Ronnie's Awesome List of Family-Friendly Bay Area Events: April 2013

Visit Marinhood, The Ultimate Kids Events Round-Up In Marin And Beyond for the most exciting up-to-date list of events for you and your family.

For a fun filled afternoon for all ages, head to the Garden Faire on April 28, 12-4pm at Edna Maguire Elementary School in Mill Valley. Enjoy games and prizes, activities and crafts. Hunt for the golden egg! Fish for prizes! Make a potion! Sew a chicken pillow! Bob for apples! Wood sculpture, fairy house, pie eating! Try your luck against The Human Vegetable Machine! And so much more. There is something for every age! All money raised goes to the school garden.

Another fundraiser not to be missed is Play Date on Saturday April 20th, 3:30 - 7:30 pm. Enjoy a special day of sports, music and exciting activities for everyone. This is a benefit supporting Nancy's List, Bay Club, Corte Madera. RSVP Nancy Nancy@NancysList.org.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical It's true! Your child's favorite story come to life! Just wait until they see the 6ft. giant Knuffle Bunny puppet! I remember my daughter reading this book and I sure love those genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Prepare for the clothes to fly when toddler Trixie and her beloved stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny, go off to the laundromat with her somewhat distracted dad! You’ll love the antics in this musical version of Mo Willems’ hilarious picture book, performed by the Bay Area Children’s Theatre. Join in the adventures, as Mom raises a seasoned eyebrow, and Dad learns it can be tricky to do the laundry with Trixie.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, with script and lyrics by Mo Willems, plays at the Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley, April 13 – May 5, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. More information at www.bactheatre.org and (510) 296-4433. Tickets are $20 adults, $17 seniors, $15 children, $12 groups, Recommended for all ages; 2 and up need a ticket.

Monday April 1, Cesar Chavez Day, April Fool's

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1:30 & 4pm, every day except Tuesday, The Walt Disney Museum.

Tuesday April 2

TEEN & ADULTS NanoDays: Science Café, 7 - 8:30 p.m. What is nanotechnology all about? And why should I care?

Andy Z, 3:30pm, storyteller, jokester and musician, and this April he’s coming to the Sausalito Library for an afternoon of outrageous, creative, hilarious and dynamic fun. Join us for his wild stories and silly songs.

Read to a Dog, 2pm, Corte Madera Library.

Wednesday April 3

Chirp, Chirp: Bird Crafts and Stories, 2:30-3:30pm, Kids aged 8 and younger and their caregivers, Can you hear the birds chirping in their nests? It’s springtime! Join us for bird stories and crafts. The Library will provide all the materials and a twiggy snack, please bring your imagination. Reservations recommended, 289-4121, Sausalito Library.

Pop-Up Workshop with artist Katy Bernheim, 2:30-4pm, Advanced Sign-Up Required. Learn how to make Pop-up card craft, San Anselmo Library.

TEEN Creative Writing Workshop, 7-8:30pm, Mill Valley Library.

Thursday April 4

Peeps Diorama Craft, 3-4:30pm, Civic Center Library.

Friday April 5

Tech Tots, 11am-12pm, digital story time, hands-on technology learning with Tech Mouse, and a snack time for children ages two to five years old. Join us for a variety of activities including dance time, talent classes, treasure hunts, carnival & safari fun, safety courses and mystery searches. Join us for this great adventure! Microsoft Store, Corte Madera.

Saturday April 6

Golden Gate Playdate: Super Seas, 9:30-11:30am, two hour hands-on program featuring techniques to help engage your children's sense of wonder and guide their natural curiosity during outdoor adventures. Gain a deeper understanding of inquiry-based experiential learning while participating in field activities designed to develop your preschoolers' observation skills, NatureBridge, Sausalito.

Spring Celebration: Coastal Camp Open House, 1-4pm, FREE, drop-in event, Join us for an opportunity to learn more about our fabulous upcoming 2013 Coastal Camp season. Meet our staff, participate in a family hike, and touch the tidepool creatures in our Marine Lab, NatureBridge, Sausalito.

A Hop, Skip and a Jump! with Pam Donkin, 11am, Join award-winning, singer & songwriter Pam Donkin as she leads an interactive music show for children of all ages. Drawn by Pam's irresistibly warm, friendly voice and charismatic performance style, families will sing along, create new lyrics and dance to upbeat original and traditional songs. Bay Area Discovery Museum.

Exploring Deer Island, 10am, Walk with the family and meet some of the wild residents of Deer Island in Novato. We’ll look for butterflies, flowers, raptors and reptiles, including the elusive Alligator Lizard known to inhabit this park, Wild Care.

Build a Bird Feeder, 9-12pm, Kids can build a window bird feeder to observe wildlife. Kids will learn to build their very own bird feeder while learning tool safety, Have fun, make friends and gain a sense of achievement and work ethic. Home Depot.

Kol Shofar Young Family Shabbat Experience, 10:30 to 11:30 am, Congregation Kol Shofar, in Tiburon.

Windrush Family Farm Day, 10:30am-1:30pm, a 25-acre mixed-use farm lovingly shared by goats, chickens, flocks of Shetland and Corriedale cross sheep, llamas & alpacas, 2263 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma.

Children’s Fairyland, Grandpa Bunny's Egg-citing Day!, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Storyteller Kirk Waller, 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Oakland.

Afternoon Art, Fly away to the land of Puff the Magic Dragon.  Make a delightful dragon sock puppet. 1pm and 4pm, Randall Museum.

Drop-In Science, Feel the balance of the spring equinox by learning about the Earth’s astronomical position in our planetarium! Also, hear stories of the constellations and make your own star chart so you too can easily point out objects in the night sky. 10:30, Randall Museum.

Pier Crabbing, 10-Noon, Come learn about crabbing in the San Francisco Bay. We’ll teach you how to use the nets, discuss bait and regulations, and let you try your luck on the Fort Point pier. Reservations are required; please phone 556-1693.

NanoDays 2013, 11am-4pm, a billionth of a meter find out how the physics of every day materials dramatically change allowing incredible new applications, featuring "Attack of the NanoScientist," Chabot Space and Science Museum.

Doing and Viewing Art, ages 4-12, 10am, deYoung Museum.

TEENS Poetry Workshop, 4:45-5:45pm, 6-12 graders, Novato Library.

Sunday April 7

Christopher Smith, 11 a.m., storytime in song, Book Passage, Corte Madera.

Breakfast with Enzo, 10am & 11am, Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse.

Flushed Away, 3pm, Lark Theatre

Green Gulch Farm Sunday Children's Program, After a short talk, the children leave the zendo to participate in their own special programs. Activities include crafts, seasonal projects on the farm and garden, yoga, and ritual. Green Gulch.

The Bubble Lady, 11am, Randall Museum.

Drop-In Art-Making: Papercuts and Portraits, families experience new adventures in art-making every Sunday and select school holidays. Learn more about the exhibitions on display, the building’s architecture, or Jewish holidays and traditions, while experimenting with materials and art techniques. Inspired by the larger-than-life portraits in Kehinde Wiley Ι The World Stage: Israel, combine paper-cutting and textured painting to create your own fantastic work of art, Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Children’s Fairyland, Grandpa Bunny's Egg-citing Day!, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Storyteller Kirk Waller, 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Oakland.

Children’s Storytime and Family Walk, 10:30 AM, Featured book, “A Log's Life”, San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park.

Monday April 8

Spring Break Film Festival, 2:30pm, Kiki's Delivery Service, Mill Valley Library

Pajama Story Time, 6:30pm, Mill Valley Library

Tuesday April 9

Drawing Wildflowers with John Muir Laws, 10am, Learn how to draw curling petals and leaves. Bring a sketchbook and pencil. This program is free and no registration is required. Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary.

Spring Break Film Festival, 2:30pm, Rise of the Guardians, Mill Valley Library

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day

Beauty and the Beast, Wells Fargo Arts Center, Santa Rosa.

Learn to Ride a Skateboard! 3-5pm, McInnis Skate Park, San Rafael.

Tyke Explorers Workshop, Fragile Insects, 10am, 12:30pm or 3pm, ages 2 1/2-5 years old, we're inside out, no bones within. Come explore the life of our friendly, six-legged friends! Chabot Space & Science Museum.

Wednesday April 10, New Moon

Game and Puzzle Day, 2:30pm, Mill Valley Library.

Tommy's Space Adventure Puppet Show, 11am, Tommy loves books about outer space and space aliens. His greatest wish is to someday meet a real live space alien. Little did Tommy know his wish was about to come true, Corte Madera Library.

Wonderful, Wiley Worms, 1:00-2:00pm, Earthworms, marine worms, inchworms, leeches…How many worms can you name? Join marine biologist Don Harper in a fascinating and hands-on exploration of the wide world of worms. There will even be some edible worms for you to try, San Anselmo Library.

Nature for Kids at Deer Island, 10am-1pm, Meet at the gate on Deer Island Ln in Novato, RSVP 893-9527.

TEEN Creative Writing Workshop, 7-8:30pm, Mill Valley Library.

Thursday April 11

Spring Break Film Festival, 2:30pm, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Mill Valley Library

Bugs for Kids, 10am-2pm, Meet at the gate on San Carlos Way in Novato, scavenger hunt for bugs! Explore the different micro-habitats of the lower reaches of Mount Burdell in search of insects. Learn about these habitats and to identify the insects which live there. This adventure will be an introduction to the variety of bugs found within the Bay Area.

Tales of Ambition and Dreaming Big: The Knee High Man and another story, 4pm, ages 5+, Join us for an afternoon of comical tales from Japan and Africa presented with lots of physical comedy and audience participation. Belvedere-Tiburon Library.

Friday April 12

Spring Break Film Festival, 2:30pm, Pixar Short Films Collection - Vol. 2, Mill Valley Library.

Spring Break Matinee, 2:00-3:30pm, Council Chambers, San Anselmo Library.

“Shabbat Together”, 9:00 am to 10:30 am, for infants & toddlers, Congregation Kol Shofar, in Tiburon.

Saturday April 13

California State Parks Earth Day, sign up for a volunteer spot for the 24 parks participating this year. Registration closes when the park site is full or on April 8, earthday@calparks.org.

Celebrate Spring with Octopretzel, 11am, Octopretzel’s show is as exuberant as their whimsical name. The band creates engaging music that inspires curiosity, wonder and appreciation for the magical world we live in. Their blend of four-part harmony and skilled musicianship guarantees a danceable, singable and super fun experience that will appeal to the entire family. Read more at www.Octopretzel.com. Bay Area Discovery Museum.

Rebecah Freeling – Puppet Show for Preschoolers, 11am, Book Passage, Corte Madera.

Creativity Day, 10am-4pm, a free, day-long celebration with hands-on activities and innovative programming designed to build creative confidence in youth and families, Children's Creativity Museum.

Children’s Fairyland, Grandpa Bunny's Egg-citing Day!, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Owen Flynn Baker, 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Oakland.

Afternoon Art, Kid friendly block printing is easy successful and fun.  Come join the adventure! 1pm and 4pm, Randall Museum.

Drop-In Science, You might have heard that baking soda and vinegar combine to make excellent pretend volcano lava, but come and learn a NEW way to make thick, bubbling lava come out of your very own volcano! 10:30, Randall Museum.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival a dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. Grand Parade is Sunday, April 21. Japantown (@ Post & Buchanan Streets), San Francisco.

The Great Band Leaders, 11:00AM, with Marcus Shelby and Friends
Family Workshop 3: Now's the Time: The Jazz-Orff Connection with Doug Goodkin, Herbst Theatre.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, 2pm, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley.

Berkeley Bay Festival, 11am-4pm, A wonderful environmental education festival, listen to music, free sailboat and Dragon boat rides, visit booths sponsored by fun and educational organizations from throughout the Bay Area to learn about exciting things you and your family can do locally, Berkeley Marina Shorebird Park.

Sunday April 14

Israel in Marin, 9:30am-2:30pm, Get a taste of Israel here in Marin at a free fair for all ages. Play games, do arts & crafts, and meet Hump-free the camel! Osher Marin Jewish Community Center.

Marine Science Sunday: To the Rescue, 10am-5pm, Every spring, The Marine Mammal Center rescues many elephant seal and harbor seal pups that have been separated from their mothers due to big storms, people approaching them and scaring the mom away, or young pups unable to find food on their own. For this reason, this month's theme is To the Rescue where we will discuss the care that goes into our youngest and most fragile patients. We recommend teaming our free classroom programs at 12 pm and 2 pm with a Docent-led tour at 11am, 1pm or 3pm for a truly immersive marine mammal experience, Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito.

Forever Spring Walk, 9:30-Noon, ages 6+, Discover wild and endangered coho salmon, banana slug trails, the Native American uses of plants, ghost redwoods, and more, 388-2596.

Christopher Smith, 11 a.m., storytime in song, Book Passage, Corte Madera.

Breakfast with Enzo, 10am & 11am, Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse.

Family Gallery Tour, 11:30am–12:15pm, Experience the mash-up of grand portraiture, urban youth culture, and traditional Judaica objects in this interactive tour of Kehinde Wiley | The World Stage: Israel designed for families with children up to age ten. With hands-on experiential activities, Kehinde’s vibrant journey will come to life, Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Children’s Fairyland, Grandpa Bunny's Egg-citing Day!, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Owen Flynn Baker, 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Oakland.

Drop-In Art-Making: Papercuts and Portraits, families experience new adventures in art-making every Sunday and select school holidays. Learn more about the exhibitions on display, the building’s architecture, or Jewish holidays and traditions, while experimenting with materials and art techniques. Inspired by the larger-than-life portraits in Kehinde Wiley Ι The World Stage: Israel, combine paper-cutting and textured painting to create your own fantastic work of art, Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Sunday Streets, Mission - new route through the park; a safe, fun, car-free place for people to get out and get active in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Trout Fishing in America, 11am & 3pm, These lively one-hour events in Wheeler Auditorium offer young people and their grownups an opportunity to experience a diverse range of artistry in an intimate space, Cal Performances.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival a dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. Grand Parade is Sunday, April 21. Japantown (@ Post & Buchanan Streets), San Francisco.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, 11am & 2pm, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley.

Monday April 15, Taxes Due

Rip the Page! with Karen Benke, Grades 3-5 - Advance registration required, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Kids will write poetry with "word tickets," take part in imaginative word experiments, and help decorate the library's Poetry Wall for National Poetry Month. Participants will each receive a copy of Karen's book RIP the PAGE! Call 389-4292 x4741 Mill Valley Public Library.

Poetry Workshop for Kids, Ages 8-12, 4:00PM, bring your pencils, notepads, and creativity for a lively afternoon poetry workshop with Lea Aschkenas, from the California Poets in the Schools Program. Lea will lead young writers, ages 8-12, through exercises sure to yield poems rich in imagery and detail. Come and be inspired! RSVP to 927-5005 or library@cityoflarkspur.org, Larkspur Library.

Tuesday April 16

Tyke Explorers Workshop, Mollusks with Shells, 10am, 12:30pm or 3pm, ages 2 1/2-5 years old, There are many types of mollusks! Some mollusks are found in the ocean while others are in your garden at home. Some are masters of disguise like the octopus and cuttlefish. Others have shells to hide in. Come and explore this diverse class of animal, Chabot Space & Science Museum.

Wednesday April 17

Read to a Dog, 3:30-4:30 PM, Advanced Sign-Up Required, Belvedere-Tiburon Library.

Grand Reopening of the Exploratorium! 9am-10pm, artists, special guests, volunteers, and Explainers will offer a variety of surprises and hands-on activities for people waiting in line, Pier 15.

TEEN Creative Writing Workshop, 7-8:30pm, Mill Valley Library.

Thursday April 18

Read to a Dog, 3:30-4:30 PM, Advanced Sign-Up Required, San Anselmo Library.

Friday April 19

Mother Son Dinner Dance, 7-9pm, Corte Madera Rec Center.

Earth Day with the Insect Discovery Lab, ages 5+, 3:30-4:30pm, Mill Valley Library.

Movie Night for Kids, grades 3-5, 5:30-7:30pm, Suggested Donation $10 Includes pizza, popcorn and bottled water, Fly Away Home, email (jdesk@bel-tib-lib.org) to sign up. Belvedere-Tiburon Library.

Saturday April 20

Play Date, 3:30 - 7:30 pm, A special day of activities and sociability for the children, teens, and adults in our community who are living with cancer. Bay Club, Corte Madera.

Dance Party with The Raytones, 11am, The Raytones combine a mix of pop, funk, and rock & roll with playful lyrics about such things as wearing your favorite PJs and hula hoops. Ray the Rhino, the Raytones mascot, will be on hand to show you some cool dance moves. Check them out at www.raytones.com. Bay Area Discovery Museum.

Children's Fair, 11am-2pm, Fun, free event, activity booths, entertainment and more, Oak Plaza, Northgate, San Rafael.

Kids Club, 11am-noon, activities and games that focus on discovery through play with Andy Z, Northgate, San Rafael.

Earth Day, 9am-1pm, RSVP: 388-2524, Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary, Tiburon.

Earth Day at Bothin Marsh, McInnis Park, Paradise Beach Park, 9am-Noon.

Create-with-Nature Earth Day Celebration, 11am-3pm, construct sculpture using sand, rocks, shells, seaweed, and other beach treasures. In past years, beachgoers stacked rock towers, made spirals from seaweed, planted a forest of "trees" made of driftwood, and created dragons, fairies, and abstract designs, Stinson Beach.

John Muir Birthday Earth Day, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Celebrate Earth Day at the home of our most famous environmentalist – John Muir. Bring the family for fun-filled activities and entertainment. John Muir Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Ave, Martinez.

Family Explorers Bay Sail, 9:30am-noon, $30 per person, Set sail for family adventure on the schooner Seaward. Navigate the bay, hoist sails, singing sea chanties, and learn a bit about bay ecology during this 2.5 hour experience filled with breathtaking views and one-of-a-kind memories. Bay Model in Sausalito. Pre-registration required, NatureBridge, Sausalito.

Kids Origami Workshop, 2pm, Ages 8 & up please call 924-6382 to sign up, Corte Madera Library.

Learn to Salt Water Fish at McNears, 8-11am, A limited number of fishing poles and bait will be provided first-come, first-serve to beginner anglers thanks to the California Department of Fish and Game.

Paula West, 11am, $10 Children/$15 Adults, Herbst Theatre.

Children’s Fairyland, Grandpa Bunny's Egg-citing Day!, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Magician Mike Della Penna, 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Oakland.

Afternoon Art, The birds are making nests this spring.  So can you.  Create a clay bird’s  nest with twigs and fill it with eggs. 1pm and 4pm, Randall Museum.

Drop-In Science, The Randall Museum has an excellent collection of seashell fossils that visitors rarely get to see. Come and practice archeology by making a cast of an actual fossil that you can study on your own. 10:30, Randall Museum.

Earth Day in the Heart of San Francisco, The “Greenest City in North America” 10am-6pm, Civic Center Plaza.

Cesar E. Chavez Holiday Parade & Festival, Commemorate & Celebrate the Life and Work of Labor & Civil Rights Leader Cesar E. Chavez.

Ghirardelli Goes Green

Goat Festival, 10am-1pm, A Celebration of All Things Goat! The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco.

Cal Day, It’s a day like no other. Spend it in Cal classrooms and labs, museums and performance halls, libraries, and arenas. Admission is free. UC Berkeley.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival a dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. Grand Parade is Sunday, April 21. Japantown (@ Post & Buchanan Streets), San Francisco.

Doing and Viewing Art, ages 4-12, 10am, deYoung Museum.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, 11am & 2pm, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley.

Sunday April 21

Nature for Kids at Bahia, 10am-1pm, Meet at the Bahia trailhead near the end of Bahia Dr in Novato, This open oak woodland at the edge of the San Pablo Bay wetlands is a fabulous spring destination. Wildflowers dot the lush grassland, the fresh leaves of the trees are alive with birds, and there are always butterflies patrolling the road that runs along the ridge. We’ll head to a nice clearing at the top where the kids can explore, while we let the birds and butterflies come to us.

Junior Rangers: Roy's Redwoods, Make Your Own Native Plant Guide, 10am-noon, Meet at the Nicasio Rd entrance in San Geronimo, 5 -12 year olds, though explorers of all ages are welcome to attend. Learn about our local plant and tree specimens the creative way! We will discuss and use various plant samples found in the area to create our very own plant.

Walk Your History, a FREE community event designed to get you out to learn about the fascinating Belvedere and Tiburon history. For more information call 435-4355.

Earth Day Marin Festival, Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive Larkspur.

Christopher Smith, 11 a.m., storytime in song, Book Passage, Corte Madera.

Breakfast with Enzo, 10am & 11am, Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse.

Jerusalem Marketplace 29 A.D., 11:45am, go back in time to 29 A.D. and experience middle-eastern food, games and crafts, such as woodworking, making beaded jewelry and working with clay. This is a great free event for the whole family! Costumes provided. Mt. Tam United Methodist Church, Mill Valley.

Magician Phil Ackerly, 11am, Randall Museum.

Children’s Fairyland, Grandpa Bunny's Egg-citing Day!, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Magician Mike Della Penna, 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Oakland.

Drop-In Art-Making: Papercuts and Portraits, families experience new adventures in art-making every Sunday and select school holidays. Learn more about the exhibitions on display, the building’s architecture, or Jewish holidays and traditions, while experimenting with materials and art techniques. Inspired by the larger-than-life portraits in Kehinde Wiley Ι The World Stage: Israel, combine paper-cutting and textured painting to create your own fantastic work of art, Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Children’s Storytime and Family Walk, 10:30 AM, Featured book, “A Log's Life”, San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival a dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. Grand Parade is Sunday, April 21. Japantown (@ Post & Buchanan Streets), San Francisco.

Earth Day at CuriOdyssey, learn how to use scientific tools like the compass, microscope, magnifier, and more. Find out about what makes a creature a “good pest” and how to get them in your garden, create your own native flora “seed bombs,” craft eco- journals, meet Animal Ambassadors, learn about falcon abatement from Pacific Coast Falconry, and more!

Monday April 22, Earth Day

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks (April 22-26) 

Chris Raschka - Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle, 10am, Learning to ride a bike is one of the most important milestones of childhood, and no one captures the emotional ups and downs of the experience better than Chris Raschka, who won the 2012 Caldecott Medal for A Ball for Daisy, Book Passage, Corte Madera.

Tuesday April 23

Pizza & Pages Middle School Book Club, Grades 6 - 8, Advance sign-up required, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Read "The False Prince," the first book in a new trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Join your fellow readers for a lively discussion over pizza and dessert. Call 389-4292 x4741 for more information, Mill Valley Public Library

Pajama Rama! 6-7pm, Fairfax Library.

 Kodomo no Hi Kimono Dressing, this is a rare opportunity to dress your child in traditional Japanese Kimono in celebration of Kodomo no Hi. Hair and make-up is not included with the kimono dressing. Don’t forget to bring your camera! 567-5505 to sign-up. Japantown, San Francisco.

Tyke Explorers Workshop, Slimy Annelids, 10am, 12:30pm or 3pm, ages 2 1/2-5 years old, My slimy life through the eyes of an earthworm... Hey, wait a minute - do earthworms have eyes? Come find out as we explore our friend the earthworm, Chabot Space & Science Museum.

Wednesday April 24

Terrariums!: Create your own magical garden, 3:30-4:30pm, Ages 9-13, we’ll make terrariums and have a tasty snack. The Library will provide all the materials, but feel free to bring your own glass containers and decorations. Reservation required, ewilson@ci.sausalito.ca.us or call 289-4121.

Tommy's Space Adventure Puppet Show, 11am, Tommy loves books about outer space and space aliens. His greatest wish is to someday meet a real live space alien. Little did Tommy know his wish was about to come true, Fairfax Library.

TEEN Creative Writing Workshop, 7-8:30pm, Mill Valley Library.

Thursday April 25, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, Full Moon

Muir Woods After Hours, 6:30-8:30pm, Explore the evening magic of Muir Woods, learning about the secret nightlife of an old-growth redwood forest.

 Kodomo no Hi Kimono Dressing, 567-5505 to sign-up. Japantown, San Francisco.

Friday April 26

Daddy Daughter Dance, 7-9pm, Corte Madera Rec Center.

Basics of Freshwater Fishing at McInnis Park Pond, 4-6pm.

Saturday April 27

Earth Day Celebration, 9am-5pm, celebrate the natural beauty of our environment by encouraging children to immerse themselves in our unique place by the Bay. This, we believe, will lead them to value, preserve and protect the environment, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. performance by the Banana Slug String Band, and more, Bay Area Discovery Museum.

Healthy Kids Day Wildflower Walk, 10:30am-1:30pm, look what is blooming, and discuss other plants, birds, insects and whatever else may catch our eyes, Point Bonita YMCA.

Birds and Dunes of Abbott's Lagoon for Families, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm, a family-friendly outing, with special focus on kids. With its rich variety of habitats, Abbott's Lagoon is a favorite birding and nature destination at Point Reyes, $35 per person.

Kids Club, 11am-noon in the Macy's Wing (Dinosaur theme), Northgate, San Rafael.

Spring Fling, 10am-4pm, Celebrate springtime on the farm with live music, local organic cuisine, and hands-on farm and craft activities for all ages. Slide Ranch.

Rebecah Freeling – Puppet Show for Preschoolers, 11am, Book Passage, Corte Madera.

Mad Hatter Tea Party, Make a date for tea with Alice, the March Hare, Door Mouse and Mad Hatter for a decidedly unique and unorthodox tea complete with tea sandwiches, hot chocolate, and desserts. 485.3328, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael.

Butter & Egg Parade, 10am to 5pm, Petaluma.

Bodega Bay Fish Fest, This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Russia coming to Bodega Bay to build Ft. Ross. Don’t miss the Wooden Boat Challenge where a team of 4 have to build a wooden boat between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm to race by 1:30pm.

Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, Half Moon Bay

Children’s Fairyland, Grandpa Bunny's Egg-citing Day!, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Jacqueline Lynaugh 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Oakland.

Bug Day, 10am-2pm, Join us for this fun adventure into the bug world, Randall Museum.

Celebrate Opening Day on the Bay FREE sailboat rides, kayaking, and Stand Up Paddle Boarding! Enjoy music, games, food, and activities for the whole family. Each visitor will be entered to win door prizes and a free sailing class!

Kodomo no Hi Kimono Dressing, 567-5505 to sign-up. Japantown, San Francisco.

Doing and Viewing Art, ages 4-12, 10am, deYoung Museum.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, 11am & 2pm, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley.

Sunday April 28

Spring Garden Faire, Featuring great activities such as wood sculpting, fairy-house building and, of course, our famous bake-off, this event is always a hit with families. Edna Maguire Elementary School, 80 Lomita Drive, Mill Valley.

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory in the Square, 9am-Noon, watch street painter, Genna Panzarella, create sweets and candies using chalk, meet Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas, bubbles, music and more. Tickets for sale for the Storybook Ball will be available, Mill Valley Downtown Square.

Sunday Special - Culann's Hounds Spring Concert, 11am, Mill Valley Library.

Opening Day on the Bay, blessing of the fleet, Parade of boats, Sausalito.

Mad Hatter Tea Party, Make a date for tea with Alice, the March Hare, Door Mouse and Mad Hatter for a decidedly unique and unorthodox tea complete with tea sandwiches, hot chocolate, and desserts. 485.3328, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael.

Terwilliger Trail Hike, 10am-Noon, With spring finally here, a ranger will guide you through the trails of beautiful Stafford Lake in the hopes of viewing hounds tongue, milkmaids, Indian warrior, and other plant species. Enjoy the beautiful vistas of the lake, as well as the birds and other wildlife this area has to offer. Stafford Lake Park, 3549 Novato Blvd., Novato.

Children's Program on Buddha's Birthday, Parents can go to zazen while children help decorate the pagoda house for the baby Buddha and hear the story of the birth of Buddha. There is a formal ceremony followed by a procession, the pageant and birthday cake. Pack a picnic, bring your friends and come join us for a wonderful celebration of spring on the main lawn at Green Gulch Farm, Muir Beach. Suggested donation: $30 per family.

Christopher Smith, 11 a.m., storytime in song, Book Passage, Corte Madera.

Breakfast with Enzo, 10am & 11am, Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse.

Kids Birdathon, 9am-1pm, Ages 8-16, $5, Experienced birders will lead small teams of approximately six kids each (with parents along to observe, assist and help transport birding teams).

Tidepooling at Duxbury Reef - Life on the Edge, 9:00 am -- 1:00 pm, enjoy a low-tide exploration of one of the largest shale reefs in North America. We'll discuss the unique geology of the area and the marine influences that make it such a rich site. Peering into tidepools we'll marvel at extraordinary critters, admiring the adaptations that enable them to survive, $30 per person.

Bodega Bay Fish Fest, This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Russia coming to Bodega Bay to build Ft. Ross. Don’t miss the Wooden Boat Challenge where a team of 4 have to build a wooden boat between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm to race by 1:30pm.

Opening Day on the Bay, Decorated Boat Parade, Crissy Field to Pier 39, starting at 12 Noon.

Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, Half Moon Bay

Children’s Fairyland, Grandpa Bunny's Egg-citing Day!, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Jacqueline Lynaugh 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Oakland.

Drop-In Art-Making: Papercuts and Portraits, families experience new adventures in art-making every Sunday and select school holidays. Learn more about the exhibitions on display, the building’s architecture, or Jewish holidays and traditions, while experimenting with materials and art techniques. Inspired by the larger-than-life portraits in Kehinde Wiley Ι The World Stage: Israel, combine paper-cutting and textured painting to create your own fantastic work of art, Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Milkshake, Wells Fargo Arts Center, Santa Rosa.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, 11am & 2pm, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley.

Monday April 29

Museum Mondays for Little Ones, 10am–12noon, Join us for Museum Monday on the last Monday of the month! Enjoy stories, movement games, arts and craft activities, and a movie. Activities are designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. Schultz Museum.

Tuesday April 30

Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen, This picture-book dream team will present their new book, The Dark, a book for kids (and for big, big kids) about a boy who makes friends with the dark that lives in the basement, Book Passage, Corte Madera.

Knitting Club for Kids and Teens, 3:45-4:45 PM, Everyone Welcome, San Anselmo Library.

Kodomo no Hi Kimono Dressing, 567-5505 to sign-up. Japantown, San Francisco.