Oakland's Fairyland Offers Full Event Slate

Opened in 1950, Children's Fairyland on the shores of Oakland's Lake Merritt is one of the earliest themed amusement parks in the United States. It notably inspired Walt Disney, who visited the park and incorporated some of its concepts into Disneyland, which opened five years later. The 10-acre park features nearly 60 storybook sets, including attractions like a slide down a dragon's back and the Alice in Wonderland playing-card maze. A unique park rule requires that adults can only enter when accompanied by a child, and children must be with an adult, ensuring a family-focused environment. Fairyland is home to the Storybook Puppet Theater, the oldest continuously operating puppet theater in the U.S., which presents multiple shows daily. Famed puppeteer Frank Oz, known for his work with the Muppets, began his career at the park as a teenager. As the park approaches its 75th anniversary, it has been updating its attractions and stories to better reflect the diversity of the Oakland community. New international tales, including Vietnamese, Cuban, and Mayan fairy tales, are being introduced at the puppet theater. To make the park accessible, Fairyland offers discounted admission for Oakland residents on Fridays and for visitors with EBT, SNAP, or WIC cards. While primarily for children, the park occasionally hosts adults-only (21+) events, such as the "Mad Tea Party," a black-light dance party with cocktails and cabaret.