Free and budget-friendly outings in Santa Clara County
Free and budget-friendly outings in Santa Clara County: 24 picks from the Santa Clara County guide, each linked to its source. Details can change. Check with the venue before you go.
✓ Every listing links to its source · Updated
Outings near you
Christmas in the Park has filled Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José with lights and displays since 1980, and its organizers say they are committed to keeping our downtown event completely free for every family. Free library programs and museum days across Santa Clara County are listed here too. Source: christmasinthepark.com
Free and budget-friendly in Santa Clara County
Free entry, free admission days and low-cost outings from across the site.
Drop in every Monday from 4 to 5pm for an evening of STEM-related family fun, from a robot hand DIY to magnet mazes and a straw airplane challenge. Intended for ages 5-10, but all families are welcome. Free; no registration required.
Everyone at SJMA's First Fridays can enjoy an inviting evening with open galleries and entertainment; late-night bites and a cash bar at El Cafecito, by Mezcal Restaurant. Register in advance for fast check-in.
Opening celebration of Irving Norman: Fight for Life, a focused survey of the late Bay Area artist known for monumental paintings critiquing the perils of modern life, with live music by The Brian Fitzgerald Trio. Register in advance for fast check-in.
Learn about the science behind bath bombs as you create your own; they will make great gifts for the upcoming holidays. Free; registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome if there is space. Supplies are limited.
Dates
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Hours
4-5pm
Cost
Free; registration recommended, walk-ins welcome if space
The largest winter holiday craft fair in the Bay Area: 350+ makers, artists, designers, illustrators, bakers and crafters indoors at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Free admission and free on-site parking.
Rides and attractions from a 60-foot Ferris wheel to a classic carousel, holiday photo opportunities, a gift market and a rotating selection of food trucks and booths serving holiday treats. Admission is free; rides require tickets.
Dates
Run 1: November 27 - December 16, 2026; Run 2: December 17, 2026 - January 3, 2027
Cost
Free admission; rides $1.50 per ticket, $40 unlimited-ride wristband
An evening of live music, storytelling and drag performances kicks off the holidays and celebrates the talents of San José's LGBTQIA+ community, with open galleries and free admission after 6pm.
Campbell's annual celebration to open the holiday season, with Santa visits, a petting zoo, donkey rides, bounce houses, craft tables, face painting, music and dance performances on the community stage.
An evening of analog games at SJMA: learn new games and make new friends, or bring your own analog games to share. Free admission after 6pm; cash bar at El Cafecito.
4,163 acres on a former mercury mining site, with over 37 miles of trails, historic mining remnants and the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum. No entry fee.
1,558 acres with lawns, a playground, fishing at Sandy Wool Lake, views from Monument Peak and a hang-gliding launch area where visitors can watch gliders soar.
Hours
8am-sunset
Cost
$6 daily vehicle entry; free for vehicles with a valid disabled placard or plate
Visitor area on Mount Hamilton. The East Grounds and Shane Gallery are open 9am-5pm daily; the main building and West Peak area remain closed. Free for all visitors.
A 287-acre historic ranch celebrating the valley's farming heritage, with over 3 miles of paved trails, picnic areas and the Walter Cottle Lester Visitor Center (hours vary).
Hours
8am-sunset
Cost
$6 daily vehicle entry; free for vehicles with a valid disabled placard or plate; hourly parking also available
Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve
Over 25 miles of trail across a 2,180-acre preserve and 293-acre county park, including the climb to 2,800-foot Black Mountain, plus Deer Hollow Farm. Parking can be congested at busy times.
Santa Clara County Library District Discover & Go museum passes
Free passes to more than 50 museums and cultural attractions around the Bay Area. You must be 18 or older, have a full-access library card (not an eCard) and live in the district's service area: Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga or unincorporated Santa Clara County.
152-acre lakeside park with 45 acres of lawn, picnic areas, fishing and the Youth Science Institute nature center. Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad rides run through the park from neighboring Oak Meadow Park.
Hours
8am-sunset
Cost
$6 daily vehicle entry; free for vehicles with a valid disabled placard or plate
Section: Free and budget-friendlylibrary
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