Outdoor

A venerable local icon re-opens for business, and other ways to while away your weekend.

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo Grand Re-Opening

The kitschy old park and zoo has had a $72 million renovation. Come see flashy new exhibits like the carousel with endangered animals (lemurs! hummingbirds!) as well as old favorites like the spiffed-up Danny the Dragon tram ride.

When: Sat., 3/20, 9:30am ribbon-cutting ceremony, gates open 10am; All ages; $8-12 (free for age 2 and under).

Where: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 1300 Senter Road (at Story Road), San Jose; 408-794-6400; hhpz.org.

Sense of Place Treasure Hunt for Families

Take your family on a quest to learn about local fauna at this self-guided tour using URBIA’s new adventure booklet, “Seeking California in a World of Plants.”

When: Sat., 3/20, 10am-2pm (hunt takes about 2 hours); $1-5 for booklet.

Where: Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, 1199 Ninth Avenue (at Lincoln Avenue), San Francisco; urbikids.com.

Living Ship Day on the USS Hornet

Check out a real aircraft carrier in action, sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet, and watch as flight operations are simulated.

When: Sat., 3/20, 10am-4pm; Age 3+; $6-14 (free for age 4 and under).

Where: USS Hornet, 707 West Hornet Avenue (at Eighth Street), Alameda; 510-521-8448; uss-hornet.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.

Panicking about where you’re going to stash your child for the upcoming spring and summer breaks? You oughtta be. Most of the more popular camps in the Bay Area fill up in March. But this year you have some inside information that you didn’t find on the playground: Sign Up for Camp.

Launched by a team of Bay Area parents who’ve been through the camp process themselves and know how confusing it is, signupforcamp.com is a directory of local camps that’s searchable by ZIP code, date, or age. Need a camp from June 14th to 18th for your Pre-K kid? Sign Up for Camp has 147 of them, each with the camp’s hours, cost, dates, and contact information in a helpful grid that makes it oh-so-easy to compare. So much easier than Googling and making phone calls, particularly since many camps barely have a website, much less dates and rates on them.

Another helpful feature: users can create a free calendar for their children, which can be shared with other users. Wouldn’t your kid like to go to summer camp with some of the kids in her class? I thought so.

Visit signupforcamp.com for more information. The site has also launched in Philadelphia as well as the Bay Area, with more cities set to roll out in 2010.

Nothing but wall-to-wall festivals in town this weekend.

Chinese New Year Parade

The dragons dance through the crowded streets of Chinatown in this colorful annual spectacle, beloved by children, who abhor the crowds but adore the music, colorful decorations, and fireworks.

When: Sat., 2/27, 6pm (parade lasts for about 2 and 1/2 hours); All ages; Free.

Where: Parade winds around Market, Geary, Post, and Kearny; chineseparade.com.

Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt

This annual hunt always occurs the same night as the Chinese New Year parade, sending teams of people across Chinatown and the Financial District in search of clues.

When: Sat., 2/27, 4:30-9:30pm; Age 8+; $18-40.

Where: Treasure hunters meet at Justin Herman Plaza, Market Street (at Embarcadero Street), San Francisco; sftreasurehunts.com.

Purim Palooza

Celebrate the riotous and colorful Jewish holiday with costumes, games, hamantashen, face painting, and music.

When: Sun., 2/28, 9:30am-2pm; All Ages; Free (bring a can of food for charity).

Where: Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, 415-444-8000; marinjcc.org.

As the short winter melts into early spring, the opportunities for outdoor fun keep flowering.

Free King Tut Weekend

The de Young Museum’s blockbuster Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit is free all weekend; the lines will be huge when the box office opens at 9 a.m. to distribute the free tickets. The de Young’s permanent collection is also free.

When: Sat. & Sun., 2/20-21, 8:30am-4pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Drive (at Music Concourse Drive in Golden Gate Park), San Francisco; 415-750-3600; tutsanfrancisco.org.

Tulipmania

Thousands of tulips in just about every color of the rainbow decorate the pier at this annual event. Free tours are available at 10am daily.

When: Sat.-Sun., 2/20-28, 10am-5pm; Age 4+; Free.

Where: Pier 39, Embarcadero Street (at Grant Street), San Francisco; 415-705-5500; pier39.com.

Lunar New Year Celebration

Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with Chinese lion and folk dancing, seasonal crafts, and a Chinese zodiac tour around the zoo.

When: Sun., 2/21, 10am-3pm; All Ages; Free-$15 (guests born in the year of the tiger get free admission).

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (between Sloat and Skyline), San Francisco; 415-753-7201; sfzoo.org.

Can’t make it to that Kenyan safari now that you’ve gone and had yourself some little ‘uns? The next best thing is just a few miles away: Safari West, 400 animal-filled acres right in the middle of Wine Country. It’s not a zoo, it’s not one of those drive-through-lion-country tours that you see from behind your car window. This is a real, live nature preserve, with hundreds of exotic species: lemurs, giraffes, antelopes, monkeys, ostriches, even cheetahs!

Most visitors opt for a jeep tour; try to get the seats at the top, because they give you a bird’s eye view of the place. Animals are well cared-for, with healthy, shiny coats, and are quite tame; don’t be surprised if they wander right up to the jeep to say hello. There are other kinds of tours as well, such as the behind-the-scenes tours where visitors get to see how the animals are kept, and can even hand-feed exotic birds and giraffes.

If the scenery thrills you, stay overnight: there are a range of lodging options, from basic family tents to a two-bedroom cottage that sleeps six. Many of Safari West’s animals are nocturnal, so expect to hear birds calling and lemurs chattering. And early morning is the best time to see many animals, when they’re awake and alert, not sleepy in the midday heat.

Safari West is located at 3118 Porter Creek Road (at Vineyard Spring Lane) in Santa Rosa; call 707-579-2551 or visit safariwest.com.

It’s warming up out there, the almond trees are blooming, and finally the rain has stopped. Let’s take advantage of it while we can.

Giants FanFest

The yearly party is a free chance to ogle players, get autographs and dugout tours, and generally soak up the sporty atmosphere.

When: Sat., 2/6, 10am-3pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: AT&T Park, 24 Willy Mays Plaza (at King Street), San Franciscp; sanfranciscogiants.mlb.com.

Crissy Field Center’s Grand gREen Opening

Explore the new green building with a party including tours of the sustainability features, live music, food tastings, and eco giveaways.

When: Sat., 2/6, 11am-3pm; All Ages; Free.

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

Every Child Belongs: Inclusion and ADA Law Workshop for Parents

Parents of children with disabilities can learn what their rights are under IDEA and ADA law, as well as who can help. Pre-registration is required, write to mdickerson@childrenscouncil.org.

When: Fri., 2/5, 9:30am-noon; Adults only; Free.

Where: Children’s Council of San Francisco, 445 Church Street (at 16th Street), San Francisco, 415-343-3309; childrenscouncil.org.

Children’s Authors and Illustrators Festival

Meet the men and women who make your favorite children’s books, with guests like Elisa Kleven (the Paper Princess series) and Tim Myers (Takuki’s Gift).

When: Sat., 2/6, 10am-3:30pm; Age 5+; Free.

Where: Orion Elementary School, 815 Allerton Street (at Alden Street), Redwood City, rcsd.k12.ca.us.

Rain, rain go away. We’ll get you out of the house some way.

Monster Energy Supercross

Flying dirt, revving engines, racing motorcycles, and kids screaming in excitement. There’s an alcohol-free “family section” of the stadium set off for families.

When: AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza (at King Street), San Francisco; supercrossonline.com.

Where: Sat., 1/30, 12:30pm-9pm; Age 5+; $10-75.

RACE: Are We So Different?

Race is not skin color, says this multimedia exhibit that pokes into the history, sociology, and geography of race.

When: Sat., 1/30-5/2, Age 4+; Free-$12.

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

Ramona Quimby

Based on the much-loved series by Beverly Cleary, this stage adaptation follows Ramona through the third grade, as she feuds with her teacher and sees her dad lose his job and mom start working.

When: Sat. & Sun. 1/30-2/7, 2 & 4:30pm; $14-16.

Where: Julia Morgan Performing Arts Center, 2640 College Avenue (at Claremont Avenue), Berkeley, 925-973-ARTS; activeartstheatre.org.

Even if it does rain all weekend, there’s still plenty to do.

Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival

A film event for kids that showcases animation and shorts aimed at kids from all over the world, many of which are very difficult to see outside of this event.

When: Sat. & Sun., 1/23-24, 11am-6pm; 3+; $15 for an all-day pass (3 and under free).

Where: Auctions by the Bay, 2700 Saratoga Street (on the Alameda Naval Air Station), Alameda, baicff.com.

JAMband Family Concert and CD Release Party

Popular kids’ band Charity and the JAMband puts on an interactive show with stories and music.

Where: Sat., 1/23, 4:30-5:30pm; Family; $15-25 per family.

Where: Recess Urban Recreation, 470 Carolina Street (at 18th Street), San Francisco; 415-701-7529; jamjamjam.com.

The Peking Acrobats

Jaw-dropping feats like acrobatics atop a tower of chairs, contortion, and wire walking are the staples of these Chinese acrobats.

When: Fri., 1/22, 3pm; Age 5+; $20-45;

Where: Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags (at Civic Center Drive), San Rafael; 415-499-6400; co.marin.ca.us.

Life in a Pond

All the recent rain has produced startling changes in local ecosystems. Take an up-close look at this tromp through the edges of a big pond with a naturalist.

When: Sat., 1/23, 10am-noon; Age 5-8 (children under age 4 may participate if accompanied by an adult); $15.

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

Hey! Welcome back from the holidays!

Mochitsuki: Mochi Pounding Ceremony

Ring in the Japanese New Year with the traditional pounding ceremony for the sticky rice paste, loud and beloved by kids.

When: Sat., 1/9, noon-1pm (art activities take place until 4pm); Age 4-12; Free with adult admission, $7-12 (free admission for children under 12).

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

Marsh Youth Theater Family Fun Day

Kids aged 4-18 can get free samples of classes like drama, hip-hop dance, trapeze, and the visual arts at this vibrant local theater.

When: Sun., 1/10, 1-4pm; Age 4-18; Free.

Where: Marsh Youth Theater, 1062 Valencia Street (at 22nd Street); 415-828-5750; themarsh.org.

Sunday Sampler

Kids and grownups can sample the slate of classes offered at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, from stage combat and improv to clowning.

When: Sun., 1/10, 1pm (sample classes begin at 1:20, 2, and 2:30pm); Family; Free.

Where: Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, 2071 Addison Street (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley, 510-647-2972; berkeleyrep.org.

Endangered Species Big Year Kick-off

See the many endangered flora and fauna in the Golden Gate National Park system with a walk and bike ride around the parks, as well as concrete information on what you can do to save them under the Big Year conservation program.

When: Sat., 1/9, bike ride at 9:30am, kickoff party 1pm-3pm; Family; Free.

Where: Party and walk leaves from Sports Basement; 610 Mason Street (at Halleck Street); Bike ride begins in front of the Bazaar Cafe, California Street (at 21st Avenue); both locations are in San Francisco, wildequity.org.