San Francisco

Free and low-cost things to do with kids in San Francisco

Plus every Mandarin and Chinese cultural event we can find.

Library storytimes, outdoor music, family swim, and playgroups — one week at a glance, updated twice a day. Look for the lantern.

Friday, September 18

9:00 AM–10:15 AM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F
10:00 AM–11:00 AM — Little Bears MusicThrive City Plaza · ages 0–3
12:00 PM–1:00 PM — Little Bears MusicThrive City Plaza · ages 4–6
1:15 PM–1:45 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesGolden Gate Valley Branch Library
3:00 PM–3:30 PM — Storytime: For PreschoolersMarina Branch Library
5:30 PM–7:00 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Saturday, September 19

10:00 AM–10:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesBernal Heights Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesExcelsior Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPortola Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesSunset Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesMarina Branch Library
12:00 PM–1:15 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F
2:00 PM–2:30 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesChinatown Branch Library
3:30 PM–5:00 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Sunday, September 20

9:00 AM–11:30 AM — Mandarin Playgroup Linda Playground · Piedmont
1:30 PM–2:00 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesParkside Branch Library

Monday, September 21

10:15 AM–10:45 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesWestern Addition Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For BabiesMain Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesOrtega Branch Library

Tuesday, September 22

10:00 AM–11:00 AM — Toddler TuesdaySalesforce Park · Main Plaza
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesMarina Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersPortola Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersBayview Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersNorth Beach Branch Library
11:15 AM–11:45 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersMission Bay Branch Library
3:30 PM–5:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Wednesday, September 23

10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For ToddlersMain Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesExcelsior Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersChinatown Branch Library
2:00 PM–2:30 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesMerced Branch Library
5:30 PM–6:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Thursday, September 24

10:00 AM–10:45 AM — JAMaROO KidsSalesforce Park · Main Plaza
10:00 AM–10:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPotrero Branch Library
10:15 AM–10:45 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesNoe Valley Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPotrero Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For Families Bilingual in English/EspañolExcelsior Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersParkside Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: for FamiliesAnza Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesNoe Valley Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersBayview Branch Library
4:00 PM–5:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Friday, September 25

9:00 AM–10:15 AM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F
10:00 AM–11:00 AM — Little Bears MusicThrive City Plaza · ages 0–3
12:00 PM–1:00 PM — Little Bears MusicThrive City Plaza · ages 4–6
1:15 PM–1:45 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesGolden Gate Valley Branch Library
3:00 PM–3:30 PM — Storytime: For PreschoolersMarina Branch Library
5:30 PM–7:00 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Saturday, September 26

10:00 AM–10:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesBernal Heights Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesExcelsior Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPortola Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesSunset Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesMarina Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesMain Branch Library
12:00 PM–1:15 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F
2:00 PM–2:30 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesChinatown Branch Library
3:30 PM–5:00 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Sunday, September 27

1:30 PM–2:00 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesParkside Branch Library

Monday, September 28

10:15 AM–10:45 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesWestern Addition Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For BabiesMain Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesOrtega Branch Library

Tuesday, September 29

10:00 AM–11:00 AM — Toddler TuesdaySalesforce Park · Main Plaza
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesMarina Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersPortola Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersNorth Beach Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersBayview Branch Library
11:15 AM–11:45 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersMission Bay Branch Library
3:30 PM–5:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Wednesday, September 30

10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For ToddlersMain Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesExcelsior Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersChinatown Branch Library
2:00 PM–2:30 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesMerced Branch Library
5:00 PM–6:30 PM — Mandarin Playgroup Yerba Buena Playground
5:30 PM–6:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Thursday, October 1

10:00 AM–10:45 AM — JAMaROO KidsSalesforce Park · Main Plaza
10:00 AM–10:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPotrero Branch Library
10:15 AM–10:45 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesNoe Valley Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPotrero Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For Families Bilingual in English/EspañolExcelsior Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersParkside Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: for FamiliesAnza Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesNoe Valley Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersBayview Branch Library
4:00 PM–5:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Friday, October 2

9:00 AM–10:15 AM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F
10:00 AM–11:00 AM — Little Bears MusicThrive City Plaza · ages 0–3
12:00 PM–1:00 PM — Little Bears MusicThrive City Plaza · ages 4–6
1:15 PM–1:45 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesGolden Gate Valley Branch Library
3:00 PM–3:30 PM — Storytime: For PreschoolersMarina Branch Library
5:30 PM–7:00 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Saturday, October 3

10:00 AM–10:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesBernal Heights Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPortola Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesSunset Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesExcelsior Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesMarina Branch Library
12:00 PM–1:15 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F
2:00 PM–2:30 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesChinatown Branch Library
3:30 PM–5:00 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Sunday, October 4

1:30 PM–2:00 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesParkside Branch Library

Monday, October 5

10:15 AM–10:45 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesWestern Addition Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For BabiesMain Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesOrtega Branch Library

Tuesday, October 6

10:00 AM–11:00 AM — Toddler TuesdaySalesforce Park · Main Plaza
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesMarina Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersPortola Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersBayview Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersNorth Beach Branch Library
11:15 AM–11:45 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersMission Bay Branch Library
3:30 PM–5:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F
5:00 PM–6:30 PM — Mandarin Playgroup Gene Friend Recreation Center Playground

Wednesday, October 7

10:00 AM–10:30 AM — Family StorytimeSalesforce Park · Main Plaza
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For ToddlersMain Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesExcelsior Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersChinatown Branch Library
2:00 PM–2:30 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesMerced Branch Library
5:30 PM–6:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Thursday, October 8

10:00 AM–10:45 AM — JAMaROO KidsSalesforce Park · Main Plaza
10:00 AM–10:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPotrero Branch Library
10:15 AM–10:45 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesNoe Valley Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesPotrero Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:00 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersParkside Branch Library
10:30 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: for FamiliesAnza Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For FamiliesNoe Valley Branch Library
11:00 AM–11:30 AM — Storytime: For PreschoolersBayview Branch Library
4:00 PM–5:30 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Friday, October 9

9:00 AM–10:15 AM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F
10:00 AM–11:00 AM — Little Bears MusicThrive City Plaza · ages 0–3
12:00 PM–1:00 PM — Little Bears MusicThrive City Plaza · ages 4–6
1:15 PM–1:45 PM — Storytime: For FamiliesGolden Gate Valley Branch Library
3:00 PM–3:30 PM — Storytime: For PreschoolersMarina Branch Library
5:30 PM–7:00 PM — Rec / Family SwimNorth Beach Pool · warm pool, 86°F

Ask the calendar

Skip the scrolling — ask in plain English.

Mandarin or Chinese cultural Library storytime Family swim Free music

We keep this calendar as accurate as we can, but recurring events get cancelled or moved without much notice — especially around holidays. Check with the venue before you go. Spotted something wrong? Tell us at [email protected].

Playdates, but in Mandarin

80+ San Francisco families at rotating playgrounds, where kids hear and speak Mandarin naturally. All levels welcome.

Join the community

About this calendar

We're a group of San Francisco parents, and we built this because we were tired of checking four different websites every week to work out what to do with our kids. It pulls together library storytimes, free outdoor music, family swim sessions, and our own playgroups into one week view. It updates twice a day.

Where the Chinese and Mandarin events come from

The lantern marks anything in Mandarin or connected to Chinese culture — the Chinatown branch library's Chinese storytimes, Lunar New Year events at branches around the city, and our own Mandarin playgroups. These are scattered across different organizations and genuinely hard to find in one place, which is part of why we started keeping this list.

What does it cost?

Most of it is free. Library storytimes, Salesforce Park programming, Thrive City music classes, and our playgroups cost nothing. San Francisco Rec & Park family swim charges a small admission, with scholarships available. We link every event to its organizer so you can check before you go.

Who runs it

Mandarin Playgroup is a free, parent-led community of 80+ San Francisco families. We meet at rotating public playgrounds so kids hear and speak Mandarin naturally — with each other, not just with adults. All levels welcome.