Events and Outings

Does it really snow in Downtown San Rafael? Well, no... not very often. But that doesn't mean that they can't truck a bunch of the frozen white stuff for sledding on the Friday after Thanksgiving!

Snow will arrive in Marin as part of the 34th annual Downtown San Rafael Parade of Lights and Winter Wonderland, taking place Friday, November 29. The event happens on Fourth Street from B Street to Lootens Place. Enjoy the Parade of Lights, Winter Wonderland, holiday market, tree lighting ceremony, live entertainment, and more! Free snow sledding and kids' activities take place from noon to 4:30 pm and 6 to 8 pm, and the Holiday Marketplace runs from noon to 8 pm.

Snow sledding takes place on the sledding hill—constructed from over 40 tons of snow—on A Street between Fourth and Fifth. Sledding is for kids only, and admission is free. Sledding will take place on Friday from noon to 4:30 pm, when it pauses for the Parade of Lights. Sledding resumes after the parade at 6 pm.

It goes without saying that every Holiday season Santa Claus is an extremely popular guy. He and his small army of little helpers will be making the rounds for photos, breakfast, and other holiday fun at various shopping centers and other locations in Marin County and beyond. (And of course you'll need to tell him what you want for Christmas, too!)

We make every effort to assure that all listings and hours are as accurate as possible, but occasionally Santa has to take a break to feed the reindeer or tidy up his beard, so make sure to call or check the venue's website before visiting.

Photos with Santa

• Santa Photos at Northgate
  November 15–December 24
  Northgate in San Rafael invites children to visit Santa and have their picture taken with Santa Claus at his winter wonderland house, in the Macy's wing. Individual photos and packages are available. Santa will be on hand Monday–Thursday 11 am–8 pm, Friday–Saturday from 10 am–8 pm and Sunday from 11 am–6 pm. Santa takes breaks from 1–1:45 pm and 4:30–5:15 pm. More info: www.shopatnorthgate.com
• Santa Photos at the Village at Corte Madera
  November 29–December 24
  Santa will be available for photos and visits at Santa's station at the Center Court Christmas Tree beginning November 29. Daily, 11 am–5 pm, weather permitting. Santa breaks are from 2:15–2:45 pm.. More info: www.villageatcortemadera.com
•  Santa Photos at the Town Center Corte Madera
  November 29–December 24
  Shopping during the holidays at Town Center Corte Madera is always a festive occasion for the entire family with a chance to have a free photo for the kids with Santa Claus, have your gifts wrapped for free by volunteers from Hospice by the Bay, and enjoy some live music to provide the holiday spirit. Photos with Santa schedule: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 29–December 1, 11 am–4 pm; Saturday and Sunday, December 7–8, 11 am-4 pm; Saturday and Sunday, December 14–15, 11 am–4 pm; and daily, December 16–24, 11 am-4 pm. More info: www.shoptowncenter.com

Speak to Me, Marin's premiere series of intelligent, inspiring speaking events for women, presents the second evening event in its 2013 season, "Circle of Friends" with Shasta Nelson, on Tuesday, November 19, at 6:30 pm.

Science tells us that friendships are more critical than ever to our long-term health and well-being, but in today’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, we are seeing increasing incidents of depression and isolation. Shasta Nelson will enlighten us with surprising solutions to this uniquely 21st-century phenomenon. Shasta is a life coach, CEO of GirlFriendCircles.com, and author of the book, Friendships Don’t Just Happen!

We're giving away one set of two tickets to this event to a lucky Marin Mommies reader! Simply send an email to contests@marinmommies.com with "Speak to Me November" in the subject line by 11:59 pm PST on Thursday, November 14, 2013. We'll choose a random winner on Friday. Many thanks to Speak to Me for sponsoring this giveaway. Read our giveaway rules and conditions here.

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

Ice skating rinks are now open. Check out our list of ice skating locations, days, hours and more here.

Friday, November 8

• Sing and Dance with Miss Kitty
  San Rafael Public Library
  Friday, 10:30 am
  Join Marin County's favorite Miss Kitty for a series of fun family concerts just right for children aged birth to 8 years old. Free, no registration required! Location: 1100 E Street (at 5th Avenue), San Rafael. For more info, call (415) 485-3322 or visit their website.
• The 63rd Annual Holly Fair
  San Geronimo Community Center
  Friday, 4–9 pm, Saturday, 10 am–3 pm
  Bring the family for some seasonal fun with turkey dinners, kids' games, homemade preserves and pies, silent auction, white elephant sale, and holiday gift boutique. Location: 6001 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, San Geronimo. For more info, call (415) 488-1757 or visit their website.
• Pajama Night at Doodlebug Marin
  Doodlebug Marin, San Anselmo
  Friday, 6–9 pm
  Kids put on their pajamas and enjoy pizza, crafts, stories, face painting and more. Cost: $30 per child and $25 each additional family member. Reserve your spot by calling (415) 456-5989 or online here.
• Throckmorton Youth Performers Presents: The Wizard of Oz
  142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley
  Friday, 7:30 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 2 pm
  Click your heels together and join the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy, and her little dog Toto, as they follow the Yellow Brick Road to the magical land of Oz! This beloved musical production is appropriate for kids of all ages and will be performed by the Throckmorton Youth Performers, a Mill Valley nonprofit that has successfully staged musical theater performances for years. Tickets should be purchased in advance. Location: 142 Throckmorton Avenue, in downtown Mill Valley. For more info, call (415) 383-9600 or visit their website.

Saturday, November 9

• Veterans Day Weekend: Fee-Free Days
  Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley
  Saturday, 8 am–7 pm
  Bring the family to visit Muir Woods on a fee-free day. Muir Woods honors our country's veterans for their selfless service to preserve and protect that which we hold most dear, including our national parks. For more info, visit their website
• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market
  Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo for the kids from 10 am–2 pm, crafts by SCRAP from 9 am–2 pm, children's music or storytelling from 9:30–10:30 am, and more live music from 11 am–12:30 pm, as well as fresh produce, prepared foods, and great local restaurants. For more info, visit their website.
• McNears Mighty Kids Mud Run
  San Rafael
  Saturday, 9 am–noon
  This is the adventure race where kids will test their grit and endurance, all while having the time of their lives! Kids 5 to 14 years old will be challenged with a course through grass, sand, mud, and the woods with fun and trying obstacles in their way. No animals (except service animals) are allowed at this park. Meet at the snack bar in McNears Beach Park in San Rafael. Location: 201 Cantera Way, San Rafael. For more info, call (415) 446-4424 or visit their website.
• Family Farm Day: Honeybee Family Farm Day
  Slide Ranch, Muir Beach
  Saturday, 10 am–2 pm
  This new program will help you learn more about honeybees and native pollinators. An observation hive will be on display and you'll learn the basics of backyard beekeeping. Kid-friendly crafts will be extra sweet today! Fee: $30 per person; $95 for a family of 4 or more; age 2 and under free. Location: 2025 Shoreline Hwy, Muir Beach. For more info, call (415) 381-6155 or visit their website.
• Holiday Craft Fair
  Petaluma Community Center
  Saturday, 10 am–5 pm
  Beautiful and unique crafts for sale, entertainment, food, prizes, and holiday photos with Santa. Admission is free. Location: 320 North McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma. For more info, call (707)778-4488 or visit their website.
• Leap's 30th Annual Sandcastle Contest
  Ocean Beach, San Francisco
  Saturday, 10:30 am–4:30 pm
  Teams of architects, designers, contractors, corporations, engineers, and local elementary school students compete on Ocean Beach. Money raised goes to support Leap's arts education programs, but admission is free to all. Come see what teamwork and creativity can do for kids and view these magical, fantastical creatures! For more info, visit their website.

Want to tour Novato's spectacular holiday lights the old fashioned way this winter? Book a trip via horse-drawn carriage or wagon from Gary Sello and Indian Valley Carriage. Novato residents have probably seen Gary and his team cruising the streets at Christmas time, especially near the famous Rombeiro Christmas House on Devonshire Drive.

50-minute tours start at Center Road and Wilson Avenue (across from Miss Sandie's School) at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 pm, and include a pass by the famous Rombeiro house on Devonshire Drive (and maybe even a stop to tour the inside, depending on schedule and how busy the house is). Gary's carriage seats six average size adults, and his large covered wagon seats twelve. The wagon also has rain protection, although tours will be canceled in the event of heavy rain or wind. Reservations are required, and tours do sell out during the holiday season, so reserve your spot early!

We've ridden in Gary's covered wagon before, and it's spacious and comfortable with plenty of room, and it's also a lot of fun. So get your friends and family together and book a tour before they're sold out. (By the way, babies, infants, and small children riding on laps don't count toward the total number of riders.)

Even though it's an activity that you can do year-round, ice skating seems to be something that's especially appealing around the holidays. Marin on Ice brings returns to Northgate in San Rafael for another season of outdoor ice skating, so you don't have to leave Marin County to go skate! Here's our list of places in the Bay Area where you can hit the ice this holiday season.

Marin on Ice

Marin on Ice outdoor skating rink in San Rafael's Northgate Mall returns to offers al fresco skating from November 9 through January 12. This year the rink is even bigger, with 5,600 square feet of real ice. Special sessions include "Family Night" on Tuesdays and "Rock the Rink" on Friday evenings.

Skating costs $15 per person, which includes skate rental, and "Skate Buddies" (the blue plastic chair-like supports) are available to rent for beginnners. The rink will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm, including holidays. Marin on Ice also offers birthday parties and private rentals. For more information, visit www.marinonice.com or call (707) 738-8496. Northgate Mall is located off Highway 101 in San Rafael's Terra Linda area, between Northgate Drive and Las Gallinas Avenue.

Snoopy's Home Ice

In Santa Rosa you can find Snoopy's Home Ice at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena. Opened by the late Santa Rosa resident and Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in 1969, the Redwood Empire Ice Arena offers daily public skating hours (check their schedule for details), skating lessons, birthday parties, and special events. The entire place is decorated with a Swiss theme and offers a charming alpine ambience. The Redwood Empire Ice Arena is also home to Snoopy's Warm Puppy Cafe, where you can sit by the fire and eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or just have a hot chocolate and watch the action on the Snoopy's Home Ice.

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, and there's so much family fun to be had at this time of year. Find the Halloween event that's right for you! We'll keep updating our list of Halloween events in Marin as we find more this fall. If you have an event you'd like to see added to the list, please contact us.

Marin and Sonoma Events

• Magician Timothy James
  Belvedere-Tiburon Libary
  Thursday, October 31, 4 pm
  Marvel at the magical skills of magician Timothy James. For ages 5 and up. Find out more about Magician Timothy James here. For more info about this library event, please visit their website.
• Halloween Cookie Decorating at Home Patisserie
  Theresa & Johnny's, San Rafael
  Thursday, 4:30–9 pm
  Kids in costume who stop by on Halloween night get a free cookie and decorating kit! Home Patisserie is located in Theresa & Johnny's Comfort Food at 817 4th Street in downtown San Rafael. For more information, visit their website or call (707) 315-0338.
• Trick or Treat at the Village
  The Village at Corte Madera
  Thursday, October 31, 4–6 pm
  Costumed guests will receive spooktacular treats from Village stores and restaurants. For more info, visit their website.
• Trick-Or-Treat at Northgate!
  San Rafael
  Thursday, October 31, 5-7 pm
  Come to Northgate dressed in your Halloween costume and stop by participating stores for some spooktacular treats! See list of participating stores. For more info, visit their website.
• Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treat Lane
  Sausalito City Hall
  Thursday, October 31, 5:45–8 pm
  Kids of all ages are welcome to come in costume for a Halloween Parade and for some trick-or-treating. Parade begins at fire station (at 333 Johnson and Caledonia) Come on down to the Sausalito City Hall, located at Caledonia and Litho Streets in Sausalito for a spooky time. For more info, call (415) 289-4100.
• Day of the Dead Fiesta
  Pancho Villa's, Fairfax
  Friday and Saturday, November 1 & 2, 6–10 pm
  Celebrate Dia de los Muertos at Pancho Villa's in Fairfax. Coloring contests all day (winner announced on Facebook Monday), and kids eat free after 6 pm, with purchase of an adult meal.

Learn how to silence your inner critic and become comfortable taking bold action in both your workplace and the world! In Speak to Me's first daytime Lunch & Lean event, Tara Sophia Mohr, founder of the global Playing Big leadership program for women and expert on women's leadership and well-being, will discuss the things that keep women from realizing their true potentials.

With an MBA from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree in English literature from Yale, Tara takes a unique approach that blends inner work with practical skills training, and weaves together both intellectual rigor and intuitive wisdom.

"Silencing Your Inner Critic" takes place on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Piatti Restaurant in Mill Valley. Tickets are nearly sold out, so order now if you're interested!

Boo! Come get a jump on Halloween at the 27th annual Goblin Jamboree at the Bay Area Discovery Museum! Bring your little goblins to this year’s spooky fundraiser on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20 from 10 am–4 pm. Come in costume and explore the Bay Area Discovery Museum transformed into a haunted Halloween wonderland complete with games, attractions and live entertainment.

Ride a spooky train or real ponies, make potions in the witches' and wizards' school, and enjoy a full brew of games, activities and live entertainment. This fundraiser supports museum education programs, exhibitions, and community access initiatives. Tickets available at the door. Museum members $13, general $15, infants six months and under free. All activities and entertainment are included with admission.