We’ve hand-picked these events to spark curiosity and help your child discover their next passion. From robotics and coding to theater and chess, seeing an activity live is the best way to “test drive” a new hobby. Some events—especially technical competitions or STEM challenges—have spectator rules, so be sure to check the official sites for details.
Want more? Jump to Year-Round STEM Learning Events or skip ahead to the April Curious Kids Calendar.
Best Picks This Month (Bay Area STEM Events)
May 4 — Oakland
🔭 Chabot Space & Science Center: Sci-Fi Night (Star Wars)
Age 8+ | Observation & Interactive
A screening of A New Hope in the 70-foot Planetarium dome plus after-hours access to NASA Ames exhibits.
Read more: Chabot Space & Science Center
May 8 — San Jose
🔬 Symphony San Jose: Philharmonia Fantastique
Age 6–18 | Interactive & Observation
A multi-media concerto exploring the science of sound and how instruments work.
Read more: Symphony San Jose
May 10 — San Francisco🎨 Exploratorium Free Admission Day
Age 0–100 | Interactive
Full access to 650+ exhibits exploring perception and light for free. Note: Requires early arrival.
Read more: Exploratorium Calendar
May 1–June 16 — Stanford University
🤖 AI Agents Showcase
Age 10–18 | Observation
Step onto the Stanford campus to see cutting-edge AI systems and student innovation.
Read more: Stanford HAI Events
Read full list hidden Year-Round STEM Events in Bay Area here
May Kids Events in the Bay Area
Best for Skill-Building
May 9 — Sunnyvale
🔧 Repair Café at Sunnyvale Library
If you want your child to learn practical engineering, this is better than any exhibit. Working with tools to fix actual household items builds a "maker" mindset and problem-solving confidence that lasts a lifetime.
Best for Older Kids (10+)
May 1–June 16 — Stanford University
🤖 AI Agents Showcase
For teens, this is the most relevant event. It’s a chance to step onto the Stanford campus and see what the next 10 years of technology looks like before it hits the mainstream.
May 1–3, 2026 — San Jose
🚀 The Tech Interactive: Space Exploration Weekend
Age 5–15 | Best for hands-on + future tech
Celebrate the Artemis program by designing postcards for space and building Mars habitats.
Read more: The Tech Interactive
May 1–31, 2026 — San Francisco
🔬 Exploratorium: AANHPI Heritage Month Science Profiles
Age 6–15 | Observation & Interactive
Discover exhibit pairings that honor historic and contemporary AANHPI scientists and innovators.
Read more: Exploratorium
May 2, 2026 — San Jose
🐾 Wild Science: Who Eats Who? at Happy Hollow
Age 5–12 | Interactive & Education
Explore the energy chain from sun to soil in this hands-on biology program.
Read more: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
May 2–3, 2026 — San Francisco
📖 Exploratorium: Storytime Science for Kids
Age 4–8 | Interactive
Storybook read-alouds followed by related hands-on science activities for younger children.
Read more: Exploratorium Calendar
May 7, 2026 — Oakland
🌌 Astrophotography 101: Intro to the Milky Way
Age 14–18+ | Interactive
Teens learn to photograph the night sky using professional DSLR cameras and software.
Read more: Chabot Astrophotography Workshop
May 9, 2026 — Cupertino🧪 FREE STEM Discovery Day
Age 4–14 | Interactive
Hands-on preview of robotics, engineering, and science builds for young creators.
Read more: STEM Discovery Day Registration
May 16, 2026 — San Francisco
🌱 America Innovates Expo
Age 6–14 | Interactive & Observation
Family-friendly innovation expo showcasing real-world STEM projects and inventions.
Read more: America Innovates
May 16, 2026 — San Jose
⚡ San José Museum of Art: Woven Circuits Workshop
Age 10–15 | Interactive
Learn about "eTextiles" by crafting a woven circuit using conductive thread and LEDs.
Read more: SJMA Calendar
May 16, 2026 — Sunnyvale
🧩 Math-based Puzzles & Play at Sports Basement
Age 5–15 | InteractiveJoin the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival for an afternoon of immersive math games.
Read more: JRMF Events
May 17, 2026 — Berkeley
🦖 Lawrence Hall of Science: $5 Day
Age 4–14 | Interactive
Discounted admission to explore the Outdoor Nature Lab and the 3D Theater.
Read more: Lawrence Hall of Science
May 19, 2026 — San Jose
🤖 Bellarmine Robotics Demo: Rose Garden Library
Age 5–14 | Interactive & Observation
Meet competitive robotics teams and try maneuvering high-tech robots yourself.
Read more: SJ Public Library Events
May 22, 2026 — San Francisco
🌈 Vivid: Immerse Your Senses OpeningAge 4–15+ | Interactive & Sensory
The debut of a high-tech exhibit using projections and sound to explore ecosystems.
Read more: California Academy of Sciences
May 24, 2026 — San Ramon🎨 Art & Wind Festival
Age 5–13 | Interactive
Focuses on the physics of flight with kite-flying and wind-engineering activities.
Read more: San Ramon Art & Wind
Late May (TBA) — Oakland🚀 Space Week
Age All Ages | Interactive
Festival with NASA scientists, rocket launches, and hands-on activities.
Read more: Chabot Space Week
Ongoing Kids STEM & AI Events in the Bay Area
Read full list hidden Year-Round AI & STEM Events in the Bay Area Here
- Tinkering Studio Workshops (Exploratorium, SF): Open daily; hands-on "making" that changes monthly.
- Mission Science Workshop (SF Mission/Excelsior): One of the last "open-door" community labs for building and dissecting.
- Telescope Viewing Nights (Chabot, Oakland): Free every Friday and Saturday night (weather permitting).
- Penguins & Pajamas Sleepover (Cal Academy, SF): Monthly (requires booking months in advance).
- Junior STEAM Club (Calabazas Library, SJ): Regular afternoon sessions for elementary-aged kids.
- AI Engineering Meetups (House of AI, SF): Best for teens 16+ or parents interested in the technical side of AI.
June Kids Events in the Bay Area
June 1, 2026 — Berkeley
🌌 Lawrence Hall of Science: Journey to Jupiter
Entering Grade 2 | Interactive
Summer series launch focusing on planetary exploration and space robotics.
Link: lawrencehallofscience.org
June 8, 2026 — Redwood City
🛥️ Marine Science Institute: Discovery Voyage
Age 5–14 | Interactive
Hands-on marine biology expeditions aboard a 90-foot research vessel.
Link: sfbaymsi.org
June 11, 2026 — San Francisco
🚀 Exploratorium: Life in Space Exhibit Opening
Age 6–18 | Interactive
A summer-long deep dive into the survival science of living off-planet.
Link: exploratorium.edu
June 13, 2026 — San Carlos
🚀 Hiller Aviation Museum: Biggest Little Air Show
Age 5–15 | Interactive & Observation
Drones and scale model aircraft flights demonstrating aviation engineering.
Link: hiller.org
June 15, 2026 — Sunnyvale
🔍 Mad Science: Spy Academy
Age 7–12 | Interactive
Learn the science of decoding, night vision, and forensic evidence gathering.
Link: madscience.org
Late June (TBA) — San Francisco
🎨 Exploratorium: Summer Tinkering SeriesAge 6–16 | Interactive
Weekly deep-dives into mechanical, electrical, and sustainable design projects.
Link: exploratorium.edu
Derivatives & startup experience across 3 continents, including China. Elementary school mom to one very active kid. LSE MSc.
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