Children’s Fairyland Celebrates 75 Dazzling Years this spring with an Adventure Passport, Spirit Week, Bunny Weekend, Mad Tea Party (21+), AAPI Heritage Month, and a Gala Fundraiser.
Children’s Fairyland is celebrating the magic of spring and its milestone 75th anniversary with a lineup of playful programming. Fairyland is buzzing with activities from family adventures like Spirit Week and the brand-new Adventure Passport to an immersive adults-only Mad Tea Party and our highly anticipated Gala, Once Upon a Time at Fairyland! Plus, this season marks the debut of “Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic“, a feature curated by Fairyland and hosted at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). The exhibit offers a glimpse into Fairyland’s 75-year history and contributions to Oakland’s cultural landscape.
See what’s in store below or visit www.fairyland.org.
Fairyland Adventure Passport
March 21 to December 31, 2025
Free with General Admission
Fairyland launches a new interactive visitor program on March 21 to mark the start of spring and its 75th anniversary. The Fairyland Adventure Passport is a free, self-guided, family-friendly activity encouraging families to explore the park, complete playful activities, and collect stamps at stamp stations. Participants who complete a passport receive a collectible seasonal button and are entered into the park’s 75th Anniversary Birthday Party Raffle, which takes place at Fairyland’s Birthday Party on Monday, September 1, 2025 (Labor Day). Twelve winners will be selected to receive prizes. A new Adventure Passport featuring updated activities will be introduced each season.
Spring Break Spirit Week
Monday, March 31 to Friday, April 4, 2025
Free with General Admission
Spring Break is bursting with fun at Fairyland! Spirit Week brings five days of themed adventures, each packed with interactive activities, performances, and crafts:
- Monday, March 31—Space Day: In partnership with Lawrence Hall of Science, children will participate in stomp rockets, STEM-based activities, and space-themed crafts.
- Tuesday, April 1—Sports Day: Oakland Roots Soccer Club and the Oakland Ballers Baseball Club will host sports stations with activities, games, and giveaways.
- Wednesday, April 2—Western Day: Visitors head to the Old West Junction for gold panning, horseshoe games, and cowboy crafts. Yee-haw!
- Thursday, April 3—Ren Faire Day: Families can enjoy Renaissance-themed crafts, puppet activities, DIY ribbon wands, and face painting.
- Friday, April 4—Pirate Day: Visitors set sail on a Fairyland-wide treasure hunt and participate in pirate-themed crafts.
“Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic” at OMCA
April 4 to December 7, 2025
Oakland Museum of California
Included with OMCA General Admission
In partnership with the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), Fairyland’s legacy comes to life at “Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic,” a retrospective celebrating 75 years of history, childhood wonder, and artistic innovation. Step into Fairyland’s story with a timeline of the park’s evolution, rare memorabilia from the archives, and handcrafted miniatures by dozens of local artists. Visitors can also climb aboard an original Jolly Trolly car and rediscover Oakland’s storybook treasure. The feature launches during OMCA’s Friday Nights on April 4, 2025.
Happily After Hours: Mad Tea Party (21+)
Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
$40 per person (includes two drinks)
Fairyland hosts its annual Mad Tea Party, an immersive adults-only Alice in Wonderland-themed event. The 21+ evening will feature circus performances, a proper tea party, a DJ with a black light dance floor, and themed lawn games. Guests will have access to food trucks and a curated menu of cocktails, mocktails, and other non-alcoholic beverages. Tickets come with two drink tickets. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Tickets are available at www.fairyland.org/mad-tea.
Bunny Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20, 2025
Included with General Admission
Fairyland presents Bunny Weekend, a two-day spring celebration for families. Activities include Fairyland’s signature Eggs-change (a scavenger-style egg hunt), flower crown crafting, cookie decorating, and a flower-themed scavenger hunt. The weekend also features live performances of Mother Goose stories on the Emerald City Stage.
Oakland’s Magic Kitchen: Season Premiere with Chef Janice Dulce
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 11:30 a.m.
Aesop’s Playhouse @ Children’s Fairyland
Included with General Admission
Fairyland opens the third season of Oakland’s Magic Kitchen, a live cooking show series for children and families. Janice Dulce, Chef and Owner of F.O.B. Kitchen, will prepare a Filipino dish with Fairyland’s puppet mascot, Quercus, highlighting cultural traditions, ingredients, and basic cooking skills for young audiences. Attendees will meet the chef and Quercus, taste the completed dish, and take home the recipe. Oakland’s Magic Kitchen is presented in partnership with Visit Oakland and The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation.
Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month at Fairyland
Every Weekend in May 2025
Included with General Admission
Throughout May, Fairyland will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with weekend programming highlighting diverse cultural traditions. Activities include live performances, storytelling, arts and crafts, and interactive games. Performers and additional details will be announced in April.
75th Anniversary Gala: Once Upon a Time at Fairyland
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Sponsorships and tickets are available at www.fairyland.org/gala
Fairyland’s signature gala returns with added sparkle for its diamond anniversary year. Once Upon a Time at Fairyland is an adults-only evening featuring dinner, drinks, live entertainment, and surprises around every corner—all inspired by the theme of Infinite Imagination. The event brings together community leaders and supporters to benefit Bay Area children and families.
VISITOR INFORMATION: Children’s Fairyland is located at 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610, along the shores of Lake Merritt. The park is open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March and open five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday) beginning April 9. The park is also open March 31 through April 4 for Spring Break Spirit Week. Visit www.fairyland.org for the full schedule. General Admission is $17 for children ages 1-17 and $19 for adults. Members and children under age 1 receive free admission. The City of Oakland operates the adjacent parking lot with rates of $3 for the first two hours and $12 per day Monday through Friday, and a $5 flat rate on weekends.
ABOUT CHILDREN’S FAIRYLAND: Children’s Fairyland, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is America’s oldest storybook theme park. Nestled on the shores of Lake Merritt since 1950, Fairyland is renowned for stimulating children’s imaginations, creativity, and desire to learn through educational programs, fairy-tale sets, tot-sized rides, storytelling, reading, and play. Located at 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, California, Fairyland is committed to providing a magical experience for families with children ages eight and under. Learn more at www.fairyland.org.