🎄 HOLIDAY NEWS 🎅
Caltrain holiday train is coming back Dec 13 but this time you get to ride on it as "a festive on-board experience featuring holiday décor and activities as the train travels between stations". Tix on sale Nov 20 - you can set an eventbrite reminder! Looks like there will still be station celebrations (but not the usual performances?) at the following locations; details announced closer to the event. Stations: San Francisco, San Mateo, Palo Alto and San Jose Diridon.
San Mateo’s outdoor Central Park ice rink opens tomorrow Nov 14! Recommended for ages 4+, you can book online ahead of time or it’s first come-first served for the free community skate days on Nov 18, Dec 2, and Dec 16.
Curiodyssey’s Illuminodyssey opens this Sat, Nov 15! Perfect rainy day fun for elementary-aged kids and toddlers. It gets pretty busy so I recommend arriving around opening time and heading there first.
Reservations for free photos with Santa and a Yuletide breakfast at Bass Pro in San Jose open up this Saturday!
Stay tuned for lots more holiday events in the coming weeks! Including a santa brunch, a winter wonderland with tractor rides and swings, and much more.
Thinking about advent calendars? This KiwiCo one looks fun, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this Thomas the Train one, and our whole family loves this Bonne Maman calendar with special flavors like orange, yuzu, grapefruit or milk caramel with madagascar vanilla! We pair with Pillsbury biscuits and it’s the perfect snack on a blustery afternoon.
🎉 Notables 🎉
Zoppé circus is in town for the rest of this month! It’s about 1.5 hrs with an intermission around the 50 mins mark. #1 tip: bring ear protection because it gets loud in there! Find other notes on Instagram.
A delicious new (kid-friendly!) Japanese spot has opened up. Perfect for getting a quality sushi or yakitori fix in without having to find a date night sitter. Indoor + outdoor dining options available and you can walk in but I recommend getting a reservation (plenty available) because even on a weeknight it fills up fast.
Tired of jogging after your kids as they bike but you don’t know how to ride? Here’s your chance to learn! Free, for teens and older in South SF this Saturday. Bicycles available for rent.
San Mateo Parks and Rec sign ups open for residents Tue 11/18 and non-residents Thu 11/20.
Follow along on Instagram for Filoli insider tips, weekday events, like a free In-N-Out hot cocoa offering or a Chick-fil-A kids special being posted this week!
🗓️ And in case you missed it, here’s last week’s edition featuring places to take your donations if you’re doing a house clean out, and a letters to Santa box (and he writes back)! Plus, did you know many San Mateo elementary schools open their playgrounds and fields to the public on weekends?
Quick Links
Weekday Events
🗓️ Want more options? Find the full list of 70+ recurring events happening every day of the week here. Chess club, 3D printing, lego robotics, Spanish conversation club, teen video game nights, makers events, story times, and much more!
Saturday, November 15
🦀 Crabs aren't Cranky | 10:30 AM | Marine Science Institute | 👧 Ages 3-5 | 💵 $45 | 📝 Registration Required | Info
Hands-on crab exploration with stories and crafts! This is a caregiver-and-child class where little ones discover these fascinating creatures aren't cranky at all.
🎤 Andy Z Concert | 11:00 AM | Redwood Shores Library | 👶 All Ages | Free | Info
Award-winning children's performer Andy Z brings music, movement, storytelling and character puppets for an interactive concert experience!
🦃 LEGO Tom the Turkey Build | 12:00 - 2:00 PM | Macy's Hillsdale Mall | 👶 All Ages | Free | Info
Build an exclusive LEGO Tom the Turkey mini build, enjoy coloring activities, and snap photos with Geoffrey (at select locations)!
🎄 Green Up Your Holidays Crafts | 12:00 - 2:00 PM | 🚗 Google Campus The Huddle, Mountain View | 👶 All Ages | Free | 📝 RSVP Recommended | Info
Create festive cards and gift packaging from rescued designer materials! FabMo provides materials and instruction. First come, first served despite RSVP.
🚢 Discovery EcoVoyage SF Bay | 1:00 PM | 🚗 Pier 32 - San Francisco | 👧 Ages 5+ | 💵 $50 | 📝 Registration Required | Info
2-hour research vessel voyage! Catch fish with otter trawls, collect samples, view plankton on microscope while cruising between the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges.
✨ Magic the Gathering | 1:30 PM | San Carlos Library | 👦 Ages 4th-7th Grade | Free | 📝 Registration Required | Info
Learn to play this fantasy card game! Sort cards, build a deck, and play a match. Best part? You keep the deck you build! Limited to 12 kids.
🎨 Free Art Project | 1:30 PM | Magical Bridge Playground | 👶 All Ages/Abilities | Free | Info
First come, first served art projects in the Kindness Corner! Child-minded activities welcoming all abilities. Weather permitting.
🔬 Kid Makers: Microscope Adventures | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | RWC Downtown Library | 👦 Ages 8+ | Free | Info
Use real microscopes with SLAC scientists to explore pond water and discover tiny life forms! Create your own slides in the Makerspace.
🗓️ Want more options? Find the full list of recurring events here, like open sewing time, free art projects, various story times, and much more.
Sunday, November 16
🎮 Minecraft Level Design with CodeREV | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Google Campus The Huddle, Mountain View | 👧 Ages 6-10 | Free | 📝 RSVP Required | Info
Design obstacle courses, explore redstone mechanics, and learn simple coding in a safe Minecraft realm! No experience needed. Arrive 15 min early; 5-min grace period.
💃 Magical Music & Motion: Noorani Dance | 11:00 AM | RWC Magical Bridge Playground | 👶 All Ages | Free | Info
Experience the luminous art of Kathak classical dance from South Asia! Farah Yasmeen Shaikh brings enchanting movements and storytelling to spark creativity and curiosity.
🛍️ Head West Marketplace 11:00 AM-4:00 PM | South B Street, downtown San Mateo | 👪 All Ages | Info
Fun local marketplace with vendors and community activities.
👜 Sunday Makebreak: Stamped Tote Bag | 2:00 - 4:00 PM | Michaels - San Mateo ; Michaels - RWC | 🧒 Ages 13+ | 💵 Cost of Blank Tote | Info
Create a hand-stamped tote bag! Purchase the blank tote and Michaels provides stamps, ink, and supplies. Beginner-friendly craft session.
🗓️ Want more options? Find the full list of recurring events here, like LEGO robotics, coding club, Michael’s store crafts, storytimes, and more!
✅ Stay Connected
✨ Klabbit is your playbook to making Peninsula parenting easier. 👊
Follow Klabbit on Instagram for things like Glowfari ticket sale announcements, costume swaps, and other upcoming holiday events!
At an event? Share a tip and tag @helloklabbit to help fellow parents!
Share with a friend – or your classroom’s WhatsApp chat to bump into friends at an event!
A note from the founder, Stacey:
Hi! 👋 I'm a local mom with young children and built Klabbit to lighten the mental load for busy families—it's the community resource I always wished existed. Because if we all need the same information, why isn’t it centralized into one location?
Now you can see the Peninsula's best kid-friendly activities at a quick glance, every week. Meeting up with a friend? Send them this newsletter and pick something together. Kid up early from their nap? Check what's happening nearby!
Because parenting in the Bay Area is hard enough. Figuring out what to do this weekend shouldn't be.
See me at an event? Come say "hi"! Have feedback on the newsletter? I'd love to hear it! To share your experiences and pro tips with our community: find me on instagram, reply to this newsletter, or email me at [email protected]. Cheers! 📬
