The Great Dickens Christmas Fair opens for the season this Saturday, November 18, at the Cow Palace in Daly City.

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this Weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

All Weekend

• Get a head start on the holidays at West End Nursery's amazing Christmas House in San Rafael, Friday & Saturday, 8:30 am–5 pm, Sunday, 9 am–4 pm.
• Go skating at Union Square's holiday ice rink in San Francisco, Friday–Sunday, 10 am–11 pm.
• Take photos with Santa at the Village at Corte Madera, Friday & Saturday, 11 am–7 pm, Sunday, 11 am–6 pm.
• The Great Dickens Christmas Fair transports you back to Victorian London, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–6 pm.
• The Bay Area Discovery Museum's iceless skating rink opens for the season, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–3:30 pm.
• Glowfari lights up the Oakland Zoo with more incredible animal lanterns, Friday–Sunday, 5–9 pm

Friday, November 17

• Come build and play with board games, crafts, and more at Mill Valley Library, Friday, 2–3:30 pm.
• Bring the little ones for music and dancing in the park with In Harmony, Robin Sweeny Park, Sausalito, 11:30–12 pm.

Glowfari lights up the Oakland Zoo with more incredible animal lanterns, Friday–Sunday, 5–9 pm

Saturday, November 18

• Sing and Stomp with Emily Bonn at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, Saturday, 11 am–noon.
• Celebrate 50 years of "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" at the Charles M. Schulz Museum, Saturday, 1–4 pm.
• Create a free fused-glass holiday ornament on Fourth Street in Berkeley, Saturday, 1–3 pm.
• Experience the lighting of the historic Sonoma Plaza for the holidays, Saturday, 5–8 pm.
• Enjoy a pre-Thanksgiving campfire program at the Sonoma Barracks, Saturday, 6 pm.

Sunday, November 19

• Shop for fresh produce and locally made foods and enjoy live music at the Marin Civic Center farmer's market in San Rafael, Sunday, 8 am–1 pm.
• Join Just Dance Academy for their annual winter performance at Marin Center in San Rafael, Sunday, 1:30 & 6 pm.
• Join Teacher Yara for a fun filled Spanish/English bilingual storytime at Mill Valley Library, Sunday, 2–2:30 pm.