Here are this month’s top family activities around the Bay Area.
Oct. 3
Movies in the Park
Watch “The Little Mermaid” (2023) under the stars at Old Mill Park. Bring your favorite lawn chair and food. There will also be food to purchase. 6:30pm (movie starts at sunset). FREE.
64 Cascade Drive, Mill Valley
millvalleyrecreation.org/840/Movies-in-the-Park
Oct. 4
Cinema on the Square
Enjoy Alfred Hitchcock’s classic “The Birds” with a pre-show featuring movie trivia, prizes and entertainment. Limited chairs available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-show is at 5pm, movie is at 7pm. FREE.
Union Square, 333 Post St., San Francisco
visitunionsquaresf.com/park-programs
Oct. 5
Fleet Week
THROUGH OCT. 13. The week includes the Parade of Ships, ship tours, an exposition, concerts, a high school band challenge, and, of course, the famous air show with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The air show will be Oct. 10-12 between Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. It can be viewed throughout San Francisco, but tickets can be purchased to watch it from the Marina Green. For a schedule of events and more information, check the website.
Little Italy San Jose Italian Festival
Celebrate all things Italian at this festival featuring Italian cuisine, live entertainment, a car show, cultural exhibits and Italian Museum tours, children’s activities and more. 11am-7pm. FREE.
Little Italy San Jose, 323 W. St. John St., San Jose
littleitalysj.com/little-italy-san-jose-festival
Wonder Funday
The Exploratorium is hosting its STEAM festival fundraiser, Wonder Funday, with a variety of activities, design challenges, crafts and entertainment. It will also include a chance to meet with Bay Area scientists, designers and makers. The event raises money for Exploratorium education programs. General admission entry is from 2-5pm and Honorary Committee members who provide sponsorships can enter at 12:30pm for a pre-event with food and drinks. Admission is $75 for children, $100 for adults and $350 for a family of four.
The Exploratorium, Pier 15 on the Embarcadero, San Francisco
exploratorium.edu/support/wonder-funday
Oct. 7
“& Juliet”
THROUGH OCT. 12. Broadway San Jose presents this hilarious new musical that flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. It asks the question: What would happen if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? For ages 8 and up; children under 4 will not be admitted. Check website for times. $63-116.
Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose
Oct. 11
Diwali Celebration
Make a Diya lamp, learn about traditions, delight in Rangoli artwork and enjoy music and dance. Diwali is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists. Museum is open 9:30am-4:30pm; special programing is 11am-3pm. $16-18.
Children’s Discovery Museum San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose
Martial Cottle Park’s Fall Festival
Celebrate Santa Clara Valley’s rich agricultural history at this festival featuring arts, crafts, food, kids’ activities, agricultural workshops, antique cars and farm equipment, live entertainment and more. 9am-2pm. FREE.
Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Ave., San Jose
parks.sccgov.org/fall-festival
San Carlos Art & Wine Faire
THROUGH OCT. 12. This annual event features more than 200 artists, a Family Fun Zone with kids’ entertainment, beer and wine, live entertainment, food vendors, a car show and more. 10am-6pm. FREE.
San Carlos Avenue at Laurel Street, San Carlos
cityofsancarlos.org/residents/community-events/art-wine-faire
Oct. 12
Italian Heritage Festival and Parade
Celebrating Italian heritage, the event includes a parade with floats, Italian and Italian American dignitaries, live music and performances and representatives from organizations and businesses. The parade begins at 12:30pm at Jefferson and Powell streets in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, proceeds through North Beach on Columbus Avenue and ends at Washington Square. FREE.
North Beach,
San Francisco
Pop-Up Family Dance
Luna Dance & Creativity offers dance classes for families to play and create together, strengthen bonds and allow parents to see their children in new ways. Reservations required. 10-10:50am. FREE.
San Pablo Park, 2800 Park St., Berkeley
lunadancecreativity.org/product-category/studio-lab/family-dance
Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with this world-renowned dance company bringing the energy and passion of traditional Mexican folk dance to life honoring ancestors in a vibrant and uplifting celebration. 3pm. $30-50, $25 for children and military.
Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore
livermorearts.org/events/ballet-folklorico-2025
Oct. 18
“The Life and Music of George Michael”
This concert-style show chronicles the journey George Michael had with music and his fans. The show captures the performance and sound of the singer with staging and lighting while telling his story through early music hits from Wham! and his isolo career. No children under 5. 7:30pm. $52.46-310.
Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., San Francisco
“Boom or Bust: Photographing Northern California”
THROUGH JUNE 7, 2026. The photographs in this exhibit chronicle northern California’s cycles of urban settlement, including the construction of San Francisco before and after the 1906 earthquake, building the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, and the development of San Francisco South of Market neighborhood. 9:30am-5:15pm Tue.-Sun. $20 adults, $17 seniors, $11 students, ages 6-17 FREE.
de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park,50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
Oct. 21
“Some Like It Hot”
THROUGH OCT. 26. Set in Chicago during Prohibition, this musical is about two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they catch a cross-country train for the life-chasing, life-changing trip of a lifetime. For ages 12 and up. Check website for times. $63-117.
Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose
Oct. 22
“Suffs”
THROUGH NOV.9. This Tony Award-winning musical is about the American women who fought for the right to vote. For ages 10 and up; no children under 5. Check website for times. $62.01-251.55.
Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St., San Francisco
Oct. 25
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Chili Cook-off
Professional and amateur chefs compete for the title of Best Chili. Tasting kits go on sale at 10am, tasting begins at 1pm, winners are announced at 4pm. Tasting kits are $15.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz
beachboardwalk.com/chili-cook-off
“Bewitching Broadway”
THROUGH OCT. 26. Just in time for Halloween, Symphony San Jose performs some of Broadway’s scariest musical hits including songs from “Wicked,” “Jekyll & Hyde,” “The Threepenny Opera,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Into the Woods” and more. There will be an on-stage costume contest with prizes. Sat. 7:30-9pm, Sun. 2:30-5pm. $35-115.
California Theatre, S. First St., San Jose
Oceánica Ballet’s “The Headless Horseman” & “Viva La Vida”
The first act of this family-friendly production adapts Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” exploring Ichabod as an outsider haunted by cruel townsfolk and the legendary Headless Horseman. Act Two features the original story of Lucio and Lupita in a multicultural tale about transcending loss and the resilience of love, inspired by Día de los Muertos. 4-6pm. $19-46.
College of San Mateo Theatre, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo
tix.com/ticket-sales/oceanicaballet/7592
Oct. 26
“MasterChef All-Stars Live!”
This family-friendly stage show features winners and fan favorites from the hit competition series, “MasterChef.” It brings fans and foodies the excitement of the TV show to a live stage with head-to-head cooking demonstrations and thrilling challenges. Audience members will have the chance to participate, helping the famous chefs create and taste-test their culinary delights. 7pm. $71.98-102.48.
Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., San Francisco
Oct. 28
“Stereophonic”
THROUGH NOV. 23. This Tony-award winning musical zooms in on a music studio where an up-and-coming rock band recording a new album suddenly finds itself on the cusp of superstardom. The pressures of this experience could spark their breakup or breakthrough. Recommended for ages 13 and up; no children under 5. Check website for times. $62.01-181.35.
Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., San Francisco
Oct. 29
“Coco” With San Francisco Symphony
Watch the Pixar animated film “Coco” with the San Francisco Symphony playing music for the movie. The film is about a boy who makes a journey to the Land of the Dead to reunite with his great-great-grandfather. Rated PG. 7:30pm. $109-230.
Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
