Sign up for Weekday J and get the latest on what's happening in the Jewish Bay Area.

With Yom Kippur almost in the rearview mirror and the days growing just a little bit shorter, Sukkot is right around the corner! This year, Sukkot begins the evening of Friday, Sept. 29 and ends a week later on Oct. 6.

This holiday, also called the Feast of Tabernacles and “Zman Simchateinu — Time of our Joy,” is a time to commemorate the Israelites’ journey through the desert, celebrate the harvest season and welcome guests into our sukkahs and our homes.

To help you and your kids make the most of this special time, we’ve compiled a list of family-friendly Sukkot events and activities coming up in the Bay Area.

---

San Francisco

Saturday, Sept. 30

Musical Sukkot — Event for families featuring music, story time, play, movement and holiday snacks. Bring ushpizin (special guests) to welcome into the sukkah. Presented by Tkiya Music, Jewish Baby Network and The Kitchen. At Jewish Community High School, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 10:30-11:45 a.m. Free, registration required.

Sukkot and Fall Harvest Festival — JCCSF presents a Sukkot-centric stall at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market that includes a sukkah, art from local creators, lulav and etrog shaking, honey tastings and more. Co-sponsored by Foodwise, Marshall’s Honey, Foraged Art and Leslie Jonath. At Ferry Plaza, One Ferry Building, S.F. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

Thursday, Oct. 5

A Musical Journey in the Sukkah — Jim Rebhan performs on accordion and Barbara Hollinger sings an assortment of songs in Yiddish, Hebrew and Ladino. With noshing and lulav and etrog shaking. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 1-2 p.m. Free.

Friday, Oct. 6

Shabbat in the Sukkah — Shabbat meal in USF’s annual Open Doors Sukkah, with live music, lulav and etrog shaking and prayers led by Rabbi Camille Angel. Presented by Value Culture, Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice, OneTable and the USF University Ministry. At USF Campus, Welch Field between St. Ignatius Church and Kalmanovitz Hall. 5-7 p.m. Free.

---

North Bay

Sunday, Oct. 15

Marin JCC Harvest Festival — Harvest-themed open house with food, activities, arts and crafts, live music and yoga. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free, registration required.

---

East Bay

Tuesday, Sept. 19

Sukkot celebration for JOC youth — Event for Jews of Color ages 14-18 to celebrate Sukkot with a cooking lesson, food, storytelling and learning. Presented by Jewtina y Co. and Jewish Youth for Community Action. At Urban Adamah, 1151 Sixth St., Berkeley. 5-8 p.m. Free.

Saturday, Sept. 30

PJ Library Sukkot brunch — Holiday celebration for families with food, sukkah decoration making, storytelling and a dance party. Bring stuffed animal for a wagon ride. At Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Drive, Danville. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. t

Sunday, Oct. 1

Family Sukkot Festival — Includes lulav and etrog shaking, nature crafts, pedal-bike-blender smoothies, grinding wheat for pizza flour, Hebrew games, a mitzvah project, music by Lior Ben-Hur and craft-making with a Latin Jewish flare. Presented by JCC East Bay, Olamim, Camp Tawonga, Jewish Baby Network, Jewish Gateways, PJ Library East Bay and Hebrew Free Loan. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 3-5 p.m. $18 per family.

---

South Bay/Peninsula

Friday, Sept. 29

Sukkot Harvest Festival — Includes horse-drawn carriage rides, petting zoo, line dancing, mechanical bull riding, pumpkin-gourd games, sukkah decoration, fall-themed dinner in the sukkah and Erev Sukkot services. At Congregation Kol Emeth, 4175 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto. 4:30-7:30 p.m. $25, $15 for 7th-graders or younger; babies and tots free.

Wednesday, Oct. 4

Sukkot Fun at Filoli — Celebrate in the orchard, with singing, dancing, lulav and etrog shaking, art and storytime in the sukkah. Bring snack and picnic blanket. Presented by Peninsula JCC, Wornick Jewish Day School, PJ Library and North Peninsula Jewish Community Collaboration. At Filoli Gardens, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. 3:30-4:45 p.m. Free, registration requested.