What is Fairyland?
Children’s Fairyland is America’s first storybook theme park. Ever since we opened in 1950, we’ve been a magical place for young children to create, imagine, play, and learn. There are many theme parks throughout the country, but only one Fairyland! To learn more about Fairyland’s history, click here.

What’s inside?
Inside Fairyland’s gates, children discover storybook sets, kid-size rides, friendly animals, a reading room, and an arts-and-crafts center. Our Storybook Puppet Theater—the longest-running puppet show in the United States—brings classic tales from all over the world to life. Our Children’s Theater prepares young people ages 8 to 10 to perform in live productions of plays tailored to the tastes and attention spans of younger children.

Who comes to Fairyland?
More than one-quarter of Oakland’s population—nearly 130,000 adults and children—visits Fairyland each year. (For safety reasons, adults must be accompanied by a child to enter our storybook park.) Our visitors reflect the diverse population of Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area. In other words, they’re just like you!

How much does it cost?
One modest admission fee of $7—for visitors ages 1 through 100—covers all of Fairyland’s attractions. If you plan on having a group of 10 or more you can purchase a One Day Group Pass, which will give you an additional savings. For an additional small fee, visitors may purchase a lifetime Magic Key at the admissions window. Throughout Fairyland are talking storybook boxes that can be activated by inserting a Magic Key. Be sure to hold onto your Magic Key for your return visit!

What about people who can’t afford to come?
Throughout the year, Fairyland provides free passes to many members of the community who otherwise would not be able to visit us. More than 7,000 children each year come on educational field trips, taking advantage of our low group rates. And through our outreach program we’ve been able to waive admission fees for more than 5,200 visitors over the last year. Please inquire at outreach@fairyland.org.

Who owns Fairyland?
The land on which Children’s Fairyland was built is owned by the City of Oakland. Since 1994, Children’s Fairyland has been managed by a nonprofit corporation, which makes us eligible for grants, bond money, and tax-deductible contributions from individuals and companies. It also means you won’t be bombarded by commercial messages when you visit Fairyland (although we do occasionally partner with some of our good corporate neighbors to bring you special events and programs).

What else is nearby?
Children’s Fairyland is located on the shores of Lake Merritt, which was created in the 1870s by damming part of San Francisco Bay. Among the lake’s attractions are a nature center, a playground, a boathouse, and the oldest wildlife refuge in the United States. Several species of waterfowl make Lake Merritt their home for all or part of each year. A five-kilometer (3.1-mile) path, ideal for walking or running, circles the lake. At night, the lake is illuminated by historic streetlamps that create a “necklace of lights.”

How can I support Fairyland?
We’re so glad you asked. We are always in need of volunteers to help with our many programs and projects. If you’d like to donate books, costumes, or art supplies, please send us an email and we’ll get right back to you. We also depend on community support for our two annual fundraising events, the Annual Gala Dinner and Jack O’Lantern Jamboree. And we accept cash donations any time of the year!