Bay Area Kids’ Weekend Events: October 15-17

We’ve got more activities this week to gear up the little ones for that holiday made in sugar heaven—Halloween! Costumes, craziness, and candy, candy, candy! What’s not to like? The Art and Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay is where the Great Pumpkin goes to feel at home. And that annual good time, theGoblin Jamboree, is back with more tricks and treats for your little monsters. Only 19 more days ‘til mini-candy bar goodness.

East Bay

Food of the Americas Harvest FestivalIf you’re trying to feed your child a vegetable this month, or anything else not pertaining to the sugar utopia on the 31st, consider taking in the Harvest Festival at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. They’re celebrating crops first husbanded by the peoples of North, Central, and South America—crops like tomatoes, corn, and quinoa. Come by for cooking demos and activities that will get your kids excited about food actually grown in the ground. Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Berkeley, garden admission $9/adults, $2/children 5 – 12, under 5 free. Event details.

East Bay School FestivalsThe Berkwood Hedge School in Berkeley is telling stories this weekend at their 4th annual Storytelling Festival. Bring the littles to soak in some tall tales and magic. Meanwhile, Roosevelt Elementary in San Leandro is celebrating the season with a Fall Festival. Look for carnival games and booths, eats, prizes, and experiments.Berkeley: Sat., 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., Berkeley, $8/adults, $4/under 18. Event details.San Leandro: Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., San Leandro. Event details.

Peninsula

St. Paul’s 31st Annual Halloween Fun Faire and Silent AuctionHalloween fun is everywhere, but it can be hard to find a non-scary good time. Luckily, the Halloween Fun Faire at St. Paul’s (for pre-schoolers and grade school kids) has a “no scare” policy. Take a ride on a train or get a spooktacular temporary tattoo. And while your kids are skimming the pumpkin patch and decorating cookies, you can bid on items in the silent auction and maybe win a new vacation for the fam. How’s that for a treat? Fri., 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., and Sat., 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Burlingame, free. Event details.

SilverpaloozaBoogie down at Silverpalooza, a fundraiser for Silverspot Nursery School in Brisbane. Get your stretch on for the limbo contest or practice your quick stop for the cakewalk. Few events can boast being both kid-friendly and having a full-bar. Sat., 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., Brisbane, $5 suggested donation. Event details.

Marin

Venetia Valley Fall CarnivalFundraise the fun way and support Venetia Valley School’s fall carnival. Kids can cake walk or jump around in the bouncy house. Take in some live music and enter the raffle for a shot at a Wii. Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., San Rafael, free. Event details.

BiketoberfestPutting a whole new spin on Oktoberfest, Biketoberfest encourages you to break out your two-wheelers and take a turn for the holiday. The Family Fun Zone features bouncy houses, face painting, a vintage bicycle show, and an obstacle course for the littles. Don’t miss a special Breakfast with Enzo show! Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fairfax, free. Event details.

San Francisco

Potrero Hill Festival and Fiesta on the HillCelebrate two great SF neighborhoods this weekend. In one of SF’s sunnier hoods, the Potrero Hill Festival gets going on Saturday with a bouncy house, petting zoo, and pony rides. And on Sunday, Fiesta on the Hill in Bernal Heights raises funds and awareness for community programs focused on seniors and youth. Get down to live music while strolling the pumpkin patch and taking a turn on the pony rides. Potrero: Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., San Francisco, free. Event details. Bernal: Sun., 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., San Francisco, free. Event details.

Yerba Buena Neighborhood FairWoohoo, join the fair going on at Yerba Buena Gardens, always a hotspot of activity for the littles. Games and activities are just the tip of the iceberg here—look out for tasty eats, dance performances, acrobats, and free entry to SFMOMA and the California History Museum. Also, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, as part of its “Sesame Street” celebration, is showing “Jim Henson & Friends: Inside the Sesame Street Vault.” Check out this entertaining collection of rare clips and guest appearances of Sesame Street characters on a variety of shows. This whole event reeks of fun. Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., San Francisco, free. Event details. Film: Thurs., 7:30 p.m. and Sat., 2:00 p.m., San Francisco, see website for prices. Event details.

—Nicole Cooksey-Voytenko