Music

Good things to eat, to watch, and to read.

Giro de San Francisco

Watch the cyclists spin by from pretty Levi Strauss Plaza as competition continues for the California Cup. Kids age 14 and under can race as well, even on tricycles.

When: Mon., 9/6, All ages; see website for start times and entry fees (viewing is free).

Where: Levi Strauss Plaza, Battery & Union Streets, San Francisco; velopromo.com.

Off the Grid

The roaming conglomeration of food trucks and bands is landing in Fort Mason every Friday evening for a while; come for a picnic on the grass.

When: Fri., 9/3 (and every subsequent Friday, see website for details), 5-9pm, All ages; Free admission (food available for purchase).

Where: Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard (at Buchanan Street), San Francisco; offthegridsf.com.

San Francisco Zine Fest

A feast of chapbooks and zines, cartoons, and little magazines. Much of the material is aimed at adults but it’s still a thrill for literary adults and inspiration for budding lil writers.

When: Sat. & Sun., 9/4-5, 11am-6pm; Age 6+; Free.

Where: San Francisco County Fair Building, 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way (in Golden Gate Park), San Francisco; sfzinefest.com.

Outdoor shows, Sunday Streets, and sidewalk eats.

They Might Be Giants

Kid favorite plays songs for young and old at the conclusion of the annual Stern Grove Festival series of free outdoor concerts.

When: Sun., 8/18, 2pm; Age 2+; Free.

Where: Sigmund Stern Grove, Sloat Avenue (at 19th Avenue), San Francisco; 415-252-6252; sterngrove.org.

San Francisco Street Food Festival

A great big fun party with every cart and truck you’ve ever heard of in town. This year’s space is way bigger than last year’s and organizers say it won’t be nearly as crowded. Live music and kids’ activities too.

When: Sat., 8/21, 11am-7pm; Age 2+; Free admission, food is available for purchase.

Where: Folsom Street (at 25th Street), San Francisco; sfstreetfoodfest.com.

Angel Island Live

This last in a series of live shows on the Cantina Deck overlooking Ayala Bay features traditional South American band Mucho Axe.

When: Sat., 8/21, 2-5pm; All ages; Free (ferry ride to island requires admission).

Where: Angel Island State Park , (in the San Francisco Bay); 415-435-3392; angelisland.com.

Sunday Streets: Penguins to Penguins

The well-attended traffic-free event takes over a swathe of town from the California Academy of Sciences at JFK Drive all the way down Lincoln to Sloat, across from the zoo.

When: Sun. 8/22, 10am-3pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Centered on Great Highway (at Lincoln Way), San Francisco; sundaystreetssf.com.

A decidedly Gallic streak runs through the Bay Area, and thus the French celebration Bastille Day is celebrated with more-than-typical fervor for an American city. A couple of fun options for you and the kiddies:

The best party in town takes place this Friday, as the regular Friday Night at the de Young series takes on a French flavor, with ballet, impressionist art, French-gypsy live music, and children’s art activities. Fri., 7/16, 5pm; de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Drive in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415-750-3600, deyoungfamsf.org.

In Healdsburg, the best celebration for miles around happens at Costeaux French Bakery on Bastille Day itself, July 14, where the fun begins early: 7am, with Eiffel tower-shaped cookies for the kids to decorate. At 9am visitors can practice their croissant-rolling with a baker; following that, fencing, magic, petanque, and a visit with Marie Antoinette. Wed., 7/14, 7am-4pm; Costeaux French Bakery, 417 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com.

In Yountville, Thomas Keller’s Bouchon sets itself apart from the zillion other Bay Area restaurants offering special Bastille Day menus and prix fixes with a kid’s party that starts at 3pm in the outdoor courtyard. Decorate cupcakes, participate in a Twister tourney, listen to live music, and eat whole roasted pig, crepes, ice cream sandwiches, and chocolate bouchons. Wed., 7/14, 3-7pm (adults can linger until 10pm); Bouchon, 6534 Washington Street, Yountville, 707-944-8037, bouchonbistro.com.

Things are a little slower after last week’s fireworks, but there are still some ways to keep yourself (and those summer-bored kids!) busy.

Sunday Streets

The popular festival of traffic-free streets and local fitness organizations moves to the Mission this time.

When: Sun., 7/11, 10am-3pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Mission, Harrison, and Valencia Streets (centered on Harrison and 26th Streets), San Francisco; sundaystreetsf.com.

SIMCHA!

The Jewish Music Festival’s 25th Anniversary Party is kind of a DIY music be-in, with a big BYO family picnic, an Instrument Petting Zoo for those who want to try their hand at a flute or a fiddle, and an Instant Harmony chorus where everyone plays and/or sings.

When: Sun., 7/11, noon-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission Street (between Third and Fourth Streets), San Francisco; 510-848-0237; jewishmusicfestival.org.

California Seablite Habitat Restoration

The Golden Gate National Parks contains more endangered species than any other park in North America, but it won’t if we keep destroying the ecosystem. Learn how to make habitat for the California Seablite, a purple, flowering plant, as you learn about what species make their homes in our city.

When: Sat., 7/10, 9am-noon; Age 4+; Free.

Where: Presidio Transit Center, 215 Lincoln Boulevard (at Graham Street), San Francisco; 415-561-2857; wildequity.org.

Hey! It’s the Fourth! Here are the best of the local celebrations.

City of Alameda’s 4th of July Parade

This fantastic old-fashioned parade has a long, long route and plenty of low-tech flash: horses, people in costume, marching bands. The parade is followed by Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee, a party for families in a local park.

When: Sun., 7/4, parade starts at 10am, Jubilee starts at 4pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Parade winds from Park and Otis to Webster and Lincoln, spots are available all along the street; myalamedaparade.com.

Fourth of July Waterfront Celebration

Big booms on the waterfront lead to (usually) colored fog. A party with music, food, and kid fun precedes the fireworks.

When: Sun., 7/4, 3-9:30pm (Fireworks begin at 9:30pm); All ages; Free.

Where: Pier 39, Embarcadero (at Grant Street), San Francisco; pier39.com.

4th of July at Berkeley Marina

Cool child-oriented celebration-before-fireworks emphasizes live performers (dancers, jugglers), and is held adjoining Adventure Playground, open until 8pm and the site of much cheerful sawing and hammering.

When: Sun., 7/4, noon-10pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Berkley Marina, Marina Boulevard (at University Avenue), Berkeley; anotherbullwinkelshow.com.

Outdoor concerts, a sunset revel, urban farming for kids: it’s summertime!

Hapa Academy of Hawaiian Arts at the Stern Grove Festival

Beautiful Hawaiian slack key guitar and electronics with hula dancing to dazzle the eye.

When: Sun., 6/26, 2pm (KidStage art events start at noon); Age 2+; Free.

Where: Sigmund Stern Grove, Sloat Avenue (at 19th Avenue), San Francisco; 415-252-6252; sterngrove.org.

Summer Sunsets Family Fiesta

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is open late a few Fridays this summer, throwing special parties for kids and parents with live music, themed dinners, and access to all the museum’s exhibits.

When: Fri., 6/25, 5-8pm; All Ages; $5-8.

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

Urban Farming for Kids

A presentation on sustainable city gardening aimed at kids. Learn how to grow good food even in tiny spaces.

When: Sat., 6/26, 4pm; Age 5+; Free.

Where: Potrero Branch Library, 1616 20th Street (at Connecticut Street), San Francisco; 415-355-2822; sfpl.org.

Woodies on the Wharf

Get an appreciation for classic Cali surf culture at this celebration where old “woody” boards line the boardwalk and there’s music, food, and prizes.

When: Sat., 6/26, 10am-4pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Santa Cruz Wharf, Municipal Wharf (at Beach Street), Santa Cruz; 831-420-5273; cityofsantacruz.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.

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.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Pomp, splendor, floats, and lots of green. There are children’s activities and traditional Irish food and crafts at the after-parade party at City Hall.

When: Sat., 3/13, 11:30am-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Parade begins Second Street (at Market Street) and winds to City Hall on Grove Street (at Larkin Street) in San Francisco; sfstpatricksdayparade.com.

Shiv Sounds with Ryth EM

Shiv and Em play kid-friendly music in the Tim Burton-ish atmosphere of this curious shop for kids.

When: Sat., 3/13, 2-4pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Paxton Gate’s Curiosities for Kids, 766 Valencia Street (at 19th Street), San Francisco; 415-728-8466; paxtongate.com.

Journaling Birds & Wildlife

Learn how to draw nature in the raw at this two-hour program with naturalist and artist Jack Muir Laws focusing on drawing birds and other wildlife.

When: Sat., 3/13, 10am-noon; Age 9+; $25 per participant (advance phone registration required).

Where: Richardson Bay Center & Sanctuary, 376 Greenwood Beach Road (at Tiburon Boulevard), Tiburon, 415-388-2524; tiburonaudubon.org.

Fantastic Fridays: Fun with Food

Use this excuse to tour the fancy new Crissy Field Center, where toddlers and their caregivers rustle up some healthy snacks and learn more about healthy eating.

When: Fri., 3/12, 10am-11:30am; Age 1-5; $15.

Where: Crissy Field Center, 1199 East Beach (at Mason Street), San Francisco; 415-561-7752; parksconservancy.org.

Music, dance, and a look ahead to how you’re going to fill the summer.

Dan Zanes & Friends

The tousle-haired rock God of the swim diaper set does a show for families on the UC Berkeley campus.

When: Sat., 3/6, 11am & 4pm; Sun. 3/7, 3pm; Age 3+; $16-26.

Where: Zellerbach Hall, Bancroft Avenue (between Dana and Telegraph Avenues) on the UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, calperfs.berkeley.edu.

Disney on Ice

Disney characters glide around the rink in this show custom-made for elementary-school kids.

When: Fri., 3/5, 10:30am, 7:30pm; Sat. & Sun. 3/6-7, 10:30am, 3pm, 7:30pm; Age 2+; $16-70.

Where: Oakland Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way (at Hegenberger Road), Oakland; 800-745-3000; disney.go.com.

Summer Resource Fair

Find out where your kid can take summer soccer sessions or attend theater camp at this conglomeration of more than 200 providers, all eager to give you brochures.

When: Sat., 3/6, 10am-3pm; age 5+; Free.

Where: Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 Eighth Street (at Brannan Street), San Francisco, sfkids.org.