Good Weekend for November 28-30

John F. Kennedy Drive is open for biking this Sunday. (Courtesy photo)

Plan your weekend in San Francisco or on the Peninsula with Good Weekend.

A great bike ride

Lazy Family Sunday in Golden Gate Park: Bring your family to Golden Gate Park’s eastern end and enjoy a mile and a half of car-free John F. Kennedy Drive. Pack a picnic, bring your bikes, skates, dogs and the Sunday paper.

Parking is available in the Music Concourse Garage (enter from Fulton Street at 10th Avenue). Rent bikes from one of the shops along Stanyan Street, rent roller skates from the shop on Fulton Street at Sixth Avenue, or rent a four-wheeled pedal surrey (holds the whole family!) at Stow Lake.

Visit the de Young Museum, the Conservatory of Flowers, the AIDS Memorial Grove or the Japanese Tea Garden. Teach your kids to ride and skate, above. Watch the roller skaters dance and whirl. Nap on the lawn. Enjoy the park!

— San Francisco Bicycle Coalition; sfbike.org

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market picks

Red Kuri squash
Fennel sausage
Vegetarian mincemeat
Parsnips
Romanesco
Granny Smith apples
Blue cheese
Radicchio
Yukon Gold potatoes
Persimmons, above 

A great city walk

Haight-Ashbury Walk: Come explore streets, sidewalks, parks and vistas that tell the story of a Victorian-era resort area that became a neighborhood of San Francisco merchants’ gingerbread houses. It’s a strenuous walk, offered every Sunday at 11 a.m. Meet at the Park Branch Library, 1833 Page St.

San Francisco City Guides, a 30-year-old nonprofit conducting free walking tours spotlighting San Francisco history, architecture, legends and lore, is a program of the San Francisco Public Library. Tours are offered seven days a week year-round. Visit www.sfcityguides.org or call (415) 557-4266 for more information.

Take a hike

Sibley Surprise: Here’s a nice Thanksgiving walk that could easily become a new tradition. Way up in the Oakland Hills, Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, above, offers one of the East Bay’s most rewarding hikes, the Round Top Loop Trail.

This wide and exposed 1.5-mile trail (roundtrip) circles an old volcano, one of the highest peaks in the Oakland Hills. Bring family, bring friends, bring pets; this gentle hike is made for easy walking, talking and snapping group photos in front of awesome this-is-why-we-live-here views. Designate someone to keep a keen eye, though, because golden eagles are seen in these parts.

On the east side, check out the circular labyrinth from the overlook — and if you’re feeling adventurous, scurry down to get dizzy wandering its path. (Be forewarned: You may start to feel like a dog chasing its tail.) Finish the Round Top Loop, then head back home for that second (or third) helping of turkey. Yeah, you’ve earned that pumpkin pie, too. 

For directions and more information on hiking Sibley Volcanic Preserve, click here. Visit WeekendSherpa.com to subscribe to a free weekly e-mail about accessible outdoor adventures in Northern California.

Friday night

Tree-lighting celebration: Ghirardelli Square hosts its 44th annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Live music, strolling carolers, entertainment for kids and a visit from Santa are on the bill. [5:30 p.m., 900 North Point St., S.F.]

Night at the museum: Friday Nights at the de Young present a performance by Native Elements. Also, look for art-making activities. [5 to 8:45 p.m., de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, S.F.]

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair: A Victorian Christmas Card comes to life in Dickens’ London, with artisans, entertainment, characters, and food and drink. [11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends through Dec. 21; Cow Palace, Geneva Avenue and Santos Street, Daly City; $10 to $22]

‘Hot for Teacher’: The premier Van Halen Tribute plus The Terry Lauderdale Band rocks at Little Fox. [8 p.m., 2209 Broadway, Redwood City; $14]

Saturday

Musical theater: A staged-concert production of “Ben Franklin in Paris,” the 1964 Tony-nominated musical, opens. The 42nd Street Moon Co. presents the show. [6 p.m., Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St., S.F.]

Jazz duo: Tuck and Patti, a jazz guitar-singer duo, perform. The pair are recognized the world over for their passion-filled music and powerful live shows. [8 and 10 p.m., Yoshi’s, 1330 Fillmore St., S.F.]

Surf rock: The Mermen, a locally based psychedelic surf band, perform. The group’s sound is rooted in 1960s music, with contemporary inspirations. [9 p.m., Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell St., S.F.]

Morning buzz: The Javawalk tour highlights The City’s coffeehouse culture. Stops include Chinatown, Jackson Square and North Beach. [10 a.m.; details/RSVP: www.javawalk.com or (800) 979-3370]

Sin city: City Guides tour called “Ghosts, Sinners and Secret Places.” Topics include scandals, hidden speakeasy tunnels and a stagecoach robber. [8 p.m.; meet at the kiosk at Halladie Plaza, Market and Powell streets, S.F.]

Urban wildlife: The Randall Museum features kid-geared attractions. Centerpiece exhibit: “Wild in the City,” a show focusing on the wild animals that share our urban environs. [10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 199 Museum Way, S.F.]

Volunteers needed: The National Park Service conducts a volunteer project to enhance the visitor experience at sites in the Presidio’s coastal region. [9 a.m. to noon; (415) 447-9743 or eric_t_poelzl@nps.gov]

Fort Point tour: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy hosts an evening candlelight tour of Fort Point. [6:30 p.m.; details/RSVP: (415) 556-1693]

Bicycle Expo and Swap: All bikes welcome; buy, sell or trade in your bike or discover hard-to-find parts. [10 a.m. today and Sunday, Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City; $10]

Christmas festival: Millbrae Lions presents Christmas trees for sale, an arts and crafts fair, children’s Christmas show, and train rides. [11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday, Our Lady of Angels Church, 1721 Hillside Drive, Burlingame]

The New Esterhazy Quartet: Performs Haydn’s quartets at Live at Mission Blue. [8 p.m., 475 Mission Blue Drive, Brisbane; $16 to $20]

David Laflamme: Plays the music of “It’s A Beautiful Day,” plus Billy Talbot Band of Neil Young & Crazy Horse performing at Little Fox. [8 p.m., 2209 Broadway, Redwood City; $16]

‘The Nutcracker’: Pacific Ballet of Mountain View presents their 18th annual production, featuring Clara the Nutcracker and Herr Drosselmeyer; Clara’s Tea Party follows each performance, with photos, face painting, cookies and punch for an additional $12. [2 p.m. today and Sunday, San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 600 N. Delaware St., San Mateo; $15 to $35]

Sunday

Meet the soprano: The San Francisco Opera presents Puccini’s “La Boheme.” A CD-signing with soprano Angela Gheorghiu follows. [2 p.m., War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Family concert: Dan Zanes and Friends present their “Holiday House Party.” The family-geared show features music representing cultures from around the world. [Noon and 5 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Fright show: BATS Improv presents “Dr. Orr’s Show of Horror.” Students of coach Tim Orr put on an improvised stage show of chills and thrills. [9 p.m., Bayfront Theater, Building B, Fort Mason Center, S.F.]

Stand-up show: Comedy on the Square presents stand-up shows every Sunday. Tony Sparks hosts; three or four additional comics perform. [8:30 p.m., S.F. Playhouse, Stage 2, 533 Sutter St., S.F.]

Classical art: “The State Museums of Berlin” continues at the Legion of Honor. More than 100 art pieces, spanning from the third millennium B.C. to the 18th century, are on view. [9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., 100 34th Ave., S.F.]

Nordic Walking: Burn more calories and reduce stress on your knees and hips using Nordic walking techniques. Bring hiking poles and join docents on a vigorous, fast-paced, strenuous aerobic trek of 4.7 miles on Russian Ridge. [9 to 11 a.m., (650) 691-1200 or visit www.openspace.org]

Teddy Bear Tea: Two seatings at the Ritz Carlton. [12:30 and 3:30 p.m., 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay]

Welcome to Monster Isle Storytime: With author Oliver Chin, reading about a family stranded on a desert island populated by monsters. Also, “The Woollywinks vs. the Dark Patch.” [11:30 a.m., Kepler’s Books and Magazines, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]

he 27th Annual Classical Piano Fest: With Mack McCray, Mayron K. Tsong and Daniel Glover performing. [3 p.m., Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, 311 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay; $35]

Robyn Carmichael: The internationally acclaimed pianist performs a thrilling and intensely personal concert at Congregational Church. [1:30 p.m., 751 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont; $10 to $15]

Marin Chamber Players: Celebrate the 100th birthday of composer Messiaen’s, featuring Messiaen’s Quartet and other classical pieces. [3 p.m., Pacifica Performances, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica; $20]

The Italian Music Man: Tenor Pasquale Esposito performs ballads and oldies at Domenico Winery; bring a picnic lunch. [4 to 7p.m., 1697 Industrial Road, San Carlos]

Simply Jazz: Provides music in the gardens at Allied Arts. [1 to 3 p.m., 75 Arbor Road at Cambridge Avenue, Menlo Park; free]

Mighty Mike Schermer: Plays Cruz Blues at Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. [4 to 8 p.m., 390 Capistrano Road, Princeton-by-the-Sea]