South Bay

A Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D

The spooky holiday classic screens in eye-popping 3D during its week-long engagement at the Castro Theatre.

When: Fri. 10/23 through Thu. 11/5; 7pm, 8:45pm (Sat., Sun. & Wed. shows at 1:30pm, 3:25pm, and 5:10pm); Age 6+; $7.50-10.

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

Scare Grove

A Halloween carnival specially aimed at families, with a haunted house, hay rides, bounce houses, rides, and treats.

When: Fri., 10/23, 4-9pm; Age 2+; $5 for an all-access pass.

Where: Sigmund Stern Grove, Sloat Avenue (at 19th Avenue), San Francisco; sfgov.org.

Creepy Crawly Week

Get weirded out by science with an exhibit of scary animals, a scavenger hunt for spooky creatures, and naturalist lessons in which you get to meet (and sometimes touch!) frightening critters.

When: Sat., 10/24 through Sun. 11/1; Age 3+; Free with paid admission (Free-$25).

Where: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive (at JFK Drive) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415-379-8000; calacademy.org.

Jack o’ Lantern Jamboree

Come in costume to this annual Halloween party, which boasts roaming costumed characters, jump houses, pumpkin crafts, face painting, and the festive, make-believe atmosphere of Fairyland.

When: Sat. & Sun., 10/24-25, 10am-5pm; All ages; $10 per person.

Where: Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue (at Lake Merritt), Oakland, 510-452-2259, fairyland.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.

Parents used to the frenetic joys of parks like Great America or Six Flags may not warm to the idea of Gilroy Gardens at first blush. After all, it is a theme park. But it’s a much gentler theme park, with less jouncy and adorably food-themed rides: the Garlic Twirl, a Spinning Teacups-knockoff where guests sit in giant cloves, or the Banana Split, a big banana boat that swings you back and forth.

Besides the preschool-friendly rides, Gilroy Gardens has an educational focus too: the whole park is built around a grove of elaborately grafted and tended circus trees, that grow into astonishing formations. There’s a giant greenhouse filled with butterflies, with a monorail and a river running through it, and many other fabulous flower beds.

But Gilroy Gardens is best of all for little transpo nuts. The park boasts a train ride that runs around the park, boat rides through seasonal gardens, a car ride that takes you through a replica of antique South County roads; a balloon ride, and paddle boats shaped like swans and ducks. An entire day of paddling, floating, steering, and riding = little kid heaven.

Gilroy Gardens is open weekends throughout October and November but at the end of November closes for winter maintenance; it reopens for special holiday events in December and is then closed until springtime. The park is open daily during the summertime. Call 408-840-7100 or visit gilroygardens.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.

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.

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.

No parent likes to imagine the specter of disposable diapers piling up in the landfills when she chucks another used one into the Diaper Champ, but the eco-friendly options are so unappealing. Washing cloth diapers at home necessitates the touching of lots of nasty things (and probably a malodorous diaper pail in the bathroom); gDiapers aren’t as flushable in antique Bay Area plumbing as they could be; diaper-free can be a full-time job.

Sunnyvale’s Earth-Baby is a nice halfway alternative for the parent who wants to lower her carbon footprint without stress. For $29.99 a month the company delivers compostable disposables, and picks them up weekly when they’re um, full. You still have to pay for the corn-based diapers (about $12 for a pack of 22-44, depending on size) and wipes, but it still works out to be a bit cheaper than cloth diaper services. And everything you hand back to the company is either composted, recycled, or reused.

Earth-Baby serves San Francisco and South Bay/Peninsula cities as far down as Santa Cruz. Call 650-641-0975 or visit earth-baby.com.