Family events in Foster City, CA

Celebrating two decades of live music and community, Downtown Redwood City’s Music on the Square fills Friday nights with a family-friendly mix of rock, reggae, funk, Latin, and soul across a fourteen-week run of free concerts. Performers arrive from around the Bay and beyond, with the season kicking off with a high-energy Santana tribute by Carnaval and wrapping up with the crowd-pleasing pop and soul of Pride & Joy. Pick up a bite from acclaimed nearby restaurants, bring a lawn chair or blanket, and settle in at Courthouse Square to enjoy the show. Please note that glass bottled beverages are not permitted and this policy will be enforced.

This Music on the Square performance features San Francisco Bay Area band Aja Vu honoring the music of Steely Dan and Chicago. Recognized for meticulous recreations, the group leans into layered harmonies and the signature horn sound that defined both acts, pairing Steely Dan’s studio polish and jazz-tinged arrangements with Chicago’s brassy blend of rock, jazz, and pop. The result is a set of familiar favorites delivered with clear respect for the originals. Part of Downtown Redwood City’s Music on the Square, a community tradition celebrating two decades, the season offers fourteen weeks of free concerts spanning rock, reggae, funk, Latin, and soul, showcasing standout artists from the Bay Area and beyond, from Carnaval’s Santana tribute to the pop and soul of Pride & Joy. Guests can pick up food from nearby restaurants, relax on blankets or in lawn chairs, and enjoy the music. Please note that glass bottled beverages are not permitted and this rule is enforced.

Get ready for the 2026 Lobster Cup International at Robotics Fair 2026, where elite FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams will compete in a high-stakes off-season invitational. The event is known for pushing teams with “rule twists” that demand real-time adaptation in both engineering and strategy. Watch the competition, meet other international teams, and catch all the robot action over the two-day fair.

Silicon Valley Robotics Fair 2026 brings together students, families, educators, engineers, founders, investors, and technology leaders for two days focused on robotics and artificial intelligence. Taking place at the San Mateo County Event Center, the fair highlights innovation across the field while offering opportunities to connect and learn. Between 40 and 60 middle and high school robotics teams will compete for the Lobster Cup. Alongside the competition, the program features AI and robot showcases, expert talks, hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, exhibitor booths, and networking. Attendees can discover inventive projects, hear insights from leaders in AI and emerging technology, engage with exhibitors, and take part in practical STEM activities designed for students, families, builders, and the broader Silicon Valley community.

The San Mateo County History Museum transforms the Old Courthouse into a glimpse of Victorian California with free admission for all. Under the museum’s grand stained glass dome, children can enjoy hands-on crafts inspired by the era and set off on a scavenger hunt through the museum. In the restored courtroom, a Victorian fashion show features adults and children in period attire, highlighting styles from the sweeping skirts of the 1850s to the bustles of the 1870s to the Gibson Girl look at the turn of the century. Along the way, discover stories of the Peninsula’s nineteenth-century millionaires connected to these fashions. All garments are part of the museum’s education collection, used for fashion shows and reenactments, creating a family-friendly way to see history come to life.

A lively children’s music series returns with upbeat performances, dancing, and plenty of playful energy for the whole family. Hosting the show is Andy Z, an engaging, high-energy entertainer who keeps audiences moving and smiling. Presented with support from Redwood City’s Public Library and the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, the experience invites kids to groove to live music while parents enjoy the vibrant scene at Courthouse Square. An inflatable play area and other activities add to a safe, welcoming outing focused on music, movement, and connection. The festivities also include SF Bay Area Moms’ Summer Splash, featuring arts and crafts, games, STEM and sensory play, and activities for all ages. Families can pick up a bag of seasonal goodies and connect with trusted local businesses, and arriving early offers the best chance to participate in everything on offer. Taking center stage, Andy Z and the Andyland Band blend songs, stories, movement, and colorful characters to keep young fans captivated and families entertained. Andy Z has appeared on the Pandora Video Series and the Pottery Barn Kids Stylehouse website. The band’s past highlights include Austin City Limits Music Festival, Strings Music Festival, Facebook family events, the San Ramon Art & Wind Festival, Marine Science Institute’s Earth Day on the Bay, Filoli Estate Family Night, and Redwood City’s long-running family series, Kids Rock!, as well as Almost Mother’s Day. Their music has been featured on NBC’s Today Show and has earned honors such as Disney’s iParenting Media Award, the Parent’s Choice Foundation Award, the National Parenting Publications Award, and the Tillywig Top Fun Award.

Reactivity is the most requested training topic, and this accessible seminar focuses on giving you the same foundational guidance you would receive in an initial private training session. It is a practical option if you are waiting for a class opening or a specific time slot, or if you want tools you can begin using right away. This session is for humans only. Managing multiple reactive dogs in a shared space requires extensive coordination, so a people-only format helps you concentrate on the material without divided attention. It also increases available seating and allows for more flexible pricing, making this the most affordable introductory reactivity course offered.

Monster Jam brings larger than life motorsports to Oakland Arena and Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with colossal trucks, huge jumps, and high-energy competition. See 12,000-pound machines balance on two wheels, launch into the air, and tear through freestyle runs. Fan favorites including Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, and Sparkle Smash appear alongside more of the sport’s most recognized trucks for a powerful showcase of skill and spectacle.

Part of the Sounds of the Shores concert series, this show brings live music to the tranquil lagoons of Marlin Park for an easygoing evening by the water. Settle in with friends and family, pack a picnic, lay out a blanket or set up a chair, or pick up dinner from Grillzillas while taking in the waterfront views. Misspent Youth heads up the night with a lively set of rock covers built for outdoor, family-friendly fun. Expect soaring vocals, tight and polished playing, and a steady run of favorites from artists like Journey, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi, Heart, and more that keeps every generation moving until the last song. Regulars on city stages from Foster City to Morgan Hill, the band is known for getting audiences dancing, singing, and swaying to the soundtrack of summer.

Monster Jam brings high-energy motorsports to life with massive 12,000-pound trucks that balance on two wheels and take flight for big air. See fan-favorite machines like Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, and Sparkle Smash in a showcase of jaw-dropping stunts, roaring engines, and action-packed excitement. Designed to deliver fun for all ages, this live experience puts the world’s most popular monster trucks center stage.

Children can settle in for a calm, creative crafting session that introduces a different project each week. Activities include painting, cutting, gluing, and plenty of hands-on fun. After the monthly MOCHA program, the crafting continues with new projects designed for kids.

Off the Grid Foster City brings a weekly waterfront hangout with a changing slate of local food creators serving everything from curbside favorites to sweet treats. Spread out on the lawn for a relaxed picnic feel with plenty of room to eat, unwind, and catch up. Community partners and neighborhood pop-ups join in each week, while live music and other entertainment keep the vibe upbeat. It works just as well for an after-work stop, a casual meet-up with friends, or a family outing, turning the middle of the week into something fun. Expect fresh flavors, good tunes, and easygoing bay views. All ages are welcome, it is pet friendly, free to attend, and there is complimentary parking nearby. Check updates for weekly vendor lineups, featured creators, and special announcements.

Rock rings out at Stafford Park when the Anthony Arya Band takes the Music in the Park stage. Fronted by San Francisco Bay Area artist Anthony Arya, the band blends folk, rock, and pop with impassioned vocals and an engaging live presence, evoking the classic Laurel Canyon vibe in a contemporary way. Arya first reached a wide audience at 16 through NBC’s The Voice and, at 23, is a songwriter recognized with awards who has released four albums. A consistent live performer, he played more than 150 shows in 2024 and 2025, headlining venues and festivals across the West Coast. In February 2026 he shared the acoustic single Sugar On Your Shades, and live versions have drawn over one million views on social media, with additional songs set to roll out ahead of a new album planned for the end of 2026. Music in the Park presents a ten week run of free concerts in a laid back outdoor setting, a welcoming place to spend time with friends and family while enjoying a mix of fresh faces and returning acts throughout the season.

At Raimondi Park, the Oakland Ballers face the Modesto Roadsters in a matchup that celebrates the life and legacy of the late Coach Beam, honoring the contributions he and his family have made to Oakland’s sports community.

Lincoln Summer Nights brings neighbors, families, and friends together at Lincoln Square Park in Oakland Chinatown for an inclusive community gathering. The series invites people of all ages to enjoy the park, celebrate local spirit, share information, and find ways to get involved. Each event centers on connection and fun in a welcoming, open-air setting, offering a relaxed space to meet others, learn what is happening in the neighborhood, and strengthen community ties.

Over a thirteen week run, Courthouse Square transforms into a lively outdoor cinema with free back-to-back films for all ages. Featured is Lilo & Stitch, rated PG, a live action reimagining of Disney’s animated favorite that blends humor and heart as a Hawaiian girl connects with a runaway alien and finds a path toward healing her family. The cast includes Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders, Sydney Agudong, Zach Galifianakis, and Billy Magnussen, with Dean Fleischer Camp directing. The film runs 108 minutes. The series pairs family friendly selections and independent shorts with a later lineup of beloved classics and recent full length releases.

Courthouse Square transforms into an open-air cinema with free double features for all ages. Celebrating 20 years, this series pairs family-friendly selections for kids with Bravemaker independent shorts, then wraps up with a full-length feature. Select nights also bring Soccer on the Square community watch parties, including live FIFA World Cup screenings. Films are presented in high definition with immersive surround sound, and a large LED screen ensures clear views throughout the Square. Arrive early to claim a spot, spread a blanket, and enjoy take-out from nearby restaurants while settling in for laughs, thrills, and indie discoveries.

Courthouse Square turns into a lively open-air cinema each Thursday for a thirteen-week run, offering free double features for all ages. Guests can start with family favorites or independent shorts, then stay for a showcase of iconic classics and newly released full-length films. This screening features Jurassic World: Rebirth (PG-13). Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, covert operations specialist Zora Bennett is recruited to lead a team tasked with securing genetic material from the three most massive dinosaurs in the world. When the mission intersects with a family whose boat capsizes, everyone becomes stranded on an island where a decades-old secret with sinister consequences comes to light. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and directed by Gareth Edwards, the film runs 134 minutes and was released in 2025.