The Great Dickens Christmas Fair opens for the season this Saturday, November 19, 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.
• Skate on the iceless skating rink at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Saturday & Sunday, 9 am–4 pm.
• Visit Victorian London at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace, Friday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm.
• Shop for handmade goods and enjoy wood-fired pizza at Windrush Farm's Holiday Art Faire, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–3 pm.
• Experience Panto in the Presidio with a holiday performance of Sleeping Beauty, Saturday & Sunday, 1 pm.
• Bring the family to the 44th annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Faire in Rohnert Park, Friday & Saturday, 11 am–4pm.
• Visit a local tree farm to pick out that perfect Christmas tree and visit Santa too!

Friday, November 24

• Take an after-Thanksgiving hike at General Vallejo's home in Sonoma, Friday, 11 am.
• Ring in the holiday season and see Snoopy on skates at the Winter Lights event in Santa Rosa, Friday, 4–7 pm.
• Santa arrives at Ghirardelli Square to officially light it for the holiday season, Friday, 4:30–8 pm.

Check out the giant gingerbread house at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, opening Saturday, 11 am.

Saturday, November 25

• Have breakfast with Santa, enjoy unlimited rides, and more at the Tilden Park Merry Go Round in Berkeley, Saturday, 8:30–10:30 am.
• Start your holiday shopping at the Strawberry Village Outdoor Holiday Market, Mill Valley, Saturday, 10 am–5 pm.
• Check out the giant gingerbread house at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, opening Saturday, 11 am.
• Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus as they arrive in Petaluma via boat. Saturday, 11:30 am.
• Visit downtown San Rafael for the Parade of Lights and Winter Wonderland, Saturday, noon–6 pm.

Sunday, November 26

• 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.
• Experience an Ocean Feast at Marine Science Sunday at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, Sunday, noon & 2 pm.