Family-friendly Weekend Events for October 9, 10 & 11

Friday, October 9

• The Tolay Fall Festival is a free family event that takes place on a 1,737-acre ranch near Petaluma. The hours are Friday from 9 am to 3:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. The festival will have a hands-on children's area and kiddie corral, live animals, nature walks, giant straw maze and pumpkin patch, ranger-led hayrides, colorful gourds, mini-pumpkins, unusual squash, multi-colored corn and more. Tolay Regional Park, 5869 Lakeville Highway. Free Admission, $5 parking. For more info, call  (707) 769-0429 or go to their website.
• It's Fleet Week in San Francisco, and the Navy's Blue Angels flying team performs over San Francisco Bay from 3 to 4 pm. A great place to watch is from Fort Baker near the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. More information on Fleet Week events: www.military.com/fleetweek
• On Friday Nights at the de Young the entire museum is open until 8:45 pm. Enjoy live music by Nice Guy Trio's Root Exchange, a gallery talk with master carver Claytus Yambon, and participate in hands-on art activities for the family. There's discounted admission to the King Tut exhibition Fridays after 5 pm: adults and seniors $20, FAMSF members $15. Youth (6–17) tickets are half-price after 3 pm when you present a Borders Rewards Card or a Flat Anubis at the de Young's King Tut box office. There's also a special "3 for $13" menu and children's menu at the de Young Café and a cash bar. www.deyoungmuseum.org 
• Marin Broadway Bound Kids present The Sound of Music on Friday at 7:30 pm at the Showcase Theater in San Rafael. Check out the fun tale of the musical von Trapp family. Ticket prices: Adults $16, Children 12 and under and Seniors are $14. For directions or to purchase tickets, go to their website or purchase at the show.

Saturday, October 10

• For a list of open pumpkin patches, go to our article.
• The Tolay Fall Festival in Petaluma (see Friday for details)
• Tim Cain will perform at Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch in Nicasio on Saturday at 11 am. Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch  is located at 5300 Nicasio Valley Rd (1/4 mile north of Nicasio square) and are open daily 10 am–6 pm. Pumpkin picking, hay rides, farm animals, jumpy houses, farm stand, BBQ on the weekends. For more info, call  (415) 662-9100.
• Dance to the celtic rhythms of Culann's Hounds at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, at 11 am on Saturday. This performance of traditional and modern Irish dance tunes is part of the BADM's Hip Kid's Music Series. Members $5, general child $10, general adult $12; prices include museum admission. Suitable for ages 1 and up. More info: www.badm.org.
• This family event, the Worm Bin Workshop will teach your you how to reduce your family’s impact by making nutrient-rich soil for your garden from your household food scraps. It will take place at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary on Saturday from 10 am to noon. The cost is $40 per bin and includes bin and starter worms. RSVP: 388-2524. For more info, go to their website.
• Come for some family fun at Brookside School's Octoberfest in San Anselmo this Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm. The free annual Octoberfest is a fundraiser that benefits Brookside, Wade Thomas, Manor and White Hill schools. There will be food, games, events, raffle, basket auction and a haunted house. This event takes place at Brookside School Lower Campus, 116 Butterfield Road in San Anselmo. For more info, go to their website.
• Come to Novato's School Fuel Rummage Sale this Saturday starting at 8:30am till 12:30pm in the Hill Middle School in Novato. The proceeds from the sale will be used by School Fuel to help fund teachers and programs for all the schools in the Novato district. For information or if you want to volunteer for either day, contact Kim McClure at 892-5792 or Kimberlymcclure@comcast.net. 
• The16th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration will take place on Saturday at noon at Old Corte Madera Square in Corte Madera. Bring the family for lots of fun and music. The town band will perform at 12:30 pm, followed by Jim Ragle's Yachtsmen playing German music throughout the afternoon. There will be games for children and a silent auction. Admission is $3, free for those under 12 year. They will be selling tickets for beer and wine. The Old Corte Madera Square is at Tamalpais Drive and Redwood Avenue.
• Celebrate all things bicycle at Biketoberfest Marin 2009, Saturday, 11 am–6 pm at FairAnselm Plaza in Fairfax. Highlights include bike expo, vintage bike show, family activities, prizes, group rides, live music, a beer tasting with 20+ beers from 15 Northern California brewers, soda tasting for the kids, food, and more! Activities and show, and music free, beer tasting $20 advance, $25 at the door. Tickets and more info: (415) 453-4333 or www.biketoberfestmarin.org
• Fleet Week events include a parade of ships, Blue Angels performance, air show, and more. Various locations on the San Francisco waterfront. www.fleetweek.us
• The Slide Ranch Harvest Celebration old time country fair will be taking place at Slide Ranch this Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Come and create a scarecrow, learn to spin wool, or just relax in their beautiful garden. Bring the family and learn about chickens, goats, sheep, and ducks. Come enjoy a variety of craft activities, guided tours and coastal hikes, games, local food, and live music. The cost is $20 in advance; $25 at the gate; $75 for families of 4 or more; age 2 and under free. For more info, go to their website
• Celebrate the great ghosts of history at the Ghost Gathering Weekend at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach in El Cerrito. Children can participate in a ghost hunt and search for Casper and other friendly ghosts and can win a special prize if they come dressed as their favorite ghosts. $10 children and seniors, $15 general. Admission includes all games, interactive exhibits, penny arcades, amusement devices, and more. 10979 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito. Program runs Saturday through Monday (Columbus Day holiday), 10 am–5 pm. More info: (510) 592-3002 or www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org
• Marin Broadway Bound Kids present The Sound of Music on Saturday at 11 am to 2:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm at the Showcase Theater in San Rafael. Check out the tale of the musical von Trapp family. Ticket prices: Adults $16, Children 12 and under and Seniors are $14. For directions or to purchase tickets, go to their website or purchase at the show.

Sunday, October 11

• Support Saint Raphael Preschool in San Rafael at their annual Marketplace at the Mission, Sunday from 8 am–3 pm on the Saint Raphael school grounds at Firth Avenue and A Street. Shop their fabulous indoor garage sale, browse the offerings of craft and art vendors, and sample homemade baked goods and Gaspare's pizza. Bounce house, face painting, and activity tables for the kids. More info: (415) 456-1702 or www.saintraphael.com
• Family entertainer Enzo Garcia present Breakfast with Enzo at the Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse every Sunday. There will be two different sets of music at 10 and 11 am. Enzo invites you, your friends, family, and neighbors to join him for a morning of genuine, heartfelt, sing-along family fun. He'll bring his banjo, accordion, guitar, musical saw, and other surprises. All you need are clapping hands, singing voices and dancing feet. BYOB—Bring Your Own Breakfast. The Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse is located at 280 Buena Vista Avenue in Mill Valley. For more info, call (415) 652-2474 or go to www.enzogarcia.com.
• Children's FilmFest Party Extravaganza screening will be on Sunday at 12:30 pm at 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. The kids' entries in the Mill Valley Film Fest this year include The Letter for the King and Ricky Rapper. Bring the family to celebrate the kick-off party with face painting, balloon twisting and music. A finger food lunch by Whole Foods! And even some short films! Adults must be accompanied by children.  For more info, call (415) 383-9600 or go to http://2009.mvff.com.
• The West Point Inn on Mt. Tamalpais will host its last pancake breakfast of the year from 9 am to 1 pm on Sunday. Guests must hike or bike to the inn; parking is available at the Bootjack, Pan Toll, Rock Springs, and East Peak parking lots. This is a really nice hike if you haven’t done it before. It’s not appropriate for babies or infants, unless they’re in a baby backpack. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, visit www.westpointinn.com or call (415) 388-9955.
• The Civic Center Farmers' Market in San Rafael takes place Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm. They have lots of organically grown produce, breads, eggs, and fresh cut flowers. This farmers' market is a great one to take the kids to. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s located in the main Civic Center parking lot. For more info, go to www.marincountyfarmersmarkets.org
• Fleet Week events include ship tours, Blue Angels performance, air show, San Francisco's Italian Heritage Parade (AKA Columbus Day Parade) and more. Various locations on the San Francisco waterfront. www.fleetweek.us
• Marin Broadway Bound Kids present The Sound of Music (see Saturday for details).