Home » **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Community, In Person, Kids & Families, Nature, Outdoors

El Cerrito Hillside Festival

Saturday, May 2, 2026 - 8:00 am to 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE
El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area | 7500 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito

Event Details

El Cerrito’s 12th Annual Hillside Festival on May 2–3 is back with a mix of old favorites and brand new hikes and events. More than a dozen events will entertain and educate both young and old about the plants, animals, geology and history of El Cerrito’s 100-acre natural wonderland, the Hillside Natural Area.

Visit www.ectrailtrekkers.org/hillside-festival.html for the full schedule. Events start from trailheads throughout the Hillside and touch on native flora and fauna, insects, geology, fire safety, and habitat restoration. Our leaders are experts in their fields.

Some events are especially for young people – including the ever-popular Nature Scavenger Hunt (photos only; no collecting!) and Insect Exploration. Haiku by our haiku contest winners will be read during a Haiku Hike and displayed throughout the hillside. We’ll end the festival with snacks and bluegrass music by El Cerrito-based Fresh Picked band. All events are free!

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE
Categories: **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Community, In Person, Kids & Families, Nature, Outdoors
Venue: El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area
Address: 7500 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito

Saturday, May 2, 2026

All Day   Bay Area Dance Week 2026 w/ 100+ Free Events (April 24–May 3)  FREE
9:30 am   Free de Young Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)  FREE*
*Free general admission to Bay Area residents. Valid ID or proof of residency required. This offer applies only to the permanent collection galleries. Advanced timed tickets required.
9:30 am   Free “Legion of Honor” Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)  FREE*
*Free general admission to Bay Area residents. Valid ID or proof of residency required. This offer applies only to the permanent collection galleries. Timed advanced tickets required
9:30 am   Sheep Shearing & Fiber Arts Festival (Los Altos)  $17.85*
*Sliding scale, equity pricing available
10:00 am   2026 “SF Tea Festival” at Ferry Building (May 2-3)  $21*
*Tickets start at $21. Get Funcheap exclusive discounted tix with code SFFC (20% off tickets)
10:00 am   Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase  FREE*
*Free
10:00 am   Family Nature Day  FREE*
*Completely free to all visitors, no registration required!
10:00 am   Sonoma County Farm Trails Spring Tour (May 2-3)  FREE*
*Most tour stops are free; a few tour stops may charge a small fee (average $5-$10).
10:00 am   “Healthy Parks Healthy People”: Monthly Nature Walks | Bay Area  FREE
All Day   Bank of America’s “Museums On Us” Free Museum Weekend (2026)  FREE*
*Free for Bank of America or Merrill Lynch Card Holders. Some venues may be closed on certain days; please confirm directly with participating museums.
10:00 am   Senior Smiles and Wellness Health Fair  FREE*
*First-come, first-served
10:00 am   41st Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival (Hayward)  FREE
11:00 am   Berkeley Bay Festival  FREE
11:00 am   Free Skateboarding Day with Thrasher Raffle (Excelsior)  FREE
11:00 am   “Off the Grid” Waterfront Fest + Free Ferry Rides (Treasure Island)  FREE*
*Free admission + Free Ferry with RSVP
11:00 am   Free AAPI Heritage Market: Art + Aerial Show at Yank Sing (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   2026 Japantown Kodomo no Hi Children’s Day Festival (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   Berkeley Bay Festival 2026: Free Boat Rides, Live Music & Activities  FREE
11:00 am   Annual Spring Vibes Market  FREE*
*Free Admission & Free Onsite Parking
12:00 pm   Free “Anarchist-Utopian” Potluck Picnic at Lake Merritt (Oakland)  FREE*
*totally free - it is a potluck picnic so you should bring something for everyone to eat
12:30 pm   Nike Missile Site Open House & Storytelling | Marin Headlands  FREE
2:00 pm   San Francisco Dance Film Festival  FREE*
*free for all
2:30 pm   Dandelion Dancetheatre “Parable of Belonging – Cycle 1”  FREE*
*Tickets available at a sliding scale $0-$36
7:00 pm   “Crazy Funny Asians” Free Comedy Showcase (SF)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $25 door tickets also available
7:00 pm   “HellaSecret” Speakeasy Comedy Show & Cocktail Night (Oakland)  FREE*
*Limited free tickets with code FUNCHEAP (donations appreciated). Otherwise use code FUNCHEAP5 for $5 off early bird and general admission tickets
7:00 pm   “Golden Gate Comedy Night” SF’s Most Intimate Comedy Club  FREE*
*Free with RSVP. 21+
8:00 pm   “Mean Girls” the Musical: Live in SF (May 2-20)  $25
8:00 pm   $5 Off: “The Confessional” SF’s Wild “Sins & Secrets” Improv Comedy Show  $11.94*
*$5 off with secret code FUNCHEAP (normally $17.12) No added ticketing fees. No Drink Minimum
8:00 pm   “Puff Puff Laugh” SF’s Cannabis Lounge Comedy Show (Moe Greens)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP (21+ with Valid ID) - One item minimum purchase per person required, but pre-rolls start at just $7
9:00 pm   SF Neo-Futurists “The Infinite Wrench” (30 Plays in 60 Minutes, every Fri & Sat)  $18.60*
*$13 + roll of a die at the door, OR $16 online. Group discounts—bring friends!
9:00 pm   SF’s Prince vs. Michael Jackson DJ Party (NoPa)  $10
9:00 pm   $5 Off: “Your Fucked Up Relationship” Live in SF (Every Friday & Saturday)  $16.37*
*$5 off with secret code FUNCHEAP (normally $21.49) No added ticketing fees. No Drink Minimum
9:00 pm   Free Tix: HellaSecret “Desi Comedy Night” Live in SF (7p + 9p)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 100 people. $25 at door without RSVP
10:00 pm   SF’s Late Night Stand-Up Comedy Olympics (SF vs. Oakland)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
< Friday, May 1 Sunday, May 3 >