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On a Sunday afternoon in spring, the Palo Alto Art Center is louder than usual. Toddlers press tissue paper onto sun catchers at long tables while older kids fold paper lanterns. Teen volunteers hand out glue sticks and help with tricky steps. At 4 p.m. everyone moves into the auditorium for a dance performance. By the end the audience is on stage too. This is Family Day, the Art Center's free family afternoon, held each spring and fall.
This guide explains what Family Days are, what the 2026 editions included, how the program has evolved and how to plan a visit. The 2026 Family Days were on March 22 and October 18. Dates for 2027 had not been posted as of November 1, 2026. For more about the building and its classes, see our Palo Alto Art Center guide.
What Family Day is
The city describes Family Days as "festive afternoons of art-making fun for the whole family." They are free. Art Center teaching artists lead most of the projects, with community partners adding booths and performances. Each Family Day takes its theme from the exhibition in the galleries at the time, so the projects change every season.
The Art Center itself is a city facility at 1313 Newell Road, set in Palo Alto's former city hall beside Rinconada Park. It opened as an art center on May 1, 1971 and reopened after a renovation in 2012. Its galleries are free year-round.
Family Days are part of a wider push by the Art Center's children's programs to offer free events. A member of the Children's Wing staff told the M-A Chronicle in 2026 that there are "not a lot of free opportunities for families," which is part of why the day exists.
The 2026 Family Days
| Detail | Spring 2026 | Fall 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, March 22 | Sunday, October 18 |
| Hours | 2 to 4:30 p.m. | 2 to 4:15 p.m. |
| Inspired by | "Clay Sustains: Vessels of Change" | "Live the moment light" |
| Highlights | Art projects and community booths 2 to 4 p.m.; performance 4 to 4:30 p.m. organized by Mosaic America | Foil monoprints, collage, dot art, foam prints; new Teen Zone |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Dates and details come from the city's event listings for Spring Family Day and Fall Family Day. A student report in the M-A Chronicle described the spring event as taking place on a Saturday, but the city's listing gives Sunday, March 22.
Spring: crafts and dance
The M-A Chronicle's account of the spring 2026 event gives a good feel for the day. Craft stations offered paper flower and lantern making, egg carton flowers, sprout houses and nature sun catchers, many made with natural materials. Teen volunteers ran the tables. Young children gathered outside for a read-aloud of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In the auditorium, Mosaic America organized Indian and Persian folk dance performances featuring Xpressions and the Simorgh Dance Collective. To close, Xpressions invited the audience on stage for a dance class and handed out colorful scarves.
Fall: printmaking and a Teen Zone
The fall edition leaned toward printmaking, with foil monoprints, foam prints, collage and dot art inspired by the fall exhibition. The biggest change was a Teen Zone in the auditorium, created with the Art Center's Teen Leadership group, offering button making, jewelry making and board games for teens only. It gives older siblings a reason to come along.
How Family Day has evolved
The city does not publish a start date for Family Days, so we do not give one. A 2014 Paly Voice report gives a glimpse of the program's development. The Art Center had already been hosting fall festivals for families when, on October 19, 2014, it held a Global Family Day with a world culture theme for the first time. That event ran from 2 to 5 p.m., with art activities drawn from many cultures followed by performances from the Indian dance group Xpressions and a Mexican folkloric troupe. The Art Center's family programming coordinator said the goal was to welcome a more diverse audience.
The same structure has carried forward: two hours of art, then a performance by community dance groups. Xpressions appeared again in 2026, more than a decade later.
Tips for families
- Arrive at the start. The first hour is calmer and every station is fully stocked.
- Dress for mess. Glue, paint and ink are part of the fun.
- Bring a flat bag to carry wet or fragile projects home.
- Stay for the performance. In spring 2026 the audience ended up dancing on stage.
- Visit the galleries. Projects are tied to the current exhibition, so kids like seeing the source.
- Teens can volunteer. The Art Center accepts volunteers from age 12. Teen volunteers staffed the 2026 stations.
A sample afternoon
Family Days run for just over two hours, which is about right for most young children. A plan that works for many families:
- 2 p.m.: arrive, pick up a map of the stations if one is offered and start with the project that has the shortest line.
- 2:30 p.m.: move to a second and third station. Let older kids head off on their own while younger ones stay with a parent.
- 3:15 p.m.: take a break outside or walk through the galleries to see the exhibition behind the projects.
- 3:45 p.m.: collect finished pieces and find seats in the auditorium.
- 4 p.m.: watch the closing performance, then head to the park for the last of the daylight.
Times shift a little each season, so check the listing. In fall 2026 the day ended at 4:15 p.m. and the city's listing did not mention a closing performance.
Parking and getting there
The Art Center sits at Newell Road and Embarcadero Road, next to Rinconada Library and the park. The city's event listings link only to general parking pages. Weekend afternoons are busy at the library and park, so allow time to find a space or come on foot or by bike. Our parking guide explains city rules.
From Caltrain, Palo Alto station on University Avenue is a bike ride or a longer walk away. The Art Center asks anyone needing an accommodation to contact the city's Community Services department ahead of time.
Other Art Center events and nearby fun
Family Day is one of several annual events at the Art Center. In July the Clay and Glass Festival fills the grounds with artists' booths. In late September the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch covers the lawn with handblown pumpkins. Year-round, the Art Center runs classes for kids, listed in our kids' classes guide.
Make a day of it with the playground at Rinconada Park or the Junior Museum and Zoo, a short walk away. Note that the zoo closes at 4:30 p.m. from November 1, 2026. Families visiting from out of town can compare hotels in Palo Alto near downtown, about a mile from the Art Center.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Palo Alto Art Center Family Day?
The 2027 dates had not been posted as of November 1, 2026. In 2026 the Art Center held a Spring Family Day on Sunday, March 22 and a Fall Family Day on Sunday, October 18, both in the afternoon. Watch the Art Center's web calendar for the next one.
Is Family Day at the Palo Alto Art Center free?
Yes. The city lists Family Days as free. Art materials for the projects are provided and there is no registration listed for the drop-in activities.
What ages is Family Day for?
All ages. Projects are set up so young children can take part with a parent, while older kids can work on their own. In fall 2026 the Art Center added a Teen Zone in the auditorium with button making, jewelry making and board games for teens only.
What happens at a Palo Alto Art Center Family Day?
Art Center teaching artists and community partners run hands-on projects tied to the current exhibition. In spring 2026 these included paper flowers, lanterns and nature sun catchers, followed by dance performances organized by Mosaic America. Fall 2026 offered foil monoprints, collage, dot art and foam prints.
Where do I park for Family Day?
The Art Center is at 1313 Newell Road beside Rinconada Park and Rinconada Library. The city's event pages link only to general parking information. Lots near the library and park fill on busy weekend afternoons, so walking or biking is often easier for nearby families.