Category: Featured

Northern California Renaissance Faire

One of CelebrateFamily.us Best Bets in the Bay Area for family entertainment. The Northern California Renaissance Faire, known affectionately as the NorCal Ren Faire takes place over 6 weekends at Casa de Fruita.

Each weekend has a different theme for events with a free concert scheduled for every Saturday night.

Ticket Prices for the NorCal Ren Faire

Adults are $35; kids 12 and under are FREE!! No coupons or codes are needed for kids. Admission includes all entertainment, such as the Joust, shows, and concerts.

Opening Weekend Online Special: $25

CelebrateFamily.us Best Bet:  Go on Saturday so you can see the joust.  Go early for the best seats.  Huzzah!

Dates and Themes for 2023

Each weekend has a different theme. Besides the discount tickets available for the first weekend, families usually like the Pirate Invasion weekend (the costume contest) and Heroes and Villians (again a costume contest).

  • September 16th & 17th – God Save the Queen!
    Opening Weekend
  • September 23rd & 24th – Pirate Invasion
    Enter the wee pirate costume contest for kids 7 and under.
  • September 30th & October 1st – Heroes & Villains
    Join the fun and dress as your favorite hero or villain from comic culture, history, literature, entertainment, or your own imagination. Enter the costume contest! Register at the Queen’s Courtyard at 2:45 PM and the contest will begin there at 3 PM. Contest will be held on both Saturday & Sunday.
  • October 7th & 8th – Oktoberfest!
    Join the German Mercenaries and their camp followers as they ring in the harvest season with some cold Willingtown ale.
  • October 14th & 15th – Carnevale & Masquerade
    Come experience the mystery and adventure of Venetian Carnevale & Masquerade! Enjoy the celebration of Italian culture with Commedia per Tutti and the sea-faring ballads of Lupo di Mare, both on the Royal Garden Stage.
  • October 21st & 22nd – Halloween Fantasy!
    Closing weekend. Special trick or treating for the kids sponsored by Arteaga’s Food Center. Enter the costume contest! Register at the Queen’s Courtyard at 2:45 PM and the contest will begin there at 3 PM. Contest will be held on both Saturday & Sunday. Prizes for the best adult and child’s costume.

Post Links

NorCal Ren Faire Theme Weekends [LINK]
NorCal Ren Fair [LINK]
NorCal Ren Faire Tickets [LINK]
NorCal Ren Faire Tea with The Queen [LINK]

September Fun and Facts for Families

Special events, new movies, events that are popular with the CelebrateFamily.us community, here is a summary of six things to know for this month.

Home Depot Kids Workshop Day

September 4, 2021 9 am – 11

JC Penney Kids Zone Day

September 11, 2021. This month’s project is a Teacher Appreciation Gift.

Free Amazon Prime Games for September

Tools Up!
Knockout City
Sam & Max Hit the Road
Candleman The Complete Journey
Puzzle Agent
Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis
Unmemory

Each month Prime members can download select PC games for free!  Claim by Claim by October 1, 2021.  There is also free game content and in-game loot available. [LINK]

Free and Discount Days at the Museum

Computer History Museum – Free  | MoU | 9/4/2021 | Link
Contemporary Jewish Museum – Free | MoU | 9/4/2021 | Link
de Young Museum – Free Admission | MoU | 9/4/2021 | Link
de Young Museum – Free Admission Bay Area Residents | 9/4/2021 | Link
Legion of Honor – Free  | MoU | 9/4/2021 | Link
Legion of Honor Museum – Free for Bay Area Residents | 9/4/2021 | Link
Oakland Museum of California – Free Admission | MoU | 9/4/2021 | Link
Tech Museum – Free Admission | MoU | 9/4/2021 | Link
Computer History Museum – Free Admission | MoU | 9/5/2021 | Link
Contemporary Jewish Museum – Free Admission | MoU | 9/5/2021 | Link
de Young Museum – Free Admission | MoU | 9/5/2021 | Link
Legion of Honor – Free Admission | MoU | 9/5/2021 | Link
Oakland Museum of California – Free Admission | 9/5/2021 | Link
Oakland Museum of California – Free Admission | MoU | 9/5/2021 | Link
Tech Museum – Free Admission | MoU | 9/5/2021 | Link
de Young Museum – Free Admission (1st Tuesday) | 9/7/2021 | Link
Legion of Honor Museum – Free Admission 1st Tuesday | 9/7/2021 | Link
de Young Museum – Free Admission Bay Area Residents | 9/11/2021 | Link
Legion of Honor Museum – Free  Bay Area Residents | 9/11/2021 | Link
Legion of Honor Museum – Free Admission Bay Area Residents | 9/18/2021 | Link
Legion of Honor Museum – Free Admission Bay Area Residents | 9/25/2021 | Link

New Movies This Month

Spirit Untamed PG | 8/31/2021 | VOD and DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins PG 13 | 9/2/2021 | Buy to watch at home.
Jungle Cruise PG-13 | 9/2/2021 | Buy to watch at home.
Cinderella PG | 9/3/2021 | Prime Video
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings PG 13 | 9/3/2021 | In theaters
The Boss Baby: Family Business PG | 9/14/2021 | On Blu Ray and DVD
Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog | 9/14/2021 | VOD and DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date
Dear Evan Hansen PG 13 | 9/24/2021 | In theaters

CelebrateFamily.us - Kid friendly fun in the SF Bay areaCelebrateFamily.us Best Bet: It is better to purchase a movie from Amazon (during early access) that to rent from Disney+ (as soon as the movie is released).

Unless I read the terms wrong, if you rent the movie ($30) you can watch the movie as long as you have Disney+.  But if you buy from Amazon, you own the movie and can watch whenever.

Special Events This Month

Monster Jam 9/3 – 9/5 [LINK]
Highland Games 9/4-9/5  [LINK]
Nor Cal Ren Faire [LINK]
Gold Over America Tour Starring Simone Biles 9/26 – 9/28 [LINK]
Oakland A Fireworks Games 9/24 [LINK]
Museum Day 9/18 [LINK]

Regal Summer Movie Express 2023 $2 Movies Schedule

Regal Summer Movie Express 2022 $2 Movies for the Bay Area

The Regal Summer Movie Express is on for 2023!

Summer movies were a favorite of my kids when they were younger.  We still go sometimes to catch a favorite on the big screen.

For 2023, Regal Cinemas has seven – ten weeks of films depending on the theater.  Each movie will show on Tuesday and Wednesday beginning on May 30, 2023, or June 6, 2023, and ending on August 1, 2023, or August 8, 2023.

Visit the CelebrateFamily.us movie page for
summer movies, schedules, and discounts. CLICK HERE

Regal Summer Movie Express 2023 Theaters in the SF Bay Area

According to the information on the Regal Theater site, below is a list of theaters in the Bay area hosting the 2023 Regal Summer Movie Express:

  • Dublin, Regal Hacienda Crossings | 6/6/23-8/8/23
    No movies on June 20 – June 21, 2023
  • Oakland, Regal Jack London | 5/30/23- 8/1/23
  • San Francisco, Regal Stonestown Galleria | 6/6/23- 8/8/23

How to Find the Regal Summer Movie

There will be a number of family movie releases this summer, so when you are at the Regal site, look for SMX23 before the movie title to distinguish between $2 movies and the rest.

Or, click on the date (remember Tuesday or Wednesday, between 6/623 and 8/8/23) and look for the SMX23 movie.

Show times will vary with the theater.  Some theaters are showing movies as early as 11 am and some at 12 pm.  However, the show times are consistent at each theater, the first showing of the day.

To find the full 2023 Regal Summer Movie Express schedule for your area CLICK HERE.

Regal Summer Movie Express 2023 Movies

The movies scheduled depend upon the theater, not all movies will show at all theaters. Some theaters will offer movies on July 4, 5, and 6, 2023.

Here is a list of the movies that will be playing in the Bay area.

  • May 30 & 31
    The Croods: A New Age
    Shrek Forever After
  • June 6 & 7
    Puss in Boots
    Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
  • June 13 & 14
    Sing
    The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
  • June 20 & 21
    Minions: The Rise of Gru
    The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
  • June 27 & 28
    Sonic the Hedgehog
    Dora and the Lost City of Gold
  • July 4 & 5
    Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
    Clifford the Big Red Dog
  • July 11 & 12
    Sonic the Hedgehog 2
    The Paw Patrol
  • July 18 & 19
    The Bad Guys
    Playing with Fire
  • July 25 & 26
    Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
    Sing 2
  • August 1 & 2
    The Boss Baby: Family Business
    Dolittle
  • August 8 & 9
    Kung Fu Panda 3
    Curious George

How to Watch all the ‘Fast and Furious’ Movies in Bay Area Theaters for Free

Ready to get back to movies on the big screen? Universal Pictures is showing all eight previous Fast films starting April 30, 2021. And better yet the screening will be free!

Fast & Furious Free Screening Schedule:

  • Friday, 4/30 – The Fast and the Furious
  • Friday, 5/7 – 2 Fast 2 Furious
  • Friday, 5/14 – The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
  • Friday, 5/21 – Fast & Furious
  • Friday, 5/28 – Fast Five
  • Friday, 6/4 – Fast & Furious 6
  • Friday, 6/11 – Furious 7
  • Friday, 6/18 – The Fate of the Furious

The screenings will lead up the release of F9 (rated PG-13) on June 25, 2021.

Fast Fridays Bay Area Theaters

Here is the list and links for theaters in the SF Bay area:

AMC Theatres – Select Locations
To redeem at the theatre, download the coupon [LINK]  and show the coupon to a box office crew member.

To redeem online, enter both of these “Ticket Voucher Numbers” in the Payment Info section before you confirm your purchase and check out:
16-Digit Number: 0064368987869818
12-Digit Number: 006401710023

Regal Theaters – Regal Hacienda Crossings Dublin
Must be a Regal Crown Club member (free) to receive the free movie tickets.

Century/ Cinemark  – Select Locations
Must be member of Cinemark Rewards Member (free).

Cinépolis – San Mateo at Hillsdale Mall

Maya Cinemas – Pittsburg and Salinas

Get more info and to see other participating theater chains, visit: FastFridayScreenings.com

How to Watch the Fast and Furious Saga at Home

If you can’t make it to a Fast Friday theater, you can have your own Fast Friday by watching the Fast & Furious movies on Prime Video, AMC+ and HBO Max.

Amazon also has the extended versions available on Amazon Prime and Amazon.com.
Fast & Furious: The Ultimate Ride Collection
Fast and Furious Extended versions

$1.75 Kids Summer Movies at Cinemark 2024

Cinemark’s Summer Movie Clubhouse is on for 2024, offering 10 weeks of kid-friendly movies for just $1.75 per ticket (plus applicable taxes and fees).

Visit the CelebrateFamily.us movie page for summer movies, schedules and discounts. CLICK HERE

Save even more as kids’ snack packs, popcorn, and drink combos are $1 off during Summer Movie Clubhouse showtimes.

Summer Movie Clubhouse Schedule 2024

Jun 10-13 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Jun 17-20 Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Jun 24-27 Shrek
Jul 1-4 Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie
Jul 8-11 The Lego Movie
Jul 15-18 Trolls Band Together
Jul 22-25 How To Train Your Dragon
Jul 29-Aug 1 Migration
Aug 5-8 Hotel Transylvania 
Aug 12-15 Paddington 2

Summer Movie Clubhouse Times

For 2024, Cinemark (Century) showings will be Monday – Thursday, with multiple times throughout the day starting as early as 9:30 am and as late as 7:40 pm.

Movie times may change and some theaters will offer additional showtimes during the week so confirm at the theater website.

Summer Movie Clubhouse Prices

Tickets are $1.75 per person (adults and children). You can purchase tickets online or at the box office.   Tickets for all dates are available now. 

MEK Note: To purchase tickets online, go to the Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse page,  click on Get Tickets under the movie name.

Summer Movie Clubhouse Theaters in the SF Bay Area

City Theater
Daly City  Daly City 20 XD and IMAX
Elk Grove  Laguna 16 and XD
Fremont  Pacific Commons and XD
Hanford  Hanford Movies 8
Hayward  Hayward
Hayward  Southland Mall
Milpitas  Great Mall 20 XD and ScreenX
Monterey  Monterey 13
Mountain View  Mountain View 16
Napa  Napa Valley and XD
Novato  Rowland Plaza
Pleasant Hill  Downtown Pleasant Hill 16 and XD
Redwood City  Redwood Downtown 20 and XD
Richmond  Hilltop 16
Rocklin  Blue Oaks Theatres and XD
Salinas  Northridge Mall 14
San Bruno  Tanforan and XD
San Jose  Oakridge 20 XD and ScreenX
San Leandro  Bayfair Mall 16
San Mateo  San Mateo 12
San Rafael  Northgate
Tracy  Tracy 14
Union City  Union Landing 25 and XD
Vallejo  Vallejo 14
Walnut Creek  Walnut Creek 14 and XD

Get pumped for #SummerMovieClubhouse 2024 at Cinemark Bay Area theaters! 🍿🎬 Visit CelebrateFamily.us for the full schedule and locations. #CinemarkTheatres #SummerFun

For more movie times, discounts, and details, check out the CelebrateFamily.us movie page. 📅✨

Website Links

🔗 CelebrateFamily.us Movie pages [LINK]
🔗 Cinemark Century Summer Movie Clubhouse [LINK]

Image credit/image courtesy of Cinemark Century Theaters

#summerkidsmovies #kidssummermovies #summermovieclubhouse