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, December 4

• A Storybook Holiday Festival will take place in the Town of Tiburon on Friday at 5:30 pm. An enchanting storybook town comes to life in downtown Tiburon, along Main Street from the fountain to the end of Upper Ark Row. Festivities include classic holiday carolers, costumed characters, gingerbread house making, face painting, and more wonderful holiday treats. In addition, Tiburon shops and restaurants will be open, many with discounts and specials. For more info, go to their website.
• Holiday Crafts Faire at the Margaret Todd Center in Novato, Friday, 6–9 pm and Saturday, 10 am–4 pm. Free admission, 50+ vendors, wreaths, specialty foods, ceramics and entertainment. Margaret Todd Center is at 1560 Hill Road in Novato. For more information, call (415) 899-8290.
• The 39th Annual Dance Palace Holiday Crafts Fair in Point Reyes, Friday, 3–9 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–5 pm. Ceramics, toys, ornaments, clothing, jewelry, and more will be on sale at this annual holiday fair—with delicious refreshments on sale prepared by Indian Peach Food Company. Free admission. The Dance Palace is located at 503 B Street in Pt. Reyes. For more info, go to www.dancepalace.org.
• Come to ZooLights 2009 at Oakland Zoo on Friday at 5:30 pm. When the sun goes down the ZooLights will turn on. This is a family-friendly event that runs from December 4 – January 3. Hundreds of LED lights illuminate the night sky, taking on the shapes of animals, candy canes, lollipops, and, of course, Santa Claus! As you walk along the night paths of the Zoo, brightly-colored lights and festive music fill the air. Come checkout Santa’s Village and a fantasyland of giant toy soldiers and gingerbread men. Wrap up the evening with a train ride on the Snowball Express. Cost: Adults $7.50; Children and Seniors $5.50. For more info, go to www.oaklandzoo.org.
• Lighting of City Hall with Santa on the Plaza in downtown Sonoma on Friday at 5:00 pm. Every year Santa Claus rides on a vintage fire truck to the Sonoma Plaza, lights up the Christmas tree and City Hall and passes out candy canes to tots. Phone Number: (866) 996-1090. Santa will be heading to Andrews Hall at the Community Center directly after lighting up City Hall. Photos with Santa, music, warm cider, snacks, adult beverages, craft projects, & pottery sale. Photos charged separately at 6:00pm. Call 707-938-4626 x1 for more info.
• The Great Dickens Christmas Fair at San Francisco's Cow Palace is now in its 31st year! The Dickens Fair runs on weekends through December 20. Experience Victorian London with hundreds of costumed players, shops offering one-of-a-kind gifts and Christmas treasures, dining, and pubs. Meet Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, Tiny Tim, and of course, Father Christmas himself. 11 am to 7 pm. Adults $22, students/seniors/military $19, children 5–11 $10, free for children under 5. Information: (800) 5120-1558 or www.dickensfair.com.
• Holiday Ice Skating (read our article).
  

Saturday, December 5

• Breakfast with Santa at Northgate (9–10 am) and the Sausalito Yacht Club (8:30–11 am). See our article for details.
• Mill Valley Community Center Holiday Craft Fair, Saturday, 10 am–5 pm. Come stroll through the community center for some unique holiday items. There will be  musical entertainment, a raffle and more. Warm food and sweet treats will also be available from Fair Co-sponsor, The Mill Valley Seniors’ Club. Free admission. The Mill Valley Community Center is located at180 Camino Alto in Mill Valley. For more information call (415) 383-1370.
• Bring the kids to the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s Hip Kid’s Music Series presenting Octopretzel on Saturday at 11 am. Octopretzel’s show promises to be as exuberant as their whimsical name. The band creates engaging music which inspires curiosity, imagination and awareness of the magical world we live in. It is a danceable, singable and super fun experience for kids of all ages. Members $6 and General $8. For more info, go to www.badm.org.
• The Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society will be holding its annual Holiday Crafts Faire on Sat. Dec 5 from 10am-4pm at The Cottage at the Art and Garden Center, 841 Tiburon Blvd. in Tiburon. For more info, go to their website or call (415) 435-1853.
• Bring the family for Photos with Santa Claus at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma on Saturyday and Sunday form 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. There will be events and surprises throughout the afternoon. Spend the day visiting beautiful gardens. Admission to the gardens is always free and kids love to explore! For more info, call (707) 933-3010 or go to www.cornerstonegardens.com.
• The 14th Annual Gingerbread Architecture Extravaganza at the Bay Area Discovery Museum runs through December 23. Weekend sessions at 11 am, noon, and 1 pm. Cost is $25 per gingerbread kit and pre-registration is required, so register online at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Make sure to register early at www.badm.org, because the event does sell out.
• The Stapleton Ballet Nutcracker presents two performances on both Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 5 pm in the Marin Veteran's Memorial Auditorium. The always-magical Stapleton Ballet Nutcracker shines brighter than ever this year! In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the timeless tale of Clara and her wondrous adventures with the Nutcracker Prince will have an exciting, fresh new look. The cast features over 150 talented and energetic dancers from the Stapleton School of the Performing Arts, as well as professional guest artists. Costumed characters will greet children in the lobby after 1 pm shows. More information: www.stapletonschool.org. Ticket prices: Adults $30; Seniors and students $16.
• Just Dance Academy performs on Saturday at 1 and 5 pm in the Marin Center's Showcase Theater. Enjoy unique and inspiring jazz, tap, and hip-hop routines performed by dancers in both the junior and senior dance programs. Also included will be exciting performances from the Just Dance Academy Dance Teams. Opening the performance will be an abbreviated version of the classic ballet The Nutcracker with new costumes and choreography to delight and entertain all ages. More information: www.justdance.biz. Ticket prices: adults $15, seniors and youth under 12 $12.
• San Geronimo Valley Community Center Holiday Crafts Fair & Silent Auction, Saturday, 1–6 pm. Beautiful hand-made crafts from local Valley artists. Bring the family for a fun day of holiday celebration that includes a performance from Tim Cain at 5:00 pm, visit Santa  from 1:00-2:30 pm. The community center is located at 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in San Geronimo. Free. For more info, go to their website.
• Don't miss Downtown Novato's Holiday Celebration and Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday at 5:00 pm. Santa and his elves arrive by carriage, so bring your camera and your wish list. There will be entertainment, face painting and food and craft booths. Location: 900 Sherman Avenue, Old Town Novato. For more info, go to their website.
• The Annual San Anselmo Holiday Lighting Ceremony is on Saturday from 5-7 pm. Bring the family to the holiday lighting ceremony at San Anselmo Town Hall, sponsored by the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce. There will be live holiday entertainment by Marin Girls Chorus, complimentary refreshments, candy canes, and balloons, and free pictures with Santa, courtesy of Seawood Photo. Come shop and dine downtown, too, and check out the holiday window decorations! San Anselmo Town Hall is at 525 San Anselmo Avenue. For more info, go to their website.
• Marin Symphony Holiday Concerts By Candlelight, Saturday, 7:30 pm and Sunday, 4 pm. Stephen McKersie conducts the Marin Symphony Chamber Chorus and Orchestra in festive carols from around the world at Saint Raphael’s Church in San Rafael. Pre-concert music begins 30 minutes prior. Open-seating tickets $30 per person in advance; $35 at the door. Order tickets online or call (415) 479-8100. Order tickets early as these concerts often sell out. Saint Raphael’s Church is located at 1104 Fifth Avenue in San Rafael. For more info, go to www.marinsymphony.org.
• Holiday Ice Skating (read our past article).
• The Great Dickens Christmas Fair (see Friday's listing for details).

Sunday, December 6

• Breakfast with Santa at the Margaret Todd Senior Center in Novato (9:30 am–noon). See our article for details.
• Everyone is welcome at the Osher Marin JCC's Festival of Lights, Sunday, noon–4 pm. Eat latkes, make candles and menorahs, and shop for unique gifts by talented local artists. Live Klezmer music, book fair, Hannukah marketplace, activities for children, and more. Free. More information: www.marinjcc.org
• Family entertainer Enzo Garcia present Breakfast with Enzo at the Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse every Sunday. There will be two different sets of music at 10 and 11 am. Enzo invites you, your friends, family, and neighbors to join him for a morning of genuine, heartfelt, sing-along family fun. He'll bring his banjo, accordion, guitar, musical saw, and other surprises. All you need are clapping hands, singing voices and dancing feet. BYOB—Bring Your Own Breakfast. The Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse is located at 280 Buena Vista Avenue in Mill Valley. For more info, call (415) 652-2474 or go to www.enzogarcia.com.
• The Civic Center Farmers' Market in San Rafael takes place Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm. They have lots of organically grown produce, breads, eggs, and fresh cut flowers. Live music by the Mad Maggies and That Man Fantastic. This farmers' market is a great one to take the kids to. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s located in the main Civic Center parking lot. For more info, go to www.marincountyfarmersmarkets.org
• The 14th Annual Gingerbread Architecture Extravaganza at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Weekend sessions at 11 am, noon, and 1 pm. Cost is $25 per gingerbread kit and pre-registration is required, so register online at www.badm.org.
• Everyone is welcome at the Osher Marin JCC's Festival of Lights, Sunday from 2 to 5 pm. Eat latkes, make candles and menorahs, and shop for unique gifts by talented local artists. Live Klezmer music, activities for children, and teen lounge for ages 10+. Free. More information: www.marinjcc.org
• The Great Dickens Christmas Fair (see Friday's listing for details).