The Weekend That Has Everything (Including Pie)
Pi Day, St. Patrick’s Parade, and a full Bay Area weekend
Hi parents
March 14 is Pi Day, which in San Francisco means a brass band parade around the Pi Shrine and a free slice of pie. The city’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade rolls down Market Street the same day. And in San Jose, hundreds of Aztec dancers open a three-day New Year ceremony.
There’s a lot happening this weekend.
You don’t have to do it all.
Pick your one big thing and let the rest unfold.
Happening All Weekend
SFMOMA — $15 Discounted Admission
10:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 151 3rd St, San Francisco
SFMOMA is currently offering $15 general admission through April 17, with the major reinstallation “Reimagined: The Fisher Collection at 10” on view across multiple floors. Kids under 18 are always free, making this one of the most accessible museum days in the city.
All ages (under 18 free) | $15 adults | Learn more
The Eyes & The Impossible (Final Weekend)
Fri 7:00 pm | Sat 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm | Sun 2:00 pm | 📍 450 Florida St, San Francisco
Word for Word brings Dave Eggers’ Newbery Medal–winning novel to the stage. Johannes, a fast and loyal dog, watches over the animals of a beloved seaside park. Quiet, thoughtful theater that sparks imagination and a love of storytelling.
Best for ages 8+ | $35 child / $55 adult | Get tickets
28th Annual Azteca Mexica New Year Festival
All day Fri–Sun | 📍 647 S King Rd, San Jose
Hundreds of Aztec dancers from across the US and Mexico gather for a three-day New Year ceremony with traditional dance, food vendors, and cultural arts. A vibrant and deeply meaningful cultural celebration.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Friday, March 13
Royal Ball
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm | 📍 850 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame
Burlingame’s beloved annual tradition returns with dancing, crafts, and a horse-drawn carriage ride through Washington Park. Kids can meet a special guest and enjoy an evening that feels straight out of a storybook.
Best for ages 3–10 | Tickets required | Get tickets
Filoli Irish Night with Devil’s Orchard
7:00 pm | 📍 86 Cañada Rd, Woodside
Celebrate St. Patrick’s weekend with live Celtic and Scandinavian folk music inside Filoli’s historic ballroom. A beautiful evening performance surrounded by murals inspired by the Bourn family’s Irish estate.
Best for ages 10+ and parents | $55–$85 | Get tickets
Saturday, March 14
Gamble Garden Second Saturday: Camellia Celebration
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 1431 Waverley St, Palo Alto
Explore Gamble Garden’s camellia collection during this free family morning. Includes guided tours, a scavenger hunt, tea tasting, tissue-paper flower crafts, and live music.
All ages | Free (register in advance) | Register
Pi (π) Day at the Exploratorium
11:00 am – 4:30 pm | 📍 Pier 15, San Francisco
Celebrate the Exploratorium’s favorite holiday with a Pi Parade, brass band procession around the Pi Shrine, and a free slice of pie. Math-inspired exhibits and playful activities run throughout the day.
All ages | Free with admission ($29.95 youth / $39.95 adult) | Learn more
SF St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
Parade 11:30 am | Festival 11:00 am – 5:00 pm | 📍 Market St & Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco
One of the West Coast’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with marching bands, Irish dancers, and more than 100 floats along Market Street. The festival at Civic Center follows with music, food, and youth sports demos.
All ages | Free | Learn more
SF Giants FanFest — Oracle Park Open House
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 📍 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco
A free open house inside Oracle Park where families can play catch on the field, explore the clubhouse and dugout, and meet Giants alumni. A dream day for young baseball fans.
All ages | Free (RSVP required) | Get tickets
SFJAZZ Family Matinee: Stella Swings Ella
11:00 am | 📍 201 Franklin St, San Francisco
Bay Area musician Stella Heath brings Ella Fitzgerald’s music to life with a lively full band. The room fills with clapping, singing, and dancing — a joyful first concert experience for kids.
Best for ages 3–12 | $10–$20 | Get tickets
Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover at Cal Academy
6:00 pm Sat – 8:00 am Sun | 📍 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco
Spend the night exploring the aquarium, rainforest dome, and planetarium after hours. Includes storytime, milk and cookies, and sleeping among the exhibits.
Best for ages 6–17 with adult | $99–$119 | Get tickets
Sunday, March 15
Hiller Aviation Museum: St. Patrick’s Celebration + Paint‑A‑Plane
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 📍 601 Skyway Rd, San Carlos
Paint a model plane green, hunt for hidden leprechauns through the gallery, and explore open‑cockpit aircraft. Face painting, bounce house, and treats are all included with admission.
All ages | Museum admission ($22 adults / $14 youth 5–17) | Learn more
Mid‑Peninsula Camp & School Fair
11:00 am – 2:00 pm | 📍 3115 Del Monte St, San Mateo
More than 50 camps, schools, sports, arts, and STEM programs gather under one roof. Kids can enjoy craft activities while parents explore summer planning options.
All ages | Free admission | Learn more
Newsies — Peninsula Youth Theatre
12:00 pm | 📍 500 Castro St, Mountain View
Peninsula Youth Theatre’s MainStage production brings the 1899 newsboys’ strike to life with energetic choreography and a talented young cast.
Best for ages 6+ | From $50 | Get tickets
Golden Gate Park Roller Disco Party
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | 📍 JFK Promenade, San Francisco
Outdoor roller skating with a live DJ in Golden Gate Park. Bring your own skates and join families and skaters of all levels for a joyful Sunday afternoon.
All ages | Free | Learn more
🌿 Spring tip: Filoli’s gardens in Woodside are currently bursting with tulips, daffodils, and blossoming trees — a gorgeous detour any day of the weekend. General admission required; check filoli.org for hours.
This weekend has a lot of noise in it - parade drums, Pi Shrine processions, Aztec ceremony, little kids hunting leprechauns through an aviation museum.
I hope you find one moment that makes it worth stepping out the door.
Happy St. Patrick’s weekend from Parent Pocket Guide, and if you know a family who’d love this guide, pass it along.