These Local Family Entertainment venues and performers are the 2024 winners of Best of Bay Area Parent reader poll. Read the full list of winners here.
East Bay
Gold: Oakland Zoo. Families can see elephants, lions and zebras in the African Savanna, take a gondola ride to the California Trail where there are black bears, bison and bald eagles, see chimpanzees and squirrel monkeys in the Tropical Rainforest and so much more. Oakland. oaklandzoo.org.
Silver: Chabot Space & Science Center. Oakland. chabotspace.org.
Bronze: MarTEEnez Mini Golf & Arcade. Martinez. marteenezminigolfandarcade.com.
Bronze: Pacific Pinball Museum. Alameda. pacificpinball.org.
Peninsula
Gold: San Carlos Children’s Theater. This nonprofit educates youth in all aspects of theater production and puts on shows for the community. San Carlos. sancarloschildrenstheater.com.
Silver: Mr. SHAP Balloon Artist and Magician. mrshap.com.
Bronze: Music Time with Megan. Multiple locations. musictimewithmegan.com.
San Francisco/Marin
Gold: Mr. SHAP Balloon Artist & Magician. He strives to create memories that last a lifetime. mrshap.com.
Silver: San Francisco Symphony. San Francisco. sanfranciscosymphony.org.
Bronze: Music Time with Megan. musictimewithmegan.com.
Silicon Valley
Gold: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. This fun venue features family-friendly rides, up-close experiences with animals and entertainment. San Jose. happyhollow.org.
Silver: California’s Great America. Santa Clara. cagreatamerica.com.
Bronze: Bocce at The Plex. San Jose. gotoplex.com/activities/bocce.