Marin Weekend Family Fun for January 24–26

Children's Theatre Association Presents "The Wizard of Oz" opening this Sunday at the new Presidio Theatre in San Francisco.

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 24

• 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.
• 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.
• Parents Night Out: You've Got a Friend in Me
  Rolling Hills Club, Novato
  Friday, 6–9:30 pm
  You've got a friend in me! Join us for this fun Toy Story PNO. We will have a potato fashion show, play Toy Story Bingo, and make Alien pudding in a cup. We will watch "Toy Story 4." A pizza dinner will be served. All children must be potty trained. AGES 2.5-10. Cost: $26 per child ( Members ) and $36 per child ( Guests ). Location: 351 San Andreas Drive, Novato. Event details.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran School presents The Wizard of Oz
  Marin Center, San Rafael
  Friday, 7:30 pm, Saturday, 1 & 6 pm
  Come and see talented 3rd, 4th and 5th grade actors under the direction of veteran youth director, Gretchen Simon.Tickets: $25 adults, $15 children 12 and under. Location: 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Event details

Saturday, January 25

• Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show
  Cow Palace, Daly City
  Saturday & Sunday, 8 am–5 pm
  Dog lovers of all ages will not want to miss the upcoming annual Golden Gate Kennel Club (GGKC) dog show - the west’s premier “benched” show. Showcasing over 175 breeds, with 1,500 entries a day, the GGKC event is an exciting and unique event for dog lovers who will have a rare opportunity at this “benched” show to learn about and get to know hundreds of breeds of dogs, all in one location over two days. Tickets: general admission $19, children (2–12 years) and seniors $16, and family plan (2 adults, 2 children) $59. Location: Cow Palace, Daly City. Event details
• 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.
• Family Open House: The Mountain School
  Corte Madera
  Saturday, 10 am–noon
  Prospective families are invited to tour the campus, speak with our seasoned faculty and friendly parents, and learn more about our Waldorf-inspired early childhood program. Children are welcome. Location: 50 El Camino Drive, Corte Madera. Open house info.
• Chinese New Year Community Celebration
  Terra Marin School, Mill Valley
  Saturday, 10 am–2 pm
  A fantastic and fun event for the entire family complete with dances, delicious food of all types, games, art projects, martial arts demonstrations and raffle. A great way to spend your Saturday with your family, learn about the Chinese culture and mingle with your fellow community members. All ages are welcome. Tickets: $5. Location: 70 Lomita Drive, Mill Valley. Event details
• 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.
• Lumacon: Free Youth Comic Convention
  Lucchesi Center, Petaluma
  Saturday, 10 am–4 pm
  Meet well-known artists, illustrators, and writers of comic books and graphic novels, and gives local youth artists the chance to display and sell their artwork alongside the professionals. Children’s crafts, Live Action Role Play (LARP), a Magic the Gathering tournament, and a cosplay (costume) competition, and vendors will offer books, comics and food for sale. LumaCon! is brought to you by the Petaluma Regional Library, the Petaluma High School Library, and the Casa Grande High School Library. Location: 320 North McDowell Blvd, Petaluma. Event details
• 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
• 10th Annual Whalefest Monterey
  Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey
  Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
  The event is a free fun family activity, celebrating the migration of the gray whales along the California coast. Whalefest also benefits local and national marine organizations that help bring awareness through their education outreach on the importance of protecting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Location: 1 Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey. Event details.
• Marin Waldorf School Open House
  San Rafael
  Saturday, 10 am–1 pm
  Bring your children to play on our 10-acre campus & get a taste of the Waldorf curriculum. Childcare is available for children ages 3 to 13 years old with RSVP. Learn more about Waldorf education from our teachers and a diverse alumni panel. Experience our warm community, eat delicious organic food and enjoy live music. Location: 755 Idylberry Road, San Rafael. Event details
• Marin Montessori Open House
  Corte Madera
  Saturday, 10 am–noon
  Get to know Marin Montessori at an admissions open house at their Corte Madera Campus, 5200 Paradise Drive. RSVP required; register here.
• 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.
• Hands-on History
  Sonoma State Historic Park
  Saturday, 11:30 am
  Join us for these 40 minute activities designed for the 4th grade student studying California History. Free with paid admission to the park, rain or shine. Wool & Weaving: practice with tools to create yarn and weave your own bookmark. Event details
• Chinese Lion Dancers
  San Anselmo Town Hall Lawn
  Saturday, 1 pm
  Welcome the Lunar New Year with the famous Lion Dancers of the Marin Chinese Cultural Association. The lion dance is an important part of the rich cultural heritage of the Chinese people all over the world, and is thought to cleanse darkness and bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness. Free. 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.
• 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.

Sunday, January 26

• 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. Location: main Civic Center parking lot. Event details.
• Lunar New Year Celebration
  Children's Fairyland, Oakland
  Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–4 pm
  Enjoy a special family lore and folktales to celebrate the Year of the Rat. Free after park admission. Location: 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland. Event website
• 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.
• Mill Valley LiVE: The Bubble Lady
  Mill Valley Community Center
  Sunday, 11 am–noon
  The one and only Bubble Lady makes her triumphant return to Mill Valley with her once-a-year show for her favorite community (she’s a local!). See bubble brains, bubble haircuts, bubbles inside of bubbles, etc... and the volunteers get very clean! Afterwards, Shake It Off with our fun jumpies, lively music and much more! Tickets: $8 general admission, 3 years and under free. Location: 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. Event details
• St. Anselm School Open House
  San Anselmo
  Sunday, 11 am–1 pm
  Families will have the opportunity to visit each classroom, learn about our mission, curriculum, service programs and after-school activities. Teachers and Administration are available to visit with prospective families, and all questions are welcome! You may also view textbook materials, and samples of student work. Location: 40 Belle Avenue, San Anselmo. For more info, call (415) 454-8667 or visit their website.
• Bumblebee Kids: Banana Slugs String Band Duet
  Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael
  Sunday, 11:45 am
  Bumblebee Kids is thrilled to welcome back Doug Dirt and Airy Larry of the award-winning Banana Slugs String Band! Join us for a fun, interactive morning filled with original, catchy songs played in styles from boogie to ballads, folk songs to reggae and rap. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 under 12. Event details
• CTA of San Francisco presents The Wizard of Oz
  Presidio Theater, San Francisco
  Sunday, 2 pm
  The most beloved tale of all time comes to life as Dorothy and her three friends trot delightfully and tunefully down the yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz. After the show, the performers will come out in costume to greet you, give autographs, and be available for photos! Tickets: $15 kids, $18 adults. Location: 99 Moraga Avenue in the Presidio, San Francisco. Event details