Marin Weekend Family Fun for July 26–28

Day Out With Thomas chugs into Roaring Camp Railroads in the Santa Cruz Mountains this weekend.

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, July 26

• U-pick Organic Blueberries
  Duckworth Family Farm, Sebastopol
  Friday–Sunday, 7 am–2 pm
  Hand-pick organic blueberries, enjoy fresh blueberry ice cream, visit with some friendly farm animals and picnic under the trees. This 80 acre farm is amazing. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes that you don't mind get dirty—you're on a farm, after all. Location: 2950 Canfield Road in Sebastopol. For more information, visit their Facebook page or call (707) 829-7999.
• Gilroy Garlic Festival
  Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy
  Friday–Sunday, 10 am–7 pm
  The Gilroy Garlic Festival attracts garlic-lovers from around the world. It’s “Summer’s Ultimate Food Fair” with three full days of incredible food, beverages, arts & crafts, live entertainment, and cooking competitions. Location: 7050 Miller Avenue, Gilroy. Event details
• Day Out With Thomas
  Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton
  Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, 10:30 am–5:30 pm
  This popular family event takes place at Roaring Camp Railroads in the Santa Cruz Mountains. You can take a train ride, meet Sir Topham Hatt, and enjoy live music. Tickets: $21 advance, $25 for peak times—Saturdays and Sundays 10:30 am–2:30 pm, $24 at the gate. Tickets required for everyone aged 2 and up and include all entertainment and activities as well as a 25-minute train ride. Parking $10 per vehicle. Location: Graham Hill Road, Felton. Event details
• Free Children's Garden Series: Alphabet Rockers
  Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco
  Friday, 11–11:30 am & 12:15–12:45 pm
  Over the past decade, the Alphabet Rockers have honed a supremely engaging hip-hop act designed for children and families. With singer/songwriter Kaitlin McGaw and beatboxer/b-boy/rapper Tommy Shepherd, this powerhouse group makes the world come alive through beats, rhymes, songs and dances. Event details.
• Making Stories with Maggie Tokuda-Hall
  Faifax Library
  Friday, 3–4 pm
  What happens next is up to you! Maggie’s picture book "Also, an Octopus" is an inventive exercise in story development. Maggie will share her book and jump-start kids’ imaginations to find the elements they need to develop stories of their own. All ages welcome. Free. Location: 2097 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax. Event details.
• Tam Valley's Creekside Fridays
  Tennessee Valley Cabin, Mill Valley
  Friday, 6:30–8 pm
  Bring the family, pets, chairs, and blankets to the weekly free musical event. This week: the rockin sound of the 85's. Food available for purchase. Location: 60 Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley. 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 the good life with Ol’ Blue Eyes, Jonathan Poretz that is, with a swingin' tribute to Frank Sinatra and the fabulous music of the Rat Pack era. Location: Main Street, Downtown Tiburon. Event details
• Jazz & Blues by the Bay
  Gabrielson Park, Sausalito
  Friday, 6:30–8 pm
  Jazz & Blues by the Bay at Gabrielson Park in Sausalito is a free event. Lawn seating available (first-come first-served). This Friday: The Dylan Black Project (blues). Event details
• Big, the Musical
  Berkeley Playhouse
  Friday, 5 & 8 pm
  One of the most beloved films of the ‘80s, the Tom Hanks comedy classic is now a heartfelt musical fantasy. Josh Baskin is 12 years old. He wishes that his mom would stop hugging him in public, that he didn’t have to take out the garbage, and that Cynthia Benson, the girl next door, would notice him. When she passes him over for an older boy, Josh makes a wish to be big … and wakes up the next morning in the body of a 30-year-old man. Taking off to the big city, Josh now must navigate the unknown world of adults — a world of jobs, girlfriends and disgustingly fancy foods — as he and his best friend seek out a way to undo the spell that caused him to grow. Tickets: $20–$45. Event details
• Stapleton Theatre Company presents: Matilda the Musical!
  The Playhouse, San Anselmo
  Friday, 7 pm, Saturday, 2 & 7 pm and Sunday, 2 pm
  Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination. Tickets: $12. Location: 1327 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, San Anselmo. Event details.
• Movies in the Park
  Lucchesi Park, Petaluma
  Friday, sunset
  The fun takes place in Lucchesi Park, with each movie beginning at dusk...but come EARLY at 6:00pm for food, games, and family-friendly fun. This Friday, Monster's Inc. Free admission: Location: 320 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma. Event details.

Saturday, July 27

• The Great Train Days
  Children's Museum Sonoma County, Santa Rosa
  Saturday, 9am–4 pm & Sunday, 9 am–3 pm
  Join the Redwood Empire Garden Railway Society as they show off their model trains and buildings. Build your own train tracks, listen to train music, and hear a story about trains. Don't miss out on a ride on the Live Steamers ride-on train (additional fees apply)!  Cost: $12 general admission, free for members. There are additional fees for concessions, face painting, and the Live Ride-on Train. Location: 1835 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. Event details.
• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market
  Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo for the kids from 10 am–2 pm, face kids' crafts from 9 am–2 pm, children's music or storytelling from 9:30–10:30 am, and more live music from 11 am–12:30 pm, as well as fresh produce, prepared foods, and great local restaurants. Event details
• March of the Penguins
  San Francisco Zoo
  Saturday, 9:30 am–12:30 pm
  Come watch our adorable Magellanic penguin chicks waddle through the Zoo to their new home on Penguin Island. With much pomp and circumstance, this event celebrates the chicks' graduation from “Fish School” where they lose their fluffy down, learn to eat whole fish, swim and accept food from their human keepers. Once these little ones have made it around the pond, they’re reunited with the rest of the penguin colony where they will remain for their adult lives. Penguin march begins at 10:15 am. Free after zoo admission. Event details.
• Toni's Yoga Storytime
  Larkspur Library
  Saturday, 10 am
  Stretch into the weekend with this fun interactive storytime! For families and kids up to age 6. Free. Location: 400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur. Event details.
• Berkeley Kite Festival
  Cesar E. Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina
  Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
  Kites aren't just for kids any more. Experience the excitement and artistry of modern kite flying. You'll find something for everyone at the Berkeley Kite Festival. From the Giant Creature Kites as big as houses, to the free Kite Making and Candy Drop for kids, you don't want to miss this year’s Annual Berkeley Kite Festival. Parking is $15 per day; overflow parking at Golden Gate Fields includes a free shuttle to event. Event details
• Fort Ross Festival
  Fort Ross State Historic Park
  Saturday, 10 am–6:30 pm
  The Fort Ross Festival is the perfect way to celebrate Summer in Sonoma County! Where else can you witness Kashia Pomo ceremonial dancing, sing along to Americana Swing, learn from Alaska Native craftspeople, and take in traditional Russian performances, all together on the most beautiful stretch of the Sonoma coast? Grab a pint from our Beer Garden (closes at 5:30 pm) and enjoy an amazing day celebrating different cultures. Back by popular demand, join the Fort Ross Militia for historic firearms demonstrations, and have a BLAST at Fort Ross! Admission: $20 per car. Event details
• Summer Celebration at Martin Griffin Preserve
  Martin Griffin Preserve, Stinson Beach
  Saturday, 10 am–4 pm
  This Saturday is the last day of our summer season at Martin Griffin Preserve -- time to celebrate! Enjoy the late-season flowers, changing sounds and smells, and warmer days with guided hikes at 11 am and 2 pm offered by our volunteer Nature Guides, with summer celebration activities and crafts throughout the day. Suggested donation of $20 per person. Location: 4900 Shoreline Highway 1, Stinson Beach. Event details.
• Creekside Nature Hike
  Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood
  Saturday, 10–11:30 am
  Join us for a 1.4-mile nature hike along the Sonoma Creek. On the hike your leader will teach you about the plants, animals, and aquatic life of Sonoma Creek. The hike starts at the visitors’ center. Free; $8 per car parking. Event details
• Trails for Tots
  Sonoma Valley Regional Park, Glen Ellen
  Saturday, 10–11:30 am
  Do you know a little one that likes to get outside? Crafts and nature exploration await children ages 3–4 with an adult. Free. Parking $7 or free for Regional Parks members. Event details.
• Craft-n-Create Family Maker Workshops
  South Novato Library
  Saturday, 11 am–1 pm
  Fun for the whole family! Become an inventor, scientist, artist & engineer as we explore new concepts each week through art and engineering in our Makerspace. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Free. Locaton: 931 C Street, Hamilton area in Novato. Event details.
• Disney and Pixar’s UP: In Concert Live to Film with the SF Symphony
  Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco
  Saturday, 2 pm
  The unlikely duo of a 78-year-old curmudgeonly balloon salesman and an eight-year-old stowaway soon find themselves on a hilarious and heartwarming journey to a lost world filled with danger and surprises. Celebrate the world premiere with live orchestra and 10th anniversary of this Oscar- and Grammy Award-winning new classic when the SF Symphony performs the music live to film on the big screen. Tickets: starting at $50. Location: 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. Event details
• Marinwood Summer Brewfest
  Marinwood Park, San Rafael
  Saturday, 2–7 pm
  Featuring local breweries, live bands and awesome food! Tickets: $15. Ages 21 and over; childcare available for ages 2–8, $10 per child. Event details.
• Hot Amphitheater Nights: Illeagles
  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! Kona ice will also be onsite selling shaved ice. Illeagles are the Bay Area’s Premier Eagles tribute band. In the true spirit of the word tribute, this group of seasoned players honors the spirit of the Eagles and keeps true to the essence of the musicianship honoring the Eagles incredible music catalog and legacy. Event details
• Angel Island Movie Night: The LEGO Movie 2
  Tiburon
  Saturday, 6–10:30 pm
  Come enjoy The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part under the stars, have a picnic dinner, and create some fabulous memories with friends and family at this unique experience on Angel Island. This event is organized in partnership with the Mill Valley Film Festival Movie Night is a fundraiser sponsored by Angel Island Conservancy to benefit Angel Island State Park, including a scholarship programs and other park improvements. Tickets: $30 adults, $15 children 12 and under,  ferry ride to Angel Island from Tiburon included. Order your tickets online here. Make sure you bring flashlights or headlamps and blankets or low-backed lawn chairs.The ferry leaves Tiburon promptly at 5 pm.
• Beatles in the Park!
  Creek Park, San Anselmo
  Saturday, 6 pm
  The San Anselmo Arts Commission invites you to come groove on down to Creek Park in San Anselmo for the Annual Beatles in the Park Tribute Concert. The Beatles Tribute is the major fundraiser for the San Anselmo Arts Commission. There will be a “Twist and Shout” special dance for the kids in the audience. Park opens at 4 pm for the event. We are proud to be partnering with The Hub to be selling food at this year's event. Enjoying delicious, fresh food grown and raised locally in support of farmers and ranchers. Tickets: Adults $20; children 12 and under are $5. Purchase tickets here. Location: 249 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, San Anselmo. Event details
• Summer Nights Festival: Americana
  Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, San Rafael
  Saturday, 7–10 pm
  Bring a picnic, your blanket, low-backed lawn chairs, and dancing shoes—there's fun for the whole family! Food from Rocky's Quality Meats, beer, wine , soft drinks, and snacks will be available for purchase, and there's a playground available for supervised play and Kid Zone art project. This Saturday: Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs. Cost: $23 members and $26 general advance; $32 day-of; kids 17 and under are free. Event details
• Spring Lake Campfire Program
  Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa
  Saturday, 7–8 pm
  Registered campers are invited to a campfire program that explores the diverse ecosystems of Spring Lake. Through interpretive and hands-on activities, you will discover the wonders of local flora and fauna. Every Saturday beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Free. Parking $7 or free for Regional Parks members.  Location: 5585 Newanga Avenue, Santa Rosa. Event details

Sunday, July 28

• 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
• 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. Event details
• Summer Music Series
  Corte Madera Town Center
  Sunday, 2–4 pm
  Enjoy live music every Sunday all summer long. Free. Event details
• Stern Grove Festival
  Sigmund Stern Grove, San Francisco
  Sunday, 2 pm
  This Sunday, San Francisco Ballet performs, led by artistic director Helgi Tomasson, with the award-winning San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. Programs and activities for children on the Kid Stage from noon to 1 pm before every concert. Free admission. Location: 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, San Francisco. Event details.
• Fairytale Capella
  Marin Country Mart, Larkspur
  Sunday, 2:30–3:30 pm
  Summer Solstice will be at the Mart for a fun, fairytale themed capella show, featuring songs from classic films like the Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka, Snow White, Cinderella, and more... Location: 2257 Larkspur Landing Cir, Larkspur. Event details.
• Summer Sunday Concerts at Piccolo Pavilion
  Old Corte Madera Square
  Sundays, 5–6:30 pm
  Bring the family to the free outdoor summer concerts at the Old Corte Madera Square. This Sunday: Victoria George & The High Lonesome. Bring lawn chairs, a blanket and a picnic. Event details