Marin Family Events for Labor Day Weekend

The Annual Sausalito Art Festival takes place this weekend at Marinship Park.

Check out our list of 12 terrific family outings for this Labor Day Weekend!

Friday, August 30

• Music Time with Megan
  Sports Basement, Novato
  Friday, 9:30–10 am
  Bring the kiddos for live music, singing, dancing and playing instruments with popular children's musician Megan Schoenbohm. Cost is $10 per child, and siblings under 7 months are free. This is an ongoing weekly class, so drop in as often as you can! Location: Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, 100 Vintage Way, Novato. Event details.
• Closing Weekend: McNear's Beach Pool
  San Rafael
  Friday, 11 am–5 pm, Saturday & Saturday, 11 am–6 pm
  Bring the entire family to swim and splash at McNear's Beach pool this weekend. After this weekend, the pool will be closing for the season. Parking is free on Saturday, due to Free Access of All Parks, but there is a charge to swim. Location: 201 Cantera Way, San Rafael. Event details
• Children's Series: Caterpillar Puppets
  Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco
  Friday, 11 am & 12:15 pm
  This free event is part of the Children's Garden Series at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. Joe Leon’s Caterpillar Puppets don’t just entertain kids and parents. His eccentric menagerie draws audiences of all ages into seemingly familiar stories that take unexpected turns. Like his version of the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Bla-bla-blas, or the shy artist mouse Amadeus who needs encouragement from the audience to fulfill his calling. A master puppeteer with a sly sense of humor, Leon keeps everyone entertained. Free. Children's Garden, 799 Howard St., San Francisco. Location:  Event details
• Closing Weekend: Spring Lake Water Park
  Santa Rosa
  Friday–Monday, 11 am–6 pm
  This inflatable water park includes multiple play stations for both kids and adults, including slides, bounce islands, a bouncy bridge, a trampoline, climbing cliffs, balance beam, and more. Test your strength by bouncing, sliding, balancing, climbing, and more! Spring Lake's three-acre swimming lagoon is filled with filtered spring water which is chlorinated to exeed water quality standards. Cost: $10 per person for water park and $7 parking fee. Location: Spring Lake Regional Park is located at 393 Violetti Road in Santa Rosa. Event details.
• Film: Alice in Wonderland (1951)
  The Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco
  Friday, 2 pm, Saturday, 1 & 4 pm
  This month, we invite you to take a trip down the rabbit hole with us. Alice in Wonderland offers a whimsical tale of Alice’s enchanted encounters with the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, and many more quirky characters. Featuring the voice talents of Bill Thompson, Ed Wynn, Sterling Holloway, and Verna Felton, join us on a journey to Wonderland. Cost: $5 members or with general admission, $10 adults, $8 student and youth. Location:104 Montgomery Street in the Presidio, San Francisco. Event details
• Picnics on the Plaza: Rockabilly Swing
  Town Hall Lawn, San Anselmo
  Friday, 5–8 pm
  Come on downtown to San Anselmo for Picnics on the Plaza on six Friday evenings this summer: Grab dinner-to-go at a local restaurant, purchase food at the event, or pack a picnic and dine with old and new friends at the plaza. Enjoy live entertainment and activities; it's great, music, food and family fun! Location: 525 San Anselmo Avenue, Town Hall Lawn, San Anselmo. Event details
• Friday Nights on Main
  Main Street, Downtown Tiburon
  Friday, 6–9 pm
  Bring the family to some outdoor dining, live music and dancing on Main Street in downtown Tiburon. We celebrate Back to School with dance hits and classics featuring The Flaming O's. Location: Main Street, Downtown Tiburon. Event details
• Circus Vargas: The Greatest of Ease
  Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, Petaluma
  Friday, 7:30 pm, Saturday, 1, 4 & 7:30 pm, Sunday, 12:30, 3:30 & 6:30 pm, Monday, 5:30 pm
  Always fun for the entire family, Circus Vargas’ incredible new 2019 production highlights an amazing cast of world- renowned performers! Death-defying acrobats, daredevils, aerialists, jugglers, contortionists, clowns, motorcycles, and much, much, more!  A magnificent, mega-hit production guaranteed to thrill and enchant children of all ages. Tickets: $15–$72. Event details
• Movies in the Park: The LEGO Movie 2
  Howarth Park, Santa Rosa
  Friday, 7:45 pm
  Bring the family, a picnic and a blanket for a lovely evening of film-enjoyment under the stars in our park! The movies will be playing on the lower lawn by the Land of Imagination Playground.  We will have a seating area up front for people with blankets. You may bring a chair with you if you would like, but we will seat you further back or to the sides so that we can make the screen visible and the movie enjoyable for as many people as possible! Location: 630 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa. Event details.
• Preview–Marin Shakespeare Company: A Midsummer Night's Dream
  Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, San Rafael
  Friday & Saturday, 8 pm and Sunday, 1 pm
  Enjoy the enchantment under the summer stars as mortals and fairies collide with mirth, merriment, mischief and mayhem. Bring the family this weekend for the preview special of $16 for adulds and $10 for youth tickets. Location: 890 Belle Avenue, San Rafael. Purchase tickets here.

Saturday, August 31

• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market and Wildcare
  Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Enjoy the best local and organic produce, flowers, pastured meats, seafood, organic cheeses, yogurt and milk, breads, baked goods, pasta, confections, olive oil, and brunch and lunch offerings WildCare at the Mart so meet the animals from 10 am–2 pm!  For more info, Event details
• Point Reyes Farmer's Market
  Toby's Feed Barn on Main Street
  Saturday, 9 am–1 pm
  Enjoy live music, a chef's demonstration, KidsZone activities, food and drink, and more. Event details
• Sausalito Art Festival
  Marinship Park, Sausalito
  Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–7 pm and Monday, 10 am–5 pm
  The country’s best art and most exciting artists, a top-name music line-up, gourmet food, and fine wines and premium beers all bring more than 30,000 art lovers together in an electrifying atmosphere of creativity, fun, discovery, and magic every Labor Day Weekend. Children's activities include hands-on art and STEAM activities the Bay Area Discovery Museum's Messy Art Fest and Mobile Maker Club. Tickets to the Sausalito Art Festival are $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors 62+, and $free for children 12 and under. Event details.
• Komodo Festival
  San Francisco Zoo
  Saturday–Monday, 10 am–5 pm
  Join us on Labor Day Weekend as we celebrate our Asian wildlife at the Komodo Festival. You will learn about issues that affect endangered species of Asia like orangutans and red pandas, and actions you can take to help save them. Over the three-day weekend, we are proud to host a sushi-making tutorial in front of Lemur Café from 11 am – 1 pm with our brand new sous chef, Chef Frank! Four types of sushi (vegetarian and vegan included) will be available for purchase along with sake, lychee martinis, and more! Museum admission applies. Location: Sloat Blvd., and The Great Highway. Event details.
• Family Art Making
  de Young Museum, San Francisco
  Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
  Family Art Making offers a free, drop-in art project led by professional teaching artists. Projects change every 3-4 weeks and connect to our permanent collections or highlight our special exhibiton. Make sure to pick up a Discovery Guide to explore the galleries. Artists of all ages are welcome to join. Free and open to the public. Museum admission required for gallery activities found in the Discovery Guide. Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco. Event details.
• Cardinal Kids Day
  Stanford
  Saturday, 1 pm
  Bay Area families are invited to enjoy free youth tickets when the Cardinal hosts Northwestern in its season opener on Saturday, August 31 at 1 PM. Up to (4) free youth tickets can be claimed with the purchase of a paid adult ticket. (Free youth admission is restricted to 8th grade and below per NCAA regulations.) Pre-game activities will include including a petting zoo with a mini pony, rock climbing wall, bounce house, and a football themed inflatable.  In addition to these experiences, Fan Fest includes a face painter, inflatable games, cornhole, spike ball and DJ – should be fun for all! Get your free tickets here! Location: 450 Serra Mall, Stanford. Event details.
• Free Shakespeare in the Park: The Merry Wives of Windsor
  Old Mill Park, Mill Valley
  Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 2 pm
  Two clever, canny women show bad boy John Falstaff that #Time'sUp in this hilarious Shakespeare comedy. Come join the Curtain Theatre in the beautiful redwood grove in Old Mill Park behind the Mill Valley Library. Bring the family, bring a picnic and prepare to be entertained! Event details.
• Free Shakespeare in the Park 2019
  Civil War Parade Lawn, Presidio, San Francisco
  Saturday–Monday, 2–4:30 pm
  Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy an outdoor performance of a new musical twist on this beloved classic about love, voluntary exile, and how all the world is a stage. As in other comedies written during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, As You Like It celebrates a brave woman who pursues her own destiny in defiance of cultural norms. Rosalind dresses as a man in order to outsmart the patriarchal obstacles of her world. This year, the Festival presents an original musical featuring nine songs by the Bay Area rock duo The Killebanes, and Festival Resident Artist, Phil Wong. Free admission. Event details.
• Hot Amphitheater Nights: The HA
  Hamilton Amphitheater, Novato
  Saturday, 5–7 pm
  Gather your friends, family, lawn chairs, and a picnic dinner and join Novato Parks & Recreation for this free outdoor concert series held at our historic Hamilton Amphitheater! The HA, aka the Human Assembly, is a San Francisco based band that plays Beach Funk Americana; music that celebrates the human condition and the gathering of friends. Music to party to. Event details
• Evening Power Play
  Cal Star Gymnastics, Novato
  Saturday, 6–9 pm
  Drop the kiddos ( K-8 th grade) for some indoor fun. They can run, jump and play in an open gymnastics environment. Bring the kids in on a rainy day or any day to burn some energy. Cost: $24/ per child. Location: 70 Digital Drive, Suite #3 in Novato. Event details
• Movies in Creek Park: Rocky
  Creek Park, San Anselmo
  Saturday, 7 pm
  Enjoy free movies outdoors in San Anselmo's Creek Park. This Friday: Fitness Night; wear your favorite gym, cross-fit, fitness or dojo logo gear. Seating generally begins around 7 pm, with pre-movie slide show, announcements, trivia and nightly raffle. Movies begin when dark enough and generally run two hours. Event details
• Campfire Program
  Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
  Saturday, 7:30 pm
  Every Saturday at 7:30 pm we’ll have songs, games, and animal lore at the park’s amphitheater (across the bridge by campsites 12 & 13). Free event but parking charges ($10) apply. Location:  2605 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood. Event details

Sunday, September 1

• Civic Center Farmers' Market
  Marin Civic Center, San Rafael
  Sunday, 8 am–1 pm
  There's lots of organically grown produce, breads, eggs, and fresh cut flowers, as well as live music, bounce houses, and more. This farmers' market is a great one to take the kids to. It’s located in the main Civic Center parking lot. Event details
• Eco-Sail to the Marin Headlands
  Freda B, Sausalito
  Sunday, 8:45–11:30 am
  Set sail aboard the Schooner Freda B for an ecology-themed tour of the Marin Headlands! This signature sail, boarding in Sausalito, will take you under the Golden Gate Bridge and all the way out to Point Bonita Lighthouse. This is a prime area for wildlife, since it's only viewable from the water, and we'll have a naturalist on-board to guide you through the whole experience. You'll learn about the diverse ecosystems of the San Francisco Bay, with frequent wildlife sightings, and then return in time for brunch at one of Sausalito's many delicious restaurants! Tickets: $49–$69. Event details.
• Learn to Ride
  Stafford Lake Bike Park, Novato
  Sunday, 9–11 am
  Learn to ride pump tracks and rollers with a ranger at the Stafford Lake Bike Park. A limited amount of bicycles and helmets will be available on a first come, first-served basis. All skill levels are welcome and no experience is necessary. Wear comfortable athletic clothing and sturdy shoes. Park entrance is waived for participants. Location: 3549 Novato Blvd, Novato.  Event details
• U-pick Organic Apples
  Chileno Valley Ranch, Petaluma
  Sunday, 9 am–2 pm
  Visit Chileno Valley Ranch to pick crunchy, delicious, organic apples and tour the farm. Other farm products for sale including grass-fed beef, sausage, cheese, and olive oil. RSVP here. $8 per family with advance reservations; $12 drop-in. Apples cost $2 per pound. Location: 5105 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma. Event details
• Children's Program at Green Gulch
  Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, Muir Beach
  Sunday, 9:45–11:45 am
  On the first Sunday of each month, the beginning of the lecture is especially for children. After a short talk, the children leave the zendo to participate in their own special programs. Activities include crafts, seasonal projects on the farm and garden, yoga, and ritual. Please check in before the program at the table near the southwest side entrance of the zendo. Suggested donation: $20 per family. Location: 1601 Shoreline Highway, Muir Beach. Event details
• Target First Free Sunday
  Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
  Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
  Target First Free Sundays offer free general admission and family programs on the first Sunday of every month. Admission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to capacity restrictions, admission is not guaranteed. This Sunday features art making activities, exhibition tours, and more. Location: 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco. Event details
• 2019 Brazilian Day Festival
  BrasArte, Berkeley
  Sunday, 10 am– 7 pm
  The festivities unfold in Berkeley as a street party and feature a musical procession, capoeira and dance demonstrations, live music, Brazilian food and craft stands, children's village and more.  The event brings together Brazilians living all over the San Francisco Bay Area and Americans of all ethnicities to celebrate the long-practiced traditions of Afro-Brazilians in Brazil. Free. Location: 1901 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley. Event details.
• YBike Learn to Ride Program
  Presidio Visitor Center, San Francisco
  Sunday, 11 am–2 pm
  Get your kids riding on two wheels with free, safe, and friendly instruction from the Presidio Community Y. Bikes and equipment are provided. Stop by the Visitors Center to pick up a Presidio bike map. All ages are welcome; no reservations required. Co-sponsored by the Presidio Trust. Free. Location: Main Post, Presidio Visitor Center, San Francisco. Event details
• Presidio Picnic
  San Francisco Presidio
  Sunday, 11 am–4 pm
  Presidio Picnic is a great family event that takes place Sundays on the Presidio’s beautiful Main Parade Ground, a seven-acre lawn with views of the park, the city, and the San Francisco Bay. Presidio Picnic features a rotating lineup of 25 international mobile food creators, ​free yoga class, free Presidio Y Bike learn to ride lessons for kids on the first Sunday of the month, a cultural dance program every 4th Sunday, and more. Location: Presidio’s Main Parade Ground, San Francisco. Event details
• 2019 Civic Center Commons Block Party
  Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco
  Sunday, 11 am–3 pm
  The popular 1st Sundays Block Party returns for the 2019 season. Enjoy free family-friendly games, street food, music, a craft market, DIY activities, and interactive art installation. Free. Event details.
• Learn to Ride
  Stafford Lake Bike Path, Novato
  Sunday, 9–11 am
  Learn to ride pump tracks and rollers with a ranger at the Stafford Lake Bike Park. This event is ideal for ages 5 and up though riders of all ages are welcome. All skill levels are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Dress in layers and wear sturdy shoes. Don’t forget to bring your bike, helmet, and pads. No pets (except service animals) are allowed at this park. RSVP or have questions? Contact Supervising Ranger Adam Craig at ACraig@marincounty.org. Park entrance is waived for participants. Free. Location: 3549 Novato Blvd., Novato. Event details.
• Belvedere Concerts in the Park Summer Series
  Belvedere Community Park
  Sunday, 4 pm
  The Concerts-in-the-Park Committee presents four fabulous and free Sunday afternoon concerts for your enjoyment this summer. Bring a blanket, a picnic, your family and friends, and have a great time. This Sunday: Beatles tribute band the Sun Kings. Event details

Monday, September 2

• Family Labor Day Hike
  Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood
  Monday, 10 am–noon
  Come to the park for a peaceful hike through the woods, join our docents for this fun family hike that is good for all ages. During this 2-mile hike with 400-foot climb, you will learn about Sugarloaf Park’s plants, animals, and history. Weather permitting, the hike will begin and end at the Visitors Center. Free, no RSVP needed. $10 parking fee. Event details
• Sausalito Art Festival
  Marinship Park, Sausalito
  Monday, 10 am–5 pm
  The country’s best art and most exciting artists, a top-name music line-up, gourmet food, and fine wines and premium beers all bring more than 30,000 art lovers together in an electrifying atmosphere of creativity, fun, discovery, and magic every Labor Day Weekend. Children's activities include hands-on art and STEAM activities with Mobile Maker Club. Tickets to the Sausalito Art Festival are $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors 62+, and $free for children 12 and under. Event details
• Eat, Drink & Shop Local
  Cavallo Point, Sausalito
  Monday, 11 am–2:30 pm
  Eat, Drink and Shop Local on Labor Day with a classic picnic-style BBQ. Enjoy a menu offering tasty fare such as cheeseburgers, grilled salmon sandwiches, vegetarian chili, and picnic sides like summer tomato salad, pesto pasta salad, and more. For kids, there are all-beef hot dogs and mini-cheeseburgers. We’ll be serving local Fort Point beer, wine, and picnic-perfect cocktails, while live music from Tim Weed & Friends plays in the background. Enjoy lawn games and browse unique goods from local Bay Area artisans - Kathy Kamei Jewelry, Christina Choi Cosmetics, Farmhouse Lab + more. And as an added bit of fun, kids can participate in a kite making and flying workshop, while Highline Kites fly giant kites high overhead. It will be a great afternoon! Tickets: $25 adults, $12 kids. Event details
• The Golden Gate Park Band
  Spreckels Temple of Music, Golden Gate Park Music Concourse
  Monday, 1 pm
  Don't miss this free Labor Day concert and enjoy a tribute to American workers. Event details