San Francisco School of Circus Arts

San Francisco is home to the world-renowned School of Circus Arts, which teaches juggling, clowning, acrobatics, and every other skill one would need to work in the big tent. You can tour their facilities, which are right on the edge of Golden Gate Park. More entertaining are the expositions they frequently hold to showcase their students’ talent around town, but locations vary, so check their website for upcoming events. Be forewarned, after watching one of these, your child may want to run off and join the circus. In its own way, this can be very educational for a child to see, as he or she will learn that even the most fun-seeming careers require education, training, and commitment.

Contact no: (415) 759-8123

Location: 755 Frederick Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

Learn more here.

Beach Blanket Babylon

We don’t usually like to put musical shows in these guides; the reason is simple: shows can open on Friday and then close Saturday before the matinee. Beach Blanket Babylon, on the other hand, is a local institution. It skewers popular culture through song and dance, and updates its act every year. The show has sold out every performance for the last 32 years and the reason why is simple: it’s funny, it’s clever and the cast wears gigantic, ridiculously ornate hats that would make Carmen Miranda blush. Get your tickets before your trip and take the young theatre fan in your family.

Contact no: (415) 421-4222

Location: 678 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

Learn more here.