Posts Tagged ‘weekend’

Get shipwrecked, goggle at Chinese dancers, or run your tail off at the SF Marathon. It’s your weekend!

Shipwrecked

Enjoy a barbecue dinner, ghost stories, sea chanteys, and mayhem with costumed pirates at this sunset party.

When: Fri., 7/23, 5-8pm; Age 4+; $5-8.

Where: Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road (at Fort Baker), Sausalito; 415-339-3900; baykidsmuseum.org.

Shen Yun

Chinese dancers and acrobats do things with their bodies that you couldn’t know could be done.

When: Fri., 7/23, 8pm, Sat. & Sun. 2pm & 8pm; Age 4+; $30-40.

Where: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco; 888-569-2009; sfshow.net.

S.F. Tsunami Synchronized Swimming Exhibition

Just before it heads off to the Gay Games, the eight-member synchronized swimming team shows off a few of its tricks.

When: Sat., 7/24, noon; Age 3+; $5.

Where: MLK Jr. Swimming Pool, 5701 Third Street (at Carroll Street), San Francisco; 415-621-4833.

San Francisco Marathon Munchkin Kids Run

School kids on the joy of running early with this first-ever offshoot of the grown-ups’ race. Kids can run a mile, a half mile, or do the 100-yard dash. Big kids can even do the 5K.

When: Sun., 7/25, 8:30 a.m.; Age 4+; $25.

Where: Embarcadero (at Mission Street), San Francisco; thesfmarathon.com.

It’s arts galore and other midsummer delights this weekend.
Arts & Wonder Festival

Free admission to six different local museums over three different days, with special art activities for families at each location.

When: Fri.-Sun., 7/16-18, see website for times; All ages; Free.

Where: Various locations in San Francisco; see onlyinsanfrancisco.com for details.

Disney 55: A Birthday Celebration

More than half a decade ago, Walt Disney opened the doors to Disneyland. Celebrate the occasion with a weekend full of special guests, film programs, and other events.

When: Fri.-Sun., 7/16-18, see website for event times; Age 3+; Free-$20.

Where: Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery Street (at Lincoln Avenue), San Francisco; disneygo.com.

Teddy Bear Festival

A special zoo party with all the usual animals plus crafts, live music, face painting, and puppet shows.

When: Sat. & Sun., 7/17-18, 10am-4pm; All ages; Free for children aged 14 and under if they bring a stuffed teddy bear.

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (at Sloat Boulevard), San Francisco; 415-753-7080; sfzoo.org.

Family Nature Crafts

Each Sunday, families are invited to participate in hands-on art activities inspired by current exhibits.

When: Sun., 7/18 (and every Sunday thereafter), 11am-12:30pm; Age 4-8; Free with paid admission (Free-$25).

Where: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive (at MLK Drive in Golden Gate Park), San Francisco; caladacademy.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.

The sun is shining! Quick, run outside!

Girls Rock After School Program Showcase

Each session of the after-school music program that teaches girlie girls how to rawk concludes with a showcase where students display what they’ve learned. Each band gets a song each. A screening of the documentary Girls Rock! follows the showcase at 3pm.

When: Sat., 3/14, 1:30pm; Age 4+; $8.

Where: Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th Street (at Texas Street), San Francisco; 415-621-4455; bottomofthehill.com.

Summer Resource Fair 2009

Quick route to panic: ask a parent what their kid is going to do during the long, long, summer vacation. Get started answering the question with today’s one-stop fiesta of possibilities for kids: day camps, sleepaway camps, classes, sports clubs. Teens/young adults age 14-21 can also find looking-for-a-job resources, like practice interview sessions and professional dress counseling from Macy’s.

When: Sat., 3/14, 10am-3pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Concourse Exhibition Center, Eighth Street (at Brannan Street), San Francisco; dcyf.org.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

It isn’t a patch on the Chinese New Year pomp and splendor, but kids love a parade. There are children’s activities (read: bounce houses) and traditional Irish food and crafts at the after-parade party at City Hall.

When: Sat., 3/14, 10am-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; uissf.org.

Kidsfest at Bladium

The sports club throws a free party–with rock-climbing walls! Other treats include carnival games, music, face-painting, and the ever-popular bounce houses.

When: Sat., 3/14, 11:30am-3pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Bladium Sports and Fitness Club, 800 West Tower Avenue, Bldg 40 (at Third Street), Alameda; 510-814-4999; bladium.com.

 Now that the holidays are over, you can have some real fun.

Family Appreciation Day

Dozens of San Francisco museums and attractions throw open their doors for this city-sponsored shindig, offering free admission for families with children up to age 18. All you need to participate is some type of proof that you’re an SF resident, like a driver’s license or utility bill, and you’re in. Given that admission to the Academy of Sciences is so pricey, and the place is still so new, it’s going to be a huge draw for families. Escape the crowds there (and the runoff crowd at the nearby deYoung, also free), by hitting SFMOMA, the Exploratorium, taking a tour of Chinatown, or exploring the fascinating old ships at the Hyde Street Pier.

When: Sun. 1/11, time varies by location; All ages (at least one adult must accompany children); Free.

Where: Various locations in San Francisco, visit dcyf.org for details.

River of Words: The Natural World

This year’s iteration of the annual River of Words contest asked children to consider the natural surroundings in the place where they live, everywhere from California to the Ivory Coast. The resulting artworks and poems provide a moving picture of a child’s world.

When: Ongoing daily through 1/31/09; 9am-5pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Crissy Field Center, Building 603 in the Presidio, Mason Street (at Halleck Street) 415-561-7752, crissyfield.org.

Playhouse Disney Live

Peek in on the Mickey House Clubhouse at this sing-along show, where Mickey is planning a musical party for his friends: Pooh, Tigger, Darby, Hanny Manny, the Little Einsteins, and other faves.

When: Fri., 1/9, 3:30 and 7pm; Age 2+; $20-47.

Where: Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway Avenue (at Grand Avenue), Oakland; 510-465-6400, paramounttheatre.com.

Earthcapades

It’s like Cirque du Soleil, but instead of being menaced by angry French clowns, you learn stuff about the planet.

When: Sat., 1/10, 10:30am; Age 3+; $4-5.

Where: La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue (at Ashby Avenue), Berkeley, 510-849-2568, lapena.org.

We have festival fever, film in the park, and cannons set on “fire.”
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival

A dizzying range of dance styles take a bow during this month-long fiesta. Korean shaman rituals? Mexican marimba? Indian Kathak dance? All here. Special family events occur each Friday afternoon in various venues in S.F. and Oakland, beginning this Friday with a demonstration of Shodiona, a Tajik “dance of happiness” at 3pm in the Children’s Center at the Main Library.

When: Beginning 6/7 and ongoing through 6/29, most performances are Sat. 2pm and 8pm and Sun. 2pm; All ages; Free-$44. Family events occur Fridays; see website for more information.

Where: Various venues in San Francisco and Oakland, but most performances take place at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St. (at Bay St.), San Francisco, 415-392-4400, worldartswest.org.

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

The exhaustive five-month (May-October) arts party is already in swing, offering a huge variety of free music, theater, dance, educational and children’s programs. Of particular interest to parents in June: the Caterpillar Puppets this Friday 6/6 and Saturday 6/28 at 11am and 12:15pm; brilliant physical comedian/musician The Unique Derique Friday and Saturday, 6/13-14, 11am and 12:15pm; and the California Sing-Along, folksy songs about California’s history, on Friday 6/20.

When: Ongoing through 10/26; most performances occur Thu.-Sun.; Times vary; All ages; Free.

Where: Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission St. (between 3rd and 4th Streets), San Francisco, 415-543-1718; ybgf.org.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at Washington Square Park

Bring your martial-arts lovers to this free showing of Ang Lee’s groundbreaking fairytale. Spread a blanket (no chairs are allowed), bring a picnic, but leave the littlest ones at home: Commonsense Media recommends this film for kids aged 12 and up due to violence.

When: Sat., 6/7, 8pm; Age 12+; Free.

Where: Washington Square Park, Columbus St. (at Union St.), San Francisco, 415-465-FILM, sfneighborhoodtheater.org.

Civil War Days on Angel Island

Just the ferry ride over to Angel Island (and the view of San Francisco’s skyline!) will blow your mind. Then watch history come to life as Camp Reynolds, a former Civil War recruiting post for Union soldiers, plays host to musket drills, marches, and historians who will explain the details of making rope, signaling with flags, baking Civil War-style, and other wartime skills.

When: Sat., 6/7, 11am-3:30pm; Age 4+; Free (Optional tram ride to Camp Reynolds is $5).

Where: Camp Reynolds at Angel Island; accessible by the Tiburon, San Francisco, and Alameda/Oakland Ferries; see angelisland.org for transit information; 415-435-5390; angelisland.org.

Get your art on with a culture-vulture weekend, or brave BART for a Berkeley fest.

Lines Ballet Family Day

In celebration of Long River High Sky, the dance collaboration between Lines Ballet and Chinese Shaolin Monks, this free outdoor festival plays host to ballet lessons, kung fu demos, and arts/crafts activities. Snacks and drinks are also provided free.

When: Sat., 5/31, 2pm (a matinee performance of the show follows at 3pm); Age 8+; Free (Ballet performance is $15-65).

Where: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. (at Fourth St.), San Francisco, 415-978-2787, linesballet.org.

Wild in the City

Nature isn’t just found in the wilderness–and this new Randall Museum exhibit explores the wild animals who make their homes right here in San Francisco. Kids will find out how to identify animal tracks, how animals hunt, and where to look for natural ecosystems.

When: Ongoing, opening Sat., 5/31 and continuing through 11/1; 10am-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way (at Roosevelt), San Francisco, 415-554-9600, randallmuseum.org.

Chocolate & Chalk Art Festival

Instill in your child the joy of (legally) defacing city surfaces with this powdery romp over the sidewalks of Berkeley. Participants are assigned a square of sidewalk; onlookers chow down on chocolate samples or check out the arts and crafts booths. The best drawing wins $250; runners-up get $50 gift certificates from the Elephant Pharmacy. Bring your own chalk or buy it at the festival.

When: Sat, 5/31, 10am-6pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto (North Shattuck Ave. around Rose St.), Berkeley, 510-548-5335, northshattuck.org.

Animal Extravaganza

The seriously knowledgeable (and approachably fun) naturalists of Tree Frog Treks haul out their reptile and amphibian friends for kids to marvel over and touch. Activities teach kids about biology and nature.

When: Fri., 5/30, 4pm; Age 5+; Free.

Where: Glen Park Branch Library, 2825 Diamond St. (at Bosworth St.), San Francisco, sfpl.org.