A cookie-loving mouse: You know what happens if you give a mouse a cookie, right? He’s going to want a glass of milk to go with it. And if you give audiences at Active Arts Theatre’s popular stage productions a play called “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” they’re going to want an extended stage run to go with it. So the show is running Dec. 19-23 at San Ramon’s Front Row Theater. Tickets $15-$19.

Oompa Loompas: Catch Charlie, Violet Beauregarde and those famous Oompa Loompas on Dec. 18 when the Paramount Theatre screens “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” — the classic 1971 one with Gene Wilder, not the Johnny Depp version. The box office opens at 6 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. and the curtain rises at 8 p.m. Tickets $5.

More popcorn pleasure: The Elmwood Rialto’s holiday family matinees continue Dec. 19 and 20 at noon with “A Christmas Story.” Freebie tickets available from local boutiques, or you can pay $4 — a benefit for Berkeley PTA groups — at the box office.

Historic Dunsuir Fete: Celebrate Christmas old-school style now through Dec. 20 at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate’s annual holiday faire, which includes tea parties, puppet shows, trolley rides and live music. Tickets are $7-$12, the Dec. 19 children’s tea is $17-$25; 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland.

As for the rest of SecretBuilders, which is aimed at kids 6-14, you can also go on a quest with Galileo, visit Frank ‘n’Stein’s Gallery and nosh at the Macbeth-themed Weird Brew Cafe.

Tutus & nutcrackers: San Francisco’s Zeum hosts its first-ever, pint-size “Nutcracker” Dec. 4-20, featuring the Mark Foehringer Dance Project and the Magik*Magik Orchestra in a zany production aimed at kids 3 and up. $25.

Jingle bells: The San Francisco State Handbell Choir performs a free, kid-friendly show at the San Mateo County History Museum’s “Family Past Times” program Dec. 5 at 1 p.m.

Tickled ivories: San Francisco Performances’ family matinees are always fun with kids, but this year they’ve made it even more affordable. Catch pianist Marino Formenti Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Herbst Theatre. Tickets $8-$15.

Ruby slippers: Catch the final performances of “Wizard of Oz” at Berkeley’s Julia Morgan Center for the Arts this weekend. Tickets $19-33.

Elphaba Goes Green: Zeum, San Francisco’s Children’s Museum, is celebrating a “Wicked” Halloween on Saturday with a costume contest judged by Madame Morrible (Patty Duke) and other cast members from 11 a.m. to noon, and “Wicked”-inspired Claymation workshops, music video sessions and craft projects from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets $8-$10.

Monster Bash: Explore a haunted aircraft carrier when the USS Hornet rolls out all the ghostly stops on Halloween. The family friendly fun runs from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, and includes haunted tours, costume contests, a flight aboard Elvira’s Fright Stimulator and plenty of mad scientist action. $10 for kids, $20 for grown-ups ($25 at the door).

Forget the Vampires: Figure out the secrets of bats and other animal creatures at the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s newest exhibit, “Animal Secrets,” which opens Saturday. Tickets $8-$10.

Railroad Fun: Fremont’s venerable Ardenwood Historic Farm hosts a Historic Rail Fair this weekend. The fun runs Sept. 5-7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5-$8.

Gamelans and Gongs: Yerba Buena Gardens’ free summer music festival presents a Balinese music and dance extravaganza this Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. in San Francisco. Free.

Millbrae Fair: Millbrae’s Art & Wine Festival is this weekend, and while you won’t want to dwell on the wine part with kids, there’s also plenty of food booths, children’s activities, live music, even an exotic reptile show. Free.

Kilts, Cabers & More: Venture over to Pleasanton’s Scottish Games this weekend, Sept. 5-6, for Celtic dancers, bagpipers, living history re-enactments and all sorts of family-friendly activities. Tickets $10-$17.

BIG SCREEN: Catch a show in the Chabot Space & Science Center’s 70-ft. dome screen theater or planetarium. This weekend’s lineup includes “The Secret of the Rocket” about a magical rocket ship and a wild ride through the cosmos (perfect for kids 5-10), and “Sonic Vision,” a computer-generated musical experience designed by Moby (great for tweens and teens). Tickets $11-$15.

SKATE ART: Watch a pro skateboard demo and a full afternoon of skateboard-related art activities Aug. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Walnut Creek’s Bedford Gallery. Free.

TOY BOAT TIME: Make a toy boat, travel the imaginary seas and visit the ship exhibit at the San Mateo Historical Museum’s newest “Stories from the Past” program at 11 a.m. Aug. 14. Tickets $2-$4.

PLAYGROUND ADVENTURES: Berkeley’s award-winning Adventure Playground lets kids get grubby, painty and sweaty with its wild collection of hands-on projects and fun. Free, but kids must be accompanied by an adult.

YERBA BUENA FEST: The Unique Derique — juggler, contortionist and performer extraordinaire — enchants young audiences Aug. 15 at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens at 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Then stick around for Brazilian music and dance at 1 p.m. Free.

HOIST AN UMBRELLA: Oakland’s outdoor Woodminster Amphitheater is staging “Singin’ in the Rain” at Joaquin Miller Park August 7-16. (Tickets $23-40)

BREAK OUT THE POPCORN: Spread your blanket and kick back for a screening of Jack Black’s hilarious “School of Rock” on Aug. 6 at 8:30 p.m. at Pleasanton’s free Movies in the Park summer series at DeLucchi Park. Or head over to El Cerrito’s Cerrito Vista Park on Aug. 8 at 8:30 p.m. for “Back to the Future.”

SPOT THE SPIES: Catch “Spy Kids” at the Elmwood Rialto Cinemas family film series noon on August 8 and 9. Tickets are $4, and benefit the PTAs of four Berkeley elementary schools.

GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE: If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to want a stage show to go with it. Catch this Active Arts Theatre production at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland now through Aug. 16. Tickets $10-$12, including an hour of free admission prior to the 4 and 6 p.m. shows.

SLEEP WITH SHARKS: San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay is hosting a Shark Week Sleepover Aug. 7. Sleep in the aquarium’s clear exhibit tunnels, as more than 50 sharks and thousands of other animals circle overhead. Or just swing by during the day to view the sharks, watch shark movies and more. Tickets $60 per person for the sleepover, $8-$16 for regular admission.

PIXIE RIDES: Concord’s pint-size amusement park, Pixie Land, offers mini-train rides and tiny coasters, sized just right for toddlers and their happy parents. Open weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., till 6 p.m. on weekends through summer. (Rides are $1.50-$3 each)

SID THE SCIENCE KID: Lawrence Hall of Science welcomes Sid, the star of the popular, animated PBS science show for preschoolers, on Aug. 1 from noon to 2 p.m. ($6-$11)

DANCE LIKE AN EGYPTIAN: The King Tut exhibit at the DeYoung is a perfect outing for kids and their daddies and mummies. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, closed Aug. 3 and 31. (At $16.50 to $32.50, tickets are pricey, but a Wednesday Tut at Twilight special drops the prices to $15-$20)

VENEZUELAN PIZAZZ: Catch the vibrant Venezuelan Music Project performing at 11 a.m. on Aug. 1 in Yerba Buena’s Children’s Garden, San Francisco. (Free)

Pleasanton’s “Free Movies in the Park” series features Jack Black in “School of Rock” (PG-13) Aug. 6 at dusk, Delucchi Park. The park opens to the public at 4 p.m., screening time is approximately 8:30 p.m. Free – plus free popcorn, courtesy of Thriving Ink.

Walnut Creeks’ “Movies Under the Stars“ features “Kung Fu Panda” on Aug. 15 at dusk at Heather Farm Park, Ballfield #1. Free.

Pleasanton’s “Free Movies in the Park” series continues with “Raiders of the Lost Ark” – yes, it had to be snakes – Aug. 20 at dusk, Delucchi Park. The park opens to the public at 4 p.m., screening time is approximately 8:30 p.m. Free – plus free popcorn, courtesy of Thriving Ink.

Oakland’s Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate hosts “Fourth Friday Music & Movies.” They’ll be screening “A Little Princess” on Aug. 28. Gates open at 6 p.m., movie starts at dusk. $5 per person.

Walnut Creeks’ “Movies Under the Stars” features “Marley & Me” on Sept. 12 at dusk at Heather Farm Park, Ballfield #1. Free.

Oakland’s Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate hosts “Fourth Friday Music & Movies.” They’ll be screening “Finding Neverland” on Sept. 25. Gates open at 6 p.m., movie starts at dusk. $5 per person.

2. Grab your ruby slippers, spread your blanket and kick back for a screening of “The Wizard of Oz” July 23 at Pleasanton’s free Movies in the Park Summer Series. Films start at twilight — about 8:30 p.m. — on a giant screen in DeLucchi Park. (Free admission and popcorn.)

3. Prepare for splashdown! Alameda’s USS Hornet Museum salutes the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission July 24-26 with special events, including an appearance by Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the 25th. ($25)

4. Sunrise, sunset, and Tevye is singing about fiddlers and daughters again. The San Carlos Children’s Theater presents “Fiddler On The Roof Jr” now through July 26 at Central Middle School, San Carlos. ($10-$12)

5. Princesses, puppets, storytellers and free entertainment abounds around Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts on July 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s all part of the third annual Chevron Family Theatre Festival, which features the Sippy Cups, Pushcart Players, a Muppeteer and other acts onstage too. (Free outdoor performances, stage shows $5 each.)

Still looking for fun? Cosette, Javert and, of course, Jean Valjean are back in fine musical form (photo at right) when the Youth Musical Theater Company does “Les Miserables” at Berkeley’s Julia Morgan Performing Arts Center. July 25-August 1. (Tickets $8-$20)

And Oakland’s Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate opens its gates and lawns for a screening of “The Secret Garden” on July 24. Gates open at 6 p.m. for picnickers, show starts at twilight. (Tickets $5)