Museums

Halloween is on a Saturday this year! Get your costume on and go go go!

Dia de los Muertos Procession and Festival of the Altars

The parade is too spooky for little kids, but older ones will enjoy the rattling bones, creepy makeup, and the thrill of being out with adults at night; the colorful altars celebrating the lives of those passed on are great cultural eye-candy.

When: Mon., 11/2, 7pm; Age 5+; Free.

Where: Parade starts at 7pm from 24th and Bryant Streets in San Francisco and continues to 26th and Bryant Streets, where the Festival of the Altars starts at 8:30 p.m.; 415-722-8911; dayofthedeadsf.org.

Potrero Hill Halloween Parade and Costume Contest

An early-evening Halloween party with a movie, prizes for best costume, and a parade down to 18th Street.

When: Sat., 10/31, 4-7pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Axis Cafe, 1201 Eighth Street (at Irwin Street), San Francisco; 415-279-1899; axis-cafe.com.

Exploratorium Halloween

A grand Halloween party with a visit from the Neverwas, a Victorian mansion on wheels, and creature features like giant insects and hissing cockroaches.

When: Sat., 10/31, 3-8pm; Free-$14.

Where: Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon Street (at Jefferson Street), San Francisco; 415-561-0360; exploratorium.edu.

Dia de los Muertos Family Concert

A special concert for families with classical music from Latino conductors and pre-concert festivities like sugar skull-decorating and a display of family altars.

When: Sun., 11/1, 1pm; Age 4+; $15-65.

Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), 415-864-6000; sfsymphony.org.

Though the new movie adaptation of classic children’s book Where the Wild Things Are wasn’t really made for children (thanks for that, Spike Jonze!), plenty went to see the movie on its opening weekend. Did the movie’s gloomy, existential tone and bummed-out Wild Things leave your kids with some lingering questions about Sendak, his work, maybe even life itself? Head to the Contemporary Jewish Museum, where the exhibit “There’s a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak” gives fan a wealth of background on the author that will aid in decoding the movie and Sendak’s other books.

For one thing, the Wild Things were based on Sendak’s Jewish immigrant relatives, many of whom were inalterably damaged by the loss of relatives in Poland during the Holocaust. Video interviews with Sendak, articles, pictures, and other artifacts show the pathos that lay just behind Sendak’s humor, giving it that relatable spark and a certain grimness that still appeals. Plus, just looking at original pen-and-ink drawings for Where the Wild Things Are and other stories is thrillingly cool.

“There’s a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak” runs through January 19, 2010 at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street (between Third and Fourth streets), San Francisco. Call 415-655-7800 or visit the cjm.org.

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival

Acres and acres of fall fun, with horsey rides, pumpkin-carving contests, pie-eating contests, and delicious things to eat. The traffic is a mess; leave time before and after the event to deal with it.

When: Sat. 10/17-18, 9am-5pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Main Street between Miramonte and Spruce Streets, Half Moon Bay, 650-726-9652, miramarevents.com.

Goblin Jamboree

The super-cool kids’ museum dresses up for the holidays and throws a party with a train ride, live performers, pony rides, and a petting zoo.

When: Sat. & Sun., 10/17-18, 10am-4pm; All ages; $12-14 (Free for kids under 1).

Where: Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road (at Fort Baker), Sausalito, 415-339-3900, baykidsmuseum.org.

Outrageous Outgrowns

A vast money-saving fiesta of tens of thousands of gently used clothes, shoes, toys, books, strollers, cribs, and other baby gear.

When: Fri.-Sun. 10/16-18; 9am-5pm; Age 5+; Free.

Where: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road (at Old Tully Road), San Jose; outrageousoutgrowns.com.

San Francisco Symphony Celebrates Disney

The symphony marks the opening of the Presidio’s Walt Disney Family Museum with a concert with songs from Cinderella, Pinocchio, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

When: Fri., 10/16, 8pm; Age 7+; $15-70.

Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue (at Turk Street), San Francisco, 415-864-6000; sfsymphony.org.

There’s a sudden chill in the air, but some of the best weather of the year means outdoor festivals and fun proliferate.

Victorian Days

Lots of people in eye-candy costumes and a family rotunda with crafts, a scavenger hunt, and kid-oriented tales about local personages.

When: Sat., 9/26, noon-4pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway Street (at Middlefield Road), Redwood City; 650-299-0104; historysmc.org.

Kidsfaire

Fifteen acres of loud & shiny stuff of interest to parents and kids, including live stage shows (Barney, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), kids’ pavilions such as a princess pavilion and an ice skating rink, rides, and TV/movie characters in costume.

When: Sat.-Sun., 9/6-7, 10am-5pm; All ages; $5-8.

Where: Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue (at Valley Avenue), Pleasanton, 925-426-7559, thekidsfaire.com.

Salsa Festival

Four stages with live music and dancers, free dance lessons for kids and adults, and lots of bounce houses.

When: Sat., 9/26, noon-8pm; Age 2+; Free.

Where: Downtown Redwood City, Broadway & Marshall; 831-457-1141; redwoodcity.org.

Mega Gay Dads BBQ and Picnic at Crissy Field

Meet every gay dad in town at this giant multi-group picnic. Bring food to share and participate in face-painting and parachute games.

When: Sat., 9/26, 11am-4pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Crissy Field, 983 Marin Street (at Illinois Street), San Francisco; dadspicniceventbrite.com.

Festivals, movies, and more ways to take up your time.

Old Time Music Convention

All manner of non-electric instruments making old-fashioned music.

When: Ongoing through Sun. 9/13; Check website for times; All ages; Free-$20.

Where: Various venues in Berkeley including Civic Center Park, Center Street (at MLK, Jr. Way), Berkeley; 510-548-3333; berkeleyoldtimemusic.org.

Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival

Local patisseries and candy-makers bring the goodies, you bring your appetite. There’s a children’s area for when the tykes go sugar-nuts.

When: Sat. & Sun., 9/12-13, noon-5pm; Age 2+; Free admission, $20 for 15 tastings of chocolate samples.

Where: Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point (at Polk Street), San Francisco; ghirardellisq.com.

Movie Day with Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket)

Handler presents his favorite family movie, Young Frankenstein, in this benefit for SF libraries.

When: Sat., 9/13, movie at noon, reception at 11am; Age 4+; movie is free (but reservations required), reception $25 for adults, free for kids under 12.

Where: Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa Street (at 38th Avenue), San Francisco; 415-626-7512, x106 or sara.bassett@friendssfpl.org; friendssfpl.org.

The Plastiki - Mission Control

Use interactive exhibits to learn about a 10,000 nautical mile voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a boat made almost entirely out of reclaimed plastic soda bottles.

When: Wednesdays through Sundays, ongoing through December 31, 11am-4pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Pier 45, Embarcadero (at Taylor Street), San Francisco; plastiki.com.

Does school really start in just over a week? Hurry, hurry, get your summer fun before it’s too late.

Destination Fort Mason Center

Every Saturday through September 12, Fort Mason Center brings on the fun with a diverse lineup of local organizations: performances from the New Pickle Circus and Bay Area Theatresports, art with SCRAP, music from the Blue Bear School of Music. Attendees will get the chance to make art projects and try their own hand at performing.

When: Sat., 8/15 (and continuing each Saturday through 9/12), Age 3+; 10am-4pm; Free.

Where: Fort Mason, Marina Boulevard (at Buchanan Street), San Francisco; 415-345-7500; fortmason.org.

Learning Days at Yerba Buena Children’s Learning Garden

Explore the learning garden and learn how to care for plants through music, art, and hands-on garden sessions.

When: Sat., 8/16, 11am-4pm; Age 3-6; Free.

Where: Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Learning Garden, 760 Howard Street (between Third and Fourth streets), San Francisco; 415-543-1718; ybgf.org.

Marin Family Well-Being and Safety Fair

Learn how to spot the common signs of allergies and developmental disorders, get your kid fingerprinted, or sample nutritious toddler-friendly snacks at this fiesta of safety/health information for parents.

When: Friday, 8/14, 10am-3pm; Age 2+; Free (RSVP required).

Where: Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto (at E. Blithedale Avenue), Mill Valley; 415-383-1370‎; elainaserotte.com.

Stories from the Past: Toy Boats

Read a story about traveling the seven seas with a reading of the story Toy Boat. Then walk through the history museum to learn about the magnificent ships that have sailed the San Francisco Bay.

When: Fri., 8/14, 11am-noon; Age 2-6; Free with admission ($2-4 adults, free for kids under 5).

Where: San Mateo County History Museum’s Wells Fargo Learning Center, 2200 Broadway Street (at Middlefield Road), Redwood City; 650-299-0104; historysmc.org.

You read their books night after night, but what do you know about the artists who illustrated your favorite children’s books? Likely not much, a situation that can be remedied with a visit to “Once Upon a Book,” a neat exhibition in the San Francisco Center for the Book that focuses on Bay Area children’s book illustrators. Curator Thacher Hurd, himself an illustrator and writer, has impeccable taste in illustrators, choosing to focus on such well-known luminaries as Maira Kalman (Max Makes a Million, Max Deluxe), David Macaulay (The Way Things Work), Chris Raschka (The Hello, Goodbye Window) and Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabret, The Doll People). But best of all is the segment of the exhibition devoted to Remy Charlip, the octogenarian San Franciscan who’s fiercely venerated for books like his Fortunately and 1966 classic Mother, Mother I Feel Sick; Send for the Doctor Quick, Quick, Quick.

Get a look at the artistic processes each artist goes through with video interviews, sketches, original drawings, and other ephemera. The exhibit’s only open another few days so go now!

“Once Upon a Book” is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, August 7 at San Francisco Center for the Book, 300 DeHaro Street (at 16th Street), San Francisco. The exhibit is free. Call 415-565-0545 or visit sfbc.org.

Summer is dwindling fast: take advantage of the snappy weather to get the kids outside, or tuck them away for a night off.

Tour de Peninsula

Take a one-mile fun ride with your small kids or the full 63 mile course with the older ones at this bicycle tour of the most beautiful parks in the South Bay. If your kids aren’t up for the early morning kids’ ride, rangers lead loping family rides at noon in Coyote Point.

When: Sun., 8/2, 8am-3pm (family rides through the park start at noon); Age 3+; Free-$40.

Where: Rides begin at the Captain’s House in Coyote Point Park, North Bayshore and Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo; 650-321-1638; supportparks.org.

Summer Fun Nights

Drop the kids out for a heart-thumping night of trampolining, bungee-jumping, zipline play, tumbling, and other delightful pursuits at this party for kids age 6-13. Pizza will be provided.

When: Sat., 8/1 (repeats on 8/25), 6:30-10pm; Age 6-13; $30.

Where: Acrosports, 639 Frederick Street (at Lincoln Avenue), San Francisco; 415-665-2276; acrosports.org.

World Breastfeeding Week Mini-Conference

Get all your breastfeeding questions answered at this two-hour mini-conference, which offers breast pumps, nursing pillows, and lactation consultation time as door prizes.

When: Sun., 8/2, 1-3pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Bothin Auditorium, California Pacific Medical Center, 3700 California Street (at Van Ness) San Francisco; cpmcbabysteps.org.

Meet Sid the Science Kid

A person dressed as the titular character from the popular PBS series will mug and play with kids, demonstrating how to do scientific observation and learning at special exhibits aimed at preschoolers.

When: Sun., 8/2, noon-2pm; Age 3-6; Free with museum admission (Free-$11).

Where: Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive (at Stadium Rimway) on the University of California, Berkeley campus, 510-642-5132, lawrencehallofscience.org.

Do the Moonwalk, hold the world by a string, or be a hair hopper on this last July weekend.

Sing-Along Hairspray

Wear your puffiest skirts and biggest hair to a screening of the 2007 remake of the classic John Waters movie, with words on the screen to prompt a mass sing-along.

When: Fri., 7/24, 8pm; Age 8+; $10-15.

Where: Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street (at Market Street), San Francisco; 415-621-6120; castrotheatre.com.

Berkeley Kite Festival

It’s high-flying fun with Japanese kite battles, Taiko drummers, kite ballet. Fledgling flyers can learn how to make and fly their own kites.

When: Sat.-Sun., 7/25-26, 11am-5pm; All ages; Free (Parking $10).

Where: Cesar Chavez Park, 11 Spinnaker Way (at Virginia Street), Berkeley; 510-235-5483; highlinekites.com.

Splashdown 2009: 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 at the USS Hornet

Learn more about the first manned mission to the moon at the Hornet, recovery ship for both Apollo 11 and Apollo 12. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin will be in attendance and there will be numerous educational exhibits to peruse.

When: Fri.-Sun., 7/24-26, see website for open hours and activities; Age 4+; Free-$25.

Address: USS Hornet, 707 West Hornet Avenue, Pier 3, Alameda, 510-521-8448; uss-hornet.org.

Imagining Fatherhood Workshop at Natural Resources

Jeremy Adam Smith, author of The Daddy Shift, leads couples through a process whose goal is to help them imagine how they will split parenting duties.

Where: Sat., 7/25, 2pm-5pm; Age 18+; $39-59.

Where: Natural Resources, 1367 Valencia Street (at 25th Street), San Francisco, store.naturalresources-sf.com.

The East Bay looks like the place to be this weekend, with a bike tour, the Fire Arts festival, and a Shabbat party.

The Crucible’s Fire Arts Festival

A spectacular open-air party in a new, larger location for the metalworking collective, with live music and performance and all manner of items that glow, burn, spit fire, or immolate themselves. One look at this stuff and your kid’s going to want to sign up for welding, like, yesterday.

When: Wed.-Sat., 7/15-18; Age 6+; $35-95.

Where: Fire Arts Arena, West Grand Avenue (at Maritime Street), Oakland; 510-444-0919; thecrucible.org.

Chocolate Chip Challah

Join other families with children aged 0-5 at this event meant to spark ideas about making Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) a special family time. Kids and parents will decorate and bake their own challah bread.

When: Sat., 7/18, 10:30-noon; Age 0-5; Free for first-time visitors to Jewish Gateways, $5 for return visitors.

Where: Jewish Gateways, 409 Liberty Street (at Fairmount Avenue), El Cerrito; 510-559-8140; jewishgateways.org; rabbibridget@jewishgateways.org (RSVP required).

Oakland on Two Wheels

Every third Sunday of the month this free all-ages bike tour pedals on a looping course through downtown, Fruitvale, West Oakland, the Port of Oakland, Lake Merritt or other scenic spots.

When: Sun., 7/19, (and every third Sunday thereafter) 10am; All Ages; Free.

Where: Meet at the 10th Street entrance at the Oakland Museum; 510-28-3514; mueseumca.org.

Sunday Streets

Traffic is banned from big swathes of the Mission and replaced with stations manned by local fitness organizations that encourage and equip the strolling masses to try out roller skating, bike riding, yoga, dancing, tai chi and more.

When: Sun., 7/19 (also Sun. 8/6 and 9/6 on the Great Highway); 10am-2pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Various locations in San Francisco’s Mission District, centering in Garfield Square Park, 26th & Harrison Streets; sundaystreetssf.com.