Family-friendly Weekend Events for September 26, 27 & 28

Friday, September 26

• Film Night in the Park will be showing Amelie on Friday evening at 8 pm at Creek Park in San Anselmo. Suggested donation $6 for adults and $3 for children. For more info, go to www.filmnight.org.

• Marin Shakespeare Company presents Much Ado About Nothing with performances at 11 am (special student matinee; students in groups of 10 or more with chaperone pay $7 each) and 8 pm. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre at Dominican University of California, San Rafael. More information: www.marinshakespeare.org.

• North Bay Shakespeare presents two performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Hamilton Amphitheater in Novato: a special student matinee at 10 am and kids free night (2 free children with paid adult admission of $25) at 6 pm. For more info, go to our article.

Saturday, September 27

• For a list of open pumpkin patches, go to our past article.

• Marinwood Morning School's Semi-Annual Children's Toy & Clothing Sale will be taking place on Saturday from 10:00 am-4:00 pm at the Marinwood Community Center in San Rafael. For more information, please call Susan Press at (415) 479-3123. The Marinwood Community Center is located at 775 Miller Creek Road.

• Bring the family to the new California Academy of Sciences, which opens on Saturday, September 27 at 9:30am. Come see the rainforest to the aquarium to the planetarium. Hours are 9:30 am-5:00 pm on Saturday. Price: adults $24.95; seniors (ages 65 and over) $19.95; youth (ages 12-17) $19.95; child (ages 7-11) $14.95; ages 6 and under are free. For more info, go to www.calacademy.org.    

• Join Call of the Sea for an adventure sail on Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.Sail the Bay Saturday morning on the 82’ schooner Seaward, operated by Call of the Sea, a non-profit that educates children and adults about sailing and maritime activities. Adults $45, children (3–12) $25, children under 3 are free. A light lunch and beverages will be provided. The cruise leaves from the Bay Model Visitor's Center in Sausalito. Book online at www.callofthesea.org, under "Sail With Us."

• Sonoma County Farm Trails is celebrating their 36th anniversary, so gather the family and check out some of the wonderful farms in our backyard! This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28 from 10:00 am-5:00 pm, a variety of farms will open their doors for a special weekend of fun activities and informative tours to start celebrating the fall harvest. For more info, go to our past article.

• Marin Shakespeare Company presents Much Ado About Nothing at 8 pm. General admission: adults $27.50 advance, $30 at the door; seniors $22.50 advance/$25 door; youth 18 and under are $15. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre at Dominican University of California, San Rafael. More information: www.marinshakespeare.org.

• The North Bay Shakespeare presents A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Hamilton Amphitheater in Novato. Performances run from August 8–October 5. Saturday and Sunday performances start at 6 pm. For more info, go to our article.

• Film Night in the Park will be showing Bridge Over the River Kwai on Saturday evening at 8 pm at Creek Park in San Anselmo. Suggested donation $6 for adults and $3 for children. For more info, go to www.filmnight.org.

• It's the 111th Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival on Saturday and Sunday at the historic Sonoma Plaza. Savor history, wine, art, food, childrens activities, contests, music, auctions, crafts, and a big parade around Sonoma’s historic Plaza. Various locations, times, and fees. For more info, go to www.sonomavinfest.org.

• The 6th annual Rock 'n Blues by the Lake, a fundraiser for Novato Schools, takes place Saturday at Stafford Lake County Park from 10 am to 7:30 pm. Musical headliners include Third Eye Blind and the Plain White Tees. Teen and children's areas (with music by Tim Cain), food, drink, a silent auction and raffle, merchandise for sale, and more. $49.50; tickets are limited. Information: (415) 897-8393 or www.rocknbluesbythelake.com

Sunday, September 28

• James K at Playdate Café at 11 am on Sunday.  James K is a wonderful entertainer for the entire family. The cost is $8.95 per kid, $2 for siblings; adults and infants are free. Playdate Café is located at 101 San Anselmo Avenue in downtown San Anselmo. For more info, go to www.playdate-cafe.com.

• Get your tickets now for this weekend's Marin Symphony Family Concert on Sunday, September 28 at 3 pm. The theme of this family-friendly concert is “Gotta Dance!”, and features famous walzes, tangos, can-cans, polkas, and ballet music. The Marin Symphony’s Family Concerts are special one-hour programs designed to introduce children to the wonders of symphonic music.  Tickets are a bargain: $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets are on sale now. To order advance tickets, call the Marin Center Box Office at (415) 499-6800. Seating is general admission.More information: www.marinsymphony.org/family_concert.htm.

• Sonoma County Farm Trails is celebrating their 36th anniversary, so gather the family and check out some of the wonderful farms in our backyard! This weekend from 10:00 am-5:00 pm, a variety of farms will open their doors for a special weekend of fun activities and informative tours to start celebrating the fall harvest. For more info, go to our past article.

• Bring the family to see Singin’ in the Rain, this 1952 classic on Sunday at 2:30 pm at the Lark Theater. Tickets are general $9.25; Senior 65 and up $6.50; Children 2-12 $6.50. The Lark Theater is located at 549 Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur. For more info, go to www.larktheater.net or call (415) 924-5111.

• Family entertainer Enzo Garcia present Breakfast with Enzo at the Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse every Sunday. There will be two different sets of music at 10 and 11 am. Enzo invites you, your friends, family, and neighbors to join him for a morning of genuine, heartfelt, sing-along family fun. He'll bring his banjo, accordion, guitar, musical saw, and other surprises. All you need are clapping hands, singing voices and dancing feet. BYOB—Bring Your Own Breakfast. The Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse is located at 280 Buena Vista Avenue in Mill Valley. For more info, call (415) 652-2474 or go to www.enzogarcia.com.

• The Civic Center Farmers' Market in San Rafael takes place Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm. They have lots of organically grown produce, breads, eggs, and fresh cut flowers. Live music by the Mad Maggies and That Man Fantastic. This farmers' market is a great one to take the kids to. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s located in the main Civic Center parking lot. For more info, go to www.marincountyfarmersmarkets.org

• Enjoy the music of the Corte Madera Town Band at the Corte Madera Town Center summer music series on Sunday from 2 to 4 pm in front of the Elephant Fountain. For more info, go to www.shoptowncenter.com.

• The North Bay Shakespeare presents A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Hamilton Amphitheater in Novato. Performances run from August 8–October 5. Saturday and Sunday performances start at 6:00 pm. For more info, go to our article.

• Marin Shakespeare Company presents Much Ado About Nothing at 5 pm. General admission: adults $27.50 advance, $30 at the door; seniors $22.50 advance/$25 door; youth 18 and under are $15. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre at Dominican University of California, San Rafael. More information: www.marinshakespeare.org.

• For a third year, the de Young museum in San Francisco presents Jazz at Intersection, a series of free family-friendly outdoor Sunday performances in the Osher Sculpture Garden. This Sunday: Howard Wiley and the Angola Project, 2:30–4 pm. www.deyoungmuseum.org

• It's the 111th Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival on Sunday at the historic Sonoma Plaza. Savor history, wine, art, food, childrens activities, contests, music, auctions, crafts, and a big parade around Sonoma’s historic Plaza. Various locations, times, and fees. For more info, go to www.sonomavinfest.org.