25 Free Things to Do in Marin & the Bay Area for Families in August
The Curtain Theatre presents Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost in Old Mill Park in Mill Valley, weekends starting August 15.
August is here—and with it the last few weeks of summer vacation! You don't have to break the bank to have a great time with the kiddos, either! Here are 25 great ideas for affordable activities and outings in Marin and the Bay Area in August, all of which are free or really inexpensive. Keep in mind many of these free activities still require advance registration, so check before you go.
- Step back into the 1920s at the demonstration weekend at Sturgeon's Mill, a restored steam-powered sawmill in Sebastopol, Saturday & Sunday, August 1 & 2, 10 am–3 pm.
- Enjoy live music, movies, and outdoor dining at Live on the Avenue in downtown San Anselmo, Friday & Saturday, August 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29
- Get your skate on at Roller Disco Daze, at Marin Center in San Rafael, Wednesday–Sunday, noon–10 pm, through August 16 (free entry, $5 skate rentals or bring your own).
- Goodie's Back to School Fair in Mill Valley features a petting zoo, arts and crafts, face painting, a bounce house, and more, Sunday, August 2, 10 am–2 pm.
- Go for a swim at McNears Beach pool in San Rafael, open Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm.
- Bring the family for an afternoon of jaw-dropping flips, spins, and freestyle moves at Wednesdays on Stage, Mill Valley Library, August 5, 3:30 pm.
- Explore the Marin Art & Garden Center in Ross, open daily, sunrise to sunset.
- Enjoy Concerts on the Green in Novato with the Big Blu Soul Quartet and Anthony Aria, Friday, August 7 & 21, 6–8 pm.
- Enjoy the last two Creekside Fridays with the Fog City Swampers and Maddy and the Mayors at the Tennessee Valley Cabin. Friday, August 7 & 21, 5:30 pm.
- Meet live owls and enjoy live music and petting zoo at the Nature and Community Fair at Sonoma State Historic Park, Saturday, August 8, 4:30–7:30 pm.
- Native Elements performs a free concert in Belvedere Park, Sunday, August 9, 4–8 pm.
- Take a family hike at Roy's Redwoods, open Monday–Sunday, 12:30–3:30 pm.
- Kids 12 and under get in free to the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa on Thursday, August 13, 11 am–11 pm.
- Celebrate the end of summer with Rock the Block in downtown Novato, featuring live music and local food vendors Thursday, August 13, 6–9 pm.
- Watch Disney's Peter Pan (1953) in the big tent at Marin Country Mart in Larkspur, Friday, August 14, 6–8 pm.
- The Curtain Theatre presents Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost in Old Mill Park in Mill Valley, Saturday & Sunday, August 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 & 30, 2 pm.
- See the Disney movie The Parent Trap (1998) at Marina Green in San Francisco, Friday, August 21, 8 pm.
- Enjoy lion dancers, kids crafts at this year's Heritage Day Festival, China Camp Village, San Rafael, Saturday, August 22, 11 am–3 pm.
- Come to the historic Sonoma Barracks for a campfire, songs, and a marshmallow roast, Saturday, August 22, 7 pm.
- Learn to play beach volleyball with Marin Parks rangers at Upton Beach, Sunday, August 23, noon–2 pm.
- Explore Tilden Park in Berkeley: admission is free at the Nature Area, Little Farm, and Botanic Garden. Open daily.
- Bring the kiddos for Musical Yoga with JAMaROO Kids, at the Larkspur Library, Thursday, August 27, 11 am.
- See Pixar's Ratatouille at Victor Jones Park in San Rafael, Friday, August 28, 6:30–8:45 pm.
- Enter your amazing creations in the Point Reyes Sand Sculpture Contest at Drakes Beach, Saturday, August 29, 9 am–4 pm.
- Club 90 performs a free outdoor concert at the Hamilton Amphitheater in Novato, Saturday, August 29, 5–7 pm.
