Fleet Week | Pleasant Hill Family Events October 8–15

Hi neighbor!

It's Fleet Week, and the Blue Angels are back over the Bay (Karl the Fog permitting). This is such a fun, free event that we look forward to every year.

The air show runs Friday through Sunday from 12–4pm, with the Parade of Ships tomorrow morning. There are also free ship tours today, as well as Saturday–Monday!

Where are your favorite places to watch the air show? Reply back and tell me. I'd love to share a few reader tips!

See you around town,

Jen

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please verify details with the event website to ensure accuracy.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Climb aboard visiting U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships. No strollers or open toe shoes, and adults need a photo ID. Piers 27 and 35, San Francisco.

Stories, songs, and movement for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with their grown-ups.

A free guided tour of this 10 acre garden with a reflecting pool, a wetland full of Pacific chorus frogs, and Bay views; email [email protected] to register. There’s free admission every day they’re open. 70 Rincon Road, Kensington.

Kids build reading confidence by reading aloud to a therapy dog. Concord Library.

Build with Lego and KEVA planks, for ages 5–12. Walnut Creek Library.

Design a jack-o'-lantern in Tinkercad, for ages 10 and up; registration required. Lafayette Library.

Food trucks and live music. Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.

Classic and vintage cars line the downtown streets for the season's final show. Main Street, Martinez.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Enter free between 9–10am and stay as long as you like (last entry is 5:30pm), or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Navy ships sail in from the Golden Gate Bridge toward the Bay Bridge, led by a San Francisco fireboat spraying jets of water. There’s a reviewing stand on the Marina Green in San Francisco, but you can view the parade from most of the waterfront.

The Blue Angels headline, plus the United 777, F-22 Raptor, and more. General admission at Marina Green is free, with paid VIP seating available. San Francisco.

Help put the Little Farm animals to bed. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

Cheer on the Golden Bears against Wake Forest. Underhill Field, Berkeley.

Look at stars and planets through Chabot's historic telescopes, weather permitting. Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland.

Free golf for kids under 13, veterans, and first responders, plus a kids arts table, face painting, and contests. Skylinks at Buchanan Fields, Concord.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Meet firefighters, watch live demonstrations, and visit fire safety booths. Contra Costa County Fire Training Center, Concord.

Free admission and 9am yoga, plus fresh produce and local food vendors for a fee. Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.

Free admission on Saturdays for Bay Area residents (special exhibitions extra); reserve tickets in advance. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Early literacy songs and stories for ages 1–5, plus playtime.

Climb aboard visiting U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships. No strollers or open toe shoes, and adults need a photo ID. Piers 27 and 35, San Francisco.

See how working dogs help find people and protect communities in live demonstrations. Duboce Park, San Francisco.

Family activities, live military band music, and a Service and Safety Expo with emergency response equipment and live demonstrations. SkyStar Wheel and Pier 27, San Francisco.

Meet a resident animal up close. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

Pleasant Hill's first Harvest Festival kicks off with the kids' Stampede food drive parade, followed by a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, petting zoo, kids activities, and live music, with food, beer, and wine for purchase. Crescent Drive, Pleasant Hill.

Beginning readers practice with a licensed therapy dog in 15 minute sessions; call 925-646-9900 to reserve a spot. Martinez Library.

The Blue Angels headline, plus the United 777, F-22 Raptor, and more. General admission at Marina Green is free, with paid VIP seating available. San Francisco.

Drop in and build your own Lego creations. Pleasant Hill Library.

A beginner level adventure campaign for ages 13–18; registration required. Walnut Creek Library.

A short, kid friendly nature exploration. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

A guided walk through California native plants from around the state. Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley.

Help put the Little Farm animals to bed. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

The Mount Diablo Astronomical Society hosts a talk on CubeSats, then offers telescope viewing under dark skies. State park vehicle entry fee may apply. Lower Summit Parking Lot, Mount Diablo State Park.

Look at stars and planets through Chabot's historic telescopes, weather permitting. Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Climb aboard visiting U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships. No strollers or open toe shoes, and adults need a photo ID. Piers 27 and 35, San Francisco.

Family activities, live military band music, and a Service and Safety Expo with emergency response equipment and live demonstrations. SkyStar Wheel and Pier 27, San Francisco.

Nature stories for little ones. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

Guided walks through California native plants from around the state. Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley.

The Blue Angels headline, plus the United 777, F-22 Raptor, and more. General admission at Marina Green is free, with paid VIP seating available. San Francisco.

Senior Day for the Golden Bears against Duke. Underhill Field, Berkeley.

Help put the Little Farm animals to bed. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Last chance to tour the visiting ships, first come, first served (no strollers or open-toe shoes). Pier 35, San Francisco.

High school bands perform to close out Fleet Week. Golden Gate Park Bandshell, San Francisco.

Enter free between 9–10am and stay as long as you like (last entry is 5:30pm), or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Meet live birds of prey with Native Bird Connections, best for elementary age kids and up. Orinda Library.

Free admission all day on the second Tuesday of the month (last entry 5pm). Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Songs, fingerplays, and lap bounces for babies ages 0–1, with playtime after. Walnut Creek Library.

Kids ages 6 and up build reading confidence by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog; registration required. Lafayette Library.

Meet live bats up close at this family friendly show and learn why they matter. Pleasant Hill Library.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Enter free between 9–10am and stay as long as you like (last entry is 5:30pm), or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Stories and songs for 1–3 year olds, offered in two short sessions.

Lively songs and stories for all ages that build early literacy skills.

Stories, songs, and fingerplays for little ones.

Storytime and a craft for toddlers and preschoolers. Pleasant Hill Library.

Drop in studio art time for elementary and middle schoolers. Pleasant Hill Library.

Kids ages 6 and up build reading confidence by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog; registration required. Lafayette Library.

Catch the Golden Bears in an afternoon match against Saint Mary's. Edwards Stadium, Berkeley.

A family friendly movie afternoon at the library. Walnut Creek Library.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Songs, stories, and movement for ages 0–3, followed by playtime.

Read, talk, sing, and play at this weekly storytime for all ages.

Stories, songs, and movement for ages 1–5, followed by playtime.

Stories, songs, and movement for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with their grown ups.

Stories for ages 2–5 with a caregiver, plus stay and play toys.

A magician explores the science behind the everyday magic around us. Moraga Library.

Food trucks and live music. Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.

Have an event to add to future newsletters? Let me know!

Jen