Marin Weekend Family Fun for January 17–20

Climb, crawl and play at the new exhibit, Wobbleland opening this Saturday at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito.

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 17

• Music Time with Megan
  Sports Basement, Novato
  Friday, 9:30–10 am
  Bring the little ones for live music, singing, dancing and playing instruments with popular children's musician Megan Schoenbohm. Cost is $10 per child, and siblings under 7 months are free. This is an ongoing weekly class, so drop in as often as you can! Event details.
• Last Weekend: Holiday Ice Skating in Union Square
  San Francisco
  Friday–Sunday, 10 am–11:30 pm
  Union Square, San Francisco's main shopping district, gets into the ice skating spirit during the holiday season with an outdoor ice rink sponsored by Safeway. 90-minute sessions start on every even hour. Admission: starting at $13. Location: 333 Post Street, San Francisco. Event details.
• Larkspur Storytime
  Cooperfield's Book, Larkspur Landing
  Friday, 11 am
  Bring the kiddos for storytime! Come relax with a book while we share new arrivals and old favorites with your kids. Free. Larkspur Landing. Event details.
• Sea Lion Anniversary Weekend
  PIER 39, San Francisco
  Saturday & Sunday, noon–3 pm
  Free, 20-minute educational walking tours begin on the hour at the bronze Sea Lion Statue located west of the PIER 39 Entrance Plaza. Guided by Aquarium of the Bay Naturalists, learn all about California sea lions and enjoy refreshments and discounted admission to Aquarium of the Bay. Event details
• Katia & Company: Chicago
  The Playhouse in San Anselmo
  Friday, 7 pm, Saturday, 2 & 7 pm
  Come see the Katia & Company teen musical this weekend. Tickets: $15 per person, available at the door. Location: 27 Kensington Road, San Anselmo. Event details

Saturday, January 18

• 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, crafts by 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.
• Opening Weekend! Wobbleland
  Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
  Saturday, 10 am–5 pm & Sunday, 9 am–5 pm
  All children love playing with their food, and the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s newest traveling exhibit is a chance for them to do just that – without the mess! In an oversized kitchen sink, babies and toddlers can crawl, climb, and play on plush, soft sculptures of their favorite foods. Museum admission applies. Location: 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. Event details.
• Snow Days!
  Sonoma County Children's Museum, Santa Rosa
  Saturday–Monday, 10 am–3 pm
  The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County will create a winter wonderland right in Santa Rosa this weekend!  20 Tons of fresh snow will be delivered to the museum and maintained over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend, creating a space for children to explore, build, create, and play outside. Cost: $15 per person. Purchase tickets early—they do sell out. Location: 1835 West Steele Lane Santa Rosa. For more info, call (707) 546-4069 or visit their website.
• Flower Market Fair
  Chinatown, San Francisco
  Saturday & Sunday, 10 am
  The Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair is held on the weekend before Chinese New Year Day. The Flower Fair is the place to come to purchase fresh flowers, fruits, candies, and brand new supplies for the home to begin the new lunar year. Delight in performances of traditional Chinese magicians, acrobats, folk dancers and opera as you take in the beautiful fragrances of spring. You will find over 120 booths and concessions making this a shopper's paradise. Event website.
• Creek Walk to See Spawning Coho Salmon
  San Geronimo
  Saturday, 10 am–noon
  With the first hard rains in the watershed comes the beginning of spawning season for Coho salmon. SPAWN-trained naturalists lead creek walks to explore the majesty of the Lagunitas Creek Watershed. Tour will explore the site of the former San Geronimo Gold Course and embark on a journey to multiple creek sites in search of some of these critically endangered salmon. Meet at the parking area of San Geronimo Restaurant & Bar. Tours are open to all ages and abilities. Cost: $15 donation per person; children 12 and under are free and do not need to register. Location: San Geronimo Restaurant & Bar, 5800 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, San Geronimo. Event details
• Bay Area Children's Theatre: A Year with Frog and Toad
  Children's Creativity Museum, San Francisco
  Saturday & Sunday, 10:30 am, 1 pm & 4 pm
  Families will delight in this heartwarming, jazzy-rhythmed tale of friendship, as cheerful Frog and his more reserved pal Toad swim, sled, bake cookies and otherwise romp through a year of comic adventures, accompanied by their woodland animal friends, like Snail, who, by golly, will deliver the mail. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Tickets: $30 adults, $26 children 2–14, $28 seniors 65+. Location: 221 Fourth Street, San Francisco. Event details
• Storytime: How to Catch a Dragon
  Barnes and Noble, Corte Madera
  Saturday, 11 am
  Celebrate Lunar New Year with this fun Storytime! The wily dragon will have to avoid trap after trap as the kids run through paper lanterns, red envelopes, fireworks, and more! Join us and color your own paper lantern to take home. Location: 313 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera. Event details.
• Experience Elephant Seals
  Elephant Seal Overlook, Chimney Rock, Point Reyes National Seashore
  Weekends, 11 am–4 pm
  View an elephant seal colony through binoculars and scopes. A 10-minute slide video about elephant seals, kids' activities, and complimentary hot beverages are available at the Lifeboat Station at Chimney Rock, depending on staffing availability. Visitors will need to take the winter shuttle bus from Drakes Beach. 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; museum admission required for gallery activity. Event details
• Family Hikes at Spring Lake
  Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa
  Saturday, 1–4 pm
  Explore the park in your own backyard while learning about the creatures of Spring Lake and our community. Join us for these short, family friendly hikes and participate in a citizen science project along the way. This is an easy 1-mile round trip walk. Programs start on the hour at 1 and 3 pm. Parking is $7 or free for Regional Parks members. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and bring a bottle of water. Heavy rain cancels. Event details.
• Journey of the Whales
  Point Reyes Lighthouse Visitor Center
  Saturday & Sunday, 1:30 pm
  Join a Ranger to learn about gray whales as they migrate past Point Reyes. Learn about their habits and adaptations, and hope for a whale sighting from the Observation Deck. Program lasts 30 minutes. This program is given out-of-doors. Come prepared for windy, cold and damp weather. Free. Weekend shuttle bus program is in place starting December 28; $7 per person, free for 17 and under. Event details.
• San Francisco Chamber Orchestra: World of Woodwinds
  Noe Valley Ministry, San Francisco
  Saturday, 2 pm
  Join us for an entertaining and engaging family concert with the wonderful woodwinds of the Bellavente Wind Quintet. Learn and listen to the unique and vibrant colors of the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn. Recommended for school-age children. Location: 1021 Sanchez Street, San Francisco. Event details
• Campfire Program
  Sonoma Barracks Courtyard, Sonoma
  Saturday, 5:15–6:30 pm
  Venture out for some warm fun and intriguing information as our regular campfire program resumes! Join us in the historic Barracks Courtyard for a short talk, campfire songs and a toasty marshmallow roast! All ages welcome, free of charge. Steady rain cancels. Event details
• Indoor Power Play
  Cal Star Gymnastics, Novato
  Saturday, 6–9 pm
  Drop the kiddos ( K–6th 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.
• Napa Night Bloom
  Oxbow Commons, Napa
  Saturday, 7 pm
  Napa Valley’s majestic hot air balloons will be uniquely displayed as part of this year’s Art After Dark experience. Several tethered hot air balloons will light up the sky at Oxbow Commons on both weekends of the festival. You won’t want to miss this stunning light show! Note: This is a free event and there is free parking throughout Downtown Napa. This is a viewing event only, there will be no balloon rides. Location: 1268 McKinstry Street, Napa. Event details

Sunday, January 19

• 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.
• Storytime with Christopher Smith
  Book Passage, Corte Madera
  Sunday, 10:30 am
  After four years of living overseas, children's story reader Christopher Smith returns to Book Passage! Christopher was the Sunday story time reader at Book Passage for more than 20 years, introducing new picture books, poetry, and song to countless young children in Marin. A local school teacher, Christopher's song "The Golden Gate" is a Parent's Choice Award winner and a beloved favorite throughout the Bay Area. Join us as this tradition continues on. Free. Location: 51 Tamal Vista Boulevard, Corte Madera. Event details.
• Family Fun Day
  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 kid-friendly gallery tours, creative art projects and immersive storytelling make art appreciation a lively, family-friendly event. Themes and projects change regularly, so visit again and again. Kick off the New Year with festive art-making inspired by the Year of the Rat. Location: 200 Larking Street, San Francisco. Event details
• Story Time & Family Walk: Owls and Night Creatures
  San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park
  Sunday, 10:30 am
  Looking for a fun, free and easy-to-coordinate activity? Join us in our cozy children's book nook for lively readings of nature-themed stories. Afterward, families can enjoy a special docent-led family Garden walk that brings the stories to life. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Story Time is suitable for children aged 4–8. The Library has an excellent collection of children's books on plants, animals, natural history, and nature-related myths and stories. Entrance to the Library and Story Time is always free for all visitors. Location: 1199 9th Ave., San Francisco. Event details

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, January 20)

• Free Admission Day at Muir Woods
  Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley
  Monday, 8 am–5 pm
  Visit Muir Woods' majestic redwoods for free on MLK Day as part of the National Parks Free Entrance Days 2020. Parking and shuttle reservations and fees still apply. Event details
• MLK Day of Service 2020
  Various locations
  Monday, 9 am–noon
  Volunteer in the Golden Gate National Parks at your doorstep and help grow and restore these cherished national parklands. It’s fun, it’s healthy, and it makes a difference—the perfect way to pitch in on a momentous day. Bring the whole family and friends! Event details.
• Museum Mondays for Little Ones
  Charles M. Schulz
  Monday, 10 am–noon
  Enjoy stories, arts and craft activities, and movement games Mondays at the Museum. Activities are designed for children ages 1 – 5 and their caregivers. Cost: $5 per child; free for those displaced by fires. Up to 2 adults per child are free before 11:00 am. After 11:00 am, regular Museum admission applies. Location: 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. Event details.
• Nature for Kids: Mt. Burdell
  Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve, Novato
  Monday, 10 am–1 pm
  We’ll take a winter walk at this beautiful preserve looking for cold weather critters. If we’re feeling adventurous, we might even head up to Hidden Lake to see if we can find newts and frogs. Remember to bring lunch.We request no pets (except service animals) attend. No registration is required. Event details
• 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebrations
  Caltrain Station to Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco
  Monday, 11 am
  Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an festival and march  around Yerba Buena Gardens. Attend a full day of free and exciting events, festivals and programs, as well as a march and parade from the Caltrain Station to Yerba Buena Gardens to commemorate the Selma to Montgomery march. Event details