Get out and about in the Bay Area this weekend and enjoy the beginning of November with your family!

Experience the culture of the Pacific Islands this weekend in Pleasanton! Kuma Hula Association of Northern California presents la ‘Oe E Ka La Hula Festival at the Alameda County Fairgrounds on Saturday from 9AM to 6PM to celebrates Hawaiian culture and traditions through dance, arts and food. For tickets, click here. 

Get ready for Thanksgiving a few weeks early in San Jose!  Head over to Color Me Mine pottery studio for Family Gobble Platter Day on Saturday at 11AM to create your favorite holiday designs to display your recipes at the end of the month. For reservations, click here. 

Come grab the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables this weekend at the Pleasanton Farmers’ Market! Open rain or shine, this market features all California-grown produce sold directly by the farmers themselves from 9AM to 1PM on Saturday. For more info, go here.

Books, books, and morebooks this weekend in Livermore! The Friends of the Livermore Library are hosting their monthly book sale this Sunday from 12PM to 4PM at the outdoor plaza of the former library location. Click here for more info. 

Don’t forget to set your clocks back this weekend for Daylight Savings!

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This warm, gooey and yummy treat is sure to get everyone in your family excited about Halloween!

Vanilla Coffee Roasted Pumpkin Seed Snack Clusters…Dipped in Chocolate. 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Yield: 25-35 pumpkin seed clusters

Ingredients

3 cups raw pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried

1 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds minus the shells)

1 cup pistachios

2 tablespoons ground or whole flax seeds

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2-4 tablespoons fresh coffee grounds

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon all-spice

6 ounces semi-sweet, or dark chocolate, melted (use milk chocolate if you prefer)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Spread the raw pumpkin seeds (not the pepitas) on a greased baking sheet. Roast the pumpkin seeds for 15 minutes to dry them out. Remove from the oven. Leave on            the pan.

3. To the pan with the pumpkin seeds, add the pepitas, pistachios, flax, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, coffee grounds (2 tablespoons), salt, cinnamon, nutmeg      and all-spice. Toss well, making sure all the seeds are evenly coated. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times during cooking until the pumpkin seeds are golden          in color. Remove from the oven and using the back of a rubber spatula push the seeds into an even layer about 1/2 inch thick. Allow the seeds to cool completely. As           they cool they will harden. Break up into clusters.

4. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove. Carefully dip the clusters into the melted chocolate. Place on the prepared              baking sheet and if desired sprinkle with coffee grounds and sea salt. Repeat with the remaining clusters.

5. Place the pan in the fridge for 10 minutes or until the chocolate is hardened. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, or in the fridge, for up to two weeks.

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It’s a weekend of wonders this Saturday and Sunday in the Bay Area! Have fun with your family enjoying nature, arts and more.

Discover the magic of music this weekend in San Jose! A classical and modern music concert comes to the Le Petit Trianon Theater this Saturday at 2PM. For tickets, click here. 

A fantastic afternoon of African happens in Livermore this weekend! Taste of Africa 2014 is at the Bothwell Arts Center on Sunday at 2:30PM. This year’s event features an African market, a children’s interactive room, musical performances, drumming, dance, face painting and more. For additional info, go here.

It’s an evening of hoots this weekend in Livermore! Come out for Owl Moon Walk on Saturday at Redwood Regional Park to hear stories and explore the moonlit trails with your family. Click here to learn more.

If you’re looking for fun and healthy alternatives for Halloween, this event is just for you! Come learn ideas for healthier treats for your little ones on Saturday from 4PM to 7PM at New Leaf Community Markets in Pleasanton. Find out more about the event, here.

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It’s time to enjoy this October weekend with your family! See what’s happening near you in the Bay Area on Saturday and Sunday.

Get ready for festivities this weekend in Dublin! The Easter Seals Bay Area Kaleidoscope Festival of Art & Sound is happening on Saturday at 12PM and features a youth art exhibit, food, live music, and children’s activities. The event benefits The Kaleidoscope Program – an after-school program that nurtures independence and socialization for youth living with disabilities. For tickets, click here. 

Take a stroll and shop for unique finds on Sunday in Pleasanton. The Pleasanton Antiques and Collectibles Fair is a twice-yearly event that features vintage treasures from over 200 vendors. It’s taking place on Sunday at 8AM. Click here to learn more.

It’s all about art this weekend in Livermore. The 13^th annual ArtWalk Livermore brings over 150 artists together for a festival of art, shopping and music on Saturday from 11AM to 5PM in downtown Livermore. Go here to learn more. 

Your kids will love the special outdoor event this weekend in San Jose! South Bay Fishing in The City teaches children to fish on their own, learn environmental awareness and appreciate nature this Saturday at 7AM at Lake Cunningham Park. For more info, click here.

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Welcome the start of October with some fun family events this weekend in the Bay Area.

Enjoy! Attention runners – this expo’s just for you! The Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon Expo is taking place this Saturday at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and features the latest in sports apparel, running gear and health information at 10AM. For more info, click here.

Fall brings Oktoberfest to San Jose this weekend! If you love craft beer and sausage, you’ll love this event that features complimentary tastings of local favorites. The party starts on Saturday at 1PM at New Leaf Community Markets. Click here to find out more. 

Autumn is all about acorns in NorCal! Head over to Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore this Saturday to harvest acorns with Living Arroyos, an organization dedicated to improving and restoring the miles of streams in the Tri-Valley. To learn more, go here. 

Come out for a theater production this weekend starring local youth! Dr. Doolittle Jr. – a story of a doctor who can talk to animals – is hitting the stage at the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton on Sunday at 2PM. Purchase tickets here.

Spend your Saturday morning in Pleasanton learning fire safety. The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association to present a free expo this weekend. Watch firefighter demonstrations, gain information and join other families for the pancake breakfast starting at 8AM. To learn more, click here. 

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