Marin Weekend Family Fun for April 5–7

Take a family wildflower hike at Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve in Tiburon.

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 throughout the Bay Area in our Family Events Calendar.

Friday, April 5

• Open Play at Cucu's PlayHouse
  San Rafael
  Friday, 9 am–noon & 2–5 pm
  Starting this Friday, they will be hosting Open Play times for children to experience their space outside of regularly scheduled classes. Children will have access to educational, sustainable toys, not within a structured activity, but as a time for them to just play, using their creativity and imagination. Admission is $12, the good news is that the full amount is applied to your account as a credit (Cucu's Cash) to purchase toys from the store. Registration is strongly recommended as space is limited. You can register here. Location: 1414 4th Street, Downtown San Rafael. Event details.
• Toddler Playdate
  Children's Museum Sonoma County, Santa Rosa
  Friday, 10–11 am
  Bring your little one in for toddler-specific facilitated experiences. We'll bring out activities like mad mattr, bubber, oobleck, and other sensory exploration activities for your little one to hone their sensory exploration skills. Museum admission applies. Location: 1835 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. Event details.
• Dino Days
  Cal Academy San Francisco
  Friday & Saturday, 9:30 am–5 pm and Sunday, 11 am–5 pm
  Walk among life-size animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar at Dino Days. An immersive festival with its footprint all over the Academy, Dino Days invites you to travel back in time to the Late Cretaceous period and come face-to-face with the largest reptiles that ever stalked the Earth. Museum admission applies. Open daily through May 5. Location: 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Event details.
• Stay and Play Storytime
  Belvedere Tiburon Library
  Friday, 10:30–11:30 am
  Join us for stories and songs for all ages at our newest storytime! Stay afterwards to play with toys provided by the library. Children must be accompanied by an adult for entire session. Free. Location: 1501 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon. Event details.
• Friday Night Jazz Concerts
  Marin Country Mart, Larkspur
  Friday, 6–9 pm
  Meet us at the Mart this Friday night to enjoy some jazzy tunes on the Belcampo Patio! Grab some butcher snacks & a drink and settle in for a musical adventure furnished by Pamela Rose! Free. Location: Larkspur Landing. Event details.
• Parents Night Out: Peter Rabbit
  Rolling HIlls Club, Novato
  Friday, 6–9:30 pm
  Join us for an Easter extravaganza! We will create Easter crafts and snacks. A viewing of "Peter Rabbit" helps keep the Easter spirit going until the end of the night. A pizza dinner will be served. All children must be potty trained. Minimum number of participants required to conduct this event. AGES 2.5-12. Cost: $26 per child ( Members ) and $36 per child ( Guests ) 24-hour cancellation policy for a refund. Location: 351 San Andreas Drive, Novato. Event details
• Pippin
  Berkeley Playhouse
  Friday, 7 pm, Saturday, 1 & 7 pm, Sunday, 2 pm
  Prince Pippin, son of King Charlemagne the Great, is on a quest for the secret to true happiness and fulfillment. Unable to gain insight from his father, Pippin decides that experience and adventure is the path to enlightenment. He heads into war as a soldier, explores relationships without love, tries his hand at artistry—he even becomes the king of the land! And yet happiness eludes Pippin. Tickets: $20–$45. Event details

Saturday, April 6

• Free Access to All Parks
  Marin County Parks
  Saturday, All Day
  Marin County Parks is offering free access to all parks on the first Saturday of the month all year long! Includes Black Point Boat Launch, McInnis Park, McNears Beach Park, Miller Boat Launch, Paradise Beach Park, and Stafford Lake Park. Event details.
• Museums on Us Free Day
  Various Museums
  Saturday & Sunday
  Bank of America cardholders can visit the following Bay Area museums for free! Enjoy the Contemporary Jewish Museum, de Young Museum, the Legion of Honor, and the Chabot Space and Science Center. Photo ID and a valid Bank of America/Merrill Lynch credit or debit card must be presented. Event details.
• Annadel Half-Marathon
  Annadel State Park, Santa Rosa
  Saturday, 8 am–noon
  The Annadel Half Marathon is a hilly, technical run designed for experienced trail runners looking for a challenge. The race begins near the Spring Lake Oak Knolls picnic area and climbs over 1,700 feet in rocky terrain at beautiful Trione-Annadel State Park. The 5k is a family-friendly out-and-back route starting at Oak Knolls and traveling on a gravel fire road slightly into Trione-Annadel State Park. Event details
• Olompali Bird Walk
  Olompali State Historic Park, Novato
  Saturday, 9 am–noon
  Beginning and experienced birders are invited to join leaders Janet Bodle and Rich Cimino of Yellowbilled Tours to view Olompali’s diverse avian residents as we walk the old ranch road to the park's reservoir. Expect to see some migrating species as well as a wide variety of species who thrive in the park’s oak savanna and open grasslands:  raptors, warblers, nuthatches, thrushes and – of course – many woodpeckers. Families are welcome! Wear layered clothing and bring binoculars, snack, plenty of water and a birding field guide if you have one. Free; $8 per car parking. Event details
• Broom Busters Open Space Workday
  St. Hilary’s Open Space Preserve, Tiburon
  Saturday, 9 am –noon
  Come volunteer and help remove French broom at St. Hilary’s Open Space Preserve. All skill levels are welcome, and no previous experience is necessary. All ages are welcome; anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a supervising adult. Dress in layers you can get dirty, wear sturdy shoes, and bring water. Please bring gloves if you have them.Meet at the Tiburon Peninsula Club parking lot in Tiburon (1600 Mar West St). Questions or to RSVP: Contact Volunteer Coordinator Greg Reza at GReza@marincounty.org or (415) 473-3778. Event details
• Free Yoga in the Park
  Old Mill Park, Mill Valley
  Saturday, 9–10 am
  Alignment-based Hatha yoga practice in the company of majestic redwoods, community, and lots of fresh air!  Enjoy a fun and unique environment of mindfulness, stretching and strengthening.  Wear layers, and bring a mat and water bottle. Free. No pre-registration required. Location: meet at Old Mill Park Amphitheatre 10 minutes before class, Mill Valley. Event details
• Breakfast with Enzo
  Sports Basement, Novato
  Saturday, 10 & 11 am
  Enzo Garcia plays guitar, banjo, accordion, musical saw, Jew's harp, enzotar, Appalachian dulcimer, slide flute, percussion and more. Recommended for children 7 and under. Drop in any time. Admission: $7 per person, siblings under 7 months free. Location: 100 Vintage Way, Novato. Event details.
• Farm Animal Frolic Family Day
  Slide Ranch, Muir Beach
  Saturday, 10 am–2 pm
  Join the frolic as we celebrate joyful, new life with all the baby animals and renewal in the garden. Bottle feed the goat kids. Pet the soft fleece of young lambs. Feel the golden fuzz of young chicks. Participate in garden projects, cooking and crafts. Cost: Fee: $35 per person, children 35 months and under are complimentary but you must register for a free ticket. This event is currently sold out, please join the waitlist here. Location: 2025 Shoreline Hwy., Muir Beach. Event details.
• Headland History Hike
  Point Bonita YMCA, Sausalito
  Saturday, 10:30 am–noon
  Bring your family for an exploration of spring! In an effort to improve the health and wellness of all Bay Area residents, explore the natural and cultural history of the Marin Headlands on an engaging naturalist led hike! Learn about the plants, animals, minerals and people that have inhabited this national park. Free, but registration required. Location: 981 Fort Barry, Marin Headlands, Sausalito. Event details.
• Touch-A-Truck
  Presidio Civil War Lawn, San Francisco
  Saturday,10:30 am–3 pm
  Touch-A-Truck® is a family-friendly event for children to Explore, Climb & Touch trucks of all shapes and sizes. From exploring cars and trucks, to playing carnival games and visiting the petting zoo, a variety of children's activities will keep everybody busy and active. Hosted by the Junior League of San Francisco. Tickets start at $12 for children. Purchase tickets here. Location: The Presidio Civil Way Lawn, San Francisco. Event details.
• Bay Area Children's Theatre: Press Here the Musical
  BACT Berkeley Center, Berkeley
  Saturday, 10:30 am, 1:30 pm & 4 pm and Sunday, 10:30 am & 1:30 pm
  Colorful dots cavort and juggle onstage, while audience members take an ever-changing, magical journey with the actors in this original production of Press Here the Musical, inspired by Hervé Tullet's award-winning picture book, Press Here, about the power of imagination and interactivity. Great for all ages, 3 and up. Tickets: adults $30 and $26 children (ages 2–14) and seniors $28 (65+). Purchase tickets here. Location: 2055 Center Street, Berkeley. Event details.
• Storytime: Family Forever

  Barnes & Noble, Corte Madera
  Saturday, 11 am

  When Julia's beloved fuzzy friend Fluffster goes missing, everyone works together to find him, and by the end it is clear that when "family and friends stick together," everyone is happy! Storytime and activities. Location: The Town Center Corte Madera. Event details.
• Free Guided Farm Tours
  Tara Firma Farm, Petaluma
  Saturday & Sunday, 11 am–noon
  You will learn about our farm and CSA, learn what pasture raised means and how farms like Tara Firma Farms are on the front lines to fight climate change, reduce water usage, and build better soil through the latest methods in Carbon Farming!  Perfect for families, kids and school groups! *No RSVP required. Show up 15 minutes before! If no guests arrive before tour time, we do not hold the tour.* Location: 3796 I Street Ext., Petaluma. For more info, call (707) 765–1202 or visit their website.
• Mark Foehringer's Alice in Wonderland
  Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
  Saturday & Sunday, 11 am & 2 pm
  Mark Foehringer Dance Project|SF announces the return of Mark Foehringer's Alice in Wonderland, inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. Following the same format as Foehringer's Nutcracker Sweets, this production is a 50-minute dance theater version based on a children's classic. However, this version is very much Foehringer's own personal interpretation of Alice as a heroine who faces challenges and solves them. Foehringer's Alice is a fearless character with girl power. Featuring colorful sets, costumes, puppets, live music and a small cast of 8 dancers, and no intermission, the performance is ideal for the young child's attention span. Tickets: $20.50 to $42.50. Event details
• Berkeley Bay Festival
  Shorebird Park Nature Center, Berkeley
  Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
  Spend a day by the Bay listening to music, taking free sailboat and Dragon boat rides, eating tasty food, and exploring the Berkeley Marina. Visit booths sponsored by fun and educational organizations from throughout the Bay Area to learn about exciting things you and your family can do locally. Pick up a Passport to the Bay and get it stamped as you move from activity to activity in each booth. Education, entertainment, and fun for all ages! Event details.
• Family Art Making
  de Young Museum, San Francisco
  Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
  Family Art Making offers a free, drop-in art project led by professional teaching artists. Projects change every 3-4 weeks and connect to our permanent collections or highlight our special exhibiton. Make sure to pick up a Discovery Guide to explore the galleries. Artists of all ages are welcome to join. Free and open to the public. Museum admission required for gallery activities found in the Discovery Guide. Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco. Event details.
• Bay Area Children's Theatre: Gold: The Midas Musical
  BACT Berkeley Center
  Saturday, 11 am, 2 & 4:30 pm, Sunday, 11 am & 2 pm
  Motherless Princess Lydia yearns for her father's love, but King Midas grows meaner, more distant, and greedier by the day. A modern musical re-telling of the Greek legend of King Midas who learns a valuable lesson about family when the gods grant him the power to turn everything into gold. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Tickets: $28 adults, $24 children, $26 seniors. Location: 2055 Center Street, Berkeley. Event details
• Kids Paint & Grow Garden Box
  McNears Beach Park, San Rafael
  Saturday, noon–2 pm
  Paint, draw, doodle and decorate! Kids will have fun decorating and personalizing their own garden box and will learn the skills to earn their own “green thumb”. Rangers will assist with planting and selecting the right seeds for your box. This event is ideal for ages 5 and up though all skill levels are welcome, and no experience is necessary. We’ll provide supplies and healthy snacks. No pets (except service animals) are allowed at this park. Rain doesn’t cancel the event. Please reserve your spot in advance. Questions or to RSVP: Contact Ranger Michael Campos at MCampos@marincounty.org. Park entrance is waived for participants. Location: 201 Cantera Way, San Rafael. Event details.
• Mad Hatter's Spring Tea Party
  Falkirk Mansion, San Rafael
  Saturday & Sunday, noon & 3 pm
  Join Alice, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse for a whimsical Wonderland tea party at Falkirk in San Rafael! Enjoy tea sandwiches, beverages, and dessert while the costumed company of characters from the Stark Ravens Historical Players entertain with madcap comedy and antics. Falkirk’s beautiful and elegant Victorian setting is the perfect place for this fanciful spring tea party. There will be two seatings for this one-of-a-kind tea party at noon and 3 pm each day. Tickets: $27.50 adults, $22.50 children, $48 adult and child. Admission includes food and a goodie bag for each child. Bring your camera, for photo opportunities will abound! Reservations required. Event details.
• Free Cal Sail Boat Rides
  Sailing Club in Berkeley
  Saturday, 1–4 pm
  During Open Houses we offer free introductory sailboat rides to the general public aboard our fleet of keelboats and dinghies. Children must be at least 5 years of age and accompanied by an adult. Please try to arrive early as, depending on the conditions and the amount of people, the sign-up/rides may end before 4 pm.Come on down and get out on the bay! Event details.
• Science Saturdays
  Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa
  Saturday, 1–4 pm
  Join us for candy science, where you can use your brain and reward your tummy as we investigate how different candy dissolves, dances, floats, and reacts to a variety of substances. All ages welcome. Free. Parking is $7 or free for Regional Parks members. Location: 393 Violetti Road, Santa Rosa. Event details
• Meet the Animals
  Randall Museum, San Francisco
  Saturday, 2 pm
  On Saturdays a special selection of the Randall Museum’s animal ambassadors venture from their cages, pens, and perches to greet visitors up close. These animals help visitors learn about and appreciate California’s wonderfully diverse wildlife. Kids and their families can meet mice and lizards; check out a Barn Owl; and maybe even touch a tortoise! Admission is free. Event details
• Indoor Power Play
  Cal Star Gymnastics, Novato
  Saturday, 6–9 pm
  Drop the kiddos ( K-8 th grade) for some indoor fun. They can run, jump and play in an open gymnastics environment. Bring the kids in on a rainy day or any day to burn some energy. Cost: $30/ per child. Location: 70 Digital Drive, Suite #3 in Novato. Event details.

Sunday, April 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. Event details
• Learn to Ride
  Stafford Lake Bike Park, Novato
  Sunday, 9–11 am
  Learn to ride pump tracks and rollers with a ranger. This event is ideal for ages 5 and up though riders of all ages are welcome. All skill levels–no experience necessary. Dress in layers and wear sturdy shoes. Don’t forget to bring your bike, helmet, and pads. Park entrance is waived for participants. Event details.
• Kindermusik in the Park
  Miwok Park, Novato
  Sunday, 10:30–11 am
  Songs & Movement for babies, kids & families! Come a few minutes early to make an egg shaker that you can take home! Active rain or wet ground will cancel this event. Check back here morning of if unsure. Location: 2200 Novato Blvd., Novato. Event details.
• Free Day at the Asian Art Museum
  Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
  Sunday, 10:30 am–2 pm
  Discover and play as a family at the Asian Art Museum. On Family Fun Days, our gallery activities, creative art projects and immersive storytelling make art appreciation into a lively, family-friendly event. Themes and projects change regularly, so visit again and again. This Sunday: Explore the special exhibition Kimono Refashioned and learn about the process of shibori (bind-resist dyeing). Dye your own piece of fabric to take home using shibori techniques! Street parking is free on Sundays. Location: 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco. 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 30+ 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. For more info, visit their website.
• Y Bike Learn to Ride Program
  San Francisco Presidio
  Sunday, 11 am–2 pm
  Get your kids riding on two wheels with free, safe, and friendly instruction from the Presidio Community Y. Bikes and equiptment are provided. All ages are welcome; no reservations are required. Co-sponsored by the Presidio Trust. Free. Event details
• Off the Grid Food Trucks
  Larkspur Landing
  Sunday, 11 am–3 pm
  Come enjoy Off the Grid’s delicious mobile gourmet food market on Sundays. Eat your way through the largest gathering of mobile food trucks in Marin, listen to live music, and take in great views of the bay and Mt. Tam. Location: 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur Landing. Event details
• Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Spring Situation
  Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
  Sunday, 11:30 am
  Bring the family for a day of music. Features concerts, workshops, kids acitivities and more. Free. Location: 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley. Event details.
• Eggster’s 25th Annual Egg Hunt and Learning Festival
  Campanile, UC Berkeley
  Sunday, 1–5 pm
  The Eggster Egghunt and Learning Festival is the largest free egg hunt in Northern California. Not only is it free for all kids, it is also a learning festival filled with educational booths and activities that raises money for non-profit youth agencies! Event details
• Unique Derique: Fo La La
  The Marsh, San Francisco
  Sunday, 1 pm
  Unique Derique hops over the bridge to The Marsh San Francisco for an encore run of Fool La La: Over the Rainbow — and that’s no April foolin’! The Clown Prince of Fools keeps the fun going in this jolly circus-inspired celebration for all ages. Combining classic physical comedy, playful percussion, and electronic body music in a colorful clownucopia of delights, this hippity-hop, non-stop, over-the-rainbow romp includes “The Five Fool La La’s,” a delightful new video honoring five generations of family fun! After the show, get into the act and join Unique Derique in a free juggling and Hambone workshop for the whole family and discover your own Fool La La FUN! Tickets: $15–$100. Event details.
• Stinky Tales - featuring Doug Zesiger
  Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley
  Sunday, 10 am (starts at 10:30 am)
  Stinky Tales with Doug Zesiger: "Storytelling bringing big laughs while teaching empathy and confidence to 3-6 year olds." Join us for a morning of storytelling, food, fun and fundraising. Doug Zesiger and his puppet friends will be telling stories and weaving magic for a family audience. We'll be raffling off a live storytelling event by Doug and the puppets: a Stinky Tales playdate! Bring your kiddos and let’s curl up to hear some sweet Stinky Tales together. General Admission Adults $20/Children $12 (plus fees). Purchase tickets here. Location: 19 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley. Event details.
• 90 Second Newbury Film Festival
  San Francisco Main Library
  Sunday, 2–3:30 pm
  The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which kid filmmakers create short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery award-winning books in about 90 seconds. The screening is hosted by children's authors James Kennedy (The Order of Odd-Fish) and Marcus Ewert (Mummy Cat, 10,000 Dresses). We'll be showing movies made by kids in the Bay Area and some of the best from around the country. Free, advance reservations recommended. Event details
• Santa Rosa Symphony Family Concert: The Composer Is Dead
  Green Music Center, Rohnert Park
  Sunday, 3–4 pm
  Join the Symphony, new Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong and a wily inspector, to solve the mystery of the dead composer, while learning about the orchestra and its instruments. Nathaniel Stookey's The Composer is Dead, which has been performed with more than 100 orchestras on four continents, is complimented with a narrative written by children's author Lemony Snicket (of A Series of Unfortunate Events fame). This concert is ideal for young children. Arrive one hour early for the free Instrument Petting Zoo. Event details