Learn about the world of UC Berkeley at the annual Cal Day on Saturday, April 16.
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, April 15
Make a Flashlight
Novato Library
Friday, 1–3 pm
Make a flashlight out of an Altoids tin! Teens in grades 6–12 can learn about basic soldering and simple circuits with this fun project. Sign-up and permission form required; call (415) 473-2050 to register. Location: 1720 Novato Boulevard. For more info, visit their website.
Afterschool LEGO Club
South Novato Library
Friday, 3–4 pm
Use LEGO and DUPLO bricks to build whatever your heart desires! Children ages 4–12 are invited to build, play, engineer, and destruct together. Registration not required but space limited to 30 people on a first come, first served basis. For more info, visit their website.
Friday Night Jazz
Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing
Friday, 6–9 pm
Enjoy live music on Fridays in the Marin Country Mart courtyard! This Friday, FivePlay Jazz with special guest Ron Horton plays fresh, original music for hungry ears! The compositions by band members range from swinging bebop, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian grooves to atmospheric ballads, and more. For more info, visit their website.
The Addams Family
Berkeley Playhouse
Friday, 7 pm, Saturday, 1 & 6 pm, Sunday, noon & 5 pm
The hilariously morbid family is back in a brand new story! The daughter—Wednesday—has done the scariest thing imaginable, she's grown up! She's also fallen in love and wants her family to be "normal" for one night to impress her new boyfriend's parents. Tickets: $23–$60. Location: 2640 College Avenue, Berkeley. For more info, visit their website.
Saturday, April 16
Free Entrance Days: Muir Woods National Park
Mill Valley
Saturday & Sunday, 8 am–5 pm
America's Best Idea—the national parks—is even better when it's free! Get into Muir Woods National Monument for free over this weekend, the first weekend of National Park Week. For more info, visit their website.
Family BikeAbout
San Francisco Zoo
Saturday, 8:30–10 am
Families can bring their bicycles to the Zoo for this informative one- and one-half hour, docent-led cycling tour. It’s great to be in the Zoo ahead of the crowds and watch the animals start their day. Registration includes parking and Zoo admission. Participants must bring a bicycle; the SF Zoo does not provide bicycles to rent. Cost: SFZS Members: $18 per peddler and Non-Members: $23 per peddler. Children piggy-backing on their parents' bikes are free. Location: 1 Zoo Road, San Francisco. For more info, call (415) 753-7080 or visit their website.
Cal Day 2016
UC Berkeley
Saturday, 9 am–5 pm
Introduce your family to the wide world of Berkeley. Watch dancers move and groove, hear the boom of the Cal band, hug a robot and get some hands-on science experience. Cal Day will light up their minds. Free! No advance registration is required to attend Cal Day—just show up! For more info, visit their website.
Tall Ships Battle Sail & Dockside Tours
Spud Point Marina, Bodega Bay
Saturday & Sunday, 9 am–5 pm
The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain return to Spud Point Marina for dockside tours and battle sails from 9 am–noon. Costumed crews will host walk-on tours, from 2–5 pm. Owned by the nonprofit Grays Harbor Historical Seaport of Washington, the replicas of colonial-era trading ships last sailed into Bodega Harbor in 2012 and 2013, attracting visitors from around the North Bay. Battle sale tickets: $39–$75; children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For more info, visit their website.
Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival
Downtown Sebastopol
Saturday, 10 am–6 pm & Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
The 70th Annual Apple Blossom Parade is a delight for the entire family. Sebastopol comes alive as the flower-adorned floats, high-stepping horses, marching bands, and five-year-old dancers march proudly down Main Street. The parade starts at 10 Saturday morning at Analy High School and continues South on Main Street and ends at Calder Ave. Join us in the Rose Garden at the festival for children's activities on the farm. Admission: $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students 11–17, free for ages 10 and under. For more info, visit their website.
Octopretzel
Bay Area Discovery Museum
10:45 & 11:45 am
Octopretzel, a children’s folk music band, plays an interactive musical performance, including puppets, lullabies, nursery rhymes and more. Free with museum admission. Location: 557 McReynolds Road, Fort Baker, Sausalito. For more info, visit their website.
Learn to Pier Fish
Paradise Beach Park, Tiburon
Saturday, 11 am–1 pm
Join rangers and a few experienced local anglers to learn the secrets and tricks of the trade when fishing from a pier. A valid California fishing license is required when fishing from the shore, not from the pier. All skill levels welcome, no experience is necessary. Don’t forget to bring a fishing pole. Bait and a limited amount of fishing poles will be available. Park entrance is waived for participants. For more info, visit their website.
Bay Area Children's Theatre: Elephant and Piggie's We Are in a Play
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
Saturday, 11 am & 2 pm
Piggie is excited, because she has no idea what is going to happen today—which means that anything is possible. Like skipping. Or ping pong. Or a party invitation! Party invitation?! Good thing Gerald knows how to party! Join Mo Willems’ two most unlikely pals as they sing and dance (well, Gerald tries to dance) through the joys and trials of everlasting friendship. Recommended for all ages. Tickets: $22 adults, $18 children, $20 seniors, $13 groups of 15 or more. Location: 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley. For more info and tickets, visit their website.
STEAM Saturday: Earth Day
San Rafael Public Library
Saturday, 11–11:45 am
STEAM powered stories, rhymes, songs, crafts, experiments, and sensory experiences for preschool children ages 3–6 and their caregivers. Please wear comfy clothes that are OK to get messy! Register at the Children’s Reference Desk, or at (415) 485-3322. Location: 1100 E Street, San Rafael. For more info, visit their website.
Berkeley Bay Festival
Shorebird Park, Berkeley Marina
Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
The Bay Festival, now in its 79th year, showcases activities and environmental education that are available at the Berkeley Marina and all around the region. Come celebrate the Earth and our Bay by listening to music, eating wonderful food, and enjoying a day by the Bay. This free event is for all ages, and features live music and entertainment, free sailboat rides and dragon boat paddling lessons, food vendors, and local recreational and education groups. For more info, visit their website.
Climate SCIENCE: Earth Day Celebrate!
Bay Model Visitor Center, Sausalito
Saturday, 11:30 am–2:30 pm
Join rangers and naturalists from the Bay Model and Aquarium of the Bay to find out what our communities are doing to adapt to changes in our climate. Make your own beaver dams, wetlands, and watersheds and learn how these activities are helping policy-makers and scientists envision innovative solutions to climate change. Free. Location: 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito. For more info, visit their website.
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