Activities This Weekend

We are quickly coming upon the last month of summer...how did it go this fast?! If you would like to make the most of the month of August, here are a few suggestions for the first weekend in August. Lots of fun things to choose from if the beach, parks and zoos are no longer entertaining...

August 1st -

Bank of America - Museums on Us Weekend. Choose from Contemporary Jewish Museum, deYoung Museum, Legion of Honor, Museum of African Diaspora in SF, San Jose Museum of Art and the San Jose Tech Museum. For more info, see Bank of America Museums. FREE ADMISSION FOR B OF A CUSTOMERS. Also on August 2nd. As a note: the deYoung Museum has a special "Doing and Viewing Art" project with families who first view the galleries on Saturday. Ages 4-6 and 7-12.

Day Out With Thomas - Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton from 8:30 am - 5 pm. Take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine through San Lorenzo Valley River Gorge and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Price - $18; 2 and under are free. For more info, visit Roaring Camp Railroad. Also on August 2nd.

Summer Gardening Fair - SF Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, Golden Gate Park, Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. From 10 am - 3 pm. Learn about plants and get tips from local experts. Experience butterflies close up and look inside a bee hive. FREE ADMISSION. For more info visit the SF Botanical Garden.

San Francisco Aloha Festival - Presidio Main Post, Parade Grounds in SF. From 10 am- 5 pm with music, dancing and food celebrating the cultural diversity of the Hawaiian Islands. FREE ADMISSION. For more info, visit www.pica-org/alohafest/index.html.

Fremont Festival of the Arts - at Mowry and Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont from 10 am - 6 pm. Arts and crafts, food, Kid City and three stages with entertainment. FREE ADMISSION. For more information, visit Fremont Festival. Also on August 2nd.

Mega Science at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley from 10:30-noon. Make things go "pop", go on a scavenger hunt and create bags of slimy goo. Snack provided. Ages 7-12. $6 for EBRPD residents; $8 non-resident. For more info, visit the East Bay Parks site.

Puppet Show at Fairyland - The Fisherman and his Wife performed by Benjamin Blake and repeats on Sunday, Aug 2nd at 11 am, 2pm and 4pm. Free with $7 admission. http://www.fairyland.org/ for more info.

Sid the Science Kid is at Lawrence Hall of Science: Meet Sid the Science Kid, star of the popular animated PBS science show! Sid will model science play in the LHS KidsLab, the exhibit designed especially for kindergarten and younger scientists. Educators from LHS and KQED will share resources on supporting your preschooler’s science learning. Free with admission. For more information, see Lawrence Hall of Science site.

Weekly Art Classes for Kids at the Lakeshore Learning Center, 1144 Montague Ave, San Leandro. From 11 am - 3 pm. This week's theme: Friendship Frame. Classes are also held in Walnut Creek at 1929 Mt. Diablo Blvd. at the same time. Ages 3 and up. FREE ADMISSION. For more info: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/.

Coyote Point Museum Free Museum Day - 1651 Coyote Point Drive in San Mateo from 12-5. Visit with coyotes, raccoons and river otters. Learn about California's native animals and plants with the help of a ranger. For more info, visit their web site.

Comics Workshop - learn to draw comics with Oliver Chin. FREE at the Dublin Public Library - 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin at 3pm.

Les Miserables (School Edition) at the Julia Morgan Young Peoples Performing Arts Center, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley at 7pm. Repeats on Sunday, Aug 2nd at 2pm. $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $8 for children. For more info, see brown paper tickets.

Comedy of Errors - Amador Valley Community Park at Santa Rita Rd and Black Ave in Pleasanton at 7:30 pm. Shakespeare in the park presented by the SF Shakespeare Festival. Repeats on Sunday, Aug 2nd. FREE ADMISSION! See http://www.sfshakes.org/ for more info.

Peter Pan - Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St. in Livermore on Sat and Sunday at 8pm by Tri-Valley Repertory Theater. Tickets range from $26-34. For more info, see http://www.livermoreperformingarts.org/.

August 2nd -

Family Hike up Mt. Diablo in Clayton from 9-11 am. Take a walk in the morning sun with Dave Husted. Reservations required yet PARTICIPATION IS FREE. Dave@outsideinterests.com.

Bay to Barkers Dog Walk Festival - Golden Gate Fields Racetrack at 1100 Eastshore Hwy in Albany from 10 am to 1 pm. A one mile dog walk, games, conests and prizes. Proceeds benefit Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society.

Help Feed the Animals at Ardenwood Historic Farm - 34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont at 3pm. Meet the animals on the farm and feed them a tasty snack. Repeats Thur-Sun through August. Free with admission - $5 for adults and $4 for ages 4-17. For info see: http://www.ebparks.org/.

Yoga for Children - at the Asian Art Museum at 200 Larkin St. in SF. From 2-3 pm, learn different animal poses inspired by sculptures in the museum. FREE ADMISSION AND LESSON. For more info, see Asian Art Museum web site.

Have fun!