10 Things to Do with Bay Area Kids this January (2026)
- Jenine
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 1
In this guide to 10 Things to Do with Bay Area Kids This January, you’ll find the best January events and activities for kids across San Francisco, the Peninsula, the South Bay, the East Bay, and beyond... Think magical light experiences, hands-on museums, animal encounters, whale watching, tide pooling, and easy snow day trips. Save this list for weekend planning, rainy-day backups, and those “what are we doing today?” moments.
Short on time? Use the quick links below to skip to any event.
1-King Tides are coming...
Dates: January 2, 3, 4 (check your local low tide time). These are the next California King Tide dates, which also bring extra-low tides for great tidepool viewing.
What it is: Tidepooling = exploring rocky shoreline at lowest tide (best when it's a negative number) to spot sea stars, anemones, crabs, snails, and more. Go slow, step on bare rock, and never turn your back on the ocean. (High surf/sneaker-wave advisories may apply this week.) It's very important to leave no trace and not touch/ disturb the sea creatures.
Where (great spots & addresses):
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve — Moss Beach • 200 Nevada St, Moss Beach, CA
Bean Hollow State Beach (Pebble Beach lot) — Pescadero • 11000 Cabrillo Hwy, Pescadero, CA
Natural Bridges State Beach — Santa Cruz • 2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA . (Excellent guided tidepooling when tides are ≤2 ft.)
Pro tip: Aim for the lowest tide of the day (ideally a negative number), arrive 20–30 minutes early, wear grippy shoes, and check conditions before you go.
2- Ice Skating: Last Call for holiday ice rinks
Find a list of places to ice skate as well as closing dates--> [ click here for the list ]
3-Holidays at Filoli (Final days!)
Dates: Now through January 11, 2026
What it is: Filoli’s holiday experience includes festive daytime décor (Gilded) and a whimsical train village (Thistlewyck), plus a third experience in the evening (requires separate ticket from daytime events)- “Holiday Lights” walk through glowing gardens.
Addresses:
86 Cañada Rd, Woodside, CA 94062
4-IlluminOdyssey at CuriOdyssey
Dates: Now - Jan 25
What it is: An immersive, interactive winter light experience inspired by the science of light—CuriOdyssey’s Redwood Hall turns into a glowing, hands-on light “forest” with exhibits like refraction, projections, and shadow play.
Address: 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA
5- SF Zoo: Kids get in free all month long
Dates: January 1 - January 31, 2026
What it is: Kids 11 & under get free admission all month with a paid adult ticket (limit 5 kids per adult).
Address: San Francisco Zoo & Gardens- Sloat Blvd. @ the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA
6- Snow Play Adventures
Dates: January - March 2026 (winter season; weather permitting)
What it is: Now is the time to start planning your winter getaway to play at a SNO-park, do some sledding, snow tubing, skiing or snowboarding!
Places to visit to play in the snow: Tahoe, Truckee, Arnold (Calaveras Area), Tuolumne County/ Highway108 (Pinecrest area)
7-Whale Watching
Dates: January - March
What it is: In January, you’re mainly watching for migrating gray whalesn as they travel close to the California coast. Book a whale watching tour or find a shore-based viewing spot
Where: San Francisco: Golden Gate whale watching boat tour (Pier 39) | Half Moon Bay: Whale watching from Pillar Point Harbor (Riptide Charters) | Monterey Bay: Year-round whale watching (Monterey Bay Whale Watch) | Point Reyes: Shore-based whale watching (Point Reyes Lighthouse area)
8- Claude Forever: A Celebration of Life
Dates: January 18, 2026 at 11:00am
What it is: free outdoor community celebration of life packed with stories, speeches, performances, and activities for Claude fans of all ages. After the celebration, head across the street to Cal Academy for special programming, craft activities, and an artisan marketplace featuring commemorative Claude souvenirs available for purchase from local vendors. [ Click here for details ]
Address: Golden Gate Bandshell, Golden Gate Park Music Concourse, San Francisco, CA 94118, between Cal Academy and the de Young Museum
9- New Year Kick off at AVAC in San Jose
Dates: Saturday, January 10 from 9am to 1pm
What it is: Free event -Take turns trying new classes and playing pickleball while the kids burn energy in AVAC’s popular NinjaZone classes which combine ninja skills and obstacle course training. Bonus: complimentary assessments, chair massages, and prizes. Click here for more details: avac.us/nyko.
Address: 5400 Camden Ave [at Kooser Road] | San Jose, CA
10- The Physics Show at Foothill College
Dates: Jan 3, Jan 4, & Jan 10, 2026 (multiple showtimes each day: 10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm)
What it is: A kid-friendly live science show packed with fun, memorable physics demonstrations for kids and families. Tickets are just $6! Best for kids age 5 and up. [ Click here for more details ]
Address: Smithwick Theater, Foothill College — 12345 El Monte Rd, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
11- Napa Lighted Art Festival
Dates: Jan 17 – Feb 15, 2026 (nightly: Sun–Thu 6–9pm, Fri–Sat 6–10pm)
What it is: A free, walkable outdoor light-art festival in downtown Napa featuring ~15 illuminated installations for five weeks, plus projection art on iconic buildings during the first 9 nights. [ Click here for more details ]
Address: Downtown Napa (various sites & buildings).
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