Well-read families
The fourth annual Kristi Yamaguchi’s Family Literacy Festival, set for Sept. 5 at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, will feature celebrity and author story readings, hands-on literacy activities, art projects and family-friendly entertainment.
This year’s featured guest is Mychal Threets, also known as “Mychal the Librarian,” an award-winning Bay Area librarian, author and mental health advocate. Threets is also the host of the revived children’s program “Reading Rainbow” and PBS’s resident librarian. Threets, who is open about his own mental health journey, recently placed himself on a five-day psychiatric hold. He wrote in an Aug. 23 Instagram post that “I am not better, I’m getting help to be better.”
The festival is set for 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Children’s Discovery Museum in downtown San Jose. Tickets, which include museum admission, are $20-$22 at https://bit.ly/4gQELOO.
Fright Nights
Visitors to the Winchester Mystery House this fall can play hide-and-seek in the attic of the venerable mansion, but it might be less friendly than the childhood game they remember.
“Hide & Seek: The Lost Children Experience” is among the interactive add-ons being offered as part of this year’s Festival Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House, which opens Sept. 18. The attic, which is rarely open to visitors, will be converted for the occasion into a space where the children have been waiting a very long time for new playmates.
Fright Nights offers three main attractions, produced once again by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. VIP admission gets visitors an audience with Harry Houdini and a live séance, as well as access to the Séance Society Speakeasy.
Elsewhere on the grounds, axe throwing is back, along with a shooting gallery and a fire pit for roasting s’mores.
Festival Fright Nights run select nights from Sept. 18-Nov. 1 at Winchester Mystery House is located at 525 Winchester Blvd., San Jose. Tickets start at $61 at festivalfrightnights.com.