Here are this month’s top family activities around the Bay Area.
March 1
“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
THROUGH MARCH 7. Children’s Musical Theatre San Jose Mainstage presents this funny and charming musical about a spelling competition, featuring performers ages 14-19. 1 and 6pm. Ticket prices TBA.
CMT San Jose, 1545 Parkmoor Ave., San Jose
“Carnival of the Animals”
Santa Cruz Symphony presents a Family Concert of Camille Saint-Saens’ famous work. 2pm. $26 adults, $13 children, ages 2 and under FREE on laps.
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz
March 3
“Monty Python’s Spamalot”
THROUGH MARCH 22. The critically acclaimed revival of the Tony Award-winning best musical comedy reaffirms the enduring appeal of Monty Python’s distinctly British wit and comedic brilliance. Recommended for ages 8 and up; no children under 5 admitted. $62 and up.
Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St., San Francisco
March 6
First Fridays
Enjoy free admission and an inviting atmosphere with open galleries and live entertainment. 6-9pm. FREE.
San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S. Market St., San Jose
March 7
Chinese New Year Parade
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with this 1.3-mile parade featuring Olympic gold medalist Ailing “Eileen” Gu as the Parade Grand Marshal. 5:15pm. FREE, bleacher seats $45-75.
Second and Market streets (parade starts), San Francisco
“Paw Patrol Live”
ALSO MARCH 8. See the “Paw Patrol” gang live in “A Mighty Adventure” in which they battle the Supervillain Scientist Victoria Vance in a show full of heroic action, catchy tunes and loads of interactive fun. 10am and 2pm. $48 and up.
San Jose Civic, 135 San Carlos St., San Jose
March 8
Hike with Giants
Take in the sights of the world’s tallest trees, delve into their history and learn about the rich biodiversity of redwood forests on a 2-mile round-trip hike with an instructor from Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Registration required. Ages 6 and up. 9am. $25.
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Canyon Meadow Staging Area,Oakland
Oakland Fans Fest
Celebrate Oakland sports culture at this fourth-annual festival. See website for details. 11am-4pm.
Fruitvale Village, E. 12th St., Oakland
Strengths Fair
REEL, a Silicon Valley-based non-profit supporting neurodivergent and twice-exceptional students, hosts its second annual fair with a keynote speech, exhibitors, hands-on experiences and more, highlighting what becomes possible when neurodivergent students are seen through a strengths-based lens rather than a deficit-focused one. 12-4pm. FREE, reserve online.
Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos
reel2e.org/reel-strengths-fair
March 14
Music Hour at the Library
Enjoy an hour of live music every second Sat. 2:30pm. FREE.
Fremont Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
Storytelling and Drumming Festival
Enjoy music and stories for all ages, puppetry, crafts workshops and more. 12-3pm. FREE.
Mastic Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda
March 20
ABT Studio Company
Experience the future of ballet as the next generation of American Ballet Theatre stars perform a stunning mix of classical masterpieces and bold contemporary works by emerging choreographers. 8pm. $25-110.
Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore
March 21
19th Annual Autism Update
A one-day, in-person conference for parents, educators and care providers of children and adults with autism or developmental disorders. This annual update focuses on new research and services for autistic individuals and those with developmental disorders to optimize their long-term functioning. 9am-4:30pm. $50-100.
Li Ka Shing Center, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford
https://web.cvent.com/event/ea9367ab-be14-4e17-97bf-3adfbff85300/summary
2026 Bay Area 5K and Polar Plunge
Support Special Olympics Northern California by participating in this annual run or Polar Plunge. 8:30am. $50-125.
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach, Eighth Street and Otis Drive,Alameda
p2p.onecause.com/bay-area-polar-plunge
Carrier Con
ALSO MARCH 22. This cosplay, anime and gaming convention supports The USS Hornet museum with a costume contest, panels, meet-ups, tabletop gaming and more. 10am-6pm. $40, $30 ages 17 and under.
USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum, 707 West Hornet Ave., Alameda
March 22
“Monet and Venice”
THROUGH JULY 26. Although Claude Monet visited Venice only once, his paintings of the city are among his most dazzling. More than 20 of his paintings of the Italian city will be contextualized with select works from across his career, including his iconic “Water Lilies.” Advance tickets required. $40 adults, $25 ages 6-17.
de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
famsf.org/exhibitions/monet-venice
Weekend Farm Tour
Get up close with cows, pigs, chickens, goats and sheep. Learn what it takes to care for these farm animals and spend time in the organic garden. 1pm. $18.
Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hill
March 24
“MJ: The Musical”
THROUGH APRIL 5. Experience Michael Jackson’s story through his many hits in this Tony Award-winning musical about the making of the “Dangerous” tour. Recommended for ages 8 and up; no children under 5 admitted. $57 and up.
Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St., San Francisco
March 27
New Ballet’s “Fast Forward”
ALSO MARCH 28. The ninth annual “Fast Forward” features works of new contemporary ballet by choreographers both local and from around the U.S. and Canada. 7pm. $20 and up.
Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
March 28
Bunny’s Sensory Friendly Fest
This sensory-friendly spring celebration is designed to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It will include an egg-citing hunt, photos with Bunny, fun spring-themed crafts and light snacks. Registration required. 1pm. $12, 2 and under FREE.
Robert Livermore Community Center, 444 East Ave., Livermore
https://www.larpd.org/2026-03-28-bunny-s-sensory-friendly-fest
“Mark Foehringer’s Alice in Wonderland”
ALSO MARCH 29. This 50-minute dance theater work based on Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s story returns for the first time in six years. It is magical, zany, fun and designed to engage children with the performing arts. 11am and 2pm. $23.50-$65.50.
Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, San Francisco
March 29
“The Bardy Bunch”
THROUGH APRIL 26. In this musical sit-comedy of errors, two TV families you thought you knew – the Bradys and the Partridges – are thrown into Shakespeare’s world of ambition, revenge, love and betrayal. Recommended for Ages 10 and up. 2:30pm. $65.
3Below Theaters, 288 S. Second St, San Jose.
3belowtheaters.com/the-bardy-bunch
March 31
“Beetlejuice”
THROUGH APRIL 5. Based on Tim Burton’s beloved film, “Beetlejuice” tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. Recommended for ages 13 and up. 7:30pm. $63 and up.
