Memorial Day weekend festivals in Bay Area 2023
May 26 @ 10:00 am - May 29 @ 6:00 pm
free
Memorial Day 2023 celebrations include parades, festivals and more.
Monday, May 29 is Memorial Day when Americans pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving their country. Despite its somber roots, Memorial Day today is a celebration of freedom; full of events, parades, music, and tributes.
Here are many ways around the Bay Area to observe this special day.
Number of events: 20.
Last update: May 26.
First, we’ll start with favorites!
S.F. Carnaval Festival 2023: Los Van Van & La Sonora Dinamita
All Bay Area events:
FRIDAY – SUNDAY:
Fiesta Days in Downtown Vacaville. May 25 – 29, 2023. Admission is FREE. Andrews Park.
Fiesta Days in Vacaville is the perfect celebration of Western and Hispanic heritage! Enjoy thrilling carnival rides, the Saturday morning parade, Whiskerino and jalapeño eating contests, live music from local favorites, and the exciting “Idol” singing competition.
May 26, 2023 – May 28, 2023. Join us as we celebrate since our first Marin Greek Festival in 1972.
Parking will once again be available at Pell Plaza with Shuttles running throughout the event.
Admission: Friday is Free. On Saturday and Sunday, Regular Entry is $5, Senior Entry is $4
626 Night Market: Bay Area [Pleasanton]
Full of interesting food and fun, the festival is set to feature more than 200 local food, merchandise, arts and craft vendors, as well as games, live music and entertainment for all ages.
3-11 p.m. Friday, May 26; 1- 11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 27-28. $5-$10, reservations encouraged. Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton. 626nightmarket.com
Mill Valley Memorial Day Community Celebration
Bring the family for four days of old-fashioned fun with carnival rides and games, live entertainment and food vendors. On Monday, a “Day on the Green” festival will include live music from El Radio Fantastique, Greg Loiacano and Stingray; food and drink vendors and more.
Carnival: 4-10 p.m. Friday, May 26; noon-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 27-28; noon-5 p.m. May 29. Free-$40. Mill Valley Middle School, 180 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley. “Day on the Green”: noon-5 p.m. May 30. Friends Field, Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. kiddo.org
California Roots Festival [Monterey]
Thursday to Sunday, May 25 to 28. Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairground Rd., Monterey / Website
Wu-Tang Clan, Rebelution, Thievery Corporation, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Sublime with Rome and Cypress Hill are just a handful of the artists coming to this year’s California Roots Festival in Monterey. Four days of reggae, roots music and hip-hop are paired with food vendors, on-site activations and beautiful blue skies at this family-friendly event.
SATURDAY:
Get your gaúcho on! Step back in time to 1840s Mexican California during the Petaluma Adobe Living History Day.
The event is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, 3325 Adobe Road, Petaluma.
Meet the vaqueros, traders, cooks, and crafts people who lived in Mexican California. Dip candles, make baskets, churn butter, rope with vaqueros, and play historical games. Bring a picnic lunch, since drink and food concessions are not available in the park. Make sure to leave your pets at home.
Memorial Day Weekend Bay Area Kidfest [Concord]
This long-running annual Bay Area family event is set to feature live entertainment, activities, food vendors, carnival rides, Silver Starlets aerialist performance, a sea lion show, meet and greets for the kids with Pete the Cat and Llama Llama, arts and crafts and exhibitors.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 27-28; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, May 29. $9, under 2 and seniors free. Mount Diablo High School, 2450 Grant St., Concord. 925-408-4014. kidfestconcord.com
[exhibit] Point Reyes Memorial Day Weekend Open Studios
Tour artists’ studios in the Point Reyes Station, Inverness and Inverness Park area over the holiday weekend. Featuring an assemblage of West Marin sculptors, photographers, potters, painters, glass artists, jewelry makers, fiber artists and woodworkers with studios open to the public.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Monday, May 27-29. Free. Various artist studios, Point Reyes Station. pointreyesart.com
SUNDAY:
San Ramon Art and Wind Festival
The annual celebration of all things that fly features fine arts, crafts and specialty food vendors, live entertainment on three stages, children’s activities, professional kite-flying demonstrations and a kite-making workshop.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday-Monday May 28-29. Free. Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. 925-973-3200. artandwind.com
49th Annual Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen’s Barbecue
The popular annual fundraising event is scheduled to include barbecue or vegetarian tamale lunch, desserts, and live music with Pardon the Interruption and the Andre Pessis All-Stars. There will be craft beer and wine, a raffle and family-friendly fun.
Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, May 28. $10-$30. Santos Meadows, Frank Valley Road, Muir Beach. 415-381-8793. muirbeachfire.com
Wente Vineyards Annual White Party [Livermore]
1 to 5 p.m. May 28, 5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore. As an official kick off to summer celebration, Wente invites guests to dress up in their favorite all-white attire for a fun-filled day of music, dancing and award-winning wines. $95. wentevineyards.com/events/white-party
OuterLimits Memorial Day Weekend Party [SF]
There will be food trucks, live art, aerialists, DJs and live music performances on 3 stages including Mikey Lion, Juan MacLean, Starfari, Mz. Worthy and others as part of a 12-hour indoor/outdoor celebration.
2 p.m. Sunday, May 28. $10-$30, reservations recommended; 21 and older. The Great Northern, 111 Utah St., S.F. thegreatnorthernsf.com
MONDAY:
Hillsborough Memorial Day
Parade at town hall starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by an 11:45 a.m. ceremony; carnival and live music.
10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday, May 27. Free. 1600 Floribunda Ave., Hillsborough.
Afro Soca Love: Oakland Outdoor Festival [Oakland]
A block-party-style event celebrating the nexus of Afro-Caribbean cultures. The all-day party features a marketplace with Afro-Caribbean vendors, an outdoor drinking village and performances from international musicians.
Noon-7 p.m. Monday, May 27. $5-$10. Lot 13, 341 13th St., Oakland.
Cavallo Point Lodge Memorial Day Barbecue in [Sausalito]
Enjoy the panoramic views and fresh air at a family-friendly, afternoon barbecue lunch with a kite-making workshop, beer and wine, and live music from Dore Coller’s Bermudagrass Combo.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, May 29. $15-$65, reservations required. Cavallo Point Lodge, 601 Murray Circle, Sausalito. 415-339-4700. cavallopoint.com
Ferris Wheels Memorial Day Concert and BBQ [Orinda]
May 29 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Free. Jewish. Chabad of the East Bay presents an event with kosher catering, hamburgers, hot dogs, relay races, drum circle and performance by the Ferris Wheels band.
Venue: Tilden Regional Park, Padre Picnic Area, South Park Drive, Orinda, CA.
Bolinas Community Center Memorial Day
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Picnic in the Plaza, 1 Brighton Avenue, Bolinas, CA, 94924.
There will be music in the Plaza by BoBo Tempo, Estrellas Del Mar, John & Camilla and Los Padres. Get your dancing shoes on and come down to hear some amazing local talent.
