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Kiddie Koncierge: September Update
What is Kiddie Koncierge?
Kiddie Koncierge is the SF Bay
Area's premier resource for fun,
interesting, unique, and
creative kids activities.
We provide recommendations,
reviews, and resources on all
sorts of fun things to do in San
Francisco, Berkeley/Oakland,
San Jose, Marin, and beyond!
Kiddie Koncierge is the SF Bay
Area's premier resource for fun,
interesting, unique, and
creative kids activities.
We provide recommendations,
reviews, and resources on all
sorts of fun things to do in San
Francisco, Berkeley/Oakland,
San Jose, Marin, and beyond!
Welcome to the Kiddie Koncierge
September Update!
Nutcracker Tickets on Sale! Yeah, it is hard to believe that it
is Nutcracker time again. Buy before September 30th to guarantee
your tickets. For companies and schedules, visit our Nutcracker
Page.
There are a lot of great things to do to unwind on the weekends.
Check out the County Fair Page for the last fairs of the season. If
your kids like animals, this is a great way to get up front and
personal with the domesticated ones. Finally, visit the Summer
Movies Page to find movies in the Park near you!
Make sure to check out our Facebook page. If you like us, be our
fan! Share us! Pass us around!
Make sure to check out the Resources Pages, especially our
Summer Resources Page for a ton of great ideas. Here are some
highlights:
Activities at a Glance
Through Sept 27th
Sundays Through October 25th
Through November 1st
Year Round
Through August 29th
Through Thanksgiving
Friday, September 4th
Free 1st Thursday, September 3rd
Labor Day Weekend, September3rd-8th
September 5-7 LABOR DAY WEEKEND
Sunday, September 6th
Free 1st Sunday, September 7th
September 8th - January 19th
Free 2nd Sunday, September 14th
Saturday, September 12th
Sunday, September 13
Free 3rd Wednesday, September 16th
Saturday, September 19th
Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20
Sunday, September 20th
Saturday, September 26th
Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th
Sunday, September 27th
Free 1st Thursday, October 1st
Friday - Sunday, October 2nd - 4th
Saturday, August 3rd
Free 1st Sunday, October 4th
Free 1st Tuesday, October 6th
Free 1st Wednesday, October 7th
Free 2nd Sunday, October 11th
Thursday, October 8th - Sunday, October 11th
Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th
Thursday, October 15th
Friday, October 16th
Wednesday, October 21st
October 15th-25th
Sunday, October 18th
Free 3rd Wednesday, October 21st
Sunday, October 25th
Roaring Camp Upcoming Events
The Roaring Camp Railroad at the top of the 17 in Felton on your
way to Santa Cruz is worth checking out anyway. Throughout
the summer, there are some cool events coming up. Many of
which will sell out.
The Detes
Year-Round
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (specific farms have different
hours) Pick-Your Own Produce, Brentwood, FREE
(picking is free, but you have to pay for the fruit)
Brentwood has a wonderful activity for the entire family. You grab a
basket and head out into the orchards to pick the freshest fruit
available. Once you have picked your fill, get it weighed and pay
the best price you'll find anywhere for the freshest fruit. Make sure
to check the list of growers for what they offer and make sure that
they have U-Pick available.
Canciamilla Ranch on 401 Eureka Ave (925) 634-5123
These guys offer terrific peaches, nectarines, and plums in a
number of different varieties. This ranch has been featured on the
news as a great place to go.
Visit http://harvest4you.com/ for a list of farms by type of produce,
a map of the area, and a farm locater. Of course, you should
probably check to make sure that the fruit is at its peak before you
head out.
27Saturdays and Sundays through Sept 27
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Train Rides, California State
Railroad Museum, Old Town Sacramento, $8 adults,
$3 kids 6-17, kids under 3 FREE
Every weekend through September, experience the sights, smells,
and sounds of a real, working steam locomotive as it pulls vintage
passenger coaches and converted freight cars along the levees of
the Sacramento River on the California State Railroad Museum's
Sacramento Southern Railroad. Climb aboard for a relaxing 40-
minute, 6-mile roundtrip ride. Of course, the real reason to come
up is to check out the California State Railroad Museum which is
an amazing trip through our State’s history as told through its
railways. Full-sized equipment is cool for all ages and for non-
fanatics. Directions and visiting information at http://www.csrmf.
org/doc.asp?id=286
25Sundays, Through October 25th
Sundays Through October 25th, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunny
Sundays Kids' Series, Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave at Gilman,
Berkeley, $4 kids, $6 adults
Looking for something to do on a foggy Sunday afternoon? Come
out to the Ashkenz performance space for an hour of family music.
The programs are geared for dancing and family members of all
ages. Genres include folk, rock, and world music. The schedule
includes:
- September 6, Ladybug Picnic
- September 13, Family Square Dance with Suzy Thompson
- September 20, Four Shillings Short
- September 27, Charity Kahn and the JAM band
- October 4, October Pretzel
- October 11, Asheba
- October 18, Me 3
- October 25, Halloween Cabaret Carnival
For details and directions, visit www.ashkenaz.com
1Saturdays and Sundays through November 1st
Kids Ride Free on Weekends, Capitol Corridor, up to 2
Kids 2-15 FREE with a paying adult ($6-$35 each way)
Every weekend through November 1st, you can take one of the less
stressful and more comfortable ways to Sacramento with two of
your kids and their bikes for FREE. Well, the kids ride free, you, the
accompanying adult pay. That's not a bad deal. One cool trip that
we have done is to take the train from Oakland to Sacramento. Old
Town Sacramento is a 100 yard walk from the Station. With the
best railway museum in the country (the California State Railroad
Museum), a number of great restaurants along the river, some fun
bike riding, and the many attractions of Old Town, it is not a bad
way to spend the day and you can ALL sleep on the way home! For
more details and tickets, visit http://kidsridefree.org/index.php
2Through October 2nd
Evenings 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Live Music in
Redwood City, Multiple Locations, Redwood City,
FREE
There is live music all over the place in Redwood City:
Every Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Main Street and
Broadway through August 10th
Every Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. during the
summer at Stafford Park through August 12),
Every Thursday Night at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., at Marlin Park
(corner of Neptune and Cringle) through August 6th
Every Friday night at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Courthouse Square in
Downtown Redwood City (through October 2).
For a schedule, check out http://www.redwoodcity.
org/events/music.htm
26Through Thanksgiving
Until 8:45 p.m. Friday Nights at the deYoung, deYoung
Musuem, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, $10
adults, $6 kids 13-17, kids under 12 FREE
Every Friday in July, the museum stays open until 8:45 p.m. with
music, food, crafts activities for kids and their parents, dance and
more. For more details, visit http://www.famsf.
org/deyoung/calendar/day.asp?categoryid=32
5-7 September 5-7
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Historic Rail Fair, Ardenwood
Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 796-0199
The annual Rail Fair returns to the farm over Labor Day weekend.
The centerpiece of this year's event will be the 1891 Baldwin steam
locomotive, “Deanna." Enjoy train rides, handcar rides, displays of
garden railroads, rail yard equipment displays, food, the children's
hobo game, music and of course, all the other great activities that
Ardenwood has to offer like a farm yard, farm equipment,
blacksmithing, and much more. For info call (866) 417-7277. For
information on Ardenwood, directions, etc. visit http://www.
ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#activities
Paul Bunyan Days, Fort Bragg, Mendocino County,
FREE
All Labor Day weekend, the Mendocino Town of Fort Bragg will
celebrate its rich logging history with logging demonstrations,
crafts, parades, fire department water fights (this should be fun -
we can only imagine), tricycle race, and a lot more. You can check
out their minimally helpful website for more information: http:
//www.paulbunyandays.com/
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sausalito Art Festival, Marinship
Park near the US Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
at the North end of Sausalito, Admission $20 adults,
kids 6-12, $5, Kids under 6 FREE
Don't feel like schlepping into SF this weekend or are you in SF
and want to get out? Check out this arts fair across the Bay. If you
are in Marin or the East Bay, it is very convenient. If you are in SF,
the Ferries will be serving the fair with regular service so if it isn't
too foggy, it could be a very nice way to skip the bridge back up at
the Golden Gate.
This event offers three stages of really amazing entertainment
(including Quicksilver, Jefferson Starship, and the Fabulous
Thunderbirds - feel old yet?), tons of food and art. There will be a
kids zone with art activities geared just for them. While you are
there, make sure to check out the Bay Model. It is a full-scale
model of the San Francisco Bay and it is really cool. For more
details, schedules, and directions, visit http://www.
sausalitoartfestival.org/home.html
3-8Labor Day Weekend, September 3rd-8th
8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 3rd through
5:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 8th, Oakland Bay
Bridge Closed all Labor Day Weekend
Yeah, I know, we have already ended the summer with Labor Day
activities and the summer hasn't even started. BUT, we figure that
getting the word out early never hurts. So, like the past few years
before us, they will be shutting down the Bay Bridge to hack out a
chunk of the Bridge and slide that new piece that they have been
building for the past few months in its place. The attached .pdf file
should give you (and your kids an idea of what they are doing. It is
pretty cool. http://baybridgeinfo.
org/sites/default/files/pdfs/general_info_factsheet.pdf
4Friday, September 4th
6:30p.m. “American Idiot": a Green Day Musical,
Berkeley Repertory Theater Target Teen Night Out,
2071 Addison Street, Berkeley, $10
Note: this is NOT a Green Day concert. This is a play based on
their "American Idiot" album and their music will be featured. For
Kids grades 9-12, the Target Teen Night at the Berkeley Rep is a
wonderful treasure for High School Kids with any sort of interest in
theater –either as an audience member or as a participant. This
month’s event is the world premiere of the play based on the
Green Day album, "American Idiot".
Green Day won two Grammys for its multi-platinum album
American Idiot, which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide.
Now those searing songs seize the stage with the director behind
Spring Awakening, the groundbreaking musical that earned eight
Tony Awards and enthralled audiences from coast to coast.
American Idiot follows working class characters from the suburbs
to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world
filled with frustration. This high-octane show features every track
from the album, plus several new tunes from Green Day’s newest
release, 21st Century Breakdown. With an on-stage band and a
cast of 19, American Idiot will take you on an exhilarating journey
borne along by Green Day’s electrifying songs.
RSVPs Required teencouncil@berkeleyrep.org More info on this
event and other Teen Council events can be found here: http:
//www.berkeleyrep.org/school/teencouncil_teennight.aspor call
510.647.2974
6Sunday, September 6th
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Day, SFMOMA: The Family
Studio: Diego Rivera: Al Mercado, SF MOMA, 151
Third Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This week, what kinds of things would you see if you were going to
a Mexican market? Perhaps you'd find beautiful blossoms, like the
ones pictured in Diego Rivera's painting The Flower Carrier. At this
Family Studio, youll take a trip to our Family Mercado and create a
variety of your own Mexican marketplace items. Enjoy a 2:00 p.m.
reading of My Papa Diego and Me/Mi papá Diego y yo, by Rivera's
daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marín. Marín will be on hand for the
reading at the September 20 Family Studio.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
Repeats September 20th
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Sunday Streets, Ocean Beach
on the Great Highway between Golden Gate Park and
the Zoo, San Francisco, FREE
As part of Mayor Newsom's efforts to get people out of their homes
and out of their cars and into the fresh air, streets along the freshly
plowed Ocean Beach will be closed for a day of fun, entertainment,
and family activities including biking, roller skating, lots of dance,
face painting, slides, games, classes, music and more. For a
map and complete details, visit http://sundaystreetssf.com/?
page_id=476
8-19September 8, 2009 - January 19, 2009
There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak,
Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street,
San Francisco, Admission
On the eve of the release of Spike Jonze's interpretation of Maurice
Sendak's classic, Where the Wild Things Are, The wonderful
Contemporary Jewish Museum is featuring an exhibit of Sendak's
works from the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia, the go-to
repository for Sendak's life work. Maurice Sendak has written or
illustrated more than 100 picture books over his 60-year career. A
number of those books, including Where the Wild Things Are, In
the Night Kitchen, and Chicken Soup with Rice, inspired
generations of children and changed the landscape of picture
books. Included in the exhibition are original watercolors,
preliminary sketches, drawings, and dummy books from more
than 40 of Sendak's books, all from the Rosenbach Museum and
Library in Philadelphia, the repository for Sendak's artwork and
working materials. This major retrospective sheds light on the
many mysteries of his life and art by exploring the intensely
personal undercurrents in his work; and it does so using Sendak's
own words, insights, and remarkable stories. The exhibition
explores a number of different aspects of Sendak's books
including his child characters, monsters, literary and artistic
influences, and the settings of his stories. Visitors will delve into
the hidden nuances and personal secrets within Sendak's work
through exclusive interviews with the artist on digital touch screens
throughout the exhibition. As Sendak himself said in one such
interview, "When you hide another story in a story, that's the story I
am telling the children." These hidden stories within Sendak's
work form the core experience of There's a Mystery There.
Come for the exhibit and stay for this beautiful space. Maybe check
out the Yerba Buena Garden's Festival in October during the Target
Family Day.
http://www.thecjm.org/index.php?
option=com_ccevents&scope=exbt&task=detail&oid=42
12Saturday, September 12th
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Paxton Gate Curiosities for Kids
Saturday Events Presents Musical Fun with Artist Em
Gift, 766 Valencia Street, San Francisco, (415) 252-
9990, FREE
There is a place in Paris which started out as a taxidermy shop
and has become so much more. It is a natural curiosities shop
which, in addition to taxidermy, also carries lots of nifty natural
history art work and gardening tools. If you are there, check out
Deyrolle. If Paris is not in your plans, Paxton Gate should be on
your list. In addition to truly inspired toys and kits for kids that
revolve around a natural history theme, they have vintage toys and
all sorts of cool surprises.
Almost every Saturday, Paxton Gate will be hosting some cool
FREE events at their mission kid's boutique. This week local artist
Em Gift will offer a FREE musical workshop where participants will
make their own percussion instruments followed by a mini-
concert. http://www.paxtongate.com/kids.aspx
12 Noon to 4:00 p.m., Garin Apple Festival, Garin
Regional Park, Hayward, FREE
Enjoy an old-fashioned harvest this fall at one of the Park District’s
most popular events--the annual Garin Apple Festival at Garin
Regional Park in Hayward. Garin is home to an antique apple
orchard with varieties of apples you won’t find anywhere else. Take
this opportunity to taste-test dozens of varieties, including antique
varieties unavailable anywhere except at the Apple Festival! Try
your hand at pressing apple cider or hand-cranking ice cream, and
then taste the “fruit” of your labor. Tours are given throughout the
day, plus there are plenty of activities for parents and kids, from old-
fashioned square dancing to old-fashioned games, crafts, and lots
more. The event is free with a $5 parking fee. For more information,
call 1-888-EBPARKS, option 3, ext. 4519. For directions, visit http:
//www.ebparks.org/parks/garin
12-13Sat. & Sun. September 12-13th
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Mountain View Art & Wine
Festival, Castro Street between El Camino Real and
Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View FREE (some individual
fees likely for the Kids’ things and food, of course)
Enjoy an array of fine foods from around the world, wine,
microbrews, and live music and entertainment to accompany the
festivities. The music will cater to a wide range of tastes from R&B,
Swing, Rock ‘n Roll, Jazz, Soul, World-Beat to Celtic Folk. They are
also planning a huge Kids’ Park and kid’s stage with arts & crafts,
climbing wall, virtual reality theater, rides, bounce houses, henna
tats, etc. As is usual with these types of events, plan on shelling
out a few bucks for each of these attractions.
On the Kids' Entertainment front, there will be dancing, martial arts,
juggling, puppetry, magicians, and much more. The Kids’ Stage is
Free. For more information, and a schedule visit http://www.
miramarevents.com/mountainview/index.html
13Sunday, September 13th
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Target Family Days: Latin
Theme, Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway,
Redwood City, FREE
Once again, the generous folks at Target are sponsoring a series
of themed family events in Redwood City. The three cultural
themes this year include East Indian-Bollywood, Hawaiian and
Latin Each event includes music, children’s performers, hands-on
activities for kids and more. There will be something for everyone,
as Courthouse Square becomes the center of a magical
assortment of family entertainment. Plus, the street will be closed
to through traffic, making a family outing in Downtown a safe and
gratifying experience.
This week, they will have a Latin Theme featuring:
* The Cuban Cowboys - Cuban Swing
* Andy Z and the Andyland Band (not really Latin, but great kids'
music)
* Insect Discovery Lab
There will also be the usual raft of great Cultural Food, Street
Artists, Food Demonstrations, Face Painting, Hands-on Art
Projects, Art Stations with FREE projects, flowers & baked goods
for sale, bounce houses & more! For more details on the
entertainment, visit http://www.redwoodcity.
org/events/targetfamilydays.htm
amazing acrobatic feats, colorful clowns, and more.
For details and directions, visit http://beachboardwalk.
com/01_events.html
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Solano Stroll, Solano Avenue
between the Alameda and San Pablo Avenues,
Albany and Berkeley, FREE
The Solano Stroll is a mile of fun in the adjoining East Bay cities of
Berkeley and Albany. For 26 blocks, there will be non-stop
entertainment, food, art, games, community information, and a kids
zone with slides, games, clowns, jugglers, magicians, and a lot
more. Parking can be challenging, so looking for parking south of
Marin is advisable. It is then a block or two to walk North to
Solano. For details, visit http://www.solanoavenueassn.org/strol.
htm
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Grandparent's Day at the San
Francisco Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd. at 47th
Ave., San Francisco, FREE with a colored picture of a
zoo animal.
What better way to celebrate Grandparent's Day than to share a day
(hopefully a sunny, Indian Summer day rather than a foggy SF
coast morning) with the Grandkids at the Zoo? Here's the deal.
Have your grandkids whip up a lovely piece of artwork of their
favorite zoo animal and you all get in FREE, kids and
grandparents. Not a bad deal. Every kids who gets in, however,
must have their own drawing however. For details, visit http://www.
sfzoo.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?
orgkey=1431&ActivityKey=652196
19Saturday, September 19th
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Coastal Clean Up Day, Various
Locations Statewide, FREE
Bring hat, gloves, some grubby shoes, and sunscreen for a day of
community to help pick up that which others have thoughtlessly
cast away. Some locations will have prizes but that is not what we
are there for. For details and a location near you, visit http://www.
coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd2.html One could even talk like a
pirate while cleaning up! (See next entry)
Annual International Talk Like a Pirate Day FREE
Arrrr, maties! Smartly, ye rum-riddled rapscallions, batten down
the hatches, swig ye grog, and abandon all ye king’s english for
the day! Yes, every year on September 19th, scalliwags all over the
world get their best sea salt on and try to avoid looking like Johnny
Depp. Visit the Talk Like a Pirate website for more information and
pirating resources. Hoist the jolly roger and walk the plank! http:
//www.talklikeapirate.com/links.html See if you have the patience
to talk more than three sentences of the stuff!
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., AlohaFest, Napa Valley
Exposition, 575 Third Street, Napa, Bring a non-
perishable food item for admission
The festival will include live entertainment including Grammy-
winning Slack Key Artist, Cyril Pahinui (4 p.m.), Hawaiian dancing,
and vendors from the Hawaiian/Polynesian community in the form
of music, dance, authentic foods arts, crafts, clothing and wares
from vendors all over the West Coast. Hands on activities include
lei making, kapa (cloth) making, poi making, and more. For details
visit http://www.manaleohcf.org/aloha%20festval.htm
19-20Sat-Sun, September 19-20th
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Livermore Children’s Fair,
Robert Livermore Community Center, 4444 East
Ave., Livermore, FREE
Yes, I know what you are thinking: "Livermore". It really isn't that far
away and there are a couple of really good reasons to know about
this park: First, this fair has got a lot going on: music, dance,
magic, food, climbing walls, crafts, games, fire trucks, etc. and it is
all free. Second, the city has a cool "zero-depth" pool with a water
feature and a huge slide for the bigger kids. On hot days (there are
still a few of them out there), this is a great idea. Lots of shade
too. Visit http://www.larpd.dst.ca.
us/event_flyers/Childrens_Fair_2009.pdf for more.
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Santa Clara Art & Wine
Festival, Central Park, 969 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara,
FREE
Over 175 booths featuring the talents of local and regional artists,
community groups, arts & crafts, international foods, fine wines
and micro-brewed beer, live entertainment on three stages, Kids
Kingdom and more. The Kids Kingdom will have rock climbing, a
train, rides, games, kid’s entertainment, attractions, and more. If
the past is any guide, there will be a small charge for most
everything except for the entertainment and some attractions. For a
full list of activities and their cost, visit http://www.
santaclaraartandwine.com/KidsKingdomActivities.pdf
For directions, visit http://www.santaclaraartandwine.
com/directions.html
Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm Mill Valley Fall Arts
Festival, Old Mill Park, Mill Valley. Adult $8,
Senior/Student $5, Under 12 Free. Free Shuttle and
Parking Tam High Parking Lot
Come and see more than 130 Artists, enjoy live music, food, wine,
children's entertainment, a book sale, food, and more. There will
be a kid’s stage, Girl-Scout-led crafts, face painting, magic, music,
puppets. For the grown ups there will a wide range of acts from
Jazz to Hawaiian to Urban World Beat. Parking will be at a
premium, so consider the shuttle from Tam High. Check the
directions link below for a list of shuttle stops.
Details at http://www.mvfaf.org/
Directions at http://www.mvfaf.org/maps.htm
20Sunday, September 20th
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Day, SFMOMA: The Family
Studio: Diego Rivera: Al Mercado, SF MOMA, 151
Third Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This week, what kinds of things would you see if you were going to
a Mexican market? Perhaps you'd find beautiful blossoms, like the
ones pictured in Diego Rivera's painting The Flower Carrier. At this
Family Studio, youll take a trip to our Family Mercado and create a
variety of your own Mexican marketplace items. Enjoy a 2:00 p.m.
reading of My Papa Diego and Me/Mi papá Diego y yo, by Rivera's
daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marín. Marín will be on hand for the
reading at the September 20 Family Studio.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
12:30 – 3:00 p.m., Little Farm Fair, Tilden Little Farm,
Central Drive, Berkeley, FREE
Enjoy crafts, games, music, and food. Meet, greet, and feed farm
animals (lettuce and celery only, please – organic and local grown
if possible. Joking about the last part) The Little Farm, Nature
Center, and Jewell Lake are all clustered together and make for a
wonderful day out. The Little Farm, etc. are open basically every
day and the animals are milling about their corrals waiting for their
snacks (see above). These special days on the Little Farm,
however, are worth checking out since they make this cool little
place even better. For directions, visit http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/vc/tna
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Cole Valley Fair, Cole Street
between Carl and Grattan, San Francisco, FREE
The Cole Valley Fair is a charming and well-attended free event
with reasonably priced booths showcasing local artists. The Fair
features fine arts and crafts, food from neighborhood restaurants,
live music, a display of historic Cole Valley photographs, a full
block of vintage automobiles owned by neighborhood residents,
events for children, visits from the Tree Frog Treks people, and
much more! http://cviasf.org/cole-valley-fair-september-21-2008/
26Saturday, September 26th
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Paxton Gate Curiosities for Kids
Saturday Events Presents a Soap Making Workshop,
766 Valencia Street, San Francisco, (415) 252-9990,
FREE
There is a place in Paris which started out as a taxidermy shop
and has become so much more. It is a natural curiosities shop
which, in addition to taxidermy, also carries lots of nifty natural
history art work and gardening tools. If you are there, check out
Deyrolle. If Paris is not in your plans, Paxton Gate should be on
your list. In addition to truly inspired toys and kits for kids that
revolve around a natural history theme, they have vintage toys and
all sorts of cool surprises.
Almost every Saturday, Paxton Gate will be hosting some cool
FREE events at their Mission kid's boutique. This week, it's good,
clean fun with a soap making workshop where kids can make their
own soap from all natural materials you can find in almost every
household. http://www.paxtongate.com/kids.aspx
Smithsonian Museum Day, Venues All Over the 50
United States, FREE
Museum Day is a nationwide event where participating museums
and cultural institutions across the country offer free admission to
Smithsonian readers and Smithsonian.com visitors for the day.
This is a great freebie that used to be open only to magazine
subscribers, but is now open to the general public.
General information is available at http://microsite.
smithsonianmag.com/museumday/
Go to the following link to down load and print a pass that you will
need to show for admission: http://microsite.smithsonianmag.
com/museumday/admission.html
To find out which museums are participating near you, please click
on your state http://microsite.smithsonianmag.
com/museumday/venue.html or just cut to the chase and click
here for California venues.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-search/?
state=California
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Blackie's Hay Day, Blackie's
Pasture, Tiburon, $10 per person plus activity tickets.
A benefit for area libraries, the Hay Day is a great old fashioned
romp done very nicely. The organizers have crammed a lot of fun
into a fairly small area: petting zoo, face painting, toy tractor mazes,
pony rides, games, lizards, jumpies, food, entertainment, and
more. We had to pry our very reluctant child out of here last year
and will likely return this year! http://www.blackieshayday.com/ If
you are interested in the very sweet story of Blackie, visit this site:
http://www.tiburonpeninsulafoundation.org/blackie.htm
Well, that’s it for now.
26-27Sat & Sun, September 26th & 27th
10:00 a.m. California Academy of Sciences First
Anniversary Celebration, 55 Music Concourse Drive,
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Admission to the
Museum, FREE activities outside.
We put this event on the calendar because the CAS is a great
place. That being said, the place is crowded on a good day.
Special events can be hideously packed, so be forewarned! Now,
that being said, you SHOULD go to the California Academy of
Sciences. It is such a wonderful and magical place to explore
(make sure to check out the Naturalist Center on the 3rd Floor).
Here's an idea: Golden Gate Park will be OK (granted the main
drag will be closed to vehicle traffic which is good thing if you and
your family are on skates, bikes or in a stroller). Just a few ideas:
go to the deYoung (across the Concourse), go to Stow Lake (a few
hundred yards west), go to the Tea Garden, go to the Koret
Playground (a hundred yards or so east) and visit the Anniversary-
related events on the Concourse as you wander about. There will
be a lot of great stuff from Chinese lion dancers to live animal
ambassador visitors, lots of entertainment, demonstrations, and
more. Of course, there will be a great deal of special events going
on indoors. Make a day of it! For details and a schedule, visit http:
//www.calacademy.org/newsroom/releases/2009/anniversary.
php
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Meet the Real Spider-Man at
the Zoo and Celebrate the Insect Zoo 30th
Anniversary! San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd. at 47th
Ave., San Francisco, Regular Zoo Admission
Fresh from battling the forces from evil from Team Disney in
Burbank, the real Spider-Man will come to the San Francisco Zoo
to help them celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Insect Zoo. In
addition to the Wall Crawler, there will be lots of bug-based
demonstrations and exhibits beyond the regularly cool insect
displays. You can watch yellow jackets make a nest, watch dry ice
catch mosquitoes and then watch mosquito fish eat them, then
make your own bugs! There will be lots to do and see. For more
details, visit http://www.sfzoo.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?
orgkey=1431&ActivityKey=652193
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., America's Family Expo; Kid's
Faire, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton,
Adults $8, Children (2-12) $5.
This is billed as California’s largest children’s event. Could be.
They are planning on a couple of hundred activities and events
throughout the weekend. Among the scheduled events are a wide
range of interactive children’s activities, fun family booths, non-stop
children’s entertainment, live costumed characters (25 of these
guys including Maya and Miguel, Winnie the Pooh, Curious
George, Care Bears, Cabbage Patch Kids, Clifford, Barney, and
more), Craft Cities; a Princess Pavilion; Clown-Town circus fun,
Wild West Show; clowns, ice skating (in Pleasanton in the
summer?), pirate activities, trapeze, and circus acts from the
Splash Circus.
Live stage shows include such headliners as Strawberry
Shortcake; Cabbage Patch Kids, Shrek, Alvin & the Chipmunks,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Alex from Madagascar, SpongeBob,
and Dora doing stage shows. For more information, visit www.
thekidsfaire.com For a discount ticket, visit http://www.
thekidsfaire.com/pub/pleasanton_tickets.htm
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Pacific Coast Fog Fest, along
Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, FREE (although some
things will have nominal charges)
This annual event features three entertainment stages, a parade
and marching band competition, professional sand castles, 190
arts and crafts booths, food, and a great family area. The family
area at Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School at 1427 Palmetto Ave., will
have a petting zoo, wall climbing, rides, sea creatures, junk car
decorating, games, arts and crafts, and much more. No dogs,
scooters, bikes, skateboards or rollerblades. For details, visit http:
//www.pacificcoastfogfest.com/FogFest.htm?activities
12:00 noon, How Berkeley Can you Be? Parade and
Festival, Civic Center Park Berkeley, FREE
This irreverent parade and festival proves that Berkeley residents
*can* laugh at themselves – no matter what the LA Times says.
This annual event pokes fun at all the best parts of Berkeley from
over-the-top environmentalism to just cookiness. As they say, “Part
question, part challenge, all celebration!” At the end of the parade
in Civic Center Park, there will be music, dance, food, crafts, lots of
kids’ activities, and a kids stage by the Buddy Club. For more
details, visit http://www.howberkeleycanyoube.com/festival.shtml
.
2-4October 2nd-4th
Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Sonoma County
Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa,
Adults $6, Kids 7-12 $2, Kids 6 and under FREE
This is it! The last of the fairs of the season! We went last year
and had a blast! Lots of farm animals to see and pet, sheep dog
trials, draft horse hay rides, tons of kids entertainment, rides, fried
things, music, demonstrations, and exhibits, and (we swear) pig
beauty pageants. This is a great fair. Your child will run out of
energy before you run out of things to do. Click here for more
details and directions http://www.sonomacountyfair.
com/hf_home.php
3Saturday, October 3rd
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Autumn Celebration at Filoli,
Filoli Gardens, Woodside. Adults $25, Kids 5-17 $5,
Kids 4 and under FREE,
Let’s be honest, we love Filoli. It is just so darned....nice. Gardens
and home aside, this is...well, there is nothing else besides the
gardens and the house until now. The great people at Filoli are
putting on a wonderful day full of fun for the kids with orchard tours,
pumpkin decorating, scarecrows, pumpkins, puppets and clowns,
and a Family Funland — kids can make Halloween crafts and
families can participate in an obstacle course. Tickets go fast, so
make sure that you get them early. Visit http://www.filoli.
org/special-events-and-exhibits/autumn-festival.html for details
and ticket information. Seriously, Filoli is a special place and is
worth a visit no matter what time of year. For directions, visit http:
//www.filoli.org/plan-your-visit/directions.html
4Sunday, October 4th
10:00 a.m. - -6:00 p.m., 6th Annual North Berkeley
"Spice of Life Festival", Shattuck Avenue (Virginia to
Rose), Berkeley, FREE
It is hard to realize that Berkeley is known for things other than tree
sitters, football, and liberal politics. But, yes, Berkeley is also
known as the fertile ground from which a whole new school of
cooking arose. The Spice of Life Festival is a celebration of this
passion for food. Besides food, there will be live music on three
stages — Jazz, Bluegrass, Oldies, and World Music, dance
performances, book-signings, and bodywork, acupressure and
yoga demonstrations. "Kidtopia” offers puppet shows, pony rides,
farm animals and kids crafts activities. www.spiceoflifefestival.
com
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connolly Ranch Harvest
Festival, 3141 Browns Valley Road, Napa, FREE
This Saturday, this cool 12-acre farm in the heart of Napa will be
open to the public. Families can visit their farm animals (goats,
sheep, miniature donkeys, horses, and cows, geese, ducks, Olivia
the pig (presumably full-sized), worms, face painting, free
pumpkins and veges, tours of the ranch and enjoy food, drink,
activities, and live music. Call (707) 224.1894 for details or click
here for directions (way down at the bottom) http://www.
connollyranch.org/.
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Day, SFMOMA: The Family
Studio: Crafty, Crawly Creatures, SF MOMA, 151 Third
Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This week, what would you do if you encountered a six-foot-tall
spider? What about five giant spiders? Take a closer look at the
work of Louise Bourgeois and create your own nest of crawly
creatures at this Family Studio. At 2:00 p.m., find out what a day in
the life of a spider is like, with a reading of Diary of a Spider, written
by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Harry Bliss.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
8-13Friday - Sunday, Oct 8th – Oct 13th
US Navy Photo
11:30 onwards, Fleet Week, San Francisco, FREE,
The first week of October is Fleet Week in the Bay Area (this month,
it is a little later). There are a ton of open houses and naval
activities related to the event. But the big draw is always the
airshow – the only city by the way in the country where the Blue
Angels fly over the city itself. The air show is generally
characterized by huge crowds and nasty parking and traffic. There
*IS* a way around this: Friday afternoon, October 8th before the
Fleet Week weekend from 1-4 p.m., the Blue Angels have a
practice run where they run through the ENTIRE show (the Blues
do their thing at 3:00 but you should be there early). I usually watch
from the beach/breakwater just East of the Saint Francis Yacht
Club. There are lawns to sit on and some porta potties for relief.
You can also park very close by without too much trouble. On
Saturday the festivities will kick off with the Parade of Ships under
the Golden Gate Bridge. Crowds are typically large and parking is
challenging.
Details are available at http://www.military.com/fleetweek
10-11Saturday & Sunday, Oct 10th & 11th
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., San Carlos Street Art & Wine
Faire, San Carlos Avenue (between EL Camino and
Walnut) and goes on Laurel Street from San Carlos
Avenue to Arroyo, San Carlos, FREE
Arts, crafts, 20 international food booths, fine wines and
microbrews. Family Fun Zone and kid's activities. Live
entertainment on three stages.
15Thursday, October 15th
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., East Bay Independent Schools K-
8 School Fair, Double Tree Hotel, 200 Marina Blvd.,
Berkeley (at the base of University Avenue on the
West side of the 80), Berkeley, FREE
The East Bay Independent Schools Association is an alliance of
over 40 independent K-8 schools in the East Bay. Every year,
EBISA sponsors a series of information fairs for parents to gather
information about their schools and speak with representatives
from the schools in an informal environment. For any parent who is
considering the private school option, this is a MUST event.
NOTE: unlike previous years, there will ONLY be one event for the
Berkeley/Oakland area. For information, visit http://www.ebisaca.
org/
There will also be a High School Fair on Wednesday, October
14th at Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek and another on
Tuesday, October 20th at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland.
16Friday, October 16th
6:30p.m. Berkeley Repertory Theatre Presents a Teen
Council Teen Night: Tiny Kushner, Berkeley
Repertory Theater, 2071 Addison Street, Berkeley,
$10
For Kids grades 9-12, the Target Teen Night at the Berkeley Rep is
a wonderful treasure for High School Kids with any sort of interest
in theater –either as an audience member or as a participant.
Teen Night gives Bay Area teens the opportunity to attend the first
preview of a Berkeley Rep play for an extremely discounted price,
with dinner and a behind-the-scenes workshop before the show.
This month’s event is the world premiere of Tony Award winning
playwright, Tony Kushner's new series of short scripts by the
singular Tony Kushner. The legendary playwright returns to
Berkeley Rep to team up with Artistic Director Tony Taccone, who
also staged Angels in America, Brundibar, Homebody/Kabul and
Slavs! Travel to the moon—and to the afterlife—with Laura Bush,
Nixon’s analyst, the queen of Albania and a host of real-life tax
evaders, all adrift in an increasingly fragile world. Kushner brings
his brilliance and humor to bear in a sparkling string of one-act
plays—and his gilded language is guided, as always, by an
unwavering moral compass.
RSVPs Required teencouncil@berkeleyrep.org More info on this
event and other Teen Council events can be found here: http:
//www.berkeleyrep.org/school/teencouncil_teennight.asp or call
510.647.2974
15-25October 15th-25th
12 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m., Zoppe Italian Family
Circus, 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, adults,
$15-20, kids $10-15
Housed in an intimate 500-seat tent, this single ring circus
captures the old world Italian circus tradition. The emphasis is on
clowns, acrobats, aerialists, audience participation, and trick horse
riding. It is like Cirque du Soleil minus the Vegas production
values plus a great deal of charm and the feeling that you are part
of the show. We love these shows. For details, visit http://www.
redwoodcity.org/events/zoppe.html. To find out more on the
Zoppe Family Circus, visit their website at http://zoppe.net/ (You
CAN turn off that music)
18Sunday, October 18th
12:00 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., Target Family Day, SF
MOMA, Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of
the African Diaspora, Zeum, and the Yerba Buena
Gardens, In and around 3rd and Mission, San
Francisco, FREE
Target Family Day is downtown San Francisco’s biggest daylong
family block party with free admission to four leading museums,
special art activities for kids and free performances on three
stages.
Participating organizations include the San Francisco Museum of
Modern Art, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of the
African Diaspora, Zeum: San Francisco’s Children’s Museum and
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.
Some highlights: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival activities that day
include three stages of interactive fun! including (on the
Esplanade) Circus Bella, the Unique (and great!) Derique, the
Prescott Family Circus, (in the Children's Garden) Chelle! &
Friends, the Venezuelan Music Project, and the Pi Clowns in
Jessie Square. .
21Wednesday, October 21st
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Preschool Preview Night San
Francisco County Fair Building, 9th and Lincoln
entrance to Golden Gate Park, $5 for adults, Kids
FREE
Got a child approaching pre-school age? Expecting to someday
have kids approach preschool age? You can never start too soon.
Representatives from over 80 San Francisco preschools and other
child-related vendors and service organizations will gather to give
you their pitches at this handy event. Get answers to your
questions about the preschool process and then relax!
Complimentary food, beverages and snacks will be served. The
Tree Frog Treks people will be there with some creepy friends to
introduce you to. For more information or to sign up, email
ParentsPlaceSF@jfcs.org, call 415.359.2454, or register at www.
ParentsPlaceOnline.org.
25Sunday, October 25th
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Crowden School Community
Music Day, Crowden School 1475 Rose St
(@Sacramento), Berkeley, FREE
The Crowden School is a fantastic middle school in Berkeley that
augments academics with a distinguished music program.
Community Music Day is their outreach event with such fun
activities to bring music to the community as an instrument petting
zoo where participants can explore all sorts of musical
instruments, instrument making workshops, demonstrations, and
a SF Performance Chamber Orchestra performances throughout
the day. For more information, visit http://www.crowden.
org/Community/music_day.htm
Things to think ahead
about:
The following events sell out almost instantaneously because they
are wildly popular, so if you are interested, you might wish to book
now before the opportunity passes you by.
Roaring Camp Upcoming Events
The Roaring Camp Railroad at the top of the 17 in Felton on your
way to Santa Cruz is worth checking out anyway. Throughout the
summer, there are some cool events coming up. Many of which
will sell out.
Great Train Robberies
September 5-6 (Labor Day Weekend)
Witness shootouts of famed lawmen and notorious outlaws from
the 1880s at Bear Mountain. Blazing reenactments demonstrate
why the West was wild.
You must have reservations and tickets sell out FAST. So, how do
you get them? Call Ticketweb at (866) 468-3399 or go online at
http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?
region=sfbay&query=schedule&venue=roaringcamprr1
Directions to Roaring Camp are at http://www.roaringcamp.
com/maps.html If you miss this one and your family might be
anywhere near one of these places, you can look up any one of a
bunch of “Days Out with Thomas” all over North America. http:
//www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/parents/dowt.html
All Summer Long
REI’s Kids Passport to Adventure Program, FREE
Want to motivate your kid to get outdoors and connect to nature?
REI has a great program for kids 5-12 where they do a series of
activities outdoors and, upon completing the activity, they send in a
postcard from their Adventure Journal (FREE at your local REI).
When they finish at least one task, they will get a certificate and a
special prize as well as be entered into a sweepstakes for a cool
grand prize. Drop by any REI and pick up your FREE Adventure
Journal.
That's it for now!
September Update!
Nutcracker Tickets on Sale! Yeah, it is hard to believe that it
is Nutcracker time again. Buy before September 30th to guarantee
your tickets. For companies and schedules, visit our Nutcracker
Page.
There are a lot of great things to do to unwind on the weekends.
Check out the County Fair Page for the last fairs of the season. If
your kids like animals, this is a great way to get up front and
personal with the domesticated ones. Finally, visit the Summer
Movies Page to find movies in the Park near you!
Make sure to check out our Facebook page. If you like us, be our
fan! Share us! Pass us around!
Make sure to check out the Resources Pages, especially our
Summer Resources Page for a ton of great ideas. Here are some
highlights:
- Current Activities - Everything coming up for you and your
family! - Free Music and Theater Guide NEW - It is summer and
cities all over the Bay Area have free concerts and theater.
These are great ways to enjoy the warm summer nights. - Performing Arts Schedule UPDATED Our favorite venues
have updated their 2009-2010 schedules. Make sure to
check out the shows coming up. As usual, stay tuned as
we will be offering free tickets again to our subscribers!
Don't miss out! - Museums and Other Attractions The Bay Area is rich with
treasures and cool fun things to do! Our lists are broken
down by region! - Check out the NEW Travel Koncierge Travel Ideas page for
tips on how to better enjoy your vacations with your family! - We just added the Kiddie Koncierge Santa Barbara guide
for your Spring Break planning enjoyment! - We have also added a Family Hiking Page for ideas on
getting those young 'uns out in the fresh air.
Activities at a Glance
Through Sept 27th
- 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Opening Weekend for Train
Operations, California State Railroad Museum, Old Town
Sacramento, Admission
Sundays Through October 25th
- 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunny Sundays Kids' Series,
Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave at Gilman, Berkeley, $4
kids, $6 adults
Through November 1st
- Kids Ride Free on the Capitol Corridor Train, San Jose to
Auburn and Stops in Between, FREE
Year Round
- Pick Your Own Produce, Brentwood
Through August 29th
- 11:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays, Yerba
Buena Gardens Festival, Yerba Buena Gardens between
3rd and 4th, between Mission and Howard, San
Francisco, FREE
Through Thanksgiving
- Until 8:45, Friday Nights at the deYoung, deYoung
Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Friday, September 4th
- Target Teen Council Teen Night: American Idiot (Green
Day's Musical), Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, 2025
Addison St., Berkeley, $10 Reservations Required
Free 1st Thursday, September 3rd
- Berkeley Art Museum www.bampfa.berkeley.edu
- Burlingame Pez Museum www.spectrumnet.com/pez/
Labor Day Weekend, September3rd-8th
- Bay Bridge Closed from 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September
3rd to 5:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 8th. Click Here for
Details
September 5-7 LABOR DAY WEEKEND
- 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Historic Rail Fair, Ardenwood
Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont - Paul Bunyan Days, Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, FREE
- 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sausalito Art Festival, Marinship
Park near the US Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model at
the North end of Sausalito, Admission
Sunday, September 6th
- 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Sunday Streets, Great Highway
Between Golden Gate Park and the Zoo, San Francisco,
FREE - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. SF MOMA Family Studio: Al
Mercado, SF MOMA, 151 Third St, San Francisco, FREE
Free 1st Sunday, September 7th
- Asian Art Museum www.asianart.org
- Coyote Point Museum www.coyoteptmuseum.org
September 8th - January 19th
- There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak,
Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street, San
Francisco
Free 2nd Sunday, September 14th
- Oakland Museum www.museumca.org
- Tech Museum of San Jose, www.thetech.org NEW
Saturday, September 12th
- 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Paxton Gate Curiosities Saturday
Kids Events: Musical Fun with artist, Em Gift, 766 Valencia
Between 18th and 19th, San Francisco, FREE - 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m., Garin Apple Festival, Garin
Regional Park, Hayward, FREE
Sunday, September 13
- 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Target Family Days: Latin Theme,
Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City, FREE - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Solano Stroll, Solano Ave. between
the Alameda and San Pablo, Albany and Berkeley, FREE - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Grandparents Day at the SF Zoo,
Sloat Blvd. at 47th Ave., San Francisco, FREE
Free 3rd Wednesday, September 16th
- California Academy of Sciences www.calacademy.org
Saturday, September 19th
- 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Coastal Clean Up Day, Various
Locations, FREE - Talk Like a Pirate Day
- Aloha Fest, Napa County Exposition, 575 Third Street,
Napa
Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20
- 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Livermore Children's Day, Robert
Livermore Community Center, 4444 East Avenue., FREE - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Santa Clara Arts and Wine Festival,
Central Park, 969 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mill Valley Arts Festival, Old Mill
Park, Mill Valley
Sunday, September 20th
- 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. SF MOMA Family Studio: Al
Mercado, SF MOMA, 151 Third St, San Francisco, FREE - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Cole Valley Fair, Cole Street
between Carl and Grattan, FREE
Saturday, September 26th
- 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Paxton Gate Curiosities Saturday
Kids Events: Soap Making, 766 Valencia Between 18th
and 19th, San Francisco, FREE - Smithsonian FREE Museum Day Nationwide, FREE
- 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Blackie's Hay Day, Blackie's
Pasture, Tiburon, Admission
Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th
- 10:00 a.m. California Academy of Sciences First
Anniversary Celebration, 55 Music Concourse Drive,
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Admission to the
Museum, FREE activities outside. - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Meet the Real Spider-Man at the
Zoo and Celebrate the Insect Zoo 30th Anniversary! San
Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd. at 47th Ave., San Francisco,
Regular Zoo Admission - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Pacific Coast Fog Fest, Along
Palmetto, Pacifica, FREE
Sunday, September 27th
- 12 noon How Berkeley Can you Be? Parade, Civic Center,
Berkeley
Free 1st Thursday, October 1st
- Berkeley Art Museum www.bampfa.berkeley.edu
- Burlingame Pez Museum www.spectrumnet.com/pez/
Friday - Sunday, October 2nd - 4th
- Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Sonoma County
Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa
Saturday, August 3rd
- 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Filoli Autumn Festival, Filoli
Gardens, Woodside, Admission
Free 1st Sunday, October 4th
- Asian Art Museum www.asianart.org
- Coyote Point Museum www.coyoteptmuseum.org
- 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. SF MOMA Family Studio: Crafty,
Crawly Creatures, SF MOMA, 151 Third St, San Francisco,
FREE - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Connolly Ranch Harvest Festival,
3141 Browns Valley Road, Napa, FREE
Free 1st Tuesday, October 6th
- Cartoon Art Museum www.cartoonart.org
- De Young www.famsf.org
- Legion of Honor www.famsf.org
- SF MOMA www.sfmoma.org
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts www.ybca.org
- Conservatory of Flowers, www.conservatoryofflowers.org
Free 1st Wednesday, October 7th
- Exploratorium www.exploratorium.edu
- Coyote Point Museum www.coyoteptmuseum.org
- Bay Area Discovery Museum www.baykidsmuseum.org
Free 2nd Sunday, October 11th
- Oakland Museum www.museumca.org
- Tech Museum of San Jose, www.thetech.org NEW
Thursday, October 8th - Sunday, October 11th
- Fleet Week, The Presidio to Pier 39, San Francisco, FREE
Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th
- 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., San Carlos Street Art & Wine
Faire, San Carlos Avenue (between EL Camino and
Walnut) and goes on Laurel Street from San Carlos
Avenue to Arroyo, San Carlos, FREE
Thursday, October 15th
- 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., East Bay Independent Schools K-8
School Fair, Double Tree Hotel, 200 Marina Blvd.,
Berkeley, FREE
Friday, October 16th
- Target Teen Night, Tiny Kushner, Berkeley Repertory
Theatre, 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley, Reservations
Required
Wednesday, October 21st
- 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Preschool Preview Night, San
Francisco County Fair Building, 9th and Lincoln, San
Francisco
October 15th-25th
- 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., Zoppe Family Circus,
1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City
Sunday, October 18th
- 12:00 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., Target Family Day, SF MOMA,
Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of the
African Diaspora, Zeum, and the Yerba Buena Gardens, In
and around 3rd and Mission, San Francisco, FREE - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Spice of Life Festival, Shattuck Ave
(Between Rose and Virgina), Berkeley, FREE
Free 3rd Wednesday, October 21st
- California Academy of Sciences www.calacademy.org
Sunday, October 25th
- 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Crowden School Community Music
Day, Crowden School, 1475 Rose Street at Sacramento,
Berkeley, FREE
Roaring Camp Upcoming Events
The Roaring Camp Railroad at the top of the 17 in Felton on your
way to Santa Cruz is worth checking out anyway. Throughout
the summer, there are some cool events coming up. Many of
which will sell out.
- September 5-6 (Labor Day Weekend) Great Train
Robberies
The Detes
Year-Round
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (specific farms have different
hours) Pick-Your Own Produce, Brentwood, FREE
(picking is free, but you have to pay for the fruit)
Brentwood has a wonderful activity for the entire family. You grab a
basket and head out into the orchards to pick the freshest fruit
available. Once you have picked your fill, get it weighed and pay
the best price you'll find anywhere for the freshest fruit. Make sure
to check the list of growers for what they offer and make sure that
they have U-Pick available.
Canciamilla Ranch on 401 Eureka Ave (925) 634-5123
These guys offer terrific peaches, nectarines, and plums in a
number of different varieties. This ranch has been featured on the
news as a great place to go.
Visit http://harvest4you.com/ for a list of farms by type of produce,
a map of the area, and a farm locater. Of course, you should
probably check to make sure that the fruit is at its peak before you
head out.
27Saturdays and Sundays through Sept 27
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Train Rides, California State
Railroad Museum, Old Town Sacramento, $8 adults,
$3 kids 6-17, kids under 3 FREE
Every weekend through September, experience the sights, smells,
and sounds of a real, working steam locomotive as it pulls vintage
passenger coaches and converted freight cars along the levees of
the Sacramento River on the California State Railroad Museum's
Sacramento Southern Railroad. Climb aboard for a relaxing 40-
minute, 6-mile roundtrip ride. Of course, the real reason to come
up is to check out the California State Railroad Museum which is
an amazing trip through our State’s history as told through its
railways. Full-sized equipment is cool for all ages and for non-
fanatics. Directions and visiting information at http://www.csrmf.
org/doc.asp?id=286
25Sundays, Through October 25th
Sundays Through October 25th, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunny
Sundays Kids' Series, Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave at Gilman,
Berkeley, $4 kids, $6 adults
Looking for something to do on a foggy Sunday afternoon? Come
out to the Ashkenz performance space for an hour of family music.
The programs are geared for dancing and family members of all
ages. Genres include folk, rock, and world music. The schedule
includes:
- September 6, Ladybug Picnic
- September 13, Family Square Dance with Suzy Thompson
- September 20, Four Shillings Short
- September 27, Charity Kahn and the JAM band
- October 4, October Pretzel
- October 11, Asheba
- October 18, Me 3
- October 25, Halloween Cabaret Carnival
For details and directions, visit www.ashkenaz.com
1Saturdays and Sundays through November 1st
Kids Ride Free on Weekends, Capitol Corridor, up to 2
Kids 2-15 FREE with a paying adult ($6-$35 each way)
Every weekend through November 1st, you can take one of the less
stressful and more comfortable ways to Sacramento with two of
your kids and their bikes for FREE. Well, the kids ride free, you, the
accompanying adult pay. That's not a bad deal. One cool trip that
we have done is to take the train from Oakland to Sacramento. Old
Town Sacramento is a 100 yard walk from the Station. With the
best railway museum in the country (the California State Railroad
Museum), a number of great restaurants along the river, some fun
bike riding, and the many attractions of Old Town, it is not a bad
way to spend the day and you can ALL sleep on the way home! For
more details and tickets, visit http://kidsridefree.org/index.php
2Through October 2nd
Evenings 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Live Music in
Redwood City, Multiple Locations, Redwood City,
FREE
There is live music all over the place in Redwood City:
Every Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Main Street and
Broadway through August 10th
Every Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. during the
summer at Stafford Park through August 12),
Every Thursday Night at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., at Marlin Park
(corner of Neptune and Cringle) through August 6th
Every Friday night at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Courthouse Square in
Downtown Redwood City (through October 2).
For a schedule, check out http://www.redwoodcity.
org/events/music.htm
26Through Thanksgiving
Until 8:45 p.m. Friday Nights at the deYoung, deYoung
Musuem, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, $10
adults, $6 kids 13-17, kids under 12 FREE
Every Friday in July, the museum stays open until 8:45 p.m. with
music, food, crafts activities for kids and their parents, dance and
more. For more details, visit http://www.famsf.
org/deyoung/calendar/day.asp?categoryid=32
5-7 September 5-7
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Historic Rail Fair, Ardenwood
Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 796-0199
The annual Rail Fair returns to the farm over Labor Day weekend.
The centerpiece of this year's event will be the 1891 Baldwin steam
locomotive, “Deanna." Enjoy train rides, handcar rides, displays of
garden railroads, rail yard equipment displays, food, the children's
hobo game, music and of course, all the other great activities that
Ardenwood has to offer like a farm yard, farm equipment,
blacksmithing, and much more. For info call (866) 417-7277. For
information on Ardenwood, directions, etc. visit http://www.
ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#activities
Paul Bunyan Days, Fort Bragg, Mendocino County,
FREE
All Labor Day weekend, the Mendocino Town of Fort Bragg will
celebrate its rich logging history with logging demonstrations,
crafts, parades, fire department water fights (this should be fun -
we can only imagine), tricycle race, and a lot more. You can check
out their minimally helpful website for more information: http:
//www.paulbunyandays.com/
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sausalito Art Festival, Marinship
Park near the US Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
at the North end of Sausalito, Admission $20 adults,
kids 6-12, $5, Kids under 6 FREE
Don't feel like schlepping into SF this weekend or are you in SF
and want to get out? Check out this arts fair across the Bay. If you
are in Marin or the East Bay, it is very convenient. If you are in SF,
the Ferries will be serving the fair with regular service so if it isn't
too foggy, it could be a very nice way to skip the bridge back up at
the Golden Gate.
This event offers three stages of really amazing entertainment
(including Quicksilver, Jefferson Starship, and the Fabulous
Thunderbirds - feel old yet?), tons of food and art. There will be a
kids zone with art activities geared just for them. While you are
there, make sure to check out the Bay Model. It is a full-scale
model of the San Francisco Bay and it is really cool. For more
details, schedules, and directions, visit http://www.
sausalitoartfestival.org/home.html
3-8Labor Day Weekend, September 3rd-8th
8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 3rd through
5:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 8th, Oakland Bay
Bridge Closed all Labor Day Weekend
Yeah, I know, we have already ended the summer with Labor Day
activities and the summer hasn't even started. BUT, we figure that
getting the word out early never hurts. So, like the past few years
before us, they will be shutting down the Bay Bridge to hack out a
chunk of the Bridge and slide that new piece that they have been
building for the past few months in its place. The attached .pdf file
should give you (and your kids an idea of what they are doing. It is
pretty cool. http://baybridgeinfo.
org/sites/default/files/pdfs/general_info_factsheet.pdf
4Friday, September 4th
6:30p.m. “American Idiot": a Green Day Musical,
Berkeley Repertory Theater Target Teen Night Out,
2071 Addison Street, Berkeley, $10
Note: this is NOT a Green Day concert. This is a play based on
their "American Idiot" album and their music will be featured. For
Kids grades 9-12, the Target Teen Night at the Berkeley Rep is a
wonderful treasure for High School Kids with any sort of interest in
theater –either as an audience member or as a participant. This
month’s event is the world premiere of the play based on the
Green Day album, "American Idiot".
Green Day won two Grammys for its multi-platinum album
American Idiot, which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide.
Now those searing songs seize the stage with the director behind
Spring Awakening, the groundbreaking musical that earned eight
Tony Awards and enthralled audiences from coast to coast.
American Idiot follows working class characters from the suburbs
to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world
filled with frustration. This high-octane show features every track
from the album, plus several new tunes from Green Day’s newest
release, 21st Century Breakdown. With an on-stage band and a
cast of 19, American Idiot will take you on an exhilarating journey
borne along by Green Day’s electrifying songs.
RSVPs Required teencouncil@berkeleyrep.org More info on this
event and other Teen Council events can be found here: http:
//www.berkeleyrep.org/school/teencouncil_teennight.aspor call
510.647.2974
6Sunday, September 6th
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Day, SFMOMA: The Family
Studio: Diego Rivera: Al Mercado, SF MOMA, 151
Third Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This week, what kinds of things would you see if you were going to
a Mexican market? Perhaps you'd find beautiful blossoms, like the
ones pictured in Diego Rivera's painting The Flower Carrier. At this
Family Studio, youll take a trip to our Family Mercado and create a
variety of your own Mexican marketplace items. Enjoy a 2:00 p.m.
reading of My Papa Diego and Me/Mi papá Diego y yo, by Rivera's
daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marín. Marín will be on hand for the
reading at the September 20 Family Studio.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
Repeats September 20th
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Sunday Streets, Ocean Beach
on the Great Highway between Golden Gate Park and
the Zoo, San Francisco, FREE
As part of Mayor Newsom's efforts to get people out of their homes
and out of their cars and into the fresh air, streets along the freshly
plowed Ocean Beach will be closed for a day of fun, entertainment,
and family activities including biking, roller skating, lots of dance,
face painting, slides, games, classes, music and more. For a
map and complete details, visit http://sundaystreetssf.com/?
page_id=476
8-19September 8, 2009 - January 19, 2009
There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak,
Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street,
San Francisco, Admission
On the eve of the release of Spike Jonze's interpretation of Maurice
Sendak's classic, Where the Wild Things Are, The wonderful
Contemporary Jewish Museum is featuring an exhibit of Sendak's
works from the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia, the go-to
repository for Sendak's life work. Maurice Sendak has written or
illustrated more than 100 picture books over his 60-year career. A
number of those books, including Where the Wild Things Are, In
the Night Kitchen, and Chicken Soup with Rice, inspired
generations of children and changed the landscape of picture
books. Included in the exhibition are original watercolors,
preliminary sketches, drawings, and dummy books from more
than 40 of Sendak's books, all from the Rosenbach Museum and
Library in Philadelphia, the repository for Sendak's artwork and
working materials. This major retrospective sheds light on the
many mysteries of his life and art by exploring the intensely
personal undercurrents in his work; and it does so using Sendak's
own words, insights, and remarkable stories. The exhibition
explores a number of different aspects of Sendak's books
including his child characters, monsters, literary and artistic
influences, and the settings of his stories. Visitors will delve into
the hidden nuances and personal secrets within Sendak's work
through exclusive interviews with the artist on digital touch screens
throughout the exhibition. As Sendak himself said in one such
interview, "When you hide another story in a story, that's the story I
am telling the children." These hidden stories within Sendak's
work form the core experience of There's a Mystery There.
Come for the exhibit and stay for this beautiful space. Maybe check
out the Yerba Buena Garden's Festival in October during the Target
Family Day.
http://www.thecjm.org/index.php?
option=com_ccevents&scope=exbt&task=detail&oid=42
12Saturday, September 12th
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Paxton Gate Curiosities for Kids
Saturday Events Presents Musical Fun with Artist Em
Gift, 766 Valencia Street, San Francisco, (415) 252-
9990, FREE
There is a place in Paris which started out as a taxidermy shop
and has become so much more. It is a natural curiosities shop
which, in addition to taxidermy, also carries lots of nifty natural
history art work and gardening tools. If you are there, check out
Deyrolle. If Paris is not in your plans, Paxton Gate should be on
your list. In addition to truly inspired toys and kits for kids that
revolve around a natural history theme, they have vintage toys and
all sorts of cool surprises.
Almost every Saturday, Paxton Gate will be hosting some cool
FREE events at their mission kid's boutique. This week local artist
Em Gift will offer a FREE musical workshop where participants will
make their own percussion instruments followed by a mini-
concert. http://www.paxtongate.com/kids.aspx
12 Noon to 4:00 p.m., Garin Apple Festival, Garin
Regional Park, Hayward, FREE
Enjoy an old-fashioned harvest this fall at one of the Park District’s
most popular events--the annual Garin Apple Festival at Garin
Regional Park in Hayward. Garin is home to an antique apple
orchard with varieties of apples you won’t find anywhere else. Take
this opportunity to taste-test dozens of varieties, including antique
varieties unavailable anywhere except at the Apple Festival! Try
your hand at pressing apple cider or hand-cranking ice cream, and
then taste the “fruit” of your labor. Tours are given throughout the
day, plus there are plenty of activities for parents and kids, from old-
fashioned square dancing to old-fashioned games, crafts, and lots
more. The event is free with a $5 parking fee. For more information,
call 1-888-EBPARKS, option 3, ext. 4519. For directions, visit http:
//www.ebparks.org/parks/garin
12-13Sat. & Sun. September 12-13th
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Mountain View Art & Wine
Festival, Castro Street between El Camino Real and
Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View FREE (some individual
fees likely for the Kids’ things and food, of course)
Enjoy an array of fine foods from around the world, wine,
microbrews, and live music and entertainment to accompany the
festivities. The music will cater to a wide range of tastes from R&B,
Swing, Rock ‘n Roll, Jazz, Soul, World-Beat to Celtic Folk. They are
also planning a huge Kids’ Park and kid’s stage with arts & crafts,
climbing wall, virtual reality theater, rides, bounce houses, henna
tats, etc. As is usual with these types of events, plan on shelling
out a few bucks for each of these attractions.
On the Kids' Entertainment front, there will be dancing, martial arts,
juggling, puppetry, magicians, and much more. The Kids’ Stage is
Free. For more information, and a schedule visit http://www.
miramarevents.com/mountainview/index.html
13Sunday, September 13th
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Target Family Days: Latin
Theme, Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway,
Redwood City, FREE
Once again, the generous folks at Target are sponsoring a series
of themed family events in Redwood City. The three cultural
themes this year include East Indian-Bollywood, Hawaiian and
Latin Each event includes music, children’s performers, hands-on
activities for kids and more. There will be something for everyone,
as Courthouse Square becomes the center of a magical
assortment of family entertainment. Plus, the street will be closed
to through traffic, making a family outing in Downtown a safe and
gratifying experience.
This week, they will have a Latin Theme featuring:
* The Cuban Cowboys - Cuban Swing
* Andy Z and the Andyland Band (not really Latin, but great kids'
music)
* Insect Discovery Lab
There will also be the usual raft of great Cultural Food, Street
Artists, Food Demonstrations, Face Painting, Hands-on Art
Projects, Art Stations with FREE projects, flowers & baked goods
for sale, bounce houses & more! For more details on the
entertainment, visit http://www.redwoodcity.
org/events/targetfamilydays.htm
amazing acrobatic feats, colorful clowns, and more.
For details and directions, visit http://beachboardwalk.
com/01_events.html
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Solano Stroll, Solano Avenue
between the Alameda and San Pablo Avenues,
Albany and Berkeley, FREE
The Solano Stroll is a mile of fun in the adjoining East Bay cities of
Berkeley and Albany. For 26 blocks, there will be non-stop
entertainment, food, art, games, community information, and a kids
zone with slides, games, clowns, jugglers, magicians, and a lot
more. Parking can be challenging, so looking for parking south of
Marin is advisable. It is then a block or two to walk North to
Solano. For details, visit http://www.solanoavenueassn.org/strol.
htm
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Grandparent's Day at the San
Francisco Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd. at 47th
Ave., San Francisco, FREE with a colored picture of a
zoo animal.
What better way to celebrate Grandparent's Day than to share a day
(hopefully a sunny, Indian Summer day rather than a foggy SF
coast morning) with the Grandkids at the Zoo? Here's the deal.
Have your grandkids whip up a lovely piece of artwork of their
favorite zoo animal and you all get in FREE, kids and
grandparents. Not a bad deal. Every kids who gets in, however,
must have their own drawing however. For details, visit http://www.
sfzoo.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?
orgkey=1431&ActivityKey=652196
19Saturday, September 19th
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Coastal Clean Up Day, Various
Locations Statewide, FREE
Bring hat, gloves, some grubby shoes, and sunscreen for a day of
community to help pick up that which others have thoughtlessly
cast away. Some locations will have prizes but that is not what we
are there for. For details and a location near you, visit http://www.
coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd2.html One could even talk like a
pirate while cleaning up! (See next entry)
Annual International Talk Like a Pirate Day FREE
Arrrr, maties! Smartly, ye rum-riddled rapscallions, batten down
the hatches, swig ye grog, and abandon all ye king’s english for
the day! Yes, every year on September 19th, scalliwags all over the
world get their best sea salt on and try to avoid looking like Johnny
Depp. Visit the Talk Like a Pirate website for more information and
pirating resources. Hoist the jolly roger and walk the plank! http:
//www.talklikeapirate.com/links.html See if you have the patience
to talk more than three sentences of the stuff!
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., AlohaFest, Napa Valley
Exposition, 575 Third Street, Napa, Bring a non-
perishable food item for admission
The festival will include live entertainment including Grammy-
winning Slack Key Artist, Cyril Pahinui (4 p.m.), Hawaiian dancing,
and vendors from the Hawaiian/Polynesian community in the form
of music, dance, authentic foods arts, crafts, clothing and wares
from vendors all over the West Coast. Hands on activities include
lei making, kapa (cloth) making, poi making, and more. For details
visit http://www.manaleohcf.org/aloha%20festval.htm
19-20Sat-Sun, September 19-20th
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Livermore Children’s Fair,
Robert Livermore Community Center, 4444 East
Ave., Livermore, FREE
Yes, I know what you are thinking: "Livermore". It really isn't that far
away and there are a couple of really good reasons to know about
this park: First, this fair has got a lot going on: music, dance,
magic, food, climbing walls, crafts, games, fire trucks, etc. and it is
all free. Second, the city has a cool "zero-depth" pool with a water
feature and a huge slide for the bigger kids. On hot days (there are
still a few of them out there), this is a great idea. Lots of shade
too. Visit http://www.larpd.dst.ca.
us/event_flyers/Childrens_Fair_2009.pdf for more.
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Santa Clara Art & Wine
Festival, Central Park, 969 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara,
FREE
Over 175 booths featuring the talents of local and regional artists,
community groups, arts & crafts, international foods, fine wines
and micro-brewed beer, live entertainment on three stages, Kids
Kingdom and more. The Kids Kingdom will have rock climbing, a
train, rides, games, kid’s entertainment, attractions, and more. If
the past is any guide, there will be a small charge for most
everything except for the entertainment and some attractions. For a
full list of activities and their cost, visit http://www.
santaclaraartandwine.com/KidsKingdomActivities.pdf
For directions, visit http://www.santaclaraartandwine.
com/directions.html
Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm Mill Valley Fall Arts
Festival, Old Mill Park, Mill Valley. Adult $8,
Senior/Student $5, Under 12 Free. Free Shuttle and
Parking Tam High Parking Lot
Come and see more than 130 Artists, enjoy live music, food, wine,
children's entertainment, a book sale, food, and more. There will
be a kid’s stage, Girl-Scout-led crafts, face painting, magic, music,
puppets. For the grown ups there will a wide range of acts from
Jazz to Hawaiian to Urban World Beat. Parking will be at a
premium, so consider the shuttle from Tam High. Check the
directions link below for a list of shuttle stops.
Details at http://www.mvfaf.org/
Directions at http://www.mvfaf.org/maps.htm
20Sunday, September 20th
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Day, SFMOMA: The Family
Studio: Diego Rivera: Al Mercado, SF MOMA, 151
Third Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This week, what kinds of things would you see if you were going to
a Mexican market? Perhaps you'd find beautiful blossoms, like the
ones pictured in Diego Rivera's painting The Flower Carrier. At this
Family Studio, youll take a trip to our Family Mercado and create a
variety of your own Mexican marketplace items. Enjoy a 2:00 p.m.
reading of My Papa Diego and Me/Mi papá Diego y yo, by Rivera's
daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marín. Marín will be on hand for the
reading at the September 20 Family Studio.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
12:30 – 3:00 p.m., Little Farm Fair, Tilden Little Farm,
Central Drive, Berkeley, FREE
Enjoy crafts, games, music, and food. Meet, greet, and feed farm
animals (lettuce and celery only, please – organic and local grown
if possible. Joking about the last part) The Little Farm, Nature
Center, and Jewell Lake are all clustered together and make for a
wonderful day out. The Little Farm, etc. are open basically every
day and the animals are milling about their corrals waiting for their
snacks (see above). These special days on the Little Farm,
however, are worth checking out since they make this cool little
place even better. For directions, visit http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/vc/tna
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Cole Valley Fair, Cole Street
between Carl and Grattan, San Francisco, FREE
The Cole Valley Fair is a charming and well-attended free event
with reasonably priced booths showcasing local artists. The Fair
features fine arts and crafts, food from neighborhood restaurants,
live music, a display of historic Cole Valley photographs, a full
block of vintage automobiles owned by neighborhood residents,
events for children, visits from the Tree Frog Treks people, and
much more! http://cviasf.org/cole-valley-fair-september-21-2008/
26Saturday, September 26th
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Paxton Gate Curiosities for Kids
Saturday Events Presents a Soap Making Workshop,
766 Valencia Street, San Francisco, (415) 252-9990,
FREE
There is a place in Paris which started out as a taxidermy shop
and has become so much more. It is a natural curiosities shop
which, in addition to taxidermy, also carries lots of nifty natural
history art work and gardening tools. If you are there, check out
Deyrolle. If Paris is not in your plans, Paxton Gate should be on
your list. In addition to truly inspired toys and kits for kids that
revolve around a natural history theme, they have vintage toys and
all sorts of cool surprises.
Almost every Saturday, Paxton Gate will be hosting some cool
FREE events at their Mission kid's boutique. This week, it's good,
clean fun with a soap making workshop where kids can make their
own soap from all natural materials you can find in almost every
household. http://www.paxtongate.com/kids.aspx
Smithsonian Museum Day, Venues All Over the 50
United States, FREE
Museum Day is a nationwide event where participating museums
and cultural institutions across the country offer free admission to
Smithsonian readers and Smithsonian.com visitors for the day.
This is a great freebie that used to be open only to magazine
subscribers, but is now open to the general public.
General information is available at http://microsite.
smithsonianmag.com/museumday/
Go to the following link to down load and print a pass that you will
need to show for admission: http://microsite.smithsonianmag.
com/museumday/admission.html
To find out which museums are participating near you, please click
on your state http://microsite.smithsonianmag.
com/museumday/venue.html or just cut to the chase and click
here for California venues.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-search/?
state=California
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Blackie's Hay Day, Blackie's
Pasture, Tiburon, $10 per person plus activity tickets.
A benefit for area libraries, the Hay Day is a great old fashioned
romp done very nicely. The organizers have crammed a lot of fun
into a fairly small area: petting zoo, face painting, toy tractor mazes,
pony rides, games, lizards, jumpies, food, entertainment, and
more. We had to pry our very reluctant child out of here last year
and will likely return this year! http://www.blackieshayday.com/ If
you are interested in the very sweet story of Blackie, visit this site:
http://www.tiburonpeninsulafoundation.org/blackie.htm
Well, that’s it for now.
26-27Sat & Sun, September 26th & 27th
10:00 a.m. California Academy of Sciences First
Anniversary Celebration, 55 Music Concourse Drive,
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Admission to the
Museum, FREE activities outside.
We put this event on the calendar because the CAS is a great
place. That being said, the place is crowded on a good day.
Special events can be hideously packed, so be forewarned! Now,
that being said, you SHOULD go to the California Academy of
Sciences. It is such a wonderful and magical place to explore
(make sure to check out the Naturalist Center on the 3rd Floor).
Here's an idea: Golden Gate Park will be OK (granted the main
drag will be closed to vehicle traffic which is good thing if you and
your family are on skates, bikes or in a stroller). Just a few ideas:
go to the deYoung (across the Concourse), go to Stow Lake (a few
hundred yards west), go to the Tea Garden, go to the Koret
Playground (a hundred yards or so east) and visit the Anniversary-
related events on the Concourse as you wander about. There will
be a lot of great stuff from Chinese lion dancers to live animal
ambassador visitors, lots of entertainment, demonstrations, and
more. Of course, there will be a great deal of special events going
on indoors. Make a day of it! For details and a schedule, visit http:
//www.calacademy.org/newsroom/releases/2009/anniversary.
php
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Meet the Real Spider-Man at
the Zoo and Celebrate the Insect Zoo 30th
Anniversary! San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd. at 47th
Ave., San Francisco, Regular Zoo Admission
Fresh from battling the forces from evil from Team Disney in
Burbank, the real Spider-Man will come to the San Francisco Zoo
to help them celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Insect Zoo. In
addition to the Wall Crawler, there will be lots of bug-based
demonstrations and exhibits beyond the regularly cool insect
displays. You can watch yellow jackets make a nest, watch dry ice
catch mosquitoes and then watch mosquito fish eat them, then
make your own bugs! There will be lots to do and see. For more
details, visit http://www.sfzoo.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?
orgkey=1431&ActivityKey=652193
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., America's Family Expo; Kid's
Faire, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton,
Adults $8, Children (2-12) $5.
This is billed as California’s largest children’s event. Could be.
They are planning on a couple of hundred activities and events
throughout the weekend. Among the scheduled events are a wide
range of interactive children’s activities, fun family booths, non-stop
children’s entertainment, live costumed characters (25 of these
guys including Maya and Miguel, Winnie the Pooh, Curious
George, Care Bears, Cabbage Patch Kids, Clifford, Barney, and
more), Craft Cities; a Princess Pavilion; Clown-Town circus fun,
Wild West Show; clowns, ice skating (in Pleasanton in the
summer?), pirate activities, trapeze, and circus acts from the
Splash Circus.
Live stage shows include such headliners as Strawberry
Shortcake; Cabbage Patch Kids, Shrek, Alvin & the Chipmunks,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Alex from Madagascar, SpongeBob,
and Dora doing stage shows. For more information, visit www.
thekidsfaire.com For a discount ticket, visit http://www.
thekidsfaire.com/pub/pleasanton_tickets.htm
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Pacific Coast Fog Fest, along
Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, FREE (although some
things will have nominal charges)
This annual event features three entertainment stages, a parade
and marching band competition, professional sand castles, 190
arts and crafts booths, food, and a great family area. The family
area at Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School at 1427 Palmetto Ave., will
have a petting zoo, wall climbing, rides, sea creatures, junk car
decorating, games, arts and crafts, and much more. No dogs,
scooters, bikes, skateboards or rollerblades. For details, visit http:
//www.pacificcoastfogfest.com/FogFest.htm?activities
12:00 noon, How Berkeley Can you Be? Parade and
Festival, Civic Center Park Berkeley, FREE
This irreverent parade and festival proves that Berkeley residents
*can* laugh at themselves – no matter what the LA Times says.
This annual event pokes fun at all the best parts of Berkeley from
over-the-top environmentalism to just cookiness. As they say, “Part
question, part challenge, all celebration!” At the end of the parade
in Civic Center Park, there will be music, dance, food, crafts, lots of
kids’ activities, and a kids stage by the Buddy Club. For more
details, visit http://www.howberkeleycanyoube.com/festival.shtml
.
2-4October 2nd-4th
Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Sonoma County
Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa,
Adults $6, Kids 7-12 $2, Kids 6 and under FREE
This is it! The last of the fairs of the season! We went last year
and had a blast! Lots of farm animals to see and pet, sheep dog
trials, draft horse hay rides, tons of kids entertainment, rides, fried
things, music, demonstrations, and exhibits, and (we swear) pig
beauty pageants. This is a great fair. Your child will run out of
energy before you run out of things to do. Click here for more
details and directions http://www.sonomacountyfair.
com/hf_home.php
3Saturday, October 3rd
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Autumn Celebration at Filoli,
Filoli Gardens, Woodside. Adults $25, Kids 5-17 $5,
Kids 4 and under FREE,
Let’s be honest, we love Filoli. It is just so darned....nice. Gardens
and home aside, this is...well, there is nothing else besides the
gardens and the house until now. The great people at Filoli are
putting on a wonderful day full of fun for the kids with orchard tours,
pumpkin decorating, scarecrows, pumpkins, puppets and clowns,
and a Family Funland — kids can make Halloween crafts and
families can participate in an obstacle course. Tickets go fast, so
make sure that you get them early. Visit http://www.filoli.
org/special-events-and-exhibits/autumn-festival.html for details
and ticket information. Seriously, Filoli is a special place and is
worth a visit no matter what time of year. For directions, visit http:
//www.filoli.org/plan-your-visit/directions.html
4Sunday, October 4th
10:00 a.m. - -6:00 p.m., 6th Annual North Berkeley
"Spice of Life Festival", Shattuck Avenue (Virginia to
Rose), Berkeley, FREE
It is hard to realize that Berkeley is known for things other than tree
sitters, football, and liberal politics. But, yes, Berkeley is also
known as the fertile ground from which a whole new school of
cooking arose. The Spice of Life Festival is a celebration of this
passion for food. Besides food, there will be live music on three
stages — Jazz, Bluegrass, Oldies, and World Music, dance
performances, book-signings, and bodywork, acupressure and
yoga demonstrations. "Kidtopia” offers puppet shows, pony rides,
farm animals and kids crafts activities. www.spiceoflifefestival.
com
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connolly Ranch Harvest
Festival, 3141 Browns Valley Road, Napa, FREE
This Saturday, this cool 12-acre farm in the heart of Napa will be
open to the public. Families can visit their farm animals (goats,
sheep, miniature donkeys, horses, and cows, geese, ducks, Olivia
the pig (presumably full-sized), worms, face painting, free
pumpkins and veges, tours of the ranch and enjoy food, drink,
activities, and live music. Call (707) 224.1894 for details or click
here for directions (way down at the bottom) http://www.
connollyranch.org/.
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Day, SFMOMA: The Family
Studio: Crafty, Crawly Creatures, SF MOMA, 151 Third
Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This week, what would you do if you encountered a six-foot-tall
spider? What about five giant spiders? Take a closer look at the
work of Louise Bourgeois and create your own nest of crawly
creatures at this Family Studio. At 2:00 p.m., find out what a day in
the life of a spider is like, with a reading of Diary of a Spider, written
by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Harry Bliss.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
8-13Friday - Sunday, Oct 8th – Oct 13th
US Navy Photo
11:30 onwards, Fleet Week, San Francisco, FREE,
The first week of October is Fleet Week in the Bay Area (this month,
it is a little later). There are a ton of open houses and naval
activities related to the event. But the big draw is always the
airshow – the only city by the way in the country where the Blue
Angels fly over the city itself. The air show is generally
characterized by huge crowds and nasty parking and traffic. There
*IS* a way around this: Friday afternoon, October 8th before the
Fleet Week weekend from 1-4 p.m., the Blue Angels have a
practice run where they run through the ENTIRE show (the Blues
do their thing at 3:00 but you should be there early). I usually watch
from the beach/breakwater just East of the Saint Francis Yacht
Club. There are lawns to sit on and some porta potties for relief.
You can also park very close by without too much trouble. On
Saturday the festivities will kick off with the Parade of Ships under
the Golden Gate Bridge. Crowds are typically large and parking is
challenging.
Details are available at http://www.military.com/fleetweek
10-11Saturday & Sunday, Oct 10th & 11th
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., San Carlos Street Art & Wine
Faire, San Carlos Avenue (between EL Camino and
Walnut) and goes on Laurel Street from San Carlos
Avenue to Arroyo, San Carlos, FREE
Arts, crafts, 20 international food booths, fine wines and
microbrews. Family Fun Zone and kid's activities. Live
entertainment on three stages.
15Thursday, October 15th
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., East Bay Independent Schools K-
8 School Fair, Double Tree Hotel, 200 Marina Blvd.,
Berkeley (at the base of University Avenue on the
West side of the 80), Berkeley, FREE
The East Bay Independent Schools Association is an alliance of
over 40 independent K-8 schools in the East Bay. Every year,
EBISA sponsors a series of information fairs for parents to gather
information about their schools and speak with representatives
from the schools in an informal environment. For any parent who is
considering the private school option, this is a MUST event.
NOTE: unlike previous years, there will ONLY be one event for the
Berkeley/Oakland area. For information, visit http://www.ebisaca.
org/
There will also be a High School Fair on Wednesday, October
14th at Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek and another on
Tuesday, October 20th at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland.
16Friday, October 16th
6:30p.m. Berkeley Repertory Theatre Presents a Teen
Council Teen Night: Tiny Kushner, Berkeley
Repertory Theater, 2071 Addison Street, Berkeley,
$10
For Kids grades 9-12, the Target Teen Night at the Berkeley Rep is
a wonderful treasure for High School Kids with any sort of interest
in theater –either as an audience member or as a participant.
Teen Night gives Bay Area teens the opportunity to attend the first
preview of a Berkeley Rep play for an extremely discounted price,
with dinner and a behind-the-scenes workshop before the show.
This month’s event is the world premiere of Tony Award winning
playwright, Tony Kushner's new series of short scripts by the
singular Tony Kushner. The legendary playwright returns to
Berkeley Rep to team up with Artistic Director Tony Taccone, who
also staged Angels in America, Brundibar, Homebody/Kabul and
Slavs! Travel to the moon—and to the afterlife—with Laura Bush,
Nixon’s analyst, the queen of Albania and a host of real-life tax
evaders, all adrift in an increasingly fragile world. Kushner brings
his brilliance and humor to bear in a sparkling string of one-act
plays—and his gilded language is guided, as always, by an
unwavering moral compass.
RSVPs Required teencouncil@berkeleyrep.org More info on this
event and other Teen Council events can be found here: http:
//www.berkeleyrep.org/school/teencouncil_teennight.asp or call
510.647.2974
15-25October 15th-25th
12 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m., Zoppe Italian Family
Circus, 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, adults,
$15-20, kids $10-15
Housed in an intimate 500-seat tent, this single ring circus
captures the old world Italian circus tradition. The emphasis is on
clowns, acrobats, aerialists, audience participation, and trick horse
riding. It is like Cirque du Soleil minus the Vegas production
values plus a great deal of charm and the feeling that you are part
of the show. We love these shows. For details, visit http://www.
redwoodcity.org/events/zoppe.html. To find out more on the
Zoppe Family Circus, visit their website at http://zoppe.net/ (You
CAN turn off that music)
18Sunday, October 18th
12:00 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., Target Family Day, SF
MOMA, Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of
the African Diaspora, Zeum, and the Yerba Buena
Gardens, In and around 3rd and Mission, San
Francisco, FREE
Target Family Day is downtown San Francisco’s biggest daylong
family block party with free admission to four leading museums,
special art activities for kids and free performances on three
stages.
Participating organizations include the San Francisco Museum of
Modern Art, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of the
African Diaspora, Zeum: San Francisco’s Children’s Museum and
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.
Some highlights: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival activities that day
include three stages of interactive fun! including (on the
Esplanade) Circus Bella, the Unique (and great!) Derique, the
Prescott Family Circus, (in the Children's Garden) Chelle! &
Friends, the Venezuelan Music Project, and the Pi Clowns in
Jessie Square. .
21Wednesday, October 21st
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Preschool Preview Night San
Francisco County Fair Building, 9th and Lincoln
entrance to Golden Gate Park, $5 for adults, Kids
FREE
Got a child approaching pre-school age? Expecting to someday
have kids approach preschool age? You can never start too soon.
Representatives from over 80 San Francisco preschools and other
child-related vendors and service organizations will gather to give
you their pitches at this handy event. Get answers to your
questions about the preschool process and then relax!
Complimentary food, beverages and snacks will be served. The
Tree Frog Treks people will be there with some creepy friends to
introduce you to. For more information or to sign up, email
ParentsPlaceSF@jfcs.org, call 415.359.2454, or register at www.
ParentsPlaceOnline.org.
25Sunday, October 25th
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Crowden School Community
Music Day, Crowden School 1475 Rose St
(@Sacramento), Berkeley, FREE
The Crowden School is a fantastic middle school in Berkeley that
augments academics with a distinguished music program.
Community Music Day is their outreach event with such fun
activities to bring music to the community as an instrument petting
zoo where participants can explore all sorts of musical
instruments, instrument making workshops, demonstrations, and
a SF Performance Chamber Orchestra performances throughout
the day. For more information, visit http://www.crowden.
org/Community/music_day.htm
Things to think ahead
about:
The following events sell out almost instantaneously because they
are wildly popular, so if you are interested, you might wish to book
now before the opportunity passes you by.
Roaring Camp Upcoming Events
The Roaring Camp Railroad at the top of the 17 in Felton on your
way to Santa Cruz is worth checking out anyway. Throughout the
summer, there are some cool events coming up. Many of which
will sell out.
Great Train Robberies
September 5-6 (Labor Day Weekend)
Witness shootouts of famed lawmen and notorious outlaws from
the 1880s at Bear Mountain. Blazing reenactments demonstrate
why the West was wild.
You must have reservations and tickets sell out FAST. So, how do
you get them? Call Ticketweb at (866) 468-3399 or go online at
http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?
region=sfbay&query=schedule&venue=roaringcamprr1
Directions to Roaring Camp are at http://www.roaringcamp.
com/maps.html If you miss this one and your family might be
anywhere near one of these places, you can look up any one of a
bunch of “Days Out with Thomas” all over North America. http:
//www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/parents/dowt.html
All Summer Long
REI’s Kids Passport to Adventure Program, FREE
Want to motivate your kid to get outdoors and connect to nature?
REI has a great program for kids 5-12 where they do a series of
activities outdoors and, upon completing the activity, they send in a
postcard from their Adventure Journal (FREE at your local REI).
When they finish at least one task, they will get a certificate and a
special prize as well as be entered into a sweepstakes for a cool
grand prize. Drop by any REI and pick up your FREE Adventure
Journal.
That's it for now!
Kiddie Koncierge
A seedling of ImuaPartners, LLC
Copyright 2006-2009 Kiddie Koncierge™, all rights reserved.
A seedling of ImuaPartners, LLC
Copyright 2006-2009 Kiddie Koncierge™, all rights reserved.
| Other Events From Past Kiddie Koncierges Bank of America FREE Museum Weekend, FREE Admission to Museums for Bank of America Cardholders (ATM, Check, Credit Card) The first weekend of every month through early 2010 is FREE admission to selected Bay Area Museums for Bank of American card holders. Bay Area Museums include:
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| On Going It’s the weekend and your kids are climbing the walls. At a loss for something to do? The following are events that are happening every week. Visit our Weekend Page for full details. Saturdays
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