Museums

Big kids are locked up in school and it’s time for parents to roam freely with the littles (and the homeschooled). Now is the time to visit the places that are unthinkably crowded in summertime.

California Academy of Sciences: Go now, now, now, in between the summertime season (when tickets to the planetarium sold out most days) and the Great Time of School Field Trips, which starts soon. The planetarium show, Journey to the Stars, is really cool, and you can linger for a long time in the rainforest without feeling like other visitors are prodding you in the back. 55 Music Concourse Drive (at JFK Drive) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415-379-8000; calacademy.org.

Exploratorium: Absorbing exhibits you can finally let your child investigate to her heart’s content include the spinning sand wheels, the giant bubble-maker, the beach balls blown up into the air, and the two faraway posts where you can hear each other talking. The spinning striped tent is also a lot better for small kids when the big ones aren’t roughhousing in it. 3601 Lyon Street (at Presidio Avenue)., 415-561-0360, exploratorium.edu.

Bay Area Discovery Museum: Fearlessly let your kids play with the train in the room with the great big boat or paint and squeegee windows for endless moments. There’s always a table at the cafe during lunchtime on fall weekdays, and plenty of parking in the lot. 557 McReynolds Road (at Fort Baker), Sausalito, 415-339-3900, baykidsmuseum.org.

Children’s Fairyland: The weather is still great in September and October, and Fairyland’s schedule reflects this, open Wednesday through Sunday until Halloween, though you might want to stick to the weekdays for the lightest crowds. The Jolly Trolley is all yours! Toot toot! 699 Bellevue Avenue (at Lake Merritt), Oakland, 510-452-2259, fairyland.org.

Party Playhouse: You sit on the couch and read a magazine, the kids climb (and climb, and climb), with no big kids to freak them out in a nook or cranny you can’t see. 56 Hill Street (at Washington Street), Daly City, 650-756-7529, mypartyplayhouse.com.

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Museums, live music in the park, and enough chocolate to have the kids begging to stop tasting.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Weekend

Meet characters from The Clone Wars, build your own models and make movies using stop-motion, test your lightsaber skills, and learn how soundtracks are mixed.

When: Sat. & Sun., 9/11-12, 11am-5pm; Age 5+; $8-10.

Where: Zeum, 221 Fourth Street (at Howard Street), San Francisco; 415-820-3320; zeum.org.

Power to the Peaceful Festival

An old-school groovy San Francisco be-in, with drumming, yoga, live music, healing arts, and lots of colorful people on blankets.

When: Sat., 9/11, 9am-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Speedway Meadow, 25th Avenue & Fulton Street (in Golden Gate Park); powertothepeaceful.org.

Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival

Chocolate chocolate chocolate. And a kid’s area.

When: Sat. & Sun., 9/11-12, 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.

The Bay Area is bristling with opportunities to get outdoors this weekend.

Berkeley Kite Festival

Look, up in the sky! Japanese kite battles and just about anything else you can do with some fabric and a string.

When: Sat. & Sun., 7/31 & 8/1, 10am-5pm; All ages; Free (Parking $10).

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

ODC Summer Sampler

A special modern dance show for kids, with choreographers on deck to explain to young enthusiasts what they’re seeing and what it means.

When: Sat., 7/31, 4:30 p.m.; Age 6+; $20 adults, $10 kids 16 and under.

Where: ODC Dance Commons, 351 Shotwell Street (at 18th Street), San Francisco; 415-863-9834; odcdance.org.

Day Out With Thomas

A party by the tracks with live music, storytelling, costumed celebrities from the Thomas the Train Engine PBS show, and most of all, a 25-minute train ride on a real train decked out with a friendly Thomas face.

When: Weekends, 7/31-8/8; hours vary by day, see website for details; Age 2+; $18.

Where: Roaring Camp Railroad, Graham Hill Road (at Mt. Hermon Road), Felton; 1-866-468-3399; roaringcamprr.com. Tickets are $18.

Tour de Peninsula

Take a fun ride with your kids at this bicycle tour of the most beautiful parks in the South Bay.

When: Sun., 8/1, 8am-3pm (family rides through the park start at noon); Age 3+; Free-$40.

Where: Rides begin Eucalyptus Picnic Area near the Coyote Point Marina, 1701 Coyote Point Drive (near Airport Boulevard), San Mateo; 650-321-1638; supportparks.org.

It’s arts galore and other midsummer delights this weekend.
Arts & Wonder Festival

Free admission to six different local museums over three different days, with special art activities for families at each location.

When: Fri.-Sun., 7/16-18, see website for times; All ages; Free.

Where: Various locations in San Francisco; see onlyinsanfrancisco.com for details.

Disney 55: A Birthday Celebration

More than half a decade ago, Walt Disney opened the doors to Disneyland. Celebrate the occasion with a weekend full of special guests, film programs, and other events.

When: Fri.-Sun., 7/16-18, see website for event times; Age 3+; Free-$20.

Where: Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery Street (at Lincoln Avenue), San Francisco; disneygo.com.

Teddy Bear Festival

A special zoo party with all the usual animals plus crafts, live music, face painting, and puppet shows.

When: Sat. & Sun., 7/17-18, 10am-4pm; All ages; Free for children aged 14 and under if they bring a stuffed teddy bear.

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (at Sloat Boulevard), San Francisco; 415-753-7080; sfzoo.org.

Family Nature Crafts

Each Sunday, families are invited to participate in hands-on art activities inspired by current exhibits.

When: Sun., 7/18 (and every Sunday thereafter), 11am-12:30pm; Age 4-8; Free with paid admission (Free-$25).

Where: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive (at MLK Drive in Golden Gate Park), San Francisco; caladacademy.org.

Two local events, one ridiculously pricey but worth it, and one that’ll save you a couple of bucks on back-to-school clothes (hey! Not too early to think about it! And you’ll miss the August rush!):

The Academy of Sciences is launching its Penguins and Pajamas sleepover program on June 18 (with sleepovers to follow on July 16 and August 13). Tickets, which are on sale now, are monstrously dear: $119 per person, $99 for Academy members. But it sounds like one of those once-in-a-lifetime things, with nighttime tours of the Rainforests of the World exhibit (nocturnal birds!), a special penguin talk, a planetarium show, and finally, a long, long night on the floor of the aquarium or the African Hall. Oooh, sleeping next to a stuffed lion or a tank holding a beady-eyed alligator. Sounds cool. For more information, visit calacademy.org.

Once you’ve spent all your discretionary income on that, you can get an early start on school shopping at the Tea sample sale, Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19. Tea’s clothes are Bay Area-designed, and the sample sale is held at a great San Francisco kids’ clothing store, Fiddlesticks in Hayes Valley. Designs from previous seasons as well as samples and overruns, will be $10-20. For more information contact Fiddlesticks, 508 Hayes Street in San Francisco, 415-565-0508.

Go to the bathroom in space, pull crabs on the pier, or watch a feathered dancer let loose.

Living In Space

Learn how astronauts eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, and work in space at the opening weekend for this cool exhibit.

When: Sat., 5/29 (through 8/15), Free with museum admission, Free-$10.

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

Pier Crabbing Demonstrations at Fort Point

Learn how to drop a net and catch crabs off the San Francisco piers at this demo from Fort Point staff. All equipment is provided but (free) reservations are required.

When: Saturdays, March through October (including 5/29), 10am-noon; Age 2+; Free.

Where: Fort Point, Marine Drive (at Old Mason Street), San Francisco; 415-556-1693; nps.gov.

Carnaval San Francisco

The two-day-long party is a bit raucous for some parents, but it’s still a vibrant street festival with food, music, dancing, a parade, and colorful costumes.

When: Sat. & Sun., 5/29-30, 10am-6pm Sat., 9:30am-6pm Sun., Age 4+; Free.

Where: Festival is on Harrison Street (at 24th Street), San Francisco; Parade begins 9:30am Sunday and runs along 24th and Mission Streets; sfcarnaval.com.

CUESA Spring Breakfast

Tuck into a hearty spring breakfast (pancakes with fruit, eggs with spring vegetables, roasted potatoes, and pastries), while sitting with a market seller who explains how the business end of selling produce works at this yearly fundraiser.

When: Sat., 5/29, seatings at 8:30, 9:45, and 11 a.m.; All Ages; $30 adults, $15 kids 3-13; under 3 free.

Where: San Francisco Ferry Building, Embarcadero Street (at Market Street), San Francisco, ferrybuildingmarketplace.com.

Spring is in full swing, and there’s plenty to do with all this good weather.

Bay to Breakers

The riotous race is a hoot to watch with your family. Particularly good watch-spots: Alamo Square Park at Fell and Steiner, where you can watch runners struggle up the steep Hayes Hill, and the Panhandle Park, where the runners are nearly all drunk by the time they pass by.

When: Sun., 5/16, 8pm-2pm (approximately); Age 4+; Free (to watch, runners pay a registration fee).

Where: Race route runs from the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach; ingbaytobreakers.com.

Lemonade Day

A free event that encourages saving and entrepreneurship, with kids opening up lemonade stands, and hopefully putting what they earn into a savings account.

When: Sat., 5/15, variable times (stand operating hours are set by the individual young vendor; Age 6+; Free.

Where: Registered participants can pick up free helpful materials at any Wells Fargo branch this Saturday; lemonade stands can then be set up anywhere from schools to individual homes; 713-400-9335; sanfranciscolemonadeday.

Precita Valley Arts Festival

A party celebrating the vibrant Outer Mission mural scene, with live music, food, live mural painting, and maps available from Precita Eyes for those who’d like to tour the neighborhood’s works.

When: Sat., 5/15, 1-5pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Precita Park, Precita Avenue (at Folsom Avenue), San Francisco; 415-285-2287; precitaeyes.org

Biology of Toys: Natural Curiosities

The yearly event turns towards plants and the natural world as kids make maple-seed helicopters, color carnations, and DIY Chia pets.

When: Sat., 5/16, 11am-3pm; Ages 6+; Free with admission, Free-$15.

Where: Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon Street (at Presidio Avenue)., 415-561-0360, www.exploratorium.edu.

Just be sure you’re getting feted on Mother’s Day while you’re dragging the kids around.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Everybody’s Mexican today at the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Dolores Park. Bring a blanket, spread on some sunscreen, and watch performances from Latin music and dance troupes.

When: Sat., 5/8, 10am-6pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Dolores Park, 18th St. (at Dolores), San Francisco, 415-647-1533, sfcincodemayo.com.

Space Day

Learn more about the cosmos at this day of special demos from high school junior docents and simulated space launches at which visitors can play a part.

When: Sat., 5/8, 11am (mission launches at 1pm & 3pm); Age 5+; $5-10.

Where: Where: Lake Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd. (at Redwood Road), Oakland; 510-336-7300, chabotspace.org.

Spring Family Festival

Celebrate the family-and-child relationship at this day of special readings, songs, and gallery tours emphasizing the family experience around the world.

When: Sun., 5/9, 10:30am-4pm; Age 3+; Free with paid admission ($7-12, free for kids under 12).

Where: Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 200 Larkin Street (at Grove Street), San Francisco; 415-581-3500; asianart.org.

Family Discovery Day

Fun, free educational activities with Tree Frog Treks and Jumpstart, including reptile handling and fun science experiments like homemade rockets and giant bubbles.

When: Sat., 5/8, 10:30am-2:30pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Parque De Ninos, Folsom Street (at 23rd Street), San Francisco; treefrogtreks.com.

Easy ways to entertain yourself this weekend.

Victorian Garden Party

The Marin History Museum commemorates its 75th anniversary with a feast of Victorian pastimes: croquet, a maypole, springtime arts and crafts, an ice cream social (with Double Rainbow), and badminton matches.

When: Sun., May 2, 11am-2pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Historic Boyd Gate House, 1125 B Street (at Mission Street), San Rafael; 415-454-8538; marinhistory.org.

Free Movie Night at Serramonte Center

Giggle along with the animals at this free showing of Madagascar 2.

When: Fri., 4/30, 5:30pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Serramonte Mall, Serramonte Boulevard (at Hwy 280), Daly City; 650-301-3360; serramontecenter.com.

Access to Adventure in Golden Gate Park

Parents, friends, and children with disabilities are invited to meet community groups and find out what they offer at this event, which includes free children’s activities.

When: Sun., 5/1, noon-3pm; Free.

Where: Music Concourse Bandshell in Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive (between the Academy of Sciences and the deYoung Museum), San Francisco; 415-920-5040; supportforfamilies.org.

Sure, we all want our kids to grow up to be well-rounded and urbane arts lovers, but the gap between Dora the Explorer and Rembrant is pretty darned wide. Ease the transition with art that’s as appealing to young ones as to parents.

With its ever-changing exhibition of comics, anime, and other illustrative art forms, the Cartoon Art Museum is a reliable place to take school-age kids, and the two shows on right now seem calculated to appeal to weapon-obsessed little kids: “Drawing the Sword: Samurai in Manga and Anime” and “Batman: Yesterday and Tomorrow. The former looks at the evolution of iconic images of samurai, from 19th century woodblock prints to modern comic books. Oooh, Mom! Lookit that katana! The latter, well, it’s pretty obvious what the latter exhibit is about, and kids turned on by the last Batman adaptation are guaranteed to go gaga. The Cartoon Art Museum is located at 655 Mission Street (at Third Street), San Francisco; call 415-227-8666 or visit cartoonart.org. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for kids 6 and over.

For small sports nuts, “Skate This Art” is another art gimme, a temporary exhibition in North Beach’s Gallery 28 that showcases 170 skateboard decks, painted by artists both famous (tattoo god Ed Hardy) and obscure (some dude). There’s even a deck from a six-year-old artiste. Like what you see? The decks are on sale, with prices ranging from $50 to $1,000, and all proceeds benefit homeless and disabled outreach program North Beach Citizens. Gallery 28 is located at 1228 Grant Street (at Columbus Avenue), San Francisco; visit skatethisart.com.