Colors, Dragons, and the First Blooms of Spring
Parades, color festivals, and the first wildflower hikes of the season
Hi parents,
This weekend is one of those rare ones where the calendar practically sparkles. The Chinese New Year Parade lights up San Francisco Saturday night — all 288 feet of golden dragon. Holi celebrations are popping up across the Peninsula and South Bay in a burst of color. And if you’d rather keep things quiet, the wildflowers at Edgewood are just starting to show off.
Festive or mellow. You get to choose.
Happening All Weekend
Bouquets to Art at the de Young & Legion of Honor
9:30 am – 5:15 pm | 📍 de Young Museum & Legion of Honor, San Francisco
Over 120 floral designers have created stunning living sculptures that complement the art and architecture of both museums. This beloved annual exhibition closes Sunday, so this is your last chance to wander through. Bay Area residents get free Saturday admission to the de Young.
All ages (kids 17 and under free) | Museum admission | Learn more
Chinatown Community Street Fair
Saturday & Sunday | 📍 Grant Avenue (California to Broadway), San Francisco
Over 120 booths of food, art, and crafts fill the heart of Chinatown across both days. Watch Chinese folk dancing, opera, drumming, and browse stalls with the kids. A vibrant, bustling weekend in one of SF’s most iconic neighborhoods.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Friday, March 6
Free First Friday at the San Mateo County History Museum
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | 📍 San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City
Explore this gorgeous 1910 courthouse‑turned‑museum for free. At 11:00 am, preschoolers can enjoy “Playing in the Past” with crafts and a story. At 2:00 pm, older kids and adults can join a free docent‑led tour of the exhibits.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Kids Culture Club: Holi Sand Art at Foster City Library
3:30 – 4:30 pm | 📍 Foster City Library, Foster City
Celebrate the Festival of Colors with a colorful sand art craft at the library. A gentle intro to Holi traditions — perfect for little hands and curious minds.
Ages 5–10 | Free | Learn more
First Friday Nights at CuriOdyssey (Pi Day Edition)
5:00 – 8:00 pm | 📍 CuriOdyssey, San Mateo
This month’s First Friday is all about Pi. Follow the Pi Day Scavenger Hunt, add a digit to the community Pi Wall, meet Aragon High School’s robotics team, and catch a math game demo with a Riot Games developer. Food trucks on‑site.
All ages | Museum admission | Learn more
Saturday, March 7
Free Spring Wildflower Hike at Edgewood Park
9:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 Edgewood Park, Redwood City
Spring is peak wildflower season at Edgewood. Join expert docents on a free 3‑mile hike through serpentine grasslands bursting with early blooms. Sturdy shoes and water recommended.
Best for ages 8+ | Free (registration required) | Get details
Celebrating Spring at Filoli (Chinese Floralia)
10:00 am – 3:00 pm | 📍 Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside
The Northern California Hanfu Association fills Filoli’s spring gardens with pop‑up performances celebrating the Chinese flower festival. Traditional music, stunning Hanfu fashion, and photo vignettes among 130,000 blooming bulbs. Performances at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. Kids can explore the Discovery Den and Nature Playspace too.
All ages | Garden admission | Learn more
AIA Holi Fest — Festival of Colors
11:00 am – 6:00 pm | 📍 Discovery Meadow, San Jose
One of the Bay Area’s largest Holi celebrations. Expect Bollywood music, DJs, organic color throwing, South Asian food vendors, and plenty of space for kids to run around. Festive, vibrant, and worth the drive if you’re looking for a full Holi celebration.
All ages | Tickets from ~$13 | Get tickets
Family Art Making at the de Young Museum
11:00 am – 3:00 pm | 📍 de Young Museum, San Francisco
Drop in to this free art‑making table led by professional teaching artists. This week’s project is inspired by Bouquets to Art. No ticket needed for the art table, and Bay Area residents get free Saturday museum admission.
All ages | Free | Learn more
De Anza College Planetarium Shows
2:00 pm, 3:30 pm & 7:00 pm | 📍 Fujitsu Planetarium, Cupertino
Triple header under the dome. “The Little Star That Could” at 2:00 pm is perfect for young stargazers. “Magic Tree House” at 3:30 pm works for elementary‑age kids. Each show includes a live tour of the night sky.
Ages vary by show (2:00 pm: ages 4+) | Tickets vary | Get tickets
San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
5:15 – 8:00 pm | 📍 Market Street to Kearny & Jackson, San Francisco
The largest Lunar New Year celebration outside of Asia. A 288‑foot Golden Dragon, illuminated floats, lion dancers, firecrackers, costumed school groups, and marching bands wind through downtown. The parade is loud, joyful, and absolutely worth the crowds.
All ages | Free (bleacher seats from $48) | Learn more
Sunday, March 8
San Carlos Farmers Market + Public Safety Fair
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | 📍 Laurel Street & Wheeler Parking Plaza, San Carlos
Double the fun at the Sunday market this week. Alongside the usual fresh produce and local goods, the Public Safety Fair lets kids climb on firetrucks, peek inside patrol cars, and learn about disaster preparedness.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Free Kid‑Friendly Nature Hike at Edgewood Park
10:00 – 11:30 am | 📍 Edgewood Park, Redwood City
A docent‑led hike designed for families with young children. Use your senses to explore plants and animals along a 1.5‑mile trail at a kid‑friendly pace. Builds confidence in nature and creates shared family memories.
Best for ages 3–8 with parents | Free (registration required) | Get details
Marine Science Sunday: Amazing Migrations
10:30 am, 12:00 pm & 2:00 pm | 📍 The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito
Learn about gray whales and elephant seals that migrate along the California coast in this interactive program. Visit the hospital to see marine mammal patients being rehabilitated and meet a local artist joining this month’s science‑meets‑art programming. Arrive 30 minutes early — seating is limited.
Best for ages 7+ | General admission required | Register
K‑12 Neurodiversity Resources & Strengths Fair
12:00 – 3:00 pm | 📍 Los Altos Community Center, Los Altos
A one‑of‑a‑kind event for families of neurodivergent and twice‑exceptional kids. Meet 40+ strengths‑based organizations, hear keynote speaker Amanda Morin, and let kids explore hands‑on stations for tinkering, drawing, and building. If this is your world, this is your event.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Holi: Festival of Colors at Brisbane Community Park
2:00 – 2:30 pm | 📍 Brisbane Community Park, Brisbane
Hear the story behind Holi, the joyful Festival of Colors, before heading outside for a playful color‑throwing celebration. Bring a towel and clothes you don’t mind getting colorful.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Whether you’re chasing a golden dragon through the streets of Chinatown, tossing colored powder in Brisbane, or quietly counting wildflowers at Edgewood — this weekend has room for all of it.
Enjoy the first real taste of spring with your people.
If this newsletter helped you plan your weekend, share it with a parent friend who could use a little less scrolling and a little more doing.