Sponsored: Join the cast of Elf Jr. at the Performing Arts Academy of Marin! Open to kids ages 7–14. Presented December 7 and 8 at the Marin Center Showcase Theatre. Rehearsals begin October 23!

Here are our picks for great fall events and activities for children and families this weekend, October 18–20 for Marin and the Bay Area.

Bring your little goblins to the Bay Area Museum's annual Halloween family spectacular on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20 from 10 am to 4:30 pm. This year’s theme is "Set Sail on the Spooky Seas".

Every October, my kids and I love to go to the library and pick out some great Halloween children's books to read together. Here are some of our favorites that we've enjoyed over the years.

December will be here soon, and for many families, the holidays won't be complete without attending a performance of San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker. Tickets to this time-honored holiday tradition are going fast!

There's something magical about taking a special holiday outing with the family on a train! Find your new favorite in our guide to holiday train rides.

My kids and I love these easy-to-make and delicious pumpkin oatmeal cookies. They make a great snack or perfect for the lunch box too!

You may know the Pronzini family for their Christmas tree lots that are a fixture in Marin every holiday season, but did you know they have an awesome pumpkin patch as well? Located at their Christmas tree farm in east Petaluma, the Pronzini Pumpkin Patch has a lot to offer families in the fall and it's definitely worth checking out! There's so much to do here, it's almost overwhelming. You could hang out here all day and play.