Laurie Berkner Headlines the Great Big Family Play Day at Liberty Station, One Day Only

Overview

The Great Big Family Play Day is at Liberty Station on Saturday, November 7 — 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., doors at 9 — and it is in San Diego for one day only.

The organizers, SoCalMoms, call it "LA's most popular family festival" and describe it as "Coachella for families." 2026 is its 11th anniversary, and San Diego gets the closing event of its year.

Here's the headline, and if you have small children you already know the name.

Laurie Berkner is headlining. Alongside her: The BeatBuds, Kids Imagine Nation and Trees of Dreams. The Main Stage, presented by Tonies, runs hourly performances across the whole day — so the music isn't one set you have to time your arrival around.

And here's the practical thing that will shape your day: entry is timed.

The organizers run timed entry, which means your ticket is tied to a slot rather than a general open door. Pick your window when you buy, and build the day around it — this is not an event you can wander into at two in the afternoon on a whim.

What's There

• Main Stage presented by Tonies, with new performances every hour
• Laurie Berkner headlining, plus The BeatBuds, Kids Imagine Nation and Trees of Dreams
• Interactive activities and exhibits for kids of all ages
• Food truck row
• Samples, swag and giveaways

The organizers publish the full stage schedule and activity list at GreatBigFamilyPlayDay.com, and it's worth checking the day before — with hourly performances across seven and a half hours, the schedule is the difference between catching the headliner and missing her.

What You Need to Know

• When: Saturday, November 7, 2026 · 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Doors at 9:00 a.m.
• Where: Liberty Station — 2757 Dewey Road, San Diego, CA 92106
• Duration: 7 hours 30 minutes. You are not expected to do all of it
• All ages
• Free parking
• Timed entry — your ticket carries an arrival window
• No refunds
• Tickets are through Eventbrite; presented by Tonies, organized by SoCalMoms
• Rain plan: the organizers address weather in their FAQ — check it if the forecast turns

Good to Know

• Build the day around the stage schedule, not the other way round. Hourly performances mean there's always something on, but only one Laurie Berkner set.
• Seven and a half hours is a long day for a small child. Most families will do four or five of those hours well and the rest badly. Pick your window deliberately.
• Food truck row means you don't need to pack lunch, which is one fewer bag to carry.
• Heads up on parking, and this is the real warning: parking is free, but a large charity cycling event is also running out of Liberty Station that same Saturday morning, starting at 7 a.m. and finishing around 2 p.m. The complex will be busier than a normal Saturday. Arrive earlier than you think you need to, or take the later end of the day.
• Liberty Station is a good place to be stuck anyway — if you arrive early, the public market and the Arts District are both a short walk.

Why It's Worth It

Children's festivals tend to be either a bouncy castle in a car park or a theme park at theme-park prices. This one is neither: a real lineup with a genuine headliner, hourly programming, interactive exhibits, food trucks and free parking, in a walkable former naval training centre.

And it's one Saturday. It doesn't come back next weekend, and it isn't in San Diego again this year.

If your household knows the words to a Laurie Berkner song, the decision is already made.

For more of what's on, browse our full event calendar.