Hi parents,
A four-day weekend is here, which sounds wonderfully spacious until you realize you now have four whole days to answer, “What are we doing today?”
Luckily, this one has options.
You can wander through art under the redwoods, eat your way through a Greek festival, take a train ride through the Santa Cruz Mountains, catch Shakespeare in the park, or keep things wonderfully simple with a movie on the lawn.
There’s plenty happening, but no need to do it all. Pick one bigger outing, leave some room for a slow morning, and enjoy the extra day.
⭐ Weekend Pick
Kings Mountain Art Fair
Saturday–Monday • 10:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 Kings Mountain Community Center, Woodside
One of those Bay Area traditions that feels genuinely special. Wander among 125+ artist booths tucked beneath the redwoods, and make a morning of it with the fair’s pancake breakfast from 8:00–10:30 am before exploring.
All ages | Free admission | Learn more
🚗 A Quick SF Planning Note
Heading into San Francisco this weekend? Northbound Highway 101 will be fully closed between Cesar Chavez Street and 10th Street from Friday at 11:00 pm through Monday at 6:00 am.
Caltrans recommends using I-280 as an alternate route. Expect extra traffic and give yourself more time, especially if you’re heading to the Zoo, Presidio, or Golden Gate Park.
Happening All Weekend
Millbrae Art & Wine Festival
Saturday & Sunday • 10:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 Broadway, Downtown Millbrae
A close-to-home Labor Day weekend classic with 170+ artists and crafters, food, live music, and family activities. Easy to dip into for an hour or make an afternoon of it.
All ages | Free admission | Learn more
Belmont Greek Festival
Saturday & Sunday • 12:00–10:00 pm | 📍 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Belmont
Come hungry. There’s Greek food and pastries, live music, dancing, mythology plays, and cultural performances throughout the weekend. A lively community festival that works well when everyone in the family wants something different.
All ages | Admission applies | Get details
Labor Day Weekend at Roaring Camp
Saturday–Monday | 📍 Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton
Turn the long weekend into a little mountain adventure. Ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train or Santa Cruz Beach Train, then stick around for live music, gold panning, blacksmithing, a printing press, and mini tractors.
All ages | Train tickets required | Get tickets
Free Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra
Saturday–Monday • 2:00 pm | 📍 Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, McLaren Park, San Francisco
Bring a blanket and settle in for free outdoor Shakespeare. This year’s 90-minute production of Antony and Cleopatra is a nice option for families with older kids or teens who are ready for something beyond the usual festival circuit.
Best for older kids & teens | Free, no tickets required | Learn more
Friday, Sept 4
Sunset Fridays at the San Francisco Zoo
5:00–7:00 pm | 📍 San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco
A different way to experience the Zoo after hours, with live music, kid-friendly activities, ambassador animals, and more. A fun kickoff if you’re ready to start the long weekend right after school.
All ages | Admission applies | Get details
Movies in the Park: Zootopia 2
Activities from 6:00 pm • Movie around 7:30 pm | 📍 Central Park, San Mateo
Pack the blankets, pajamas, and movie snacks for an easy outdoor movie night. Games and crafts start at 6:00 pm, followed by Zootopia 2 at dusk.
All ages | Free | Get details
First Friday Nights at CuriOdyssey
5:00–8:00 pm | 📍 CuriOdyssey, San Mateo
Kick off the long weekend with an evening at CuriOdyssey. The museum stays open late with live music, food trucks, animal encounters, and hands-on science and play. An easy Peninsula option if you want to do something Friday without heading into the city.
All ages | Admission applies | Get details
Saturday, Sept 5
Home Depot Kids Workshop: School Bus Organizer
9:00 am | 📍 Participating Home Depot stores
A low-key morning plan for kids who love building things. This month’s free workshop has kids making a school bus organizer they can take home afterward.
Kids | Free, while supplies last | Register
Family Storytime at Mitchell Park Library
10:30–11:00 am | 📍 Mitchell Park Library, Palo Alto
If the rest of the weekend is feeling full, this is your intentionally simple option. Stories, songs, and rhymes make for an easy outing with younger kids without committing the whole day.
Babies–preschoolers | Free | Learn more
California Free Fishing Day
Saturday | 📍 Fishing spots across California
Ever wanted to take the kids fishing without committing to all the gear and licenses first? Saturday is one of California’s two Free Fishing Days of the year, when you can fish without a sport fishing license. Pack a picnic, borrow some gear, and make a slow morning of it by the water.
All ages | No fishing license required | Get details
Sunday, Sept 6
The Big Draw Community Day
10:00 am–3:00 pm | 📍 Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco
A whole day built around drawing, movement, and making together. Kids can try rapid gesture drawing, marble painting, claymation, sticker-making, and other hands-on activities around the museum.
All ages | Activities free; museum admission required for some | Get details
World Arts West Dance Festival
1:00–4:00 pm | 📍 Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco
Dance from around the world, outdoors with the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop. Expect live performances and interactive dance workshops, with plenty of room for the kids to run around Tunnel Tops between sets.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Monday, Sept 7
Golden Gate Park Band Labor Day Concert
1:00–2:30 pm | 📍 Spreckels Temple of Music, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
A wonderfully old-school way to spend Labor Day. Bring a picnic and listen to a free afternoon concert in the park, with plenty of room to wander before or afterward.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Golden Gate Free Jam with Grahame Lesh & Friends
2:00–6:00 pm | 📍 Robin Williams Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
If your family’s energy leans more music-on-the-grass than formal plans, end the long weekend here. Grahame Lesh & Friends are playing a free community jam from a flatbed truck, bringing a little of San Francisco’s free-concert tradition back to the park.
Bring a picnic, blanket or low chairs. No food will be sold on site, but water refill stations will be available.
All ages | Free | Get details
🌿 Little Joy
Four-day weekends don’t need four days of plans.
Choose one thing worth getting everyone out the door for. Leave one morning completely unscheduled. Get ice cream somewhere along the way.
That’s enough.
Enjoy the long weekend,
Akriti