THIS WEEK IN BAKERSFIELD
September feels like it’s finally settling in.
School routines are becoming actual routines, the evenings are slightly less offensive, and we’re coming up on the last weekend for the spray pads—which feels like Bakersfield’s actual version of summer ending.
And there’s something new around here, too: The Bakersfield Mom has a brand-new family calendar.
I’ve spent a long time trying to make pre-built calendars fit what I thought Bakersfield families actually needed. I finally stopped compromising and built one around the way I wanted it to work.
It’s easier to browse, easier to use on your phone, and gives me a lot more room to keep making it better. So update your bookmark, add it to your home screen, and go take a look.
This weekend also holds a few dates worth noticing: Friday marks 25 years since September 11, Sunday is Grandparents Day, and Hispanic Heritage Month begins Tuesday.
Lots to explore this week—starting with a new home for finding it all.
Want to reach local families?
Put your business in front of Bakersfield parents who are actively looking for where to go, what to do, and who to know.
This Weekend
Friday, September 11 – Sunday, September 13
FRIDAY, SEP. 11
Friends of the Southwest Library Used Book Sale — 10:00 AM–5:00 PM · Southwest Branch Library, 8301 Ming Ave
Mini Makers — 10:30–11:30 AM · Beale Memorial Library
Rathbun Toddler Time — 11:00 AM · Rathbun Branch Library
Crafternoon — 3:00–5:00 PM · Rathbun Branch Library
Audiobooks + Art — 4:00–5:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library
Family Storytime: Fall and Hispanic Heritage Month — 4:00 PM · Wilson Branch Library
LEGO League — 4:00–5:00 PM · Southwest Branch Library
Family Night: Karaoke — 4:00 PM · Holloway-Gonzales Branch Library
SATURDAY, SEP. 12
Open Studio Saturday — 9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Three Door Studios
Mickey & Minnie Mommy & Me Pilates — 9:00–11:00 AM · Jane's Coffee Lab
Children's Day at BookHounds — 9:00 AM–4:00 PM · BookHounds, 2710 L St
Fall Cookie Class — 9:30–10:00 AM · In Your Wildest Dreams
Friends of the Southwest Library Used Book Sale — 10:00 AM–4:00 PM · Southwest Branch Library
Lowe's Kids Club Workshop: Haunted House — 10:00 AM–1:00 PM · Lowe's
Family Storytime — 10:30–11:30 AM · Southwest Branch Library
Pocket Pet Frames — 1:00 PM · Northeast Branch Library
Dungeons & Dragons — 1:00–3:00 PM · Baker Branch Library
Teen Dungeons and Dragons — 1:00–3:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library
Family Storytime — 1:00–2:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library
Roadside Geology of Kern County with Tim Elam — 1:30 PM · Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science
Young Builders — 2:00 PM · Holloway-Gonzales Branch Library
Nintendo Free Play — 2:00 PM · Holloway-Gonzales Branch Library
Movie Night: The Princess and the Frog — activities 5:30 PM, movie 7:30 PM · Wind Wolves Preserve
SUNDAY, SEP. 13
Haggin Oaks Farmers Market — 9:00 AM–2:00 PM · 8800 Ming Ave
Healthy Living Festival — 9:00 AM–2:00 PM · Kaiser Permanente, 8800 Ming Ave (free, family activities)
Bolles Nursery Fall Garden Class — 9:30–11:30 AM · Bolles Nursery, 3255 Allen Rd
Tending Your Garden: A Women's Circle for Self Love & Dreams — 1:00–4:00 PM · Peace Rose Meditation Center (ticketed)
The Week Ahead
Monday, September 14 – Friday, September 18
MONDAY, SEP. 14
Miss Lynn Park Day — 9:00–11:00 AM · Belcourt Park, 3801 Windermere St
Time to Sign with NAMI — 10:30–11:30 AM · Beale Memorial Library (Children's Area), ages 2–6
Preschool Storytime — 10:30–11:30 AM · Southwest Branch Library
Friends of the Southwest Library Used Book Sale (Half Price Day) — 12:00–6:00 PM · Southwest Branch Library
Middles' Makerspace — 3:30–5:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library, ages 6–12
Teen Craft Club: T-Shirt Upcycling — 4:00–5:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library
Ukulele Club — 5:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library
TUESDAY, SEP. 15
Bakersfield Motherhood Collective Craft at the Park — 10:00 AM · location shared on RSVP — contact the host
Toddler Time (Session 1) — 10:00–11:00 AM · Southwest Branch Library
Preschool Storytime — 10:30–11:30 AM · Beale Memorial Library, ages 3–6
Toddler Time (Session 2) — 11:15 AM–12:15 PM · Southwest Branch Library
Friends of the Southwest Library Used Book Sale ($5 Bag / $10 Box Day) — 12:00–6:00 PM · Southwest Branch Library
Baby Bounce — 1:00 PM · Baker Branch Library, ages 0–2
Race Down the River! — 4:00 PM · Northeast Branch Library
Bead Maxxing — 4:00 PM · Wilson Branch Library, ages 12+
LEGO Maniacs — 4:00–5:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library, ages 5–12
WEDNESDAY, SEP. 16
Blooming Mamas Meetup at CALM Zoo — 9:00–11:00 AM · California Living Museum
Silent Family Game Night — 4:00–5:00 PM · Southwest Branch Library
STEAM Explorers: Cork Sailboats — 4:00 PM · Holloway-Gonzales Branch Library, ages 6–12
Baker Street TTRPG Guild — 4:00–6:00 PM · Baker Branch Library, ages 16+
Anime & Art — 4:00 PM · Rathbun Branch Library, teens
Rock Painting — 4:00 PM · Wilson Branch Library, ages 6–11
Junk Journals & Collages — 5:00 PM · Holloway-Gonzales Branch Library
Wine Bottle Paint & Sip "Sunflower Garden" with Sey Studios — 6:00–7:30 PM · Tlo Wines Tasting Room (adults)
THURSDAY, SEP. 17
Buena Vista Museum $2 Day (all ages) — all day · Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science
The Mom Walk Co. Bakersfield — 9:00 AM · Mesa Marin Sports Complex
Toddler Time — 10:30–11:30 AM · Beale Memorial Library
Preschool Storytime — 11:00 AM · Rathbun Branch Library, ages 3–5
Toddler Time: Fall and Hispanic Heritage Month — 2:30 PM · Wilson Branch Library, ages 1–3
Origami — 3:00 PM · Baker Branch Library, teens
Totally Fun Thursday: LEGO Mania — 3:00 PM · Rathbun Branch Library
Family Flix & Craft — 4:00–5:00 PM · Southwest Branch Library, ages 6–12
Anime + Art — 4:00 PM · Wilson Branch Library
Kids Get Crafty — 4:00–5:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library
Drop-in Sewing Studio — 4:00–6:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library, teens & adults
Young Writers' Club — 5:00 PM · Northeast Branch Library, teens
Locale Maker's Exchange — 5:30 PM · Locale Farm to Table Eatery
FRIDAY, SEP. 18
Baby Bounce — 10:30–11:30 AM · Southwest Branch Library, ages 0–12 months
Baby Bounce — 10:30 AM · Northeast Branch Library, ages 0–2
Rathbun Baby Bounce — 11:00 AM · Rathbun Branch Library
Crafternoon — 3:00–5:00 PM · Rathbun Branch Library
Between the Lines — 4:00–5:00 PM · Baker Branch Library, teens
Lego Challenge — 4:00 PM · Wilson Branch Library, ages 6–11
Family Night: Bingo — 4:00 PM · Holloway-Gonzales Branch Library
Sign Language with Lisa — 4:00–5:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library
LEGO League — 4:00–5:00 PM · Southwest Branch Library, ages 6–12
Media Literacy Club — 4:00–6:00 PM · Beale Memorial Library, adults
Sunset and Self-Reflection (journaling + sound bath) — 6:00–8:00 PM · Drip House Coffee, 2808 F St, Suite D (adults)
Worth Knowing
Last call for NOR spray pads.
North of the River Recreation & Park District's seven spray parks (Madison Grove, Silver Oak, San Lauren, Emerald Cove, North Meadows, Polo, and Sears) close for the season on Sunday, September 13 after running daily 12–7 PM since late May. This Sunday is genuinely the last chance this year. (Verified this run against the 2026 Kern County Family spray park schedule.)
Heads-up: Kern County Fair is closer than it looks. The 2026 Kern County Fair runs September 23 – October 4 — just under two weeks after this send. Worth a mention now so families can plan around it; full TBM Fair coverage would land next cycle. (Verified this run directly against kerncountyfair.com.)
One Local Find
BookHounds
If you have a kid who loves digging through books, comics or manga, put this little downtown used bookstore on your list. It's the kind of place where everyone can wander around and hunt for something—and because it's used, coming home with a few new-to-you books doesn't have to turn into a $75 bookstore trip.
Bookhounds
2710 L St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9 AM–4 PM
For Your Back Pocket
Over 30 Little Free Libraries in Bakersfield
One last splash before the season ends: Madison Grove, Silver Oak, San Lauren, Emerald Cove, North Meadows, Polo, and Sears.
Want to reach local families?
Put your business in front of Bakersfield parents who are actively looking for where to go, what to do, and who to know.
For Businesses
Building something for Bakersfield families?
Whether you’re opening something new, hosting an event, or looking to reach more local families, I’d love to hear about it. Submit an event, introduce your business, or explore ways to partner with The Bakersfield Mom.
Keep Exploring