Hi parents,
It’s the first weekend when fall is slowly starting to show up.
There are glass pumpkins in Palo Alto, a foggy coastal festival in Pacifica, an outdoor movie night, neighborhood music, storytelling, science experiments, and even rooftop stargazing.
As always, you do not need to do all the things. Pick the one that fits your family’s energy and call it a good weekend.
⭐ Weekend Pick
Family Science Day
Saturday • 11:00 am–5:00 pm + evening program | 📍 College of San Mateo
This is such a good one for curious kids. Start with hands-on makerspace projects, then explore science workshops, planetarium shows, firefighter demonstrations, fossils, anatomy, electricity, astronomy and more.
Older kids can come back in the evening for a NASA scientist’s talk about the Moon, followed by rooftop stargazing and live music.
All ages | Free | Get details
Happening All Weekend
Great Glass Pumpkin Patch
Saturday & Sunday • 10:00 am–5:00 pm | 📍 Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto
More than 10,000 hand-blown glass pumpkins, gourds and autumn treasures take over the Art Center lawn. There are also live glass demonstrations and food trucks.
It is free to wander and admire, with pumpkins available to purchase if one follows you home.
All ages | Free to attend | Learn more
Pacific Coast Fog Fest
Saturday & Sunday • 10:00 am–6:00 pm | 📍 Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica
A full Coastside day out with arts and crafts, food, music, entertainment and a dedicated Family Fun Fest. Saturday starts with the community parade at 10:00 am.
A nice option if you want to head toward the ocean and stay awhile.
All ages | Free admission | Get details
Friday, Sept. 25
Fourth Fridays: Music in Menlo Park
6:00–9:00 pm | 📍 Downtown Menlo Park
Downtown turns into one big music venue, with free live performances spread along Santa Cruz Avenue and several family-friendly sets.
Grab dinner, wander between stages and stay for as little or as long as everyone lasts.
All ages | Free | See the lineup
Movies in the Park: Wicked: For Good
Games & crafts from 6:00 pm • Movie around 7:30 pm | 📍 Beresford Park, San Mateo
San Mateo wraps up its September movie series with Wicked: For Good. Mobile Rec brings games and crafts before the movie starts at dusk.
Bring blankets, chairs and something warm for when the sun goes down.
All ages | Free | Get details
Saturday, Sept. 26
Harvest History Festival
9:00 am–12:00 pm | 📍 Heritage Park, Mountain View
Before Silicon Valley, there were orchards. This easygoing community morning celebrates Mountain View’s history, agriculture and local organizations with activities for families.
A lovely lower-key option before the bigger Saturday events begin.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Chuseok Festival
11:00 am–4:00 pm | 📍 Main Parade Lawn, Presidio, San Francisco
One of the SF outings worth the drive this weekend. Northern California’s large public celebration of Korean culture brings live performances, Korean food, cultural activities, local vendors and youth programming to the Presidio.
All ages | Free | Get details
St. Francis Center 40th Anniversary Block Party
11:00 am–3:00 pm | 📍 151 Buckingham Avenue, Redwood City
A true neighborhood celebration with live music, dancing, kids’ activities, food vendors, ice cream, raffles, and community booths.
This one feels less like a produced festival and more like being invited into a local celebration.
All ages | Free admission | Learn more
Learn to Play Chess for Kids
3:30–4:30 pm | 📍 Burlingame Public Library
A free introductory chess class for kids in grades 2–6, presented by Grupology.
A great quieter option if your child would rather learn something new than brave another festival.
Grades 2–6 | Free | Register
Music at the Park: Unplugged
Doors 4:30 pm • Music 5:00–7:00 pm | 📍 The Horse Park at Woodside
Three local singer-songwriters perform outdoors at the Horse Park, with chairs, light snacks and non-alcoholic drinks provided.
Layers are a good idea. Children are welcome as long as they stay with an adult.
All ages | Free, optional donation | Get details
Sunday, Sept. 27
Takahashi Market 120th Anniversary Celebration
10:00 am–2:30 pm | 📍 Takahashi Market, San Mateo
One of San Mateo’s longtime Japanese-Hawaiian markets is turning 120.
The celebration includes taiko drumming, Hawaiian music, hula, pop-up vendors, raffle prizes and food from the Takahashi Market kitchen. A very local little piece of Peninsula history.
All ages | Free admission | Get details
Afri-Crafty Tales with Clara Kamunde
11:00–11:45 am | 📍 Belle Haven Library, Menlo Park
Menlo Park’s annual Storytelling Festival opens with Kenyan-born storyteller Clara Kamunde sharing African “How & Why” and origin stories.
No books or screens here. Just a storyteller and a room full of imaginations.
All ages | Free | Learn more
Sparklez Children’s Business Fair
11:00 am–1:00 pm | 📍 Mitchell Park Community Center, Palo Alto
Kids ages 6–15 have created their own products, brands and businesses, and now they are opening shop for the day.
Come browse up to 25 kid-run businesses, support a young entrepreneur and perhaps give your own child a few ideas.
All ages welcome to shop | Free to attend | Get details
Randall Museum 75th Anniversary Celebration
1:00–5:00 pm | 📍 Randall Museum, San Francisco
This feels worth crossing into the city for. Randall Museum is celebrating 75 years with family crafts, instructor demonstrations, live music, a climbing wall, skateboarding, archery and a new museum history exhibit.
Everything is free.
All ages | Free | Get details
A Little Joy
If the weekend already feels full, skip the event calendar entirely.
Pick up something warm to drink, find a park or trail you have not visited in a while, and let the kids lead the way for an hour.
Sometimes the best plan is the one with almost no plan at all.
Have a lovely weekend,
Akriti
Parent Pocket Guide is a weekly roundup of family-friendly things to do around the San Francisco Peninsula and beyond. If someone in your parent group always asks, “What should we do this weekend?” feel free to send this their way.
A quick question for you 💛
I’ve been making Parent Pocket Guide for a little while now, and I’d love to know if it’s actually helping you plan your weekends.
Three very quick questions below. Your answers will help me figure out what’s worth keeping, changing, or doing more of.