Lakeside Park

Truly, there’s no place like Children’s Fairyland. It is a magical Oakland jewel that has been inspiring, entertaining, educating and delighting children and their families for 67 years. And it’s been doing the same for me for 50 of those years. Did you know that Fairyland was the first themed amusement park in the United States? And the first amusement park created specifically for families with young children? In 1956, the Open Storybook Puppet Theater was created and has been operating ever since, making it the oldest continuously running puppet theater in the country. Fairyland has a 50-year history of children’s theater, with youth ages 8 to 10 portraying characters from folklore and children’s literature in stage productions, at community events, and during visits to senior centers and schools. And, since 2008, at the new Aesop’s Playhouse. If you’ve never been to Children’s Fairyland (or if it’s been far too long), make an effort to revisit this Oakland jewel. And if you don’t have a young person to go with, they do also host a variety of adults-only events throughout the year.

Fairyland inspires me to be more kid

Fairyland is a party to be you

At fairyland I learned stories that taught me lessons. I learned that it’s nice to be yourself

Fairyland was the first place I learned my love of exploring and finding secrets

Fairyland is whimsical

Express your Weirdness

So many tiny (and cute) children

Fairyland is a family safe to play

Magical

Nine of the members of the Children's Theater Program