Check out this roundup of Bay Area happenings to add some sure-fire fun to your summer:
Jurassic Quest: May 17-27 at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds and May 31 to June 2 at Alameda County Fairgrounds. Jurassic Quest transports guests through 165 million years of history with Raptor Training live shows, scientifically accurate dinosaur displays and rideable dinosaurs, plus tons of interactive science and art activities. $19 to $38. jurassicquest.com
Bottle Rock: May 24-26, Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St., Napa. This annual Wine Country music festival features a fabulous lineup of live entertainment from nationally known artists, singers and bands, as well as gourmet food, wine and beer stalls and a culinary stage. $233. bottlerocknapavalley.com
Foodieland Night Market: May 24-26, Cow Palace Arena & Event Center, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City. FoodieLand is a renowned outdoor festival featuring food, shopping, games and live entertainment. This year’s edition promises more than 185 food and retail vendors. $0 to $7. foodielandnm.com
Carnaval San Francisco: May 25-26, San Francisco venues. The 46th edition of this annual multicultural celebration and parade will feature a rich assortment of food, music, dance, arts and crafts, games and live entertainment for all ages to enjoy. Free admission. carnavalsanfrancisco.org
Noise Pop Summer of Music: June through Aug., various San Francisco venues. Noise Pop is bringing unique musicians of all styles and genres from around the Bay Area to perform live concerts throughout six neighborhoods across the city all summer long. Free. summerofmusicsf.com/
Bay Area Book Festival: June 1-2, Downtown Berkeley venues. Authors descend on this festival from all over the world, bringing the best of contemporary literature to local book lovers. In addition to author readings and discussions, this festival traditionally features literary exhibitors, gourmet food booths and children’s activities. Free admission. baybookfest.org/
Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 1 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 2, Heather Farm Park, 301 N. San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek. Enjoy wines from Paso Robles and Lodi and around the world, as well as craft beer at the festival’s beer garden, then browse the art stalls and food offerings. Admission is free, food and wine available for purchase. walnut-creek.com/art-wine-festival-2024/
Christina King works in the “I Make Bells” booth of Silvio Modena, Jr., at the Kings Mountain Art Fair held in the towering redwoods of Woodside, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. The bells are made of old oxygen tanks. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Redwood Mountain Faire: June 1-2, Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton. Dance the day away to live music while enjoying tasty, locally made food, cold beer, cider and wine in an open field surrounded by redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. $0 to $90. redwoodmountainfaire.com/
Sacramento Water Lantern Festival: 5:30 to 10 p.m. June 1-2, 8556 Gibson Ranch Park Road, Elverta. Come out for a family-friendly day of music, food and fun, complete with the opportunity to design and launch your very own water lantern. $36 to $56. waterlanternfestival.com/sacramento.php
Wharf Walks: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., June 1, July 6, Aug. 3, 1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf Association continues its popular Wharf Walks with award-winning Monterey Bay Fisheries historian and author Tim Thomas. Attendees will gain insight into the cultural history of the wharf and surrounding neighborhoods. Free. montereywharf.com/
Pub in the Park: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 1, July 13, Aug. 3 and Sept. 7, Red Morton Park, 1120 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City. Enjoy a leisurely summer afternoon lounging in the park while listening to bluegrass, sipping delicious local brews and enjoying lawn games. Each event features a variety of microbreweries and food trucks. Free admission. tinyurl.com/RedwoodPubinthePark
The Fleetwood Mac Concert Experience: 3 p.m. June 2, San Jose Convention Center, Montgomery Theater, 271 S. Market St., San Jose. Los Angeles-based ‘Gypsy Dreams’ brings its exciting Fleetwood Mac tribute to the Bay! This concert will take you back to the days when album rock ruled FM radio and timeless songs like “Rhiannon” and “You Make Loving Fun” were the soundtracks of our lives. $39 to $49. tinyurl.com/FleetMacSanJose
Circus in the Parks: June 5 to July 21, various Bay Area locations. Watch in awe as the vivaciously colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of Rob Reich and the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Free. circusbella.org/circusintheparks
Movies on the Square: June 6 to Aug. 29, Courthouse Square, Redwood City. Gather your friends and family, grab a blanket or a lawn chair and head on over to Redwood City’s outdoor movie series, featuring everything from family-friendly favorites to cult classics. Free. redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies
Monterey Artichoke Festival: June 8-9, Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey. This annual festival features an extravaganza of delicious artichoke-centric food and wine tastings. $10 to $20 admission. artichokefestival.org/
Dia de Portugal Festival: June 9, History Park, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose. In June, Americans of Portuguese heritage join together with others throughout the world in a celebration of Portuguese culture. Enjoy a day of entertainment, savor Portuguese foods and watch a traditional Portuguese parade. Free admission. diadeportugalca.org/
Filoli Summer Nights: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, June 12 to Sept. 19, Filoli Historic House & Garden, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Slow down, smell the roses and watch the sun dip behind the mountains while enjoying bar libations, food trucks, and acoustic tunes in the garden. $0 to $38. filoli.org/summer-nights
Sculpture in the Garden: June 15 to Aug. 11, Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery, 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Ruth Bancroft garden while admiring a stunning array of sculptures. Each piece has been carefully curated to complement the natural surroundings, creating a harmonious blend of art and nature. $0 to $12. ruthbancroftgarden.org/sculpture-in-the-garden/
Lakefest Oakland: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 22, Lake Merritt, Oakland. This annual festival celebrates East Bay culture and community with an artisan marketplace, tasty food vendors, a beer and wine garden, a tech pavilion, a kids fun zone and live music. Free admission. lakefestoakland.com/
Sounds of the Shores: 5 to 7 p.m. June 30, July 21 and Aug. 18, Marlin Park, Redwood City. Enjoy the beautiful summer weather while listening to live music performances by talented local artists from the water’s edge of the Redwood Shores lagoon. In addition to the music, there will be food trucks on site for you all your tasty eats needs. Free admission. tinyurl.com/ShoreSounds
High Sierra Music Festival: July 4-7, Plumas County Fairgrounds, 204 Fairground Road, Quincy. Join this annual pilgrimage to experience musical magic, artisanal food and drinks, arts and craft vendors, parades and mindfulness activities. Find updated ticket information at highsierramusic.com/
Hops & Creek Brewfest: July 6, 1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Walnut Creek’s annual craft beer festival is once again taking over Civic Park for July 4th weekend. Enjoy good food, live music and fun activities while sampling sips from more than 20 NorCal breweries. Find updated ticket information at hopsandcreek.com/
California State Fair: July 12-28, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento. Join this showcase of California’s industries, agriculture and diversity. The state fair features blue-ribbon animal displays, culinary delights and competitions, live music, a carnival, fireworks and other family fun. $0 to $16 admission, rides prices separately. calexpostatefair.com/
Taste of Napa: 12 to 3 p.m. July 13, Meritage Resort And Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa. Festival Napa Valley’s Taste of Napa celebration will feature more than 70 wineries, breweries, restaurants and culinary artisans, plus live music, games, activities and a special international wine showcase. $150 to $295. festivalnapavalley.org/calendar/taste-of-napa-2024/
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 30: Teams from the United States, Australia, and France, take part in practice racing for the San Francisco SailGP event on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
SailGP Season 4 Championship: July 13-14, San Francisco Bay. Following 13 events of intense, stadium style racing at the most iconic venues in the world, the 10-strong F50 fleet returns to San Francisco to decide the ultimate winner of Season 4. Five fleet races will propel the top three teams into the winner-takes-all Grand Final showdown. Free viewing along the waterfront, various event packages available. sailgp.com
Northern Nights Music Festival: July 19-21, Cooks Valley Campground, 83950 Road 442E, Piercy. This annual festival features live music performances, art displays and vendors, regional craft brews and wines, organic food offerings and mindful spaces for yoga and meditation including tree and hammock lounges. $299-$499. northernnights.org/
Italian Family Festa San Jose: Aug. 3-4, History Park, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose. This annual festival showcases authentic Italian culture, music, food and wine. In previous years, this festival has also offered grape stomping, a wine garden and kids activity area. Free admission. italianfamilyfestasj.org/
Outside Lands: Aug. 9-11, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. This annual outdoor extravaganza celebrates live music as well as Bay Area food, wine, beer and comedy. The 2024 lineup includes big-name artists like The Killers, Grace Jones, Tyler the Creator, Renee Rapp, Chappell Roan, and The Postal Service. Find updated ticket information at sfoutsidelands.com/
Gravenstein Apple Fair: Aug. 10-11, Ragle Ranch Regional Park, Sebastopol. Experience farm life through hands-on demonstrations, savor foods made by local chefs using local ingredients, sip locally made beverages and learn about the history of Gravenstein farming, all while enjoying live music. $0 to $30 admission. gravensteinapplefair.com/
Brick Fest Live: Aug. 17-18 at Alameda County Fairgrounds and Sept. 14-15 at Sacramento’s SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. This bonanza of a brick fest offers life-size models, hands-on attractions and shopping opportunities for hard-to-find LEGO merchandise. $16.99 to $34.99. brickfestlive.com/
Hot Wheels Glow Party: Aug. 24-25, Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco. The Hot Wheels Glow Party production features fan-favorite monster trucks, a laser light show, spectacular theatrical effects, dance parties, giveaways, robot performances and the high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live freestyle motocross team. Tickets start at $47.50. tinyurl.com/HotWheelsGlow
Captain Innes MacAlister performs with the Scottish Halberdiers at the 154th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games on August 31, 2019 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California. (Photo by Haley Nelson)
158th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games: Aug. 31-Sept. 1, Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton. Enjoy sports competitions and athletic feats, traditional music and dance, Celtic heritage events and whisky tastings. $0 to $35 admission. thescottishgames.com/
Extraordinary Cow Palace: Now through 2026, San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. The Cow Palace has been an important part of Bay Area history for more than 83 years. Now the San Mateo County Historical Association is preserving, celebrating and sharing this history with a new exhibit exploring the landmark venue and its many events. $0 to $6. historysmc.org/exhibits/extraordinary-cow-palace
Have an entertainment event to add? Submit it online at forms.gle/Cu9J6Ks2fQiQUcKk8.
