, no restrictions. 

Date: Every Thursday 

Time: 2PM - 4PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Eden Youth, 680 W. Tennyson Rd., Hayward 

Link: Click here for more information. 

Monthly food distribution for Hayward residents. 

4c's of Alameda County in Hayward is offering the city's residents to attend the monthly food distribution, featuring a variety of canned and dry goods, along with nutrition tips and meal-planning ideas. Pre-registration is required due to safety guidelines and limited supplies, and participants are encouraged to bring a shopping bag. 

Date: Every 1st Thursday

Time: 1PM - 3PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: 22351 City Center Dr., Hayward 

Link: Click here to register.

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive  offers free gallery admission.

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) offers free gallery admission on the first Thursday of each month.

Date: Every First Thursday 

Time: 11AM - 7PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: BAMPFA, 2155 Center St., Berkeley 

Link: Click here for more information. 

Free groceries are available every Tuesday and Thursday at St. Vincent de Paul Mission San Jose. 

This walk-in food distribution offers bags of fresh produce and pantry items to those in need. No registration is required. 

Date: Every Tuesday & Thursday 

Time: 1PM - 2PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: 43148 Mission San Jose Dr., Fremont 

Link: Click here for more information. 

Drake’s Dealership invites families to a free drop-in STEM and creative building event. 

Families can build and create with LEGO®, enjoy food and beverages, and learn about after-school programs that bring STEM opportunities to girls in the community. The event offers casual, hands-on fun and ways to get involved with local STEM outreach.  

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026 

Time: 5PM - 8PM  

Cost: Free  

Location: Drake’s Dealership, 2325 Broadway, Oakland 

Link: Click here for more information. 

BANANAS is offering a virtual workshop on understanding and responding to aggressive behavior in children. 

Participants will learn strategies to address behaviors such as hitting and yelling by identifying underlying causes and applying connection-based responses that support regulation and cooperation. The workshop focuses on practical tools to strengthen trust and reduce escalation during challenging moments. 

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026 

Time: 6PM - 8PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Online (Zoom) 

Link: Click here to register. 

Oakland residents are invited to a free family centered playgroup. 

Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center welcomes parents and caregivers with children under 5 to enjoy free play, art, story time, and weekly enrichment activities and access to local resources.

Date: Monday, Wednesday - Friday 

Time: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:30AM - 12PM, Fridays 9:30AM -11AM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Lotus Bloom Downtown, 555 19th St., Oakland 

Room to Bloom, 8711 MacArthur Blvd., Portable B. Oakland 

Link: Click here for more information. 

Oakland Trybe is inviting families with young children to a morning of fun and community at Clinton Park. 

Families with kids ages 0–5 can enjoy a variety of activities including circle time, arts and crafts, music, and dancing. The program provides healthy snacks and offers tons of fun for both parents and their little ones. 

Date: Every Friday 

Time: 10AM - 11AM 

Cost: Free 

Location: Clinton Park, 655 International Blvd., Oakland 

Link: Click here for more information. 

4Cs of Alameda County is hosting a series of playgroups for Hayward caregivers and young children. 

Children ages 3 - 5 and their caregivers will engage in a morning of activities, story time, and movement at this weekly event. This playgroup is specifically designed for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends who provide care for young children. 

Date: Every Friday 

Time: 10AM - 12PM 

Cost: Free 

Location: 4Cs of Alameda County, 22351 City Center Dr., Hayward 

Link: Click here to register.   

The Civic Center Library and East Bay Regional Park District invites families to a nature program. 

Families can learn about the natural world with a park naturalist through guided activities and exploration that encourage curiosity about plants and wildlife. The program is designed for curious minds ages 5 and up and does not require registration.  

Date: Friday, March 6, 2026 

Time: 3:30PM - 4:30PM   

Cost: Free  

Location: Civic Center Storytime Room, 1188 S. Livermore Ave., Livermore  

Link: Click here for more information.