San Francisco

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.

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.

Tricycle Music Fest

Who knew the library was such a rocking location? Local kid-oriented faves such as the Devil-Ettes, the Time Outs, and Charity and the JAMBand.

When: Sat., 10/10, 10am-2pm; All ages; Free.

Where: San Francisco Main Library’s Fulton Street steps, Fulton Street (at Larkin Street), San Francisco; tricyclefest.org.

Mamma Mia Sing-along

Bring blankets and layers of warm clothing to this festive outdoors movie showing. Music and short films screen from 6 to 7:30pm; Mamma Mia begins at 8pm.

When: Sat., 9/10; 6-10pm; Age 4+; Free.

Where: Precita Park, Folsom Street (at Precita Avenue), San Franicsco; bhoutdoorcine.org.

Pumpkin Patches

All over the Bay Area, pumpkin patches are open for business, offering an array of fun from picking your own pumpkin to kiddie rides and corn mazes. One of the most fertile areas for pumpkin patches is Highway 92 in the Half Moon Bay area, where there are literally dozens. Drive until you see one you like.

When: Ongoing each weekend (many patches are also open weekdays at it gets closer to Halloween) until 10/31; All ages; Admission is usually free but attractions cost from $2-7.

Where: Various locations in the Bay Area. See Pumpkin Patches and More for a thorough list of addresses, attractions, and opening times.

Fleet Week

If displays of military muscle are what turns your cranky, you’ll be in heaven during this long-weekend event, which features airshows from the Blue Angels, a parade of ships and more things that move and go boom.

When: Thu.-Sun., 10/8-11; various times (see site for details); Age 3+; Most events are free (VIP seats run $30-150).

Where: Various locations on the San Francisco waterfront including Crissy Field, Mason Street (at Halleck Street); see website for more details, military.com/fleetweek.

The famous San Francisco tourist neighborhood is crowded, ticky-tacky, and confusing. It’s also a really cool place to take your kids walking around on a free afternoon, crammed with sights and sounds you won’t see many other spots. Start things off with a bang at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, 56 Ross Alley (at Jackson Street); where you can watch patient, used-to-being-photographed ladies bending hot little pancakes around folded fortunes, and buy a bag to eat and walk with for $3. Head down to Grant Street next to poke in around the shops of gifty things. Several have large toy sections, and be sure to save some energy for the Chinatown Kite Shop, 717 Grant Street (at Sacramento Street), where a fantastic and functional souvenir of your trip will run you less than $20. There are dragon and lion heads to gawk at too.

Ready for a snack? Visit one of the fruit stands on Stockton Street, one block above Grant, and get something to nibble on. Test your knowledge of Asian greens; try a durian if you dare. Poke through the selection of dried seafood at Ho Kee Market, 1251 Stockton Street (at Broadway Street), and then pop next door to Wa Li Bakery, 1249 Stockton Street (at Broadway Street) for a delicate almond cookie or a cream puff.

End your trip at Portsmouth Square, Kearny Street (at Clay Street), where there’s a giant playground with separate levels for little ones and bigger ones, and plenty of benches for parents. Push away the strolling pigeons, take in the view, watch the little knots of men betting on games and the shopping-bag-carrying grandmas gossiping. Now that’s a day to remember.

Before you spend all weekend, every weekend making Halloween costumes, get out and enjoy sand castles, movies, maybe even a gigantic cup of beer.

Leap Sandcastle Contest

Teams of architects, designers and elementary school students make the most elaborate sand castles you’ll ever see.

When: Sat., 10/3, 10am-4pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Ocean Beach, Balboa Avenue at Great Highway, San Francisco, leap4kids.org.

Oktoberfest

The kids can’t enjoy the flowing beer, but Mom and Dad can, and it’ll loosen them up enough to try the Chicken Dance with junior.

When: Fri., 10/2, 3pm-midnight; Sat., 10/3, 11am-midnight; Sun., 10/4 11am-6pm; Age 4+; $30-35 (Sunday is two-for-one day).

Where: Pier 48, King Street (at Third Street), San Francisco; oktoberfestbythebay.com.

Scare on the Square

Sit on a blanket, get take-out from one of the nearby restaurants, and watch The Goonies with the kids on a 25-foot inflatable screen.

When: Sat., 10/3, sundown (about 7pm); Age 3+; Free.

Where: Courthouse Square (Broadway Street at Middlefield Road), Redwood City; redwoodcity.org.

Aladdin

When a boy finds a mysterious magic lamp he finally has a chance of winning the princess of his dreams in this adaptation starring young actors.

When: Ongoing through Sun., 10/25, Saturdays 2pm & 4pm; Sundays 2pm; Age 4+; $10-15.

Where: New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Avenue (at Market Street), San Francisco; 415-861-8972, nctcsf.org.

Even after your kid’s been out of diapers for a while, there are probably dozens still hanging around the house, in sizes newborn to pull-up. Unless an entire incontinent nursery school class comes for a visit, there’s little chance you’ll use them up, and you certainly don’t want to put them in trash. A better alternative: dropping them at one of the Bay Area pickup locations for the Give Cheeks a Chance diaper drive.

Launched by the nonprofit Help a Mother Out, which collects and hands out donations for homeless and low-income families, the Give Cheeks a Chance drive has already collected thousands of diapers. At about a quarter a pop, diapers can be truly hard to come by for low-income families–and it’s tough to get out to discount stores like Target to buy the giant packs unless you have a car.

The Give Cheeks a Chance drive is over after tomorrow; hurry up and get those diapers in. Drop-off locations include Sadiedey’s Cafe, 4210 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland; Natural Resources, 1367 Valencia Street in San Francisco; and Baby Buzz, 1314 Lincoln Avenue, #1A in San Jose. If you’d like to help out another way, you can find out how to buy and donate online. Give Cheeks a Chance is looking for diapers of any size and unopened boxes of baby wipes; visit helpamotherout.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.

Three sweet ways to enjoy life with the kiddies this weekend.

Strega Nona

Strega Nona tells Big Anthony to lay off her pasta pot. Big Anthony doesn’t listen in this Commedia dell’arte-style adaptation of Tommie DePaola’s classic children’s tale.

When: Sat. & Sun. 9/19-10/4 (the production also runs in San Ramon 10/10-18), check website for times; Age 2+; $18 adults, $14 children.

Where: Julia Morgan Center, 2460 College Avenue (at Claremont Avenue), Berkeley; 510-296-4433; activeartstheatre.org.

International Coastal Cleanup Day

Spend a day cleaning up the coast, and empower a generation of non-litterbugs.

When: Sat., 9/19, Age 2+; Free.

Where: Various coastal sites in the Bay Area, see website for locations including Ocean Beach and Candlestick Point in San Francisco and the Port of Oakland Estuary.

Film Night in the Park: The Dark Knight in Dolores Park

Take advantage of what’s supposed to be a pleasant evening in the warmest part of San Francisco and watch this gripping update of the Batman tale.

When: Sat., 9/19, 8pm; Age 8+; $6 adults, $3 children.

Where: Dolores Park, Dolores Street (at 20th Street), San Francisco, filmnight.org.

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.

The kids are back at school, hurray! Celebrate the absence that’s made you grow fonder with a weekend full of fun.

Saturday Morning Rock Out’s Fall Session

Little kids learn to bang on an instrument, write songs, appreciate music, and jam at this multi-week course that ends in a performance and a CD release party.

When: Saturdays, 9/5-10/10; Early class 9:30am-11am, Late class 11:30am-1pm; Age 4-7; $225.

Where: Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa Street (at Potrero Avenue), San Francisco; 415-861-9199; owies.org.

Great Train Robberies

Hail back to the days of train bandits and lawmen at this annual ride-on spectacle.

When: Sat. & Sun., 9/5-6; See website for times; Age 4+; $20.

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

Sunday Streets

The last Sunday Streets of the year! Streets from Golden Gate Park to the zoo are closed to traffic, and fitness activities from skating to cycling to yoga are offered free along the route.

When: Sun., 9/6, 10am-2pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Great Highway between Golden Gate Park and the San Francisco Zoo, JFK between Great Highway and Stanyan Street, San Francisco; sundaystreetssf.com.