Weekend Family Events for January 22, 23 & 24

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, January 22

• Celebrate all things furry, clawed, and winged at the Bay Area Discovery Museum's Creative Critters program, Friday from 10–11 am. Explore the natural inhabitants of Fort Baker and invent new creatures through art and make believe. Free with paid admission. For more info, go to www.badm.org
• The Peking Acrobats from The People's Republic of China return to the Marin Center stage with their 2,000 year old tradition of acrobatics for an exclusive Bay Area appearance on Friday at 8 pm at Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael. Daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs; treacherous wire walking, a trick cycling kaleidoscope of magnificent movement; powerful precision tumbling, somersaulting and gymnastics and amazing displays of contortion. Tickets: $45, $35, $25; students 18 and under $20. For more info call (415) 499-6800 or go to their website to purchase tickets.

Saturday, January 23

• Come to Life in a Pond on Saturday from 10 am–noon at the Richardson Bay Audubon Society in Tiburon. When it rains, seasonal ponds suddenly come to life and become a valuable resource for local wildlife. Bring your sense of adventure and wear clothes and shoes that can get muddy/wet, and we’ll explore the micro to macro inhabitants of our seasonal pond. Appropriate for children ages 5–8. Children ages 4 and under may participate, but must be accompanied by an adult. Advance Registration Required: 388-2524. Program will cancel with less than 5 participants. Cost: $15/child. Advance Registration Suggested: (415) 388-2524. For more info, go to their website.
• Bring the kids to the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s World On-Stage Ethnic Performance Series 2010 and see Chinyakare Ensemble this Saturday at 11 am. Chinyakare Ensemble presents the incredibly varied spectrum of Zimbabwean music and dance. Harmonically weaving voices with traditional instruments and dance, they celebrate the beauty and power of southern African culture. Members $7 and General Child $12.00; General Adult $14.00 (includes museum admission). For more info, go to www.badm.org.
• Join Bonnie Lockhart for a sing and dance for ages 0–5 at the Belvedere-Tiburon Library on Saturday at 11 am. Local musician Bonnie Lockhart will encourage kids to sing and dance in this free music program for ages 0-5 in the Founders Room. Bonnie Lockhart's web site: www.bonnielockhart.com.
• Bring the family to the 33rd Annual Baeer Fair on Saturday from 10 am to 4:30 pm at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. There will be over 70 resources and numerous workshops for educators and parents. Discover the latest in classroom materials, environmental education programs, and field trip sites. Join in the fun and attend workshops introducing conservation and wildlife education, school gardens, and strategies for fostering environmental awareness! General admission $12; high school students and seniors $10; youth $8; children 6 and under are free. For more info, go to www.baeerfair.org.
• The Children's Theatre Association presents the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast at the Legion of Honor this Saturday with two shows: 10:30 am and 1 pm. Beauty and the Beast tells the story of an arrogant prince who, after denying shelter to an old woman, is turned into a beast following her curse. For ages 4–12. Tickets: members $10; non-members $12. The Legion of Honor is located at 34th Ave and Clement Lincoln Park in San Francisco. For more info, go to www.ctasf.com.
• The Marin Humane Society will be having pet adoptions on Saturday from noon to 3 pm in Downtown Mill Valley. For information about available adoption animals, call (415) 506-6225 or go to www.marinhumanesociety.org.
• The Young Performers Theatre presents, Rumpelstiltskin on Saturday at 1:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. A father's boast that his daughter can spin straw into gold causes a lot of difficulty. Of course the king of the land hears of the boast and orders the father to bring the girl to his kingdom and prove the statement. A combined live actor and puppet show. Tickets for all shows are $10.00 for adults, $7.00 for children under 13. To reserve tickets for any of our upcoming shows, just call Young Performers Theatre at (415) 346-5550. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more info, go to www.ypt.org/.
• Jewelry Making Workshop with Artist Chelsee Robinson this Saturday from 2 pm–3:30 pm at the Novato Library. Join artist Chelsee Robinson for a jewelry making workshop. Instruction and materials will be supplied, including tools, beading materials. Teens will go home with either a custom designed necklace or bracelet and earrings. This is for teens 6th through 12th grade. No sign-up required. The Novato Library is located at 1720 Novato Blvd. in Novato. For more info, call (415) 897-1141.
• Learn about the annual California Gray Whale migration past Point Reyes with Journey of the Whales, weekends and holidays at 2 pm through March. Join a ranger to learn about gray whales, and maybe even see one from the Observation Deck at the Point Reyes lighthouse. The half-hour program begins at the whale painting near the lighthouse garages. Free. More information: (415) 669-1534 or www.nps.gov/pore
• Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences presents, Ramona Quimby at the Julia Morgan Center in Berkeley on Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Effervescent, independent Ramona Quimby is about to start third grade - and what a year it will be. Through a series of vignettes drawn from Beverly Cleary's Newbery honor books, meet Ramona, and follow her heartwarming and funny adventures with her family, friends, and neighbors as she tries in her own way to grow up. Tickets prices: Adult $18; senior, $16; children (under the age of 15) $14. Groups rates for Scout troops or Birthday parties are available by calling (510) 296-4433. The Berkeley Julia Morgan Center is at 2640 College Avenue. For more info, go to their website.

Sunday, January 24

• 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
• RoCo of Mill Valley will be performing at the Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, San Rafael on Sunday at 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Famous for its high energy, variety and strong sense of community, RoCo of Mill Valley has been producing packed houses for over 15 years. Don’t miss this evening of progressive dance and entertainment for the entire family, featuring over 400 RoCo students of all ages and skills. The producation will showcase their hip hop, modern, jazz, ballet and break dancing styles. More information: www.rocodance.com. Ticket prices are $16 and $13. Tickets to this event can be purchased through the Box Office.
• 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.
• Journey of the Whales at Point Reyes Lighthouse. (see Saturday for details).
• Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences presents, Ramona Quimby (see Saturday for details).
• The Young Performers Theatre presents, Rumpelstiltskin (see Saturday for details).