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Palo Alto's family calendar is full of small, local traditions. A children's parade has marched down University Avenue for about a century. Neighbors on one street have lined their sidewalks with lighted trees every December since 1940. In summer the city brings free concerts and movies to its parks. None of these are big ticketed festivals, which is much of their charm. Most are free and easy to reach on foot or by bike.
This calendar lists the recurring events families plan around, month by month. Where organizers have posted 2026 or 2027 dates, we give them. Otherwise we describe the usual timing, so check each event's page before you go. Our full events calendar covers grown-up events too.
The year at a glance
| Month | Highlights for families |
|---|---|
| January and February | Outdoor skating, Lunar New Year |
| March and April | Gamble Garden Easter Egg Hunt, spring break |
| May | May Fete Children's Parade, Stanford Powwow |
| June to August | Twilight Concerts, Family Movie Nights, July 4 Chili Cook Off |
| September and October | Moonlight Run and Walk, Great Glass Pumpkin Patch, Halloween |
| November | Diwali, Playhouse shows for little ones |
| December | Gamble Garden Winter Festival, tree lighting, Christmas Tree Lane, holiday shows |
January and February
Skating season. The Winter Lodge keeps its outdoor rink open through April 11, 2027. Winter weekends are busy, so buy tickets online in advance. The rink closes on January 1.
Lunar New Year. In 2026 the city listed a free Lunar New Year Fair at the Mitchell Park Community Center on February 22, organized by the Palo Alto Asian American Connection. Lunar New Year falls on February 6, 2027. A 2027 fair date had not been posted in October 2026. See our February guide.
Storytimes return. The library's regular storytimes pause from mid-December to mid-January and return in January. Our storytime guide has the schedule.
March and April
Easter Egg Hunt at Gamble Garden. Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden holds a ticketed Easter Egg Hunt for young children, usually the weekend before Easter. In 2026 it ran on March 29. See our Easter egg hunt guide for details. Easter falls on March 28 in 2027. Dates are posted on the garden's website.
Gamble Garden Spring Tour. The garden's main fundraiser, held in late April, is a self-guided tour of private gardens around town plus a marketplace and plant sale. In 2026 it ran April 24 and 25. Older children who like gardens enjoy it.
Spring break. PAUSD's spring break runs April 5 to 9, 2027. See our school break camps guide for camps that week.
May
May Fete Children's Parade. The signature family event of the year. Children, schools, scout troops and community groups march down University Avenue on a Saturday morning in early May, followed by a free fair in Heritage Park. The parade began in 1924. In 2026 the 102nd parade ran on May 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone can watch for free and groups can sign up to march. Our May Fete guide covers the route and the best viewing spots.
Stanford Powwow. Usually held over Mother's Day weekend in the Eucalyptus Grove on the Stanford campus. The 55th powwow ran May 8 to 10, 2026. It is open to the public.
Thursday Live on Cal Ave. Monthly street parties on California Avenue start in May and run into September.
June, July and August
Twilight Concert Series. Free concerts on Saturday evenings in city parks. In 2026 they started at 6:30 p.m. in June, July and August at Mitchell and Rinconada parks. Bring a blanket and a picnic.
Family Movie Nights. Free outdoor films on Friday evenings on the Mitchell Park athletic field. In 2026 there were six between June 5 and August 14, with seating from 7 p.m. and films at sunset.
Fourth of July Chili Cook Off. The city's 4th of July Chili Cook Off and Summer Festival fills Mitchell Park on Independence Day. In 2026 it ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free chili tasting, live music, games and inflatables for kids and a sensory-friendly tent. The city's listing did not include fireworks.
Clay and Glass Festival. The Palo Alto Art Center hosts ceramic and glass artists on its grounds each July.
Festival of the Arts. The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce's art festival fills University Avenue in late August. The 2026 edition, the 43rd, ran August 22 and 23. Our summer events guide covers all of these in detail.
September and October
Moonlight Run and Walk. Hosted by the city and the Palo Alto Weekly on a Friday evening in late September near the Baylands. The 42nd edition was September 25, 2026. The walk option makes it easy to bring children along.
Great Glass Pumpkin Patch. Glass artists fill the Art Center lawn with more than 10,000 handblown pumpkins and gourds each fall. In 2026 it ran September 26 and 27. Entry is free. Keep small hands close, since everything on the tables is glass.
Halloween. Halloween is mostly a neighborhood affair, with trick-or-treating on residential streets. Several venues add events. In 2026 the Junior Museum and Zoo held a Halloween Zoo Night on October 29, the Museum of American Heritage held a Halloween Night on October 31 and Gamble Garden runs a Halloween Magic afternoon most years. The Winter Lodge rink opens for the season in mid-October.
November
Diwali. The city has celebrated Diwali since 2017. Recent Festival of Lights events at the Mitchell Park Community Center have included dance, rangoli, henna and lantern making. Watch the library's calendar for each year's date.
Playhouse shows for little ones. The Children's Theatre Playhouse Series stages short shows suggested for ages 2 to 6. Little Red Riding Hood opens November 21, 2026 at 1305 Middlefield Road.
Thanksgiving week. Schools are out November 23 to 27, 2026. Just up the Peninsula, the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos holds a Turkey Toss on November 25.
December
Gamble Garden Winter Festival. Gamble Garden in Old Palo Alto holds its Winter Festival from December 3 to 5, 2026, with an evening with Santa on the Friday. Our Winter Festival guide has the schedule.
Holiday Tree Lighting. The city lights its tree at Lytton Plaza on Friday, December 4, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with live music, performances and winter treats. It is free.
Christmas Tree Lane. Neighbors on the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Fulton Street have lined the sidewalks with lighted trees since 1940. The lights usually come on in mid-December. The neighbors set the dates, so check their site.
More holiday fun. The Children's Theatre's The Gingerbread Man opens December 19, 2026. Santa arrives by helicopter at the Hiller Aviation Museum on December 5. Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 4. Our holiday season guide has the full list.
Good to know
- Most city events are free and do not need tickets. Arrive early for a good spot.
- Parking near Mitchell Park and downtown fills during big events. Walk or bike if you can.
- For events at Stanford, see our Stanford visitor guide.
Planning a family trip around May Fete or the holidays? Compare hotels in Palo Alto early, since event weekends fill. For extra outings, you can compare Bay Area attraction tickets.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Palo Alto tree lighting?
The city's free Holiday Tree Lighting is on Friday, December 4, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Lytton Plaza, University Avenue and Emerson Street. The city lists live music, performances and winter treats.
When is the May Fete Parade?
The May Fete Children's Parade is held on a Saturday morning in early May on University Avenue, followed by a free fair in Heritage Park. It began in 1924. The 2026 parade, the 102nd, was on May 2. The 2027 date had not been posted in October 2026.
Are there free family events in Palo Alto in summer?
Yes. The city's Twilight Concert Series runs on Saturday evenings in June, July and August in city parks. Free Family Movie Nights run on Friday evenings on the Mitchell Park athletic field. In 2026 there were six movie nights between June 5 and August 14.
What does Palo Alto do on the Fourth of July?
The city hosts a free 4th of July Chili Cook Off and Summer Festival at Mitchell Park on East Meadow Drive. In 2026 it ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free chili tasting, games and inflatables for kids. The city's listing did not include fireworks.
What family events happen at Christmas in Palo Alto?
Christmas Tree Lane lights up the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Fulton Street in December, a tradition since 1940. The city holds a tree lighting in Lytton Plaza and the Children's Theatre stages a holiday Playhouse show for young children. The Winter Lodge rink is open for skating.