Health & Fitness
Ronnie's Awesome List - October 2012
Ronnie's Awesome List can be found at Marinhood, The Ultimate Kids Events Round-Up In Marin And Beyond.
Halloween is one reason October is, by far, my favorite month in the year. With its festivals, lovely weather and promise of holidays to come (that are still too far away to stress about) … ah, I'm going to savor every minute of it.
Be sure to check out my blog, Marinhood. I am always updating my blog as I find out about other awesome events.
Cheers,
Ronnie
Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
October 1
Muir Woods After Hours, We'll listen for owls, look for bats, and use our senses to guide us along the trails. This is an easy, two-mile walk on paved trail. Children under 8 not advised.
Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Fall Storytime, 11am – 12pm, Join West Marin storyteller, Judy Buchanan, for some great children's stories! Stinson Beach Library.
Museum Mondays for Little Ones, Enjoy stories, movement games, and arts & crafts activities designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. Schultz Museum.
October 2
Fall Storytime, 11am – 12pm, Join West Marin storyteller, Judy Buchanan, for some great children's stories! Inverness Library.
October 3
Nature for Kids: Meet the Horses at Horse Hill, 10am-1pm, We’ll learn about all of the things you have to do to keep a horse happy and healthy, and we’ll find out how horses are different from other animals. Contact David at 893-9508.
Xtreme Science Magic! 7pm, Don O'Brien explains the scientific principles behind some totally cool tricks such as Fire Tornadoes, Helicopter Balloons, Floating Beach Balls! Who knew learning about science could be so much fun! For ages 4 and up. Celebrate Science! Fairfax Library.
Fall Storytime, 11am – 12pm, Join West Marin storyteller, Judy Buchanan, for some great children's stories! Bolinas Library.
Toddler Treks, for children ages 1 to 3, Shark Trek, Celebrate Sharktober and listen to a shark story, sing along during group time, get a close up look at shark artifacts, and trek together to look at reef sharks in the aquarium.in the California Academy of Science.
October 4
Phil Sheridan, Storyteller, 11:00am, Henry's Toy Shop, Mill Valley.
Tim Cain, 4pm, Belvedere-Tiburon Library.
Craft Bar with Etsy Labs, 6-8pm, Natural Dye Workshop, Create your own natural dye with one of the world's most ancient dye flowers- coreopsis tinctorium. Museum of Craft and Folk Art.
October 4 - 8
October 5
Spaghetti Bingo, 6:00 PM - 09:30 PM, We'll enjoy a buffet-style spaghetti dinner and then play bingo for prizes. Corte Madera Community Center.
40th Anniversary Marin County Parks Celebration, 4-7pm, The "Summer of Celebrations" continues into fall with an evening at Marinwood Park, spend an evening with Park Rangers, kids' and nature activities, games, live music, food, beer & wine.
Fall/Winter Launch and Crafts Party, meet Swedish Pia who will be on her throne with the aid of her seemingly magic sewing machine, helping kids create special Swedish style cards and crafts meshing the Scandinavia love of nature and the American Halloween holiday. Mimi the Sardine, Corte Madera.
Fall Storytime, 11am – 12pm, Join West Marin storyteller, Judy Buchanan, for some great children's stories! Point Reyes Library.
Shabbat Together, children three and under, Kol Shofar.
Science Explorers: Amazing Animals, 8:30am- 12pm, investigates the form and function of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and bugs. This program is for children ages 3-4 years old. CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, (650) 342-7755.
October 5 - 7
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park.
Sonoma County Harvest Fair, 10am – 7pm, Kids and parents can experience life on the farm with some of this year's new additions. Sweet Lil's Farmery will be on hand with hatching chicks, barnyard animals, and perhaps best of all, a faux cow that the whole family can milk.
October 6
Mill Valley Film Festival, Tales of the Night, 1pm, As night falls on an anonymous city, an old man, a girl and a boy sit at desks inside a building, their expressive silhouettes in stark contrast to the bursts of color and pattern in the background.
Children's Animation Workshop, 1pm, Join Croatian animator and assistant director of SAF Cakovec, Jasminka Bijelic Ljubic in a two-day workshop for ages 8-12. All materials and equipment (and lunch) supplied to make your own short animated film. This workshop is limited to 10 young people ages 8 to 12 only, so sign up now!
Mill Valley Film Festival, 11:15am, Chillar Party, It’s anything but politics as usual when the Chillar Party—a colorfully nicknamed gang of school kids living in an apartment colony—takes on a self-important minister who uses Mumbai’s stray-dog problem to garner publicity and regain prominence.
Concert for Kids, 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM, Robin Sweeny Park, Sausalito Concert for Kids.
Film Night in the Park, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, San Anselmo.
Science Stories! 11 – 11:30am, Join us for special science themed preschool storytimes! We’ll be learning as we read, sing, create, and conduct experiments. Topics include birds, magnets, plants, and sound. Children will be able to take their projects home with them. Novato Library.
Marine Mammals of California - for Kids & Teens, For Children, grades K-5: 1:00-2:00pm, For Teens, grades 6-12: 3:00-4:00pm, Learn about marine mammals that frequent the CA coast. Signup for both the children and teen programs is recommended as space is limited. South Novato Library.
USTA Free Kid's Day at Tiburon Challenger! 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Play with the Pro's, for ages 6-12 years old. Join us for a special opportunity to come out for a fun day on the courts and meet some of the professionals competing in the tournament. Dress comfortably and bring your smile. Tiburon Peninsula Club - Lower Courts, 1600 Mar West Street Tiburon, Contact Michelle Skipwith, 279-1973.
Annie Barrows, Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, Book 9, Bean's older sister, Nancy, is set to go to Girl Power 4-Ever Camp, where she will do Crafts and Music and First Aid and other secret things that Bean will never know about because girls have to be eleven to go to Girl Power 4-Ever Camp. But Bean doesn't care. Book Passage, Corte Madera.
Green Halloween® and EcoMom® Alliance Costume Exchange, 9 am – 2 pm, under the big tent at the Larkspur's Farmer's Market. OBring a costume to swap or donate and leave with a costume. Green Halloween fun, Music with Ali Weiss, kids eco crafts, healthy food samples and a whole lot more. 10:30 am talk by Rebeccas Spector, of the Center for Food Safety, on safe and healthy celebrating to avoid Genetically Engineered food, Marin County Mart.
Tam Valley Oktoberfest! Mill Valley.
Trips for Kids Re-Cyclery Blow-out Sale, 10am-4pm, offering 25% - 50% discounts on selected items, 125 Larkspur St. Suite 119, San Rafael. For more information call 458-2986.
Junior Ranger #2: Redwoods Natural at Roy’s Redwoods, 10am – 12pm, Meet at the Roy’s Redwoods entry gate. Join us for the new Junior Ranger program, created to teach youth about outdoor skills, natural history, and environmental stewardship. The program is intended for 7-12 year olds, though explorers of all ages are welcome to attend. Bring water and snacks for the hike. Dogs must be leashed in Roy’s meadow and on the trails. Questions 473-2816.
Vintage Bicycle Cruise, 9:30am – 1:30pm, join us for a moderately–paced, easy ride from Fairfax to Larkspur and back via the Corte Madera Creek path and public roads. Contact Ron Miska at 473-6391. Sunshine Bicycle Center, 737 Center Blvd, Fairfax.
Build A Car, 9am-12pm, fire truck. Have fun, make friends and gain a sense of achievement and work ethic. Home Depot.
Fandango, 10-4, welcome autumn’s arrival as they did in 1840′s by experiencing the dance and music of a “Fandango”. Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, 3325 Adobe Road.
Global Cardboard Challenge, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Come out and celebrate the creativity and imagination of kids around the world with the Global Cardboard Challenge! We’ll be creating with cardboard in our Imagination Lab. Children’s Creativity Museum, San Francisco.
Arab Cultural Festival, 12-6pm, San Francisco's Union Square transforms into an Arab bazaar offering food, games and entertainment to the whole family.
Pier Crabbing, 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.
Drop-In Science, Come and find out the physical properties of different types of SOUND while making your own sound making device – a musical instrument! Randall Museum.
Drop-In Art, Zentangle is an easy and relaxing method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. Join us for an afternoon of Zen! Randall Museum.
Imagination Movers, Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty – of the Emmy-winning quartet from the Disney Channel TV series “Imagination Movers” –bring their high-octane rock concert to Santa Rosa, and it's an event the whole family can enjoy. Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa.
October 6-7
Open Studios, 1-3pm, Stop in to create original animation and craft some smashing Halloween decor, Walt Disney Museum.
Children’s Fairyland, Children's Theatre presents: Mousedeer. 12:30pm & 3pm, Dana Smith performs a show for all ages, with circus arts, comedy, improv and audience participation. 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Puppet Show: Sleeping Beauty 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Oakland.
October 7
Nasrudin’s Magnificent Journey to Samarkand, 11:00 am, Golden Thread Fairytale Players’ live theatrical production features music, dance, and folktales from Central Asia, Turkey, and Iran. Age 5 and up, Mill Valley Library.
Children’s Program at Green Gulch, 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. Please check in before the program at the table near the southwest side entrance of the zendo.
Mill Valley Film Festival, Lotte and the Moonstone Secret, 1:15pm, canine heroine and her invention-loving relatives are back in a new animated adventure that features as much visual delight, charm and good fun as the original.
Mill Valley Film Festival, Stanley's Tiffin Box, School lunches take on new significance when Stanley comes to school without his tiffin box packed with a midday meal. Ages 7+
Phil Sheridan, Storyteller, 4:30-5:15pm, Whole Foods, Miller Avenue, Mill Valley.
Sukkot Celebration, Kol Shofar
Nourishing Kids by Educating Families, An Educational, fun class for the whole family at the Marine Mammal Center, 10:30am -1:00 pm, Ticket (Donation) cost is $20 and may only be purchased at the Whole Foods on Miller Ave in Mill Valley. Event includes a 1-hour educational event, boxed lunch, and private tour.
Word Up! A Community Learning Fair, check out the session with Mac Barnett, author of The Brixton Brothers books and Oh No! Not Again! (Or How I Built a Time Machine to Save History) (Or at Least My History Grade) Marin Civic Center.
Italian Heritage Columbus Day Parade
Filipino-American History Celebration, 11:00 am–4:00 pm, Enjoy a day of fun and engaging programming in celebration of Filipino-American History Month. Begin the day by calling the spirits with music and dance, then watch Baybayin artists Christine Balza and Christian Cabuay demonstrate their contemporary takes on this ancient Filipino script and make art inspired by the language. Asian Art Museum.
Gathering of Ohlone Peoples, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Ohlones will share their culture and history, including music, song, dance, and stories. They’ll discuss contemporary cultural involvements, and demonstrate basket, jewelry, soaproot brush, and dogbane string making. Visit a more than 2,000-year-old village site, play an Ohlone game, make fire without matches, or make a miniature tule boat. Taste native plant teas, manzanita cider, and acorn soup cooked with heated stones in a basket. Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont.
Children’s Storytime and Family Walk, 10:30 AM, Jurassic Plants & Creepy Creatures, San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. Join a docent-led Family Walk following Children’s Storytime in the Library. Storytime begins at 10:30am and the Family Walk follows at 11am. 661-1316.
October 7 - 8
Drop-in Art Making: Symbolism in Architecture, 1-3pm, Use a CJM blueprint as the inspiration and foundation for your own 2D and 3D creative designs. Let the rich symbolism of Daniel Libeskind’s CJM design sketches inspire you to create an innovative architectural artwork of your own, Contemporary Jewish Museum.
October 7 - 22
Lyle the Crocodile, When Mr. and Mrs. Primm and their son, Joshua, move into the house on East 88th Street, they are terrified to find a crocodile in the bathtub, but they are soon charmed by Lyle's winning ways. The trouble is that not all the neighbors appreciate the newest member of the Primm family —- especially not cranky Mr. Grumps, who is determined to pack Lyle off to the zoo... Berkeley: Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse.
October 8
Mill Valley Film Festival, Tales of the Night, 1pm, As night falls on an anonymous city, an old man, a girl and a boy sit at desks inside a building, their expressive silhouettes in stark contrast to the bursts of color and pattern in the background.
Mill Valley Film Festival, 5pm, special screening of the Star Wars Special Edition.
Museum Mondays for Little Ones, Enjoy stories, movement games, and arts & crafts activities designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. $5 per child; up to 2 adults per child are free before 11am.After 11am, regular Museum admission applies. Schultz Museum.
October 9
Golden Gate Playdate: Rainbow Rocks of Rodeo Beach, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Join us for a 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.
Tyke Explorers, And yummy veggies in a row! Hungry for plants? Discover the delicious world of plant roots, stems, leaves, and fruits! RSVP (510) 336-7373, Chabot Space & Science Center.
October 10
Mill Valley Film Festival, 7pm, Rise of the Guardians, an epic adventure that tells the story of a group of heroes with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit known as Pitch tries to take over the world, the immortal Guardians—Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, Jack Frost and the Sandman—must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.
* TEEN Adventures in Anatomy, 4:30 – 5:30pm, Marine Mammal Center, Whale Bus, Corte Madera Library.
October 11-14
October 12
Shabbat Together, children three and under, Kol Shofar.
Science Explorers: Amazing Animals, 8:30am- 12pm, investigate the form and function of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and bugs. Participants will see live animals, search for tracks, and visit the tidepools at Coyote Point park to get up close and personal will all sorts of amazing animals. This program is for children ages 3-4 years old. CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, (650) 342-7755.
October 13
Mad Marin Benefit, 6-11pm, join us for a fun and exciting evening, while supporting youth with limited opportunities in Marin County! Marin Charitable, IDESST Portuguese Hall in Sausalito.
Puppets and storytelling for preschoolers with Rebecah Freeling, Book Passage, Corte Madera.
Children's FilmFest Bollywood Party, 2:30pm, Mill Valley Film Festival.
Mill Valley Film Festival, Tales of the Night, 1pm, As night falls on an anonymous city, an old man, a girl and a boy sit at desks inside a building, their expressive silhouettes in stark contrast to the bursts of color and pattern in the background.
Harvest Celebration, 10am – 4pm, Celebrate the season of bounty in the style of an old time country fair! Build a scarecrow, spin wool from our sheep, and making bread, butter and cheese from scratch, milk a goat, and feed chickens, learn about our native coastal plants on a guided wildlands hike, get your face painted, or just relax in our beautiful garden while eating delicious local, organic cuisine. Throughout the day enjoy live, kid-friendly music and breathtaking coastal views, Slide Ranch, Muir Beach.
Science Stories! 11 – 11:30am, Join us for special science themed preschool storytimes! We’ll be learning as we read, sing, create, and conduct experiments. Topics include birds, magnets, plants, and sound. Children will be able to take their projects home with them. Novato Library.
* TEEN Manga Drawing Classes, 2pm, ages 9-13, This workshop with Chiyoko Wong will take place in the Children's Room, Corte Madera Library.
Read to a Dog, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, Kids build confidence reading to attentive dogs from Marin Humane Society’s SHARE-a-Book program. Call 415-389-4292 x4741 for a 15 minute appointment in the Children’s Room. Kindergarten and older. Mill Valley Library.
Fall Carnival at Venetia Valley School, 177 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael.
Nature for Kids: Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Divide, 10am – 1pm, we will look for and talk about the changes that take place between the hot, dry and the cold, wet seasons. Where do the insects, spiders, and lizards go? When will the salamanders come out of hiding? With luck we might see a few of the birds that have just arrived to spend the winter here. Contact David at 893-9508.
Star Hike at Mt. Burdell, 7 – 9pm, watch the autumn evening sky emerge into a stargazing adventure. Come view “Outer Space from Open Space” as we identify the major constellations and talk about the legends behind them. Local astronomer Larry Brodkin will be there to help participants get a deep view into the heavens with his 8” Meade Telescope. Contact Rich Gibson at 473-2816.
* TEEN Teen Science: Build an Ecobot, 10:30am – 2:30pm, Participants will work in groups to explore simple robotics and build an Ecobot. Open to 6th-12th graders. Advance signup highly recommended. A simple lunch will be provided. Novato Library.
Biketoberfest Marin 2012, Fairfax
Oktoberfest, Redwood Ave & Tamalpais Dr, Corte Madera, 12-5pm.
Paradise Fishing Derby, 9am – 12pm, Join rangers for our 40th Anniversary fishing contest! Prizes will be awarded for the first fish over 40 inches, the first fish that weighs 40 pounds, and the 40th fish caught! Paradise Beach Park, Tiburon, Contact Ranger Mike Maraccini at 446-4424.
Fishing in the City, 8-9am, provides the bait, tackle and rods needed for a fun filled family outing. Normal State fishing regulations apply at Scottsdale Pond. Anyone 16 years and older must have a California Fishing License. Pre-registration is advised to ensure a space, however, drop-ins are welcome if space. Scottsdale Pond, Redwood and Rowland Blvds.
Drop-In Science, Randall Museum, It’s not a solid. It’s not a liquid. It’s a polymer! Understand how cool POLYMERS can be by creating a chemical reaction and take home your own colorful goo!
Drop-In Art, Create a beautiful personal matchbox shrine. Collage details on the outside of your shrine and pull it open to reveal messages and images you’ve hidden inside. Randall Museum.
Doing and Viewing Art (ages 4-12). Family tours are followed by related hands-on art projects led by professional artists. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. viewing, 10:30am, deYoung Museum.
Doing and Viewing Art (ages 4-12). Family tours are followed by related hands-on art projects led by professional artists. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Flying Colors: Playing with Color, 2:00pm, Legion of Honor.
Make it at MOCFA, 4-6pm, Be inspired with the fiber works in the current exhibition and use the popular method for transferring images to fabric using photos, old or new. Ages 5+. $5 includes admission and all materials. RSVP: makeit@mocfa.org. Museum of Craft and Folk Art.
Weekend Workshop: Egg Drop, 10:30am-12pm, This workshop is about designing and building a protective contraption for an egg that will “fall” off the roof. This is a fun way to experiment with and learn more about gravity, force, and air resistance so that you don’t have put “Humpty back together again.” This program is recommended for children ages 8-12 years old. CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, (650) 342-7755.
October 13 - 14
Goblin Jamboree, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Bay Area Discovery Museum is transformed into a haunted wonderland complete with games, attractions and live entertainment. Ride a train or real ponies, visit the spooky-but-not-scary Haunted Pier, make potions in the witches’ and wizard’s school, visit the petting zoo and enjoy a full brew of games, activities and live entertainment. Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Bay Area Pet Fair & Adoptathon, Marin Civic Center
Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay
GGRO Hawk Talk & Banding Demo, hour-long talk about hawk monitoring and identification using photos and other props. At 1 pm, a newly banded wild hawk is brought up and shown to the crowd. After a volunteer discusses GGRO’s banding program, the hawk is released.
Open Studios, 1-3pm, Stop in to create original animation and craft some smashing Halloween decor, Walt Disney Museum.
Children’s Fairyland, Children's Theatre presents: Rip Van Winkle. 12:30pm & 3pm, Blake Maxam as he performs "Shivers the Slightly Silly, Slightly Spooky Safety Show." This fun and goofy show comes with a special message for your trick and treating during Halloween. 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Puppet Show: Sleeping Beauty 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Oakland.
October 14
Goblin Jamboree Sponsor Breakfast, 8, 9 or 10 a.m.Get a jump on the fun with a buffet breakfast including spooktacular goody bags, special entertainers and early access to the Museum and Goblin Jamboree. Beat the lines and come early for a pony ride before breakfast! All activities open at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast guests, and 10 a.m. for the general public. Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Children's Faire , 10am-4pm, for children ages 3-10 years old. This day of family fun includes games, puppet shows, story telling, crafts, local vendors, a visit from the Sleeping Giant, and activities such as the Knights Quest, and the Hero’s Maze. Organic food is available for purchase. Marin Waldorf, 755 Idylberry Road, San Rafael.
Mill Valley Film Festival, Lotte and the Moonstone Secret, 1:15pm, canine heroine and her invention-loving relatives are back in a new animated adventure that features as much visual delight, charm and good fun as the original.
Mill Valley Film Festival, Stanley's Tiffin Box, School lunches take on new significance when Stanley comes to school without his tiffin box packed with a midday meal. Ages 7+
Mill Valley Film Festival, 11am, Chillar Party, It’s anything but politics as usual when the Chillar Party—a colorfully nicknamed gang of school kids living in an apartment colony—takes on a self-important minister who uses Mumbai’s stray-dog problem to garner publicity and regain prominence.
Phil Sheridan, Storyteller, 4:30-5:15pm, Whole Foods, Miller Avenue, Mill Valley.
Marine Science Sundays, we celebrate Halloween early and the animals that live in the ocean that spend their time in the dark and cold ocean bottom. Docent-led tours will take you around the hospital showcasing some of the patients we are caring for and how our veterinarians are getting them better. Classroom presentations through multimedia and interactive activities will highlight the swimming and diving champion elephant seals and sperm whales, and present some of the most creatures of the deep like the Vampire squid and the Goblin shark! Marine Mammal Center.
Bob Shea, 11 a.m., author of Dinosaur vs. Bedtime and Dinosaur vs. Potty, presents his new picture book, Dinosaur vs. Santa. Book Passage.
Life on the Edge at Point Bonita Lighthouse, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Gather your family for a one-of-a-kind experience touring the historic Point Bonita Lighthouse. The 1/2 mile hike to the lighthouse is filled with stunning views and fun adventures through a tunnel and along a footbridge. Keep your eye out for seals sunbathing on the rocks below. Learn what it takes to be a lighthouse keeper and the importance that the lighthouse still provides for navigating ships. Meet at the trail head to the lighthouse at 9:30 am. NatureBridge, Sausalito, CA
Preschool Gallery Hour with Asheba, 10-11:30am, performance by the calypso-infused musical storytelling sensation Asheba. Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Family Table Days, learn about the Museum and its family offerings for the day including: I Spy Museum Bingo, California Dreaming: The Game (on iPad), and Family ARTpacks. And grab a special Museum giveaway! Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Drop-in Art Making: Photographic Creations, 1-3pm, Have fun with photos while exploring black and white creations. Explore the choices photographers make by selecting your favorite detail from an urban photo and transforming it into your own artwork using a variety of fine art materials. Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Dinosaur Train, Celebrate a day of discovery at the Academy with KQED and Buddy the T-Rex from Dinosaur Train! Join Buddy as he explores the museum and greets visitors. Take the Nature Trackers Challenge and become a member of the Dinosaur Train Trackers Club. California Academy of Science.
October 15
Positive Sibling Relationships (2 – 10 years), Managing sibling relationships can be the biggest parenting challenge. We will explore this important relationship and discuss conflict, fairness, and sharing. Help your children become more cooperative, caring, and compassionate. With Bonnie Romanow, BA, early childhood specialist. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Preregister at or call 415-491-7959.
Museum Mondays for Little Ones, Enjoy stories, movement games, and arts & crafts activities designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. $5 per child; up to 2 adults per child are free before 11am.After 11am, regular Museum admission applies. Schultz Museum.
October 16
Amazing Science, 4 – 5pm, Watershed Preservation Network, Corte Madera Library.
October 17, National Fossil Day
Afterschool LEGO Club, 4 – 5:30pm, Use LEGO and DUPLO bricks to build whatever your heart desires! Children ages 4-14 are invited to build, play, engineer, and destruct together. LEGOs will be provided; no registration required. Novato Library.
Breastfeeding for Working Mothers (new moms), To help make the transition to work without surprises, this class will assist you in making a plan for feeding your baby so you are prepared and worry-free. With Margie King, IBCLC, RLC. 491-7959. Parents Place.
Toddler Treks, for children ages 1 to 3, Shark Trek, Celebrate Sharktober and listen to a shark story, sing along during group time, get a close up look at shark artifacts, and trek together to look at reef sharks in the aquarium.in the California Academy of Science.
October 17-21
October 18
Slightly Scary Stories with Storyteller Michael Katz, 6:30PM, Michael will tell slightly scary stories from around the world, just in time for Halloween. This event is suitable for children ages four and older. Please call 927-5005 or email library@cityoflarkspur.org to RSVP. Larkspur Library.
Magician Timothy James, 4pm, Marvel at the magical skills of magician Timothy James, Belvedere Tiburon Library.
Purple Potatoes, 6:30pm, book launch party and read by storyteller Phil Sheridan and his wife, Lynda. Local organic ice cream and cookies, Seed Bank, Petaluma.
October 19
Film Night: Goonies, Strawberry Recreation, Mill Valley
Junior Ranger #3: Earth Sciences and Watersheds at Indian Valley Preserve, 4:30 – 6:30pm, ages 7-12 year olds, though explorers of all ages are welcome to attend. Meet a ranger at Indian Valley for an introduction to Earth Science. Discover what makes Marin County so geologically unique using hands-on activities. We’ll also learn about watersheds and then go for a hike along the creek for a learning adventure. This will be an easy walk, approximately 1.5 miles round-trip. Wear a hat, sturdy walking shoes and dress in layers. Bring water and snacks for the hike. Questions 473-2816.
Shabbat Together, children three and under, Kol Shofar.
Science Explorers: Amazing Animals, 8:30am- 12pm, investigate the form and function of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and bugs. Participants will see live animals, search for tracks, and visit the tidepools at Coyote Point park to get up close and personal will all sorts of amazing animals. This program is for children ages 3-4 years old. CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, (650) 342-7755.
October 19-21
Fairfax Feis, Festival of Irish Music & Dance, Irish traditional, hybrid and fusion music. Children under 12 are free and welcome in the Fairfax Pavillion show, Fairfax Coffee Roastery, The Slepping Lady Cafe and Sorella’s Cafe.
October 20
Twin Cities Community Pre-School Halloween Carnival, 10 am – 2 pm, Join us for a day of fun at this much loved and non-scary annual Halloween event. The carnival will feature an array of fun children's activities, including face painting, carnival games, a cake walk, raffle, jumpy house, bake sale, pumpkin sale and much, much more. Admission is free and game tickets can be purchased at the door, or at a discount in advance at www.twincitiescoop.org. 56 Mohawk Ave., Corte Madera.
Caribbean Dance Party with Asheba, kicking off the fall line-up with a rhythmic, joyful and interactive version of your favorite kid’s songs. Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Science Stories! 11 – 11:30am, Join us for special science themed preschool storytimes! We’ll be learning as we read, sing, create, and conduct experiments. Topics include birds, magnets, plants, and sound. Children will be able to take their projects home with them. Novato Library.
San Francisco Jazz Festival, Family Matinee, Thelonious Monk, 11am, Both fun and educational, Family Matinees provide a window into the exciting world of live jazz. Each one-hour matinee features live performance, audience participation, Q&A and amazing music. Although designed for elementary school students, our Family Matinees are open to music fans of all ages. Herbst Theatre.
Crissy Marsh Walk, 2-3pm, Join a ranger on a fun nature walk at the Crissy Field Marsh! Use your senses as you explore the marsh and find out what lives in or visits the marsh during the fall. All ages welcome. RSVP 561-4323. Meet in front of the Beach Hut café, next to the East Beach parking area.
Folktales Across the African Diaspora with Carl Winters, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, high energy presentation that is designed for grades K thru 7.
LEAP Sand Castle Contest, 10am-4pm, Ocean Beach, San Francisco.
Geology of the Golden Gate Headlands, Explore 200 million years of geologic history and learn the fascinating story told by the rocks at the Golden Gate. Bring a lunch and wear comfortable walking shoes and a coat. Trip includes a short but strenuous down and up 200-foot bluff. Meet Ranger Will Elder in front of Fort Point. We will carpool to the Marin Headlands. Reservations required; 561-4323.
Drop-In Science, Randall Museum, CHROMATOGRAPHY is the science of separating an object’s colors into their basic elements. Dissect the colors of local leaves to discover the basics of what makes them beautiful!
Drop-In Art, Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that honors friends and family members who have died. Celebrate with us by making a beautiful Day of the dead clay skull. Randall Museum.
Doing and Viewing Art (ages 4-12). Family tours are followed by related hands-on art projects led by professional artists. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Cool Clay, 10:30am, deYoung Museum.
Doing and Viewing Art (ages 4-12). Family tours are followed by related hands-on art projects led by professional artists. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. The Power of Painting, 2:00pm, Legion of Honor.
October 20-21
GGRO Hawk Talk & Banding Demo, hour-long talk about hawk monitoring and identification using photos and other props. At 1 pm, a newly banded wild hawk is brought up and shown to the crowd. After a volunteer discusses GGRO’s banding program, the hawk is released.
Crissy Marsh Walk, 2-3 pm, Join a ranger on a fun nature walk at the Crissy Field Marsh! Use your senses as you explore the marsh and find out what lives in or visits the marsh during the fall. All ages welcome. To make required reservation or for more information, call 561-4323. Meet in front of the Beach Hut café, next to the East Beach parking area.
Children’s Fairyland, Children's Theatre presents: The Tortoise Who Flew. 12:30pm & 3pm, Jacquelyn Lynaugh as Miranda the Gypsy tells stories and tales of magic and lore. 1:30pm & 2:30pm. Puppet Show: Sleeping Beauty 11am, 2pm, 4pm, Oakland.
October 21
Discovery Day Open House, Romberg Tiburon Center, 11am – 4pm
Arias in the Afternoon, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Gabrielson Park, Sausalito.
Phil Sheridan, Storyteller, 4:30-5:15pm, Whole Foods, Miller Avenue, Mill Valley.
Sunday Streets, Outer Mission/Excelsior; a safe, fun, car-free place for people to get out and get active in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Master Magician Jay Alexander, 11 am - Noon, The Randall Museum Theatre, 199 Museum Way @ Roosevelt Way, SF, For tickets and information call (510) 236-SHOW.
Children’s Storytime and Family Walk, 10:30 AM, Jurassic Plants & Creepy Creatures, San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. Join a docent-led Family Walk following Children’s Storytime in the Library. Storytime begins at 10:30am and the Family Walk follows at 11am. 661-1316.
Drop-in Art Making: Photographic Creations, 1-3pm, Have fun with photos while exploring black and white creations. Explore the choices photographers make by selecting your favorite detail from an urban photo and transforming it into your own artwork using a variety of fine art materials. Contemporary Jewish Museum.
October 22
Golden Gate Playdate: Super Seas, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Join us for a 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.
Museum Mondays for Little Ones, Enjoy stories, movement games, and arts & crafts activities designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. Schultz Museum.
October 23
The incomparable Dav Pilkey, 6 p.m., will present a new and long-awaited book in the Captain Underpants series: The Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers!
For more information call Book Passage at 927-0960.
Preschool Programs: Golden Gate Playdates, Super Seas, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Join us for a 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. Nature Bridge.
October 24
Wonderful Whales, 3:30 – 4:15pm, Learn about marine mammals that frequent the CA coast. Marin City Library.
October 26
Halloween Music & Magic Show, 4pm & 6:30pm, Mill Valley Community Center.
Zombie Wasteland, 2:30-4:30pm not scary at all, 5-6:30pm semi-scary, 7:30-9pm Horrifying, Tam Valley Haunted House, 203 Marin Avenue, Mill Valley.
Harvest Festival, Marinwood Community Center.
Shabbat Together, children three and under, Kol Shofar.
Nature for Kids: Stafford Lake, 10am – 1p, Stafford Lake Park, 3549 Novato Blvd., Novato, We’ll visit a pond, a permanent creek, and a marsh and talk about the animals that live in these wet habitats. Then we’ll explore a shady forest and have lunch in a beautiful meadow where we can look out over the lake. Questions: Contact David at (415) 893-9508 or DHerlocker@marincounty.org. Park entrance fee waived for participants.
Slither & Squeak Halloween, Wear your costume and experiment hands-on with spooky science, meet noctural animals, do science-inspired trick-or-treating, and explore CuriOdyssey after dark! Everyone will receive a sweet treat for attending the event. Don't forget to bring your flashlight! Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information, please call (650) 342-7755.
Science Explorers: Amazing Animals, 8:30am- 12pm, investigate the form and function of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and bugs. Participants will see live animals, search for tracks, and visit the tidepools at Coyote Point park to get up close and personal will all sorts of amazing animals. This program is for children ages 3-4 years old. CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, (650) 342-7755.
Mowgli and I, 8pm, age 8+, a re-interpretation of Kipling's original. The play, set in modern day India, uses multiple narrators, as well as spectacular costumes, sets and music, to explore the personalities and backstories behind the characters and weave a colorful tale of friendship, aspiration, betrayal, and self-discovery that people of all ages can relate to and enjoy, Indian Theatre and Film Group, Fort Mason, San Francisco.
October 27, 40 years ago, on October 27, 1972, President Nixon signed a declaration creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Halloween Haunt, 5:00-8:30pm, Fun for the Whole Family, Haunted House, Music, Food, Jump House, Face Painting, Scares, Laughs, Magic Show, and MORE!! Belvedere Community Center
Halloween Family Farm Day, 10 am - 2 pm, The ranch will reveal some special tricks and treats today. Activities may include simple costume making with recycled materials, a spooky tour of the garden and worm compost, and warm treats from the kitchen. Costume wearing is welcome by all! Slide Ranch.
Zombie Wasteland, 2:30-4:30pm not scary at all, 5-6:30pm semi-scary, 7:30-9pm Horrifying, Tam Valley Haunted House, 203 Marin Avenue, Mill Valley.
Headlands Halloween Night Hike and Campfire, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, Join us for an All Hallows' Eve inspired hike, practice your owl hoots, get "batty", and enjoy S'mores during a campfire filled with Halloween fun. NatureBridge, Sausalito.
Trick or Treat on Fourth Street, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM, In addition, there will be a Haunted House at Saint Raphael's School located in Downtown at 1100 Fifth Avenue. The Haunted House, designed for all ages, will be spooking kids from 11-3pm. Stop by and play games or make a craft before the trick or treating begins. Downtown City Plaza, 990 Fourth Street, San Rafael, 720-5591.
Science Stories! 11 – 11:30am, Join us for special science themed preschool storytimes! We’ll be learning as we read, sing, create, and conduct experiments. Topics include birds, magnets, plants, and sound. Children will be able to take their projects home with them. Novato Library.
The Grand Scream of Things with Andy Z, Put on your Halloween costume and join Andy Z for a show packed with hip storytelling, catchy songs and captivating characters from his new CD, The Grand Scream of Things. Share in the adventure about a witch who’s lost her way and a boy who discovers the important things in life. Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Ring Mountain Grassland Restoration Project, 10am – 1pm, Join us for a regular ‘Drop-in’ volunteer program on Ring Mountain to help us restore the native grasslands that make this preserve so special. Activities will include weeding, seed collecting, and native plant installation. Work is mildly strenuous and family-friendly. Drop-in days will be held on the last Saturday of every month from 10am to 1pm. For more information contact Sam Abercrombie at 415-473-2128 or sabercrombie@marincounty.org.
Graveyard Stroll, 6 – 7:30pm, Get a head start on Halloween with rangers. Experience our one-of-a kind program that uncovers one of Marin’s most interesting, but little known cemeteries. All treats (and tricks!) are free. Wear warm, layered clothes. Bring a flashlight and treat bag. Questions 473-2816.
Halloween at Deer Park, We’ll take a short hike in Deer Park, looking for signs of autumn. Have plants gone to seed? Which trees drop their leaves? Why are spiders so conspicuous this time of year? Bring a snack and then we’ll gather under the “Halloween” tree for a story.
Discovery Days – North Bay, 11AM-4 PM, enjoy hands-on experiments, demos, and exhibits. Save a droid ICU patient, create a pulsar, extract DNA, drive robots, eat liquid nitrogen, and much more at this incredible FREE event. Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa
Family Halloween Fest, 10 AM - 2 PM, Join us for a day of family-friendly, non-scary, low-sugar, inexpensive Halloween fun! Put on your costume and join the revels. Randall Museum.
Mowgli and I, 8pm, age 8+, a re-interpretation of Kipling's original. The play, set in modern day India, uses multiple narrators, as well as spectacular costumes, sets and music, to explore the personalities and backstories behind the characters and weave a colorful tale of friendship, aspiration, betrayal, and self-discovery that people of all ages can relate to and enjoy, Indian Theatre and Film Group, Fort Mason, San Francisco.
Doing and Viewing Art (ages 4-12). Family tours are followed by related hands-on art projects led by professional artists. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Magnificent Masks, 10:30am, deYoung Museum.
Doing and Viewing Art (ages 4-12). Family tours are followed by related hands-on art projects led by professional artists. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Scenes of the Sea, 2:00pm, Legion of Honor.
Night Hike: Frightening Forest, 7:00 PM, 8:30 PM, Things go bump in the forest! In celebration of Halloween, we’ll lend a little freight to our normal Moonlight Hike. The redwoods are aged, majestic and full of wonder. Walk with us and see what pops up….if you dare. All activities are meant for fun, but this spooky hike may not be for everyone. Please use discretion when deciding to join us. Recommended for ages 7+. Chabot Space & Science Center.
Creepy Happy Halloween, 12:00–4:00 p.m. As part of the Bay Area Science Festival, you can unleash your inner scientist while enjoying these great activities: Build your own pumpkin catapult with the UC Berkeley Pioneers in Engineering! Get up close and personal with some of the Hall’s creepiest critters! Check out our ghoulish scorpions, hairy tarantulas, hissing cockroaches, scaly lizards, slithery snakes, and more! Learn how gentle these critters can also be. Come dressed in your Halloween costume and get a FREE ticket for a 3-D film of your choice! Lawrence Hall of Science.
October 27-28
Halloween Pirate Fest, 12-3pm, Br'n your crew an' come th' Falkirk for this one-of-a-kind Halloween event. Eat an' be merry an' find your buried treasure wi' carbunculously real pirates. Thar "Fancy Scallywag!" be Pirates in th' House. Set out on th'grounds fer private treasure. Event includes a "pirate feast" with real pirates, treasure hunt, and individual treasure and halloween tricks and treats! Falkirk, San Rafael.
Children’s Fairyland, Puppet Petting Zoo, JACK O' LANTERN JAMBOREE! "More Delightful than Frightful" Little kids' and bigger kids' bouncer, face painting, balloon twisting, creatively crafted environments, special entertainment, costume parades, unlimited rides, arts & crafts, free give-aways and the spooktacular Old West Junction Ghost Town! ….and more! Oakland.
October 27 - November 3
October 28
Phil Sheridan, Storyteller, 4:30-5:15pm, Whole Foods, Miller Avenue, Mill Valley.
Zombie Wasteland, 2:30-4:30pm not scary at all, 5-6:30pm semi-scary, 7:30-9pm Horrifying, Tam Valley Haunted House, 203 Marin Avenue, Mill Valley.
Halloween Hoopla Dance & Parade, features interactive performances and games for kids under 10 and their adults. Led by The Unique Derique. expect live music, eco-friendly crafts by Trash Mash-Up, and origami folding by Preston. Just before the Hoopla ends, everyone parades in their Halloween finery!
Family Table Days, Stop by the Family Table in the Grand Lobby to learn about the Museum and its family offerings for the day including: I Spy Museum Bingo, California Dreaming: The Game (on iPad), and Family ARTpacks. And grab a special Museum giveaway! Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Drop-in Art Making: Photographic Creations, 1-3pm, Have fun with photos while exploring b
