Marin & Bay Area Family Events

Find family-friendly events, activities, and things to do with kids in Marin and the San Francisco Bay Area.

All event listings are believed accurate at the time of posting, but schedules are subject to change without notice. Please confirm with event organizer before attending. Submit your events to us via our contact form.

Holiday Light Spectacular 2026 at Marin Center in San Rafael
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Holiday Light Spectacular 2026 at Marin Center

Marin Center—San Rafael

Get into the holiday spirit at the Holiday Light Spectacular at Marin Center in San Rafael! This free, family-friendly holiday event returns November 27, 2026, through January 3, 2027, with thousands of sparkling lights, glowing tunnels, and larger-than-life illuminated displays throughout the Marin County Fairgrounds.

Saturday, November 21, 2026

Festively decorated Christmas trees, sparkling lights, and holiday ornaments at West End Nursery's Christmas House in San Rafael, Marin County.

The Christmas House at West End Nursery

8:30 am
West End Nursery, San Rafael
Get into the holiday spirit at the magical Christmas House at West End Nursery in San Rafael,...
Marin Country Mart Farmers Market in Larkspur

Marin Country Mart Farmers Market in Larkspur

9:00 am
Marin Country Mart, Larkspur
Bring the whole family to the Marin Country Mart Farmers Market in Larkspur! Shop for fresh,...
Giant decorated Christmas tree and life-size Victorian gingerbread house in the Fairmont San Francisco hotel lobby.

Life-Size Gingerbread House at the Fairmont San Francisco

9:00 am
The Fairmont, San Francisco
Experience holiday magic at the Fairmont San Francisco on Nob Hill! Each holiday season, the hotel'...
Free Saturdays at the de Young Museum in San Francisco

Free Saturdays at the de Young Museum in San Francisco

9:30 am
de Young Museum, San Francisco
Enjoy free admission to the de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park every Saturday! Bay...
Free Saturdays at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco

Free Saturdays at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco

9:30 am
Legion of Honor Museum, San Francisco
Explore art and culture at the Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco with free admission for Bay...
Charles Dickens reading at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair

10:00 am
Cow Palace, Daly City
Visit London at the historic Cow Palace Exhibition Halls! Enter the winding lanes of Victorian...
Families and children ice skating at the Union Square Holiday Ice Rink in San Francisco, with kids using penguin skating helpers.

Union Square Ice Rink–San Francisco

10:00 am
Union Square, San Francisco
Skate through the holidays at The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Kaiser...
Young children enjoying iceless skating at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito during the winter holiday season.

Iceless Skating at Bay Area Discovery Museum 2026

10:00 am
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
Glide, twirl, and wobble across a festive iceless skating rink at the Bay Area Discovery Museum...
Drop-In Play at Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito

Drop-In Play at Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito

10:00 am
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
Bring the little ones for a day of drop-in play at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito!...
Child sitting beside a seal sculpture at the Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands near Sausalito.

Visit the Marine Mammal Center

10:00 am
Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito
Visit the Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands for a fascinating, family-friendly experience...
Outdoor holiday ice skating rink at Fisherman's Wharf near PIER 39 in San Francisco.

San Francisco on Ice at Fisherman's Wharf

10:00 am
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
New for 2026! Enjoy outdoor holiday ice skating along San Francisco's waterfront at San Francisco...
Story Time with Mr. Brian, South Novato Library

Story Time with Mr. Brian

11:00 am
South Novato Library, Novato
Join us in the South Novato Library for Story Time with Mr. Brian on Saturdays at 11am.
StoryTUNES, Belvedere Tiburon Library

StoryTUNES: Music & Movement Storytime at Belvedere Tiburon Library

11:00 am
Belvedere Tiburon Library, Tiburon
Get ready to sing, dance, and move at StoryTUNES at the Belvedere Tiburon Library! Bring the family...
Life-sized holiday gingerbread house decorated for Christmas at Fairmont San Francisco.

Gingerbread House Lighting Ceremony at Fairmont San Francisco

11:00 am
Fairmont Hotel Lobby, San Francisco
Kick off the holiday season at Fairmont San Francisco's Gingerbread House Lighting Ceremony on...
Saturday Family Storytime at Mill Valley Library

Saturday Family Storytime at Mill Valley Library

2:30 pm
Mill Valley Library–Children's Room, Mill Valley
Looking for a family storytime? Bring the little ones to Family Storytime, a fun and free activity...
Illuminated palm tree and holiday lights at the Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza celebration in Sonoma, California.

Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza 2026: Holiday Tree Lighting & Festivities

5:00 pm
Sonoma Plaza, Sonoma
Celebrate the holiday season at the Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza 2026 on Saturday, November 21!...
Mary Poppins family-friendly musical presented by Stapleton Theatre Company at The Playhouse in San Anselmo, November 13–22, 2026.

Mary Poppins at The Playhouse in San Anselmo

5:00 pm
The Playhouse Theater, San Anselmo
Get ready for a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious adventure! Stapleton Theatre Company brings...
Colorful illuminated ZooLights entrance at the San Francisco Zoo featuring glowing animal decorations and families enjoying the holiday light display.

ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo 2026

5:30 pm
San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco
Celebrate the holiday season with ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo! Returning for the first time...

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