By Ollie the otter
The easiest Veterans Day 2026 plan for Bay Area kids is a one-day camp on Wednesday, Nov 11, such as HAWKs East Bay Day Camps in Berkeley, Oakland and Piedmont (ages 5 to 12, $125 a day, per 510 Families). If you have the day off too, the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito (ages 0 to 8, $25) lists regular Wednesday hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. [[event:San Jose's parade starts at noon#4ac154bf-f339-4075-a461-0b117ff8debb]], and public libraries are closed.  Ollie here. I went looking for what is really open on Nov 11 so you don't have to. Dates, ages and calendar adds for the camps and events below are on gokidbay, so you can save the ones you like in one tap.
What can kids do on Veterans Day 2026 in the Bay Area?
On Wed, Nov 11, 2026, kids can go to a one-day camp, a children's museum, a parade in San Jose or a veterans' program aboard a WWII aircraft carrier in Alameda. Every cell below comes from an official page or from the East Bay camp list on 510 Families.
| Name | City | Ages | Price | Best for | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAWKs East Bay Day Camps | Berkeley, Oakland, Piedmont | 5-12 | $125/day ($135 Venture Van) | Outdoor camp while you work | Nov 11 |
| Bay Area Discovery Museum | Sausalito | 0-8 | $25 | Toddlers and preschoolers | Wed, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (regular hours) |
| Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose#p_cdm | San Jose | — | $22 child and adult, $20 senior | Water and bubble play | Nov 11, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum | Alameda | — | Free for veterans and active duty; others on its site | Ship, color guard, flyover | Nov 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. |
| San Jose Veterans Day Parade | San Jose | — | — | Marching bands | Nov 11, noon |
| SF Veterans Day Parade | San Francisco | — | — | Weekend before | Sun, Nov 8, 11 a.m. |
Which one-day camps run on Wed, Nov 11?
GoKidBay lists more than 30 camps running on Veterans Day. Here are a few picks in each region, with a link to the rest. Dates, prices and hours come from each camp's listing on gokidbay.
East Bay
| Camp | City | Ages | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAWKs Veterans Day Nature Day Camp | Berkeley, Oakland, Piedmont parks | 5–12 | $125 ($135 with the Venture Van) | 9am–3:30pm |
| MOCHA Kindness in Color Art Camp | Oakland | 5–12 | From $95 | 8:40am–3:30pm |
| Alameda Young Naturalist Club Veterans Day Outdoor Adventure | Alameda | 6–12 | $140 | 9am–3pm |
| East Bay SPCA Veterans Day Camp | Dublin | 6–10 | On its listing | 9am–3pm |
| Bay Linguistic Spanish or Portuguese Day Camp | Berkeley | 5–10 | $100 a day | 8am–5pm |
| Brushstrokes Studio Veterans Day Art Camp | Berkeley | Older kids | On its listing | 9am–3pm |
HAWKs naturalists lead hikes in parks such as Tilden, Joaquin Miller and Sibley. Bay Linguistic runs a full workday, 8am to 5pm.
San Francisco
| Camp | Ages | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mariposa Kids Veterans Day Holiday Camp | 5–11 | $100 | 9am–5pm |
| American Gymnastics Club Veterans Day Gymnastics Camp | School-age | On its listing | 9am–3pm |
See all camps in San Francisco
Peninsula
| Camp | City | Ages | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[event:Hiller Aviation Museum School's Out Day Camp#07cb1deb-7e36-46da-91eb-f72e25358d54]] | San Carlos | 5–10 | $165.99 ($149.99 members) | 9am–4pm |
| Stemtree of San Mateo Veterans Day Camp | San Mateo | 5–14 | $75 | 9am–3pm |
| [[event:Tech Rocks School's Out Day Camp#18b69510-4ab5-4b73-9676-7faf20da5b98]] | San Mateo | 7–13 | $105 | On its listing |
| Veterans Day Ping Pong Camp | Burlingame | School-age | $75–$149 | 9:30am–4pm |
| United Soccer Coaching Veterans Day Camp | San Carlos | 5–12 | On its listing | 9am–3pm |
See all camps on the Peninsula
South Bay
| Camp | City | Ages | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshman Family JCC J-Camp | Palo Alto | School-age | From $144 | 9am–3pm |
| Eagle Fustar Tennis Camp | Saratoga | 7–13 | From $110 | 9am–3pm |
| Sunnyvale Veterans Day Basketball Clinic | Sunnyvale | 7–13 | On its listing | 9am–3pm |
| Cupertino Flip 4 Fun Camp | Cupertino | 6–13 | On its listing | 9am–noon |
See all camps in the South Bay
North Bay
| Camp | City | Ages | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[event:Osher Marin JCC School's Out Day Camp#45026702-1273-4055-b4df-f193c09197d6]] | San Rafael | 3–12 | From $117.73 | 9am–4pm |
| [[event:Vallejo Clay Workshop School's Out Day Camp#59e2fc3b-041a-4e88-acf6-427fb0d10fe6]] | Vallejo | 5–14 | $75 | 9am–noon |
See all camps in the North Bay
Need a plan for this weekend? gokidbay lists hundreds of kids events across the Bay, filtered by age, city and day.See this weekend →Are libraries open on Veterans Day 2026?
No. These systems list Wed, Nov 11, 2026 as a closure day on their own sites: San José Public Library, Oakland Public Library, Alameda County Library, South San Francisco Public Library and Contra Costa County Library.
So move story time to Tuesday, Nov 10 or Thursday, Nov 12, and check your branch calendar first. San José Public Library has a Veterans Day page with books and films about veterans' stories, which works as a reading list for the long weekend at home.
Is the Bay Area Discovery Museum worth it with a toddler?
Yes, if your child is 0 to 8. Bay Area Discovery Museum sits at Fort Baker under the Golden Gate Bridge, and its Plan Your Visit page lists Wed to Fri hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no Veterans Day change, so expect regular Wednesday hours.
Tickets are $25 for ages 1 to 17 and adults, $23 for seniors, and free under 1. Military and veterans get $5 off for up to 4 guests. EBT, SNAP or WIC cardholders pay $5 each, up to 4 tickets per card. The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
What parents say: Tripadvisor reviewers call it a good place to burn off toddler energy, and one says most activities are under cover. Reviewers also say it suits roughly ages 1 to 7, and one family left after 30 minutes with kids older than 6. A parent blog says families spend 2 to 3 hours, arrive around opening, and bring layers and a change of clothes because the site is windy and kids get wet.
What is open at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose?
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose#p_cdm at 180 Woz Way is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wed, Nov 11. Its usual school-year Tuesday to Friday hours are 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., so Veterans Day gives you three and a half extra hours.
Admission is $22 for adults and children, and $20 for seniors, per the museum. Families with a CalFresh or SNAP EBT card can buy $5 tickets for up to four people through Museums for All. Bring a photo ID and the card, and buy in person, since no advance reservations are taken.
What parents say: A San Jose parent blog and Tripadvisor reviewers both mention the water play area and bubbles, and say to pack dry clothes. The blog calls the museum a fantastic fit for kids 7 and under and just okay for older ones. A Tripadvisor review says to bring a picnic lunch.
Where can kids watch a Veterans Day parade?
San Jose holds its parade on the day itself, and San Francisco holds its on the Sunday before.
The 108th San Jose Veterans Day Parade begins at noon on Wed, Nov 11 in downtown San José, per San José Public Library. The parade's website posts the same date and says the parade starts at 12:00 p.m. sharp.
In San Francisco, the parade is on Sun, Nov 8 at 11 a.m. in the Fisherman's Wharf area, with formation at 10 a.m. SFMTA says North Point between Powell and The Embarcadero is closed 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The route follows The Embarcadero north of North Point, then Jefferson to Aquatic Park. Muni's F, 8, 28 and 39 lines reroute.
Which places honor veterans and welcome families?
Two places run veteran-friendly offers or programs on Nov 11, and each helps most if someone in your family served.
- USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum (Alameda): A public program runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The main program starts at 11 a.m. with a color guard. A flyover by the USS Hornet Memorial Squadron closes the day. Active-duty military and veterans get in free all day.
- California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco): Veterans, retired and active-duty military get free daytime admission every Veterans Day. Bring a military ID or proof of service, and buy at the ticket window. It does not extend to family or friends.
Is LEGOLAND Discovery Center worth it for a day off?
It is a fit for ages 3 to 10 if your kid likes bricks. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area sits inside the Great Mall in Milpitas. Last entry is 1.5 hours before closing; check its Opening Times page for Nov 11 hours before you drive.
Military, veterans and their families can buy online through ID.me from $19.59 per person. General prices are on the official ticket page.
What parents say: A 510 Families writer stayed two hours, which suited the bigger kids, but said their 2-year-old got overstimulated. A Tripadvisor reviewer says it is good for kids 8 and under, and a family with a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old did not stay as long as expected.
Enjoy the day off, and see you at the next holiday. My pup friend Kelpie says hi.
