Posts Tagged ‘san francisco symphony’

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.

The Glorious Fourth edition! Use yourself up on the fireworks and festivities, take the rest of the weekend off.

Fourth of July Waterfront Celebration

You never know, this could be the year when there’s no fog and you can actually see the fireworks. Before the big booms begin, come down for live music, food, and kiddie activities.

When: Fri., 7/4, 2-10pm (Fireworks begin at 9:30pm); All ages; Free.

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

4th of July Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee

A sweet holiday celebration for smaller kids, the Jubilee features crafts, bounce houses, and obstacle course to get little legs tired. Come early to watch Alameda’s old-fashioned Fourth parade, which begins at 8am a few blocks away from the Jubilee site.

When: Sat., 7/4, noon-4pm; Age 5+; $10-20.

Where: Rittler Park, Otis Drive (at Grand Street), Alameda, ci.alameda.ca.us.

San Francisco Symphony at Shoreline Amphitheatre

Perhaps the fanciest and most relaxing of Bay Area Fourth options, this party includes kid-friendly music with simulcast fireworks that you can watch from a seat or from a blanket on the lawn.

When: Sat., 7/4, 8pm; Age 3+; $15-29.50 ($17.50 for four seats on the lawn).

Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, One Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, 650-967-3000; livenation.com.

Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration

Celebrate the Fourth by taking up the pastimes of a bygone century at this fest, with patriotic and fiddle music, and games, contests, and races including a pie-eating competition, egg tosses, and a watermelon-seed-spitting match.

When: Sat., 7/4, 10am-4pm; Age 3+: Free-$7.

Where: Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard (at Newark Boulevard), Fremont, 510-796-0663, ebparks.org.

Parade through the streets or put down a blanket at the park: outdoor opportunities are everywhere this weekend.

87th Annual May Fete Parade

Vintage charm abounds in the oldest children’s parade in Northen California. Traffic is halted on University Avenue to allow the passage of hand-pulled floats, and thousands of kids temporarily set free from the need to obey traffic rules gaily skating, cycling, and strolling through the streets in a free-form parade. If your kids want to be in the parade, they should show up by 9:30 ready to be slotted into one of three categories: Kids in Costume, Kids on Wheels or Kids with Pets.

When: Sat., 5/2, 10am; (a fair follows the parade and ends at 1pm); All ages; Free.

Where: Parade begins at 10am at the corner of Emerson Street and University Avenue, Palo Alto; 650-463-4921, cityofpaloalto.org.

Music for Families

The San Francisco’s series of free concerts for families winds up with an exploration of how four creative forces (the composer, the conductor, musicians, and the listening audience) combine to make beautiful music.

When: Sat., 5/2, 2pm; Age 4+; Free.

Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), San Francisco; 415-552-8000; sfsymphony.org.

Cinco de Mayo Festival

Celebrate Latin America in this yearly revel set in lush, green Dolores Park. Live music, food, and educational activities for the madding crowds of kids.

When: Sat., 5/2, 10am-6pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Dolores Park, between 18th and 20th Streets and Church and Dolores Streets, San Francisco, sfcincodemayo.com.

Let’s Play Games Day

Play old-fashioned games like hoop-rolling and croquet at the historic Dunsmuir estate. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic lunches to eat on the Great Meadow.

When: Sun., 4/3, 11am-3pm; Age 2+; Free with admission ($5 for adults; Free for children 11 and under).

Where: Dunsmuir House & Gardens, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court (at Peralta Oaks Drive), Oakland, 510-562-0328, dunsmuir.org.

Spring has sprung, and the bright sun outside means it’s time to get out of the house.

Spring Fling at Fioli

The garden center throws a springtime party with costumed characters, arts and crafts for kids, a puppet show and a magician. There’s a dog show, alpacas to pet, garden tours, plantings, and other nature-y goodness.

When: Sat. 4/28, 10am-3:30pm; Age 3+; $20 Adult, $5 Age 5-17, 4 and under free.

Where: Filoli, 86 Canada Road, (at Edgewood Road), Woodside, 650-364-8300, Ext. 508, fioli.org.

Outdoor Exploratorium

The famous children’s science museum heads outside in this set of 14 cool interactive exhibits at Fort Mason. Find out how to use the Golden Gate Bridge as a thermometer, decode the light patterns that bring in ships from the water, and see a mirage. Maps of the exhibit are available at the Fort Mason Office in Building A.

When: Ongoing daily (exhibit is permanent), open during daylight hours; Age 2+; Free.

Where: Fort Mason, Marina Boulevard (at Buchanan Street), San Francisco; 415-561-0360; exploratorium.edu.

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

The Young Performers Theatre takes on the classic story of Aladdin in this light, non-scary comedy with teen and tween actors.

When: Sat., 4/28 1pm and Sun., 4/29, 1 and 3:30 pm; $10 Adults; $7 13 and under.

Where: Fort Mason Center, Building C, Marina Boulevard (at Buchanan Street), ypt.org.

Musical Mysteries: The Composer Is Dead
Author Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events) narrates as the San Francisco Symphony performs The Composer is Dead, a musical murder mystery in which the audience has to help find clues to nab the culprit.

When: Sun., 3/29, 2pm; Age 7+; $15-55 Adults; $7.50-27.50 Children.

Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue (at Turk Street), San Francisco, 415-864-6000; sfsymphony.org.

Strap on those costumes and build yourself a Day of the Dead altar–this is a big, big weekend for Bay Area kids.

Phantasmagorium

Blow off the big candy grab–eh, they added vegetable oil to all the cheap chocolate, anyway–in favor of a spooky party at the Exploratorium, which digs into the science of death, Halloween, and Dia de Los Muertos. View a decomposing snake, learn about leeches and their role in medicine, or watch sugar skulls being made.

When: Fri., 10/31, 6-9pm; Age 4+; Free with admission (Free-$14).
Where: Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St., 415-563-7337, exploratorium.edu.

Paxton Gate’s Menacingly Morbid Macabre Museum of Unnatural Wonders

The purveyors of odd flora and preserved fauna (think: venus flytraps and taxidermied mice) celebrates the opening of its new children’s section of the store with the Museum of Unnatural Wonders, spooky displays demonstrating concepts in zoologiy, biology, botany, and other natural sciences.

When: Fri. & Sat. 10/31 & 11/1, 5-8pm; Age 4+; Free.
Where: Old New College Building, 766 Valencia Street (at 18th Street), San Francisco, 415-824-1872, paxtongate.com.

Dia de los Muertos Procession & Altar Exhibit

Take part in this traditional Latino holiday that commemorates those who have passed on with a solemn parade that ends at Garfield Park, which is liberally festooned with altars built by the families of the deceased. The parade and altars may be too spooky for younger children, as celebrants often wear skeleton masks and rattle bones.

When: Fri., 11/2, 6:30-10:30pm; Age 6+; Free.
Where: Parade begins at 24th Street (at Bryant Street) in the Mission and continues to Garfield Park, 26th Street (at Harrison Street); dayofthedeadsf.org.

Dia de los Muertos Family Concert

If the kids are too young to drag them on an altar tour of the Mission, soak up the culture at this Day of the Dead concert, featuring Latin music, Aztec dancer, traditional sweets, face painting, and altars displayed throughout Davies Symphony Hall.

When: Sun., 11/3, Age 3+; $7.50-15.
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue (at Hayes Street), 415-864-6000; sfsymphony.org.

Ways to play, if you can brave the fog.

San Francisco Symphony in Dolores Park

Bring a picnic and a blanket and listen to Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, and Haydn numbers at this free performance.

When: Sun., 7/20, 2-5pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Dolores Park, 18th Street (at Dolores Street), 415-552-8000, sfsymphony.org.

Thumbelina

See a show about the old-school predecessor to Polly Pockets as the New Conservatory Theatre Center Teen Summer Stock company performs a play based on the Hans Christian Anderson story.

When: Thu.-Sat., 7/17-19; 11am; Age 3+; $10-15.
Where: New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Avenue (at Oak Street), 415-861-8972; nctcsf.org.

Sun, Wind, & Water Day

Explore the elements with hands-on events at this free annual festival. Make solar s’mores, create your own paddleboat, or join the water balloon-tossing contest.

When: Sat., 7/19, 10am-2pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way (at Roosevelt), San Francisco, 415-554-9600, randallmuseum.org.

Run the Bases at AT&T Park

Kids aged 14 and under can linger after each San Francisco Giants home game to dash around the big league bases. Participants get a free See’s candy as they leave.

When: Sun., 7/20, game starts at 1:05pm, kids run the bases after the game is over; Age 3-14; Free with admission to game, $17-72.
Where: AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza (King and Fourth Streets), 877-JR-GIANTS, sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com.

Don’t forget to bring Daddy breakfast in bed, now.

Northern California Pirate Festival

Go for the arrrgh of it, and enjoy pirate demos and performers, swordfighting, olde crafts and cannons a-blasting.

When: Sat. & Sun., 6/14-15; 10am-6pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Vallejo Waterfront, 401 Mare Island Way (at Capitol St.), norcalpiratefestival.com.

Stern Grove Music Festival

Get into the swing of things at the summer outdoor music festival as R&B/soul singers Booker T. Jones and Bettye Lavette perform in verdant Stern Grove. Bring a picnic and a blanket.

When: Ongoing, Sundays starting 6/15; 2pm; Free.

Where: Stern Grove, 19th Ave. (at Sloat Blvd), 415-252-6252, sterngrove.org.

Music For Families

Give Junior a taste for classical music at this special concert geared at young ones.

When: Sat., 5/14, 2pm; Age 4+; $7.50-54.

Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness St. (at Grove St.), 415-864-6000, sfsymphony.org.

Cool Daddy-O

Celebrate Father’s Day in true hipster style by learning how to customize your bike, courtesy of the Shorty Fatz lowrider bike crew.

When: Sun., 6/15, 12-5pm; Age 4+; Free with museum admission,

Where: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. (at 10th St.), Oakland, 510-238-2200, museumca.org.