While many consider San Francisco as a destination for Northern California festivals, Bay Area towns have their own annual events that you shouldn't miss - especially when you want your kids to enjoy the fun. Here are three fantastic fetes the whole family will want to celebrate.
Fremont Festival of the Arts
On the last weekend of July, make sure you drive to Fremont to experience the largest free street festival in the West coast. The Fremont Festival of the Arts is a family-friendly fair where everyone can enjoy good food, good music, and lots of fun activities. If you're taking the little ones with you, come early in the morning and take them to Kid City. This fully-interactive section allows kids and parents to play and learn together as they participate in activities that promote healthy lifestyles and citizen development. There are arts and crafts, storytelling sessions, and martial arts demonstrations for everyone to enjoy. Outside of Kid City, there are bazaars featuring local artisans and the popular Gourmet Marketplace, the best source of specialty foods that will make your dinners and barbecues the talk of the town.
King Tut Festival
You don't have to take the family on a vacation to learn all about Egypt and their rich history. Instead, go to Hayward in time for the King Tut Festival, one of best cultural fairs in the Bay Area. If you have a taste for Mediterranean food, you'll feel right at home; the fair has several booths that serve authentic dishes like shish kabob, stuffed grape leaves, and gyros. Once you're done feasting, you can take the kids to enjoy some of the fun games and tours that offer an in-depth view into Egypt's culture, religion, and history. There is also a bazaar section that offers genuine Egyptian art, clothing, and pretty trinkets to take home. Make sure you stop by the photo booth where everyone in the family can dress up like the Egyptian royal family and have a souvenir photo taken. The King Tut Festival only happens one weekend each year, so don't miss this event!
Juneteenth Family Day Parade and Festival
Every year, the cities of Richmond and Concord celebrate the oldest African American holiday with the Juneteenth Family Day Parade and festival. Just to give you a refresher about this important occasion - on June 19, 1865, Gordon Granger enforced the Emancipation Proclamation and ended slavery. Juneteenth celebrations originate in Texas, but 12 states including California now list June 19 as an official holiday. Be part of this joyous celebration and witness the lively parade, followed by a festival in Nichol Park. There's a kids' expo filled with arts activities, fun games, and rides, local vendors selling colorful wares, mouthwatering ethnic food, and two stages that play live music throughout the day.
Sheena West writes for Bay Area for Kids, the social network and family resources guide exclusively for parents living in the Bay Area. To learn more about festivals in the Bay area visit http://www.bayareaforkids.com
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