Family Weekend Events

Glad you clicked on our new Grab & Go Kids Planner! Each week, we'll give you the info on the five best family activities or events for the week.

You're time-pressed enough, so we're happy to do the research and find the best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable striking distance.

Look for the kids’ planner each Wednesday, and help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips — just add them to the comment box. Even if you disagree with our picks, let us know. We want to hear from you!

• There will be a special "Dinosaur Dig Storytime" with Pam Brown at the on Saturday, March 12. The reading hour begins at 11 a.m. and is geared for kids ages 2 -6 and their parents. The event is sure to be packed with stories and crafts along with a whole bunch of fun. Head out to the library and dig in to a good time!

• Cotati Creek Critters is having another "Creek Stewardship Day" this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. This is not only a great teachable time to show the kids that keeping our community and planet cared for is a priority, but it also feels great to give back. You can visit www.cotaticreekcritters.info for more information. What could be better than fresh air and fun times caring for your community!

• I love good pasta. I also love a good game of Bingo and so does my daughter. If only I could find someplace to do both this weekend. I can? The 19th Annual Cotati Pasta Dinner & Bingo is this Saturday! It runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Veterans Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for 12 and under or 60 and over. As an added bonus there will be a bake sale and beer & wine sold by the Cotati Chamber.

• A St. Patrick’s Celebration this weekend at Sonoma's Larson Family Winery. To answer the natural question, yes this is a family event. At Larson Family Winery they try to include more family oriented special activities as they understand that it is more fun to involve everyone. On Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the winery will dish up corned beef and cabbage to pair with some wines for tasting. They have a large picnic area and even a court to play bocce ball. Don’t forget to say hi to the sheep and goats!

• The Sonoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival is this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event is being held at the Sebastopol Community Center and will feature six different bands along with workshops and impromptu jamming sessions. This is a great opportunity to let the kids experience less mainstream music in a casual setting. Tickets are a bit pricey at $33 at the door ($28 in advance) but kids 12 and under are free and it will be hours of fun!

‘You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.’     

~Franklin P. Jones