Posts Tagged ‘stern grove’

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.

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.

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.

It’s Daddy’s weekend. Make sure he enjoys it.

Fee-Free Weekend at National Parks

National parks waive fees for the weekend (and two more in the summer: July 18-19 and August 15-16). Stay local and go to Muir Woods or the gorgeous San Francisco Maritime museum at Fort Mason, or range afield and hit Joshua Tree or Death Valley.

When: Sat. & Sun., 6/20-21, check website for opening/closing times; All ages; Free.

Where: Various locations, see nps.gov.

KidStage at the Stern Grove Festival

The free summertime music festival is back, and before each weekly show kids can meet in the West Meadow for activities in the theme of that week’s performers. Dance lessons, drumming, crafts, singing, and more. This week: Roberta Flack kills you softly with her smooth soul tones and Precita Eyes shows kids how to paint a mural.

When: Sun., 6/21 (shows run through 8/23); Noon-1pm (concerts start at 2pm); Age 3+; Free.

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

Northern California Pirate Festival

Eye patches and shoulder parrots are de rigeur at this yearly celebration of swashbuckling that features pirate demos and performers, swordfighting, ye olde crafts, and costumed performers galore.

When: Sat. & Sun., 6/20-21; Sat., 10am-sunset; Sun., 10am-6pm; All ages; Free.

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

Father’s Day Solar Car Challenge

Dad doesn’t want a tie or breakfast in bed. He wants an excuse to play with Legos. Here’s a good one: kids and Dads team up to design, build, and race Solar Lego cars.

When: Sun., 6/21, 1pm; Age 5+; $5 plus admission.

Where: Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard (at Joaquin Miller Road), Oakland, 510-336-7373; chabotspace.org.

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.