Marin Family Weekend Events for February 15, 16 & 17

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.

Friday, February 15

• Sing-Along with Sara Sonnet
  San Rafael Public Library
  Friday, 10:30–11 am
  Come for a delightful selection of books, motion songs, toys, finger plays, lullabies and rhymes for children aged birth to 4 years old. Location: 1100 E Street, San Rafael. For more info, call (415) 485-3322 or visit their website.
• Breakfast with Enzo (music for families)
  Sports Basement, San Francisco
  Friday, 2 shows: 10 am & 11 am
  Enzo Garcia plays guitar, banjo, accordion, musical saw, Jew's harp, enzotar, appalachian dulcimer, slide flute, percussion and more. Enzo has been performing his family music show, "Breakfast with Enzo," weekly in San Francisco for the past 8 years, Recommended for children 7 and under. Drop in any time. Cost: $5 per person; siblings under 7 months free. For more info, call (415) 652-2474 or visit his website.
  
• The Family Live-Aboard Experience on the USS Hornet
  USS Hornet Museum, Alameda
  Friday, 5 pm–Saturday, 10 am
  Bring the family (ages 5 and up) on the untimate overnight adventure on the historic aircraft carrier the USS Hornet. Come explore the decks of the famous World War II ship from the captain's bridge to the engine room. Kids and adults sleep in original crew bunks, eat dinner and breakfast in the crew's mess hall and much much more. Check out the itinerary at the link below. Read about our overnight experience here. Cost: $100 per person. For more info, (510) 521- 8448 or visit their website.
• Family Fare: Circus Oz
  Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley
  Friday, 8 pm, Saturday, 2pm, and Sunday 3 pm
  Stunt-jumping acrobats contest physics, fearless aerial artists laugh at gravity, slapstick knockabouts descend into chaos, and live onstage musicians rock the house! Each show—like every Circus Oz performance over the past 34 years—is a one-of-a-kind wonder. It's a great show for the whole family! Tickets start at $22. Purchase tickets here. For more info, call (510) 642-9988 or visit their website.
  

Saturday, February 16

• BikeAbout at the Zoo
  San Francisco Zoo
  Saturday, 8:30–10 am
  Families can bring their bicycles to the zoo for this informative one-and-one-half hour, docent-led cycling tour. Registration includes parking and zoo admission. Participants must bring a bicycle; the SF Zoo does not provide bicycles to rent. Cost: SFZS Members: $18 per peddler; non-members: $23 per peddler. Children piggy-backing on their parents' bikes are free. Pre-registration required here. For more info, call (415) 753-7080 or visit their website.
• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market
  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! Kids can take a pony ride and visit the petting zoo (10 am–2 pm), try out some arts and crafts (9 am–2 pm) and listen to family music (9:30–10:30 am). For more info, visit their website.
• Whale Watching at Point Reyes Lighthouse
  Point Reyes National Seashore
  Weekends, 9 am–3:30 pm
  Go see the whales out at the Point Reyes Light House and Chimney Rock. Shuttle buses leave Drakes Beach every 15– 20 minutes. The cost is $5 per person. Children under 16 are free. No cars allowed at Point Reyes Light House during the weekends. For more info, visit their website.
• Aquatics Open House
  Osher Marin JCC
  Saturday, 9–11 am
  Come get your feet wet at the JCC Aquatics Open House! Located in their warm 88-degree indoor pool, seasoned swim staff will individually assess your child's current abilities so you can give them a head start on learning safety skills and stroke techniques. Perfect for kids aged 6 months to 8 years of age. Water play, prizes and refreshments, too! Register for swim lessons that day and receive a special discount. Contact Aquatics Program Director Cheryll Boissevain at (415) 444-8005 to sign up; space is limited. Location: 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. For more info, visit their website.
• The Great Backyard Bird Count
  NatureBridge, Fort Cronkhite
  Saturday, 9:30 am–noon
  It is time for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, and you and your family can help! During this event you will become ornithologists, a fancy word for bird scientist, and learn how to identify Marin County frequent flyers. Then help in counting birds during a hike around Rodeo Lagoon. The data collected will be used to help get an accurate picture of what bird populations are doing locally and globally. Dress in layers for changing weather, bring a hat, water bottle, and sunscreen. Location: 1033 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito. Free. For more info, call (415) 331-1548 or visit their website.
  
• Tulipmania at Pier 39
  San Francisco
  Saturday & Sunday, 10 am
  Pier 39 has planted 39,000 spectacular and colorful tulips throughout the waterfront park. Come for a free guided tour led by Pier 39’s expert landscapers beginning at 10 am daily from the Entrance Plaza. After each tour, enjoy complimentary refreshments. For more info, visit their website.
• World On Stage: ABADA Capoeira
  Bay Area Discovery Museum
  Saturday, 11 am–noon
  Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, fuses acrobatics, dance, percussion, and song. African slaves in Portuguese-colonized Brazil developed this rigorous form of self-defense. ABADA shows how they camouflaged the art with music, song, and dance so they could practice it undetected. Cost: members $7; general $17 (includes museum admission). Ticket can be purchased here. For more info, visit their website.
• Puppet Show for Preschoolers with Rebecah Freeling
  Book Passage, Corte Madera
  Saturday, 11 am
  Master storyteller and early childhood educator Rebecah Freeling presents a magical puppet show for preschoolers featuring her original stories and tales drawn from folk and fairy tale traditions. Free. Book Passage is located at 51 Tamal Vista Boulevard in Corte Madera. For more information, visit their website.
  
• Kids Club with Andy Z
  Northgate Mall, San Rafael
  Saturday, 11 am–noon
  Northgate has teamed up with National Geographic Kids to create activities and games that focus on discovery through play. Singer/songwriter Andy Z will entertain kids through music, movement, storytelling, and character puppets to create an experience that keeps kids engaged and adults entertained. Location: Kids Club area near center of mall. For more info, visit their website.
• Ivy & Bean, the Musical
  Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley
  Saturday and Sunday, 11 am and 2 pm
  Bring the family (ages 4 and up) to come meet quiet Ivy, who has amazing ideas, and outgoing Bean, who loves to put ideas into action. The mischievous heroines of the award-winning Ivy + Bean stories by local author Annie Barrows. Tickets: adults $20, child $25, seniors $17. You can purchase tickets here. For more info, call (510) 644-2020 or visit their website.
• Lunar New Year Celebration
  San Francisco Botanical Garden
  Saturday, 11 am–3 pm & Sunday 9–11:30 am
  Bring the whole family to a weekend of special performances and hands-on activities in celebration of the Year of the Snake and the many magnolias from China in the Garden. On Saturday, see lion dancers and lively folk dances, pot a plant to take home, and make plant lanterns using magnolia petals and more in the garden. On Sunday, the fun continues with tai chi performances and participatory demonstrations, including dazzling sword forms and more. Location: 9th Ave at Lincoln Way at MLK Jr. Blvd., San Francisco. For more info, visit their website.
• Kids Origami Workshop
  Corte Madera Library
  Saturday, 2 pm
  Led by amazing student origami artists Marco Carbullido from Kent Middle School and Grace Lightner from Tamalpais High School. Ages 8 and up. Call (415) 924-6382 to sign up. Visit their website for more info.
• Parent's Night Out
  ITK Culinary, Sausalito
  Saturday, 5–9 pm
  For ages 4–14. Kids will create a fresh, healthy meal for themselves as soon as they walk through the door. Children will learn about kitchen safety, cook their own meal, setting the table, clearing the after themselves, wash their own dishes and prepare and cook their own dessert. Meals can be adjusted to accommodate dietary, allergic or religious concerns, just let us know on the meal request. Cost: $65, 2 kids $120 and 3 kids $175. Register online here. For more info, call (415) 331-8766 or visit their website.
• Peguins + Pajamas Sleepover
  California Academy of Sciences
  Saturday, 6 pm
  Experience your own "night at the museum" as you explore the exhibits after-hours, stargaze at a planetarium show, and enjoy a special live animal presentation. Before bedtime, settle in for story time with cookies and milk to learn about Pierre—the Academy’s famous wetsuit-wearing penguin. Then, unroll your sleeping bag in African Hall, next to the swaying kelp of the aquarium's California Coast tank, or even at the Swamp window, face-to-face with Claude, the albino alligator. In the morning, rise and shine, then head over to the Academy Café for breakfast. Members $79, non-members $99. For more information and tickets, visit their website.

Sunday, February 17

• 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. For more info, visit their website.
• A Woodland Winter
  Muir Woods National Monument
  Sunday, 9 am–noon
  Discover the wonder of an old-growth redwood forest in winter on this leisurely walk on the Fern Creek and Alice Eastwood trails. Look for salmon, mushroom displays, winter wildflowers, waterfalls, and more! Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes as the trails are steep and may be muddy. Bring water and a snack. Entry fees apply. Meet at the visitor center. For information and reservations, call (415) 388-2596. Visit their website here.
  
• Sundays at the J!
  Marin JCC, San Rafael
  Sunday, 10 am–4 pm
  Bring the family for a day of fun. Playtime in the gym, bounce house, and tumbling for families with children 6 and under, art time, library time in the Lefferts Jewish Community Library, and sports and recreation for families with children 7+. Family-friendly fare is available at the café. Adult supervision is required for kids 9 and under. Drop-in charge per person. Location: 200 N San Pedro Road in San Rafael. For more info, visit their website.
  
• Lunar New Year Celebration
  San Francisco Zoo
  Sunday, 10 am–3 pm
  To commemorate the Year of the Snake, the San Francisco Zoo is thrilled to host Lunar New Year entertainment for children of all ages. Come marvel at Chinese acrobatic performances, traditional Chinese lion and folk dancing, Chinese yo-yo tricks and much more. Make a take-home snake craft near the entertainment stage. Go on a zodiac scavenger hunt through the zoo to learn fun facts about the animals found on the Chinese calendar; complete the zodiac scavenger hunt and receive a lucky red envelope with a special surprise inside. For more info, call (415) 753-7080 or visit their website.
• Songbirds and Shorebirds of Bolinas Lagoon
  Bolinas Lagoon
  Sunday, 10 am–1 pm
  Come out for a bird walk along the Bob Stewart Trail in Bolinas Lagoon. View songbirds flitting among the understory as you walk along Pine Gulch Creek, and finish up with a view of the shorebirds on the lagoon. This is a gentle walk on even ground. Dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes (it could be muddy or slippery), and bring water, snacks, and binoculars. For more info or directions, visit their website.
  
• The World's Funniest Bubble Show
  Berkeley TheaterStage, 2120 Aliston Way
  Sunday, 11 am
  The World’s Funniest Bubble Show is an enchanting brew of breathtaking bubbles and bubbly music that will appeal to everyone, no matter what their age. Packed with fun stuff, it makes a perfect and amazingly inexpensive outing for the whole family. This show is 60 minutes with no intermission and is intended for all audiences. Tickets: children under 12 $8; adults $11 (plus $1.50 service fee). For more info, visit their website.
• Storytime with Christopher Smith
  Book Passage Corte Madera
  Sunday at 11 am
  Acoustic multi-instrumentalist Smith crafts story songs that aim for the heart. He is especially popular with toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners. However, all ages (including adults) love him. Book Passage is located at 51 Tamal Vista Boulevard in Corte Madera. For more info, call (415) 927-0960 or visit visit their website.