Marin Family Weekend Events for October 5, 6 & 7

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. Most Halloween pumpkin patches in Marin and Sonoma counties are now open—see our list here.

Friday, October 5

• Fleet Week
  San Francisco Waterfront
  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
  Fleet week events include a parade of ships, Blue Angels performances from 3–4 pm, an air show, and more. Various locations on the San Francisco waterfront. More info at www.fleetweek.us. A great place to watch the Blue Angels is from Fort Baker near the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
  Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
  Friday 10 am–7 pm, Saturday, and Sunday, 11 am–7 pm
  This free annual music festival of Bluegrass, Old Time, country, and more, founded by the late Warren Hellman, takes place in Golden Gate Park's Hellman Hollow and Marx and Lindley Meadows. This year's headliners include Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Elvis Costello, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Chieftans, and Steve Earle. For more info, visit their website.
  
• America’s Cup World Series Event
  San Francisco Bay
  Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–6 pm
  The 34th America’s Cup brings the competition for the oldest trophy in international sport back to the United States for the first time in 18 years. Take in the race from Angel Island or Tiburon. For more info, visit their website.
• Sonoma County Harvest Fair
  Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa
  Friday, noon–7 pm & Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–7 pm
  Sonoma County Harvest Fair featurees three full days of wine tasting with 150+ wineries, wine sales, marketplace, chef demonstrations and workshops, farm and harvest agricultural activities for children and adults, the World Championship Grape Stomp, live music, an art show and sale, crafters pavilion, farm animals to meet, and much more. Sweet Lil's Farmery will be on hand with hatching chicks, barnyard animals, and a faux cow that the whole family can milk. Don't miss the new Pumpkin Stage—the setting for the giant pumpkin weigh-off and other pumpkin-themed fun, like carving, painting, and even an Easy Bake Oven bake-off for the best pumpkin cake. Admission: adults $10, children $5, 6 and under free. For more info, visit their website.
• Fall/Winter Launch and Craft Fika Party
  Mimi the Sardine's Corte Madera Store
  Friday, 2–7 pm and Saturday, 10 am–1 pm
  Come for a Swedish Fika party at Mimi's to celebrate the unveiling of their fall and winter colors. Fika means to “take a coffee break with a cinnamon twist”, and we are adding fun crafts for kids! Location: 305 Montecito Ave Suite A For more info, call (415) 924-9222 or visit their website.
• 40th Anniversary Block Party at Marinwood
  Marinwood Community Center, San Rafael
  Friday, 4:30–7:30 pm
  Spend a fun-filled evening with Marin County Park Rangers and partners, the Marin Humane Society, Project Coyote, and Wildcare. Nature activities and games for the kids, a dog adoption center, live music, and food will be available. Location: 775 Miller Creek Avenue, San Rafael. For more info, call (415) 479-0775 or visit their website.
  

Saturday, October 6

• Mill Valley Film Festival Children's Film Festival
  Mill Valley and San Rafael
  Saturday and Sunday, various times
  The 35th annual Mill Valley Film Festival's Children's Film Festival features a lineup of unique children's films from around the world, as well as an animation workshop, a children's parade, a Bollywood party, and more. Visit their website for times and program details.
• Green Halloween Costume Swap
  Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Families are invited to come enjoy music, treats, a special talk by Center For Food Safety’s Rebecca Spector, and a costume swap celebration at Marin Country Mart Farmer’s Market from 9 am-2 pm. What is a costume swap? It's when you bring in your child's costume from last year and trade it in for a "new" costume. Music by Ali Weiss and Warren Mann.  Keynote Rebecca Spector, Center For Food Safety West Coast Director. For more info, visit their website.
• San Domenico Open Garden Day
  San Domenico School, San Anselmo
  Saturday, 10 am–1 pm
  Come join the fun as we celebrate the fall harvest in our "Garden of Hope." Free face painting, music, pony rides and other children's activities (such as learning about bees). Try pizza from our cob oven or visit the small farmers market where we will be selling food and crafts made by students and community members to help support our garden. Location: 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo. For more info, visit their website.
• The 55th Annual Fall Kermes Festival
  Lynwood Elementary School, Novato
  Saturday, 10 am–3 pm
  This event is fun for the whole family! There will be delicious food, fun games, activities, art projects, jumpy houses, cake walk, haunted house and the very popular sugar skull painting! The festival also hosts performances by musicians, folkloric dancers and artist of various backgrounds. For more info, call (415) 897-4161 or visit their website.
• Annie Barrows
  Book Passage Corte Madera
  Saturday, 10 am
  Annie Barrows comes to the Book Passage to talk about her new book Ivy and Bean Make the Rules: Book 9. This is a free event. Location: 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. For more info, call (415) 927-0960 or visit their website.
• Trips for Kids Bike Shop Fall Warehouse Sale
  San Rafael
  Saturday, 10 am–4 pm
  Come check out the huge one-day sale at their San Rafael warehouse. They will  be offering 25-–0% discounts on selected items frames, forks, wheels, tires, helmets, clothes and more on sale. For more information, visit their website.
• Pomegranate Prenatal Yoga and Parent Center Open House
  San Anselmo
  Saturday, 11 am-2 pm
  Come check out Pomegranate at their grand opening celebration this Saturday, October 6, from 11 am to 2 pm. Enjoy live music, face and belly painting, family yoga, and mini spa treatments. Pomegranate is located at 25 Tamalpais Avenue, just off San Anselmo Avenue in downtown San Anselmo. Find out more about them by calling (415) 785-3173 or visiting www.pomcenter.com.
• Fandango at Petaluma State Historic Park
  Petaluma, Adobe Road
  Saturday, noon–4 pm
  Enjoy the Rancho with the Alta California Dance Company as they teach and perform dances of the 1840s. Games, refreshments and more. For all ages. Location: 3325 Adobe Road, Petaluma. For more info, call (707) 762-4871 or visit their website.
• National Star Wars Reads Day!
  Barnes & Noble, Corte Madera Town Center
  Saturday, 1–3 pm
  The Empire will make itself known from 1–3 pm! Meet Imperial Star Wars characters from the Golden Gate Garrison of the 501st Legion, who will be present in the store! At 2 pm, Haden Blackman, author of Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command, and Pablo Hidalgo, author of Star Wars: The Essential Reader’s Companion, will hold a discussion of their books, with a book-signing to follow. For more info, visit their website.
• First Annual Tam Valley Oktoberfest
  Tamalpais Valley Community Center, Mill Valley
  Saturday, 3–9 pm
  Bring the family to the first annual Oktoberfest. Come and watch some authentic German music by the Deutscher Musikverein of San Francisco, try some German food and beer and games for the kids. Cost: $10 per person. $5 per child under 10 years Location: 203 Marin Ave., Mill Valley. For more info, call (415) 388-6393 or visit their website.
• Les Petits Chanteurs in concert
  St. John's Church, Ross
  Saturday, 4 pm
  Les Petits Chanteurs, a children's choir from Holy Trinity Music School will perform in concert at St. John's Church in Ross. The choir will perform with an instrumental ensemble from their school. A freewill offering will be taken to support their music school and a reception follows in Hallett Hall. Location: 14 Lagunitas at Shady Lane in Ross. For more info, call (415) 456-1102 or visit their website.
• Film Night: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
  Creek Park, San Anselmo
  Saturday, 8 pm
  This Saturday's movie is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Arrive by 8 pm; films begin at dusk. Popcorn, candy and sodas will be sold. Bring blankets, pillows, backrest and low chairs. Film Night suggests leaving pets at home. Donations are appreciated. For more info, visit their website.
  
• Sonoma County Harvest Fair (see Friday for details)
• Fleet Week (see Friday for details)
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (see Friday for details)
• America's Cup World Series Event (see Friday for details)

Sunday, October 7

• 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.
  
• 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. 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.
  
• Children's Program at Green Gulch Farm
  San Francisco Zen Center
  Sunday, 10–11:30 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: $10 per family. For more info, call (415) 863-3136 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.
  
• Storytime with Christopher Smith
  Book Passage, Corte Madera
  Sunday, 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. The Book Passage is located at 51 Tamal Vista Blvd. in Corte Madera. For more info, call (415) 927-0960 or visit their website.
• Japan Center Anime Festival
  Japan Town Peace Plaza, San Francisco
  Sunday, noon–4 pm
  Come and enjoy an exciting afternoon celebrating anime with signing, dancing, a cosplay contest, and more. This event is free. For more info, visit their website.
  
• Sonoma County Harvest Fair (see Friday for details)
• Fleet Week (see Friday for details)
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (see Friday for details)
• America's Cup World Series Event (see Friday for details)
• Mill Valley Film Festival Children's Film Festival (see Saturday for details)