Marin Family Weekend Events for October 12, 13 & 14

Here are our picks for fun local 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. The Halloween pumpkin patches in Marin and Sonoma counties are now open—see our list here.

Friday, October 12

• Tolay Fall Festival
  Tolay Lake Regional Park, Petaluma
  Friday, 9 am–3 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11 am–5 pm
  The Tolay Fall Festival is a family event that takes place at Tolay Lake Regional Park, a 1,737-acre ranch near Petaluma. 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. Admission: adults $4, children 12 and under $1; $7 parking fee. For more info, call (707) 769-0429 or visit their website.
  
• Friday Nights at the de Young
  San Francisco
  Friday, 5–8:45 pm
  Enjoy hands-on art activities for the family, live music, the de Young Café, a cash bar, and more. Programs and entertainment are free. General admission required to enter the galleries: adults $10, seniors 65 and over $7, youths 13–17 $6, college students with ID $6, children 12 and under and members free. Additional fee applies for special exhibitions. More information: www.deyoungmuseum.org.
  

Saturday, October 13

• Octoberfest Celebration
  Brookside Lower Campus, San Anselmo
  Saturday, 9 am–5 pm
  A fun-packed day for the whole family! Games, prizes, face painting, crafts, raffle, silent auction, bouncy houses, obstacle course, a haunted house, book sale, live music, food trucks and more. Admission is free. Location: 116 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo. For more info, visit their website.
• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market and AutumnFest
  Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–6 pm
  This Saturday's Marin Country Mart farmers market (9 am–2 pm) features their second annual pie baking contest, pony rides, a petting zoo, and kids' music with Christopher Smith. Stick around for AutumnFest (9 am–6 pm), which features handmade drinks and food (priced at $5 or less; cash only), demonstrations, a kids' cook-off, a corn shucking competition, and more. For more info, visit their website.
  
• Paradise Fishing Derby
  Paradise Beach Park, Tiburon
  Saturday, 9 am–noon
  Join rangers for Marin County Parks' 40th Anniversary fishing contest! Prizes will be awarded for the first fish over 40 inches, the first fish that weighs 40 pounds, and the 40th fish caught! A limited number of fishing poles and bait will be provided first-come, first-served to beginner fishermen thanks to the California Department of Fish and Game. Fishing license is required when fishing from the shore, not from the pier. There is a $10 parking fee. Questions: Contact Ranger Mike Maraccini at (415) 446-4424. Meet at the fishing pier. Paradise Beach Park is located at 3450 Paradise Dr in Tiburon. For more info, visit their website.
• Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2012
  
  Historic Main Street
  Saturday and Sunday, 9 am–5 pm
  The World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay celebrates its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with a special display of gigantically enormous, heavyweight champion pumpkins, three stages of smashing entertainment, non-stop live music, the Great Pumpkin Parade, a bhaunted house, harvest-inspired crafts, homestyle foods, expert pumpkin carver Farmer Mike sculpting a monster 1,200+ pound pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, photos with the grand champion mega-gourd, pie-eating and costume contests, pumpkin carving for fun, and more Admission is free. Visit their website for more info.
• City of Sausalito Yard Sale
  MLK Parking Lot, 610 Coloma Street
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Come by and see what awesome items you might find at this huge rummage sale. Admission is free. Over 90 different booths! For more info, visit their website.
  
• Goblin Jamboree Fundraiser
  Bay Area Discovery Museum
  Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–4 pm
  Children and their families are invited to come in costume and explore the Bay Area Discovery Museum, transformed into a haunted wonderland complete with games, attractions and live entertainment. Ride a train or real ponies, visit the spooky-but-not-scary Haunted Pier, make potions in the witches’ and wizard’s school, visit the petting zoo and enjoy a full brew of games, activities and live entertainment. Entertainers include Enzo Garcia, the Radio Disney AM 1310 Road Crew, and Jeremy the Juggler. Tickets available at the door. BADM Members $13, general $15, children under 1 free. For more info, go to www.badm.org.
• Slide Ranch Harvest Celebration
  Muir Beach, 2025 Shoreline Hwy
  Saturday, 10 am–4 pm
  Enjoy live music, local foods, fall crafts, and farm activities for the whole family. Build a scarecrow, learn to spin wool, bake bread and make cheese, milk the goats, create fall crafts, explore the tidepools, and more! Tickets: $25 per person in advance, $30 at the gate; $80 per family; age 2 and under free. No one turned away for lack of funds. To pre-register, call (415) 381-6155 or email julie.epstein@slideranch.org or call (415) 381-6155. For more info, visit their website.
• Nature for Kids: Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Divide
  Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Open Space
  Saturday, 10 am–1 pm
  This walk will bring us to a nice road along the ridge where we will look for and talk about the changes that take place between the hot and dry and the cold and wet seasons. Where do the insects, spiders and lizards go? When will the salamanders come out of hiding? With luck we might see a few of the birds that have just arrived to spend the winter here. This walk is free of charge, no registration is necessary. David Herlocker will lead. Meet at the trailhead on the south side of Lucas Valley Road across from Mount Muir Court in San Rafael. For more info, call (415) 893-9508 or visit their website.
• Northgate Kids’ Sing ‘n' Play!
  San Rafael
  Saturday, 10–11 am
  Kids of all ages are invtied to come play, sing and dance in an interactive musical playgroup that will be led by talented local Marin music teachers. This free summer series of musical playgroups will offer a different music-focused program (provided by Kidzter) every other Saturday morning at Northgate. Kids will get a free musical instrument to help keep to the rhythm all summer long. Every other Saturday from 10–11 am in the Macy’s wing. For more info, visit their website.
• Venetia Valley 5th Annual Fall Carnival
  Venetia Valley School, San Rafael
  Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
  Games and kids activities including jumpy houses! There will be face painting, cake walk, live entertainment, featuring our own students, parents and local talent, delicious home made food and more. Admission is free. Food, raffle, games and jumpy tickets will be sold on site at family-friendly pricing. Help support Venetia Valley K-8 School's 700+ students! All funds help pay for music, Playworks and garden. Location: 177 N. San Pedro. For more info, visit their webstie.
  
• Puppet Show for Preschoolers: Briar Rose
  Book Passage Marin, Corte Madera
  Saturday, 11 am
  Rebecah Freeling presents Briar Rose, a retelling of the familiar Sleeping Beauty legend. This story will be enhanced by simple silk marionettes, and there will be finger games, songs, and other surprises before and afterward! This event is great for children, and adults will like it too. Location: 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. For more info, call (415) 927-0960 or visit their website.
• Biketoberfest Marin
  FairAnselm Plaza, Fairfax
  Saturday, 11 am-6 pm
  Bring the family to this year's Biketoberfest in downtown Fairfax. Family fun Including bike decorating, bike parade and face painting! Therre will be 70 bicycle exhibitors and a cargo bike jubilee featuring workshops, competitions and more. Biketoberfest will be offering lots of beer tasting, food and live music. Location: 765 Center Blvd., (next to Iron Springs Pub and Java Hut). For more info, visit their website.
• Oktoberfest Corte Madera
  Old Corte Madera Square
  Saturday, noon–5 pm
  A great tradition, this will be the 19th annual celebration! Come for the domestic and imported microbrews, three bands, kids’ activities, silent auction, festival foods sold by local vendors, ice cream and root beer floats, and much more. Tasting admission is $20, which includes a commemorative glass mug. General admission without tasting is $5 and children under 12 years old, accompanied by an adult, receive free admission. For more info, visit their website.
• Introduction to El Día de los Muertos Open House
  Colors of Spanish, Petaluma
  Saturday, 1–4 pm
  This free event, now in it's ninth year, celebrates El Día de los Muertos, with crafts, learning, and fun. Decorate a sugar skull, make papel picado and flores de papel and learn more about Colors of Spanish and  Petaluma's 2012 El Día de los Muertos events. Location: 55 Maria Drive, Petaluma. For more info, call (707) 782-1084 or visit their website.
• Tolay Fall Festival (see Friday's listing for details).

Sunday, October 14

• 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.
• West Point Inn Final Pancake Breakfast of the Season
  Mt. Tamalpais
  Sunday, 9 am–1 pm
  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.
• Life on the Edge at Point Bonita Lighthouse
  Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito
  Sunday, 9:30–11:30 am
  Gather your family for a one-of-a-kind experience touring the historic Point Bonita Lighthouse. The half-mile hike to the lighthouse is filled with stunning views and fun adventures through a tunnel and along a footbridge. Keep your eye out for seals sunbathing on the rocks below. Learn what it takes to be a lighthouse keeper and the importance that the lighthouse still provides for navigating ships. This is a moderate hike along unpaved trails. Carriers are recommended for children 4 and under. No strollers or dogs. $10 per person. Pre-registration required here. Meet at the trailhead to the lighthouse at 9:30 am. For more info, call (415) 331-1548 or visit their website
• Family Adventure Sail
  Bay Model, Sausalito
  Sunday, 9:30 am–noon
  Step about the schooner Seaward and help the crew raise the sails and steer the boat, or just sit back and enjoy the view! Morning winds are typically light, so you'll often get to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge. This sail will include optional learning stations in seamanship and San Francisco Bay ecology. This is a great sail for families, though everyone is invited! Guests are welcome to bring picnic lunches or other refreshments. Tickets: adults $45, youth (ages 6–12) $25, children under 6 free. For more info, call (415) 331-3214 or visit their website.
• Marine Science Sundays
  The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito
  Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
  These fun-filled days of family-friendly tours, classroom activities, and more are centered around a new theme each month. The theme this month is "Where Have All The Marine Mammals Gone?" Celebrate the rare and endangered marine mammals along the California coast, and the efforts to save them. The Marin Mammal Center is located at 2000 Bunker Road Fort Cronkhite. Admission is free. For more info, call (415) 289-7356 or visit their website.
• U-Pick Apples at Chileno Valley Ranch
  Chileno Valley Ranch
  Sunday, 10 am–4 pm
  Pick your own organic apples at this family farm located in West Marin. Grass fed beef, pork, and eggs are also for sale. $2 per pound for apples, $6 per car parking fee. Call first to RSVP. More information: (707) 765-6664 or visit their website.
  
• U-Pick Sunday at Bloomfield Farms
  Petaluma
  Sunday, 10 am–3 pm
  On Sundays through the end of October, families can come to Bloomfield Farms and pick their own kale, broccoli, zucchini, green beans, Swiss chard, and more on this certified organic family farm. The cost is $25 to fill a box. Read our article about it here. This Sunday, Chef John Lyle and Hardcore Farm to Face will be on hand for a pay-what-you-can Farm Fun Brunch! Bloomfield Farms is located west of Petaluma on 12250 Valley Ford Road. An RSVP to upick@bloomfieldfarmsorganics.com or on the farm's Facebook page is appreciated, but not essential.
  
• Marin Waldorf's Annual Children’s Faire
  San Rafael
  Sunday from 10 am–4 pm
  This wonderful event is for children ages 3–10 years old. Bring the family for a day of fun that includes games, puppet shows, story telling, crafts, and local vendors. Organic food is available for purchase. Free. For more info, call (415) 479-8190 ext. 102 or visit their website.
• Novato Fire District Open House
  various fire stations in Novato
  Sunday, 10 am–1 pm
  The Novato Fire District holds its yearly Open House at all Novato Fire Stations this Sunday only from 10 am to 1 pm. Bring the kids to meet the firefighters and personnel and to learn about fire safety. There will be a live demonstration at Station 62 (450 Atherton Avenue) from 1:30–2:30 pm, where you can watch firefighters simulate a rescue, and children can meet Sparky the Fire Safety Dog (make sure you bring your camera for photos with Sparky and the firefighters). Also, the Novato Fire Museum will be open 10 am–1 pm at 95 Rowland Way. For more info, call (415) 878-2690 or visit their website.
  
• Tim Cain Performs at the Pumpkin Patch
  Nicasio Valley Farms
  Sunday, 11 am
  Tim Cain will perform at Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch in Nicasio on Sunday 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 from 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.
  
• Tolay Fall Festival (see Friday's listing for details).
• Goblin Jamboree at the Bay Area Discovery Museum (see Saturday's listing for details).
• Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival (see Saturday's listing for details).