☀️ Seasonal Bucket List: Summer Activities for Families in The Burbs

Long days, warm nights, and that magical window where everything feels just a little slower and sweeter (until the kids start melting down at 4 p.m., of course). Looking to capitalize on that summer energy — fun, free(ish), and totally kid-friendly with just enough chill vibes for parents? We've got you.

Whether you're planning low-key local hangs or mini adventures close to home, we've rounded up the ultimate Summer Bucket List for families living that suburban life. No plane tickets, Pinterest crafts, or impossible expectations required — just fresh air, fun, and enough sunscreen to fill your trunk.

🎶 1. Hit a Free Outdoor Concert or Movie Night

From Civic Park in Walnut Creek to Danville’s Moonlight Movies, the burbs go all in on outdoor entertainment. Pack a picnic, slather on the sunscreen, and bring a blanket for when the day cools down (we can only hope).

Don’t Miss:

• Broadway Plaza’s Summer Concert Series

• Lafayette’s Rock the Plaza Nights

• West Wind Drive-in Movies Concord

  
  
  
  

🍑 2. Pick Your Own Fruit

Peach season? We’re there. Berry season? Say less. Brentwood and Suisun Valley are just close enough for a fun toddler-friendly U-pick day.

Where to Go:

• Bacchini’s Fruit Tree (Brentwood)

• Pease Ranch (Brentwood)

• Pomeroy Farm (Brentwood)

• Three Nunns Farm (Brentwood)

• Airaya U-Pick Farm (Brentwood)

🎡 3. Hit Up a Summer Street Fair or Festival

There’s nothing like a sunny afternoon stroll through a street fair — live music in the background, lemonade in hand, the smell of kettle corn in the air, and booths filled with handmade treasures, face painting, and food truck feasts. These events are often free to enter and packed with local charm.

Can’t-Miss Fairs + Festivals:

• Locust Street Festival Walnut Creek – Once a month (May–August), this downtown block party features live bands, beer + wine garden, and a rotating lineup of food trucks.

• Lafayette Art & Wine Festival – Mid-September brings one of the East Bay’s biggest fests, with live music on multiple stages, a kid zone, and tons of local eats and sips.

• Pleasant Hill Art, Wine & Music Festival – A two-day celebration with artisan booths, a kids’ zone, and outdoor music in the heart of downtown.

• Alameda Art & Wine Faire – This weekend-long event in July brings artists, makers, festival foods, and live performances to the charming island city.

💦 4. Splash Around at Local Spray Parks

Because nothing hits like a splash pad when it’s 90 degrees and your toddler is melting down. These water play areas are free, fun, and stroller-adjacent.

Favorites:

• Heather Farm Park (Walnut Creek)

• Sycamore Valley Park (Danville)

• Meadow Homes Spray Park (Concord)

  
  

🧺 5. Plan a Golden Hour Picnic

Packing dinner and heading outside? Instant parenting magic. Bonus: less cleanup.

Top Spots:

• Shell Ridge Open Space (trails + views)

• Larkey Park (playground + room to spread out)

• Moraga Commons Park (even better on live music nights)

  
  

🚂 6. Ride the Mini Train at Tilden Park

70+ years in operation, and for good reason. The Tilden Park Steam Train is one of our favorite childhood memories that now we get to share with our own. Add in a carousel ride and a stop at Little Farm for an all-day adventure.

Pro Tip: Bring quarters for feeding the goats!

🕶️ 7. Make a Summer Traditions List

Get the kids in on the planning — lemonade stands, backyard movie nights, sleepovers with cousins. Write it down, post it on the fridge, and check off each memory as you go.

🌻 Make the Most of It

The days are long (like… really long), but the seasons fly by. Whether you're filling your calendar or leaving space for slow mornings and impromptu popsicle runs, summer in the burbs has its own kind of magic.

What’s on your family’s summer bucket list? Tag us on Instagram @theburbs_bayarea or drop your favorite local tips in the comments!