Free family day
No-ticket or likely-free events that work well as the anchor for a low-cost weekend plan.
Open this plan →San Diego family weekend planner
35 things to do with kids this weekend in San Diego (August 14–16)
Updated August 12, 2026
The weekend of August 14–16 has 35 family events on across 2 San Diego cities, led by culture and zoo programs. The busiest calendars are at The New Children’s Museum and Fleet Science Center. Every listing below comes from the organizer's own calendar, with times, venues, and official links — and the free ones are marked.
35 family events across 2 San Diego cities this weekend — 10 likely free. Biggest clusters: culture (18), zoo (9), museum (5).
35 family events
10 free
2 cities
Animals & nature 9Arts & crafts 7Music & performance 4Story time & books 3Food & markets 3Free only 10
Start with a ready-made plan
Pick a guide preset and FamHop will open it as an editable plan you can share for votes.
Toddler and preschool picks
Shorter, earlier programs with age signals that are easier for little kids.
Open this plan →Indoor backup plan
Libraries, museums, makerspaces, and indoor culture picks for weather or low-energy days.
Open this plan →Low-drive plan in San Diego
A tighter cluster in one city so the day does not become a cross-Bay drive.
Open this plan →Family events in San Diego this weekend: August 14–16
Generated August 12, 2026 from official event sources
Interactive Event Finder
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Showing 35 of 35 events
Friday, August 14
9 events
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Toddler Time
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Materials Lab: Fabrics + Textiles
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Africa Rocks Encounter
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Rady Ambassador Presentation Area
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Wildlife Wonders
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Knot Together
Inspired by the traditional fishing nets and nautical knots featured in To Catch a Fish , our newest Together workshop series, Knot…
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Nat at Night
s, the San Diego Natural History Museum is open until 11 PM just for you.
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Candlelight Concert
s are a series of original music concerts created by Fever aimed at democratizing access to culture by allowing people all over the world…
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The Family Album
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Saturday, August 15
13 events · 5 free
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Fleet Accessibility Mornings
Early access to galleries at 9 a.m. On the third Saturday of every month, we open our doors one hour before the museum opens to the public…
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Art Mart
SDCAMA art shows display the living art of today; you can hold it in your hands and take it into your life.
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Storytime Studio
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Community Art Workshop
Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and…
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House of Panama Lawn Program
Our annual Lawn Program is held every year on the 3rd Sunday of August.
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Thomas Family Day
| 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Join us at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum for a day of Thomas-themed fun for the whole family!
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Africa Rocks Encounter
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Rady Ambassador Presentation Area
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Creation Station: Mural-Making
Join us in the Plaza de Panama just outside the Museum’s front steps for our FREE annual summer Creation Station: Mural-Making Activity .…
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The Family Album
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Wildlife Wonders
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Candlelight Concert
s are a series of original music concerts created by Fever aimed at democratizing access to culture by allowing people all over the world…
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Fairy Tales in the Park
A whimsical, beloved SDCYB tradition that features excerpts of classic tales narrated by a professional storyteller, Fairy Tales in the…
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Sunday, August 16
13 events · 5 free
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America’s Finest City Half-Marathon & 5K
Join us for the 49th annual America’s Finest City Half Marathon & 5K! San Diego’s most scenic half marathon – run from the Cabrillo…
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Cars and Coffee
is where beautiful vehicles and their fabulous owners come together to show off their collection and to share in their mutual interest.
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Tianguis
We invite you to be part of the Tianguis de la Raza.
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A Space for All of Us
Sensory-Friendly Quiet Mornings at the Museum The Museum’s sensory-friendly quiet hours are held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
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Art Mart
SDCAMA art shows display the living art of today; you can hold it in your hands and take it into your life.
Free Official ↗ -
Storytime Studio
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Materials Lab: Fabrics + Textiles
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Africa Rocks Encounter
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Rady Ambassador Presentation Area
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The Family Album
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Sunday Concert
S A relaxed and fun way to enjoy one of San Diego´s most iconic venues.
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Wildlife Wonders
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Behind The Seams: Fashion Past and Present
In collaboration with San Diego Design Week 2026, join the San Diego History Center’s curatorial and interpretive team for a rare…
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Browse by interest
Jump to the kind of weekend you're after — story time, hands-on science, music, the outdoors, and more.
Animals & nature
Zoos, farms, gardens, and wildlife walks to get up close with the outdoors.
- Africa Rocks EncounterSan Diego Zoo - Africa Rocks Stage · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- Rady Ambassador Presentation AreaSan Diego Zoo - Rady Ambassador Presentation Area · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- Wildlife WondersSan Diego Zoo - Wegeforth Bowl · San Diego · Ages 3–12
Arts & crafts
Drop-in making, painting, drawing, and creative studio time.
- Knot TogetherMingei International Museum · San Diego · $45.00 – $55.00 · Ages 3–12
- Art MartPark Boulevard and Presidents Way Lawn · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- Community Art WorkshopBalboa Park · San Diego · Ages 3–12
Music & performance
Concerts, recitals, dance, theater, sing-alongs, and live shows.
- Candlelight ConcertFleet Science Center · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- House of Panama Lawn ProgramHouse of Panama · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- Candlelight ConcertFleet Science Center · San Diego · Ages 3–12
Story time & books
Read-alouds, story hours, rhyme times, author visits, and book clubs.
- Fairy Tales in the ParkCivic Youth Ballet at Casa del Prado Theatre · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- Storytime StudioThe New Children’s Museum · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- Storytime StudioThe New Children’s Museum · San Diego · Ages 3–12
Food & markets
Farmers markets, food trucks, tastings, and cooking fun.
- Nat at NightSan Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- House of Panama Lawn ProgramHouse of Panama · San Diego · Ages 3–12
- TianguisCentro Cultural de la Raza · San Diego · Ages 5–12
STEM & hands-on
Science, coding, robotics, building, and other hands-on, curious-kid programs.
- Knot TogetherMingei International Museum · San Diego · $45.00 – $55.00 · Ages 3–12
- Nat at NightSan Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) · San Diego · Ages 3–12
Active & outdoors
Sports, playgrounds, swimming, biking, and run-around energy burners.
- A Space for All of UsMuseum of Us · San Diego · Ages 3–12
