[list] Bay Area Festivals 2023

45+ festivals, fairs and things to do in the Bay Area this summer

Here’s a list of all the Bay Area events, from fairs and festivals to opportunities for outdoor fun, you’ll want to check out this summer!

JUNE:

CabFranc-A-Palooza: June 1-4, various Livermore venues.

Cabernet Franc lovers and wine producers are descending upon Livermore Valley for this one-of-a-kind celebration, with 40+ wineries offering wine tastings, food, music, games, artists and oddities. $79 to $125. cabfrancapalooza.com/

Jazz and Blues by the Bay: 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 2 to Aug. 25, Gabrielson Park, Sausalito.

Sausalito’s summertime Jazz and Blues by the Bay concerts have become a legendary local favorite. Enjoy music on the lawn with friends, spectacular views and a wide offering of food and drinks. Free admission. destinationsausalito.com/event/

San Mateo County Fair. June 3-11, 11am-10pm.

The San Mateo County Event Center is excited to bring you the 88th Annual San Mateo County Fair in 2023. In its 85+ year history, the San Mateo County Fair has brought together the community for live entertainment, competitive events, unique food, arts & educational exhibits, magnificent floral and garden creations, livestock and agricultural exhibits

Fairyland Children’s Book Festival: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland.

Bay Area kiddos and families need to get their book totes ready and head to Fairyland, where talented authors and illustrators will take over the storybook theme park with more than 30 exhibitors offering a curated selection of kid-lit titles. $16. bit.ly/FairylandBookFestival

Bubbly & Beats: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 3, McGrail Vineyards and Winery, 5600 Greenville Road, Livermore.

Sample the winery’s Gracie sparkling wine and enjoy a mimosa bar and throwback tunes from DJ Michael Ramponi at this festive party. The Brunch in a Box food truck will be on site, too, along with local vendor pop-ups. Guests must be 21 or older. Tickets $25; mcgrailvineyards.com

Bay Phil Plays Beethoven: 7:30 p.m. June 3 and 3 p.m. June 4, 1800 H St., Union City.

The Bay Philharmonic will host performances featuring pianist and composer Charlie Albright, conductor Jung-Ho Pak and the 50-piece Bay Philharmonic. $35 to $67. bayphil.org/bay-phil-plays-beethoven

Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival: June 3-4, Heather Farm Park, 301 N. San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek.

This annual festival features live music, a crafts marketplace, food and wine booths, children’s activities and a fabulous craft beer garden. Free admission. www.walnut-creek.com/art-wine-festival-2023/

Pub in the Park 2023: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3, July 15, Aug. 5 and Sept. 9, Red Morton Park, Redwood City.

Redwood City’s annual summer Pub in the Park series invites visitors to enjoy bluegrass music, sip delicious local brews and enjoy lawn games. Free admission. bit.ly/PubinthePark2023

Whisky in the Park: 5 to 8 p.m. June 4, History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose.

The third annual, outdoor Whisky in the Park celebration offers hundreds of whiskies for tasting, plus food, music and master classes. $100 to $125. bit.ly/whiskyinthepark

World Oceans Day at Aquarium of the Bay: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 8, Pier 39, 2 Beach St., San Francisco.

Aquarium of the Bay will be celebrating World’s Oceans Day with special educational programming and information on preventing marine litter, plus free admission for children 12 and under. $0 to $31.75. bit.ly/WODAquariumoftheBay

Chardonnay Pinot Classic: June 8-11, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa.

Enjoy a weekend of indulgence curated by master sommeliers and acclaimed winemakers. Set in Napa Valley, events range from a Napa Valley Wine Train excursion and a Bubbles and Balloons excursion to a grand tasting, winemaker lunches and a vineyard yoga hike. Prices vary. bit.ly/ChardonnayPinotClassic

Circus Bella’s ‘Bananas’: June 8 to July 16, various Bay Area locations.

Circus Bella returns to the Bay Area for its 14th season with an all new, open air circus show. This bombastic, ballyhooed, celebration of silliness features a stellar troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and clowns. Free. circusbella.org/bananas

Hog Farm Hideaway: June 9-11, Black Oak Ranch, Highway 101, Laytonville.

Hog Farm Hideaway is a three-day, family-friendly, magical music festival featuring more than 30 bands and musical artists and presented by the indie, women-owned production company, Shooting Star Events. $150-$650. hogfarmhideaway.com/

Dia de Portugal Festival: June 10, 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/

Downtown Redwood City Car Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 10, Courthouse Square, Redwood City.

Get ready to rev your engines and experience the thrill of seeing classic cars, modern sports cars, muscle cars and custom-built creations up close. There will also be live music, delicious food and drink, and fun activities for all ages. Free admission. bit.ly/RCCS2023

Beerfest -The Good One: 1 to 4:30 p.m. June 10, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa.

More than 50 breweries and cideries will be pouring samples to enjoy. Expect mouth-puckering sour beers, hop bombs, barrel-aged brews, and a wide range of other cool libations that make Northern California one of the best beer-producing regions in the world. $50 to $65. bit.ly/beerfest2023

Sacramento Water Lantern Festival: 5:30 to 10 p.m. June 10, 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. $26.98-$55.99. waterlanternfestival.com/sacramento.php

Artichoke Festival: June 10-11, Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey.

The 63rd annual Monterey artichoke fest includes delicious food and wine tastings, fun activities and plenty of your favorite thistle-y plant. $10-$20. artichokefestival.org/

Black Food & Wine Experience: June 12-18, 1 Ferry Building and other venues, San Francisco.

Sample the food, wine and cocktails of the African Diaspora at a grand tasting in the famed San Francisco Ferry Building. Celebrate Black culture and excellence with your fellow foodies while tasting fare from celebrated and rising chefs, winemakers and spirit purveyors. $35-$275. bit.ly/BlackFoodandWine

Solano County Fair. June 15-18, 11am-10pm

The Ferris Wheel will be spinning and the deep-fry oil will be sizzling as Solano County’s summertime treat returns. The Board of Directors of the Solano County Fair Association (SCFA) announce, (or maybe shout from the rooftops is more apropos).

Alameda County Fair. June 16 – July 9, 11am to 11pm

The Alameda County Fair returns this Summer for nineteen days of all your Fair favorite fun. Experience the Fair like never before with new events, new rides and new Fair food experiences. We are bringing back a full line-up of concerts and live horse racing along with so many of your Fair favorites.

Sonoma-Marin Fair. June 21-25, 2023

The Sonoma-Marin Fair promotes and showcases agriculture, while displaying the diverse talents, interests and accomplishments of the residents of California, especially the youth of Sonoma and Marin counties. This is achieved by providing education, entertainment and recreational opportunities for the general public,

Lakefest Oakland: 12 to 8 p.m. June 24, Lake Merritt Sailboat House, 568 Bellevue Ave., Oakland.

This festival features an artisan marketplace, tasty food vendors, a beer and wine garden, a tech pavilion, a kids fun zone and live music. Free admission. bit.ly/LakefestOakland

Cupertino’s Cultures of the World: 1 to 4 p.m. June 24, Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N Stelling Rd., Cupertino.

This afternoon celebration includes entertainment, crafts, cultural activities, games and small bites from around the globe. Free admission. bit.ly/CupertinosCultures

Opera in the Vineyard: 5 to 8 p.m. June 25 and Aug. 27, Garré Vineyard and Winery, 7986 Tesla Road, Livermore.

Join Livermore Valley Opera for its ever-popular Opera in the Vineyard series which features beautiful voices paired with Garré’s award-winning wines. $80. bit.ly/OperaintheVineyard

Marin County Fair. June 30 – July 4th.

All for One & FUN for All! Spend your Fourth of July weekend at the Marin County Fair! This year’s Fair celebrates the values we hold near and dear—inclusiveness, equality, diversity and of course…FUN! Come celebrate the arts, agriculture, the environment, and more. There are free carnival rides, free concerts!

JULY:

Aptos Wine Wander: 1 to 4 p.m. July 1, Aptos Village. Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting featuring Santa Cruz Mountains wineries such as Big Basin Vineyards, Doon to Earth, El Vaquero Winery, La Vida Bella Vineyard and Sante Arcangeli Family Wines. Tickets $45 before June 1, $50 after June 1; winesofthesantacruzmountains.com.

‘Jurassic World’ Live Tour: July 7-9, SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara St., San Jose. Movie thrills come to life when dinosaurs from the iconic franchise take center stage. The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-sized dinosaurs operated by animatronics and performers. $25-$150. bit.ly/JurassicWorldLiveTour

‘Good Medicine’ at Cal Shakes: 8 p.m. July 8, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. Cal Shakes’ production of “Good Medicine: A Night of Live Native Stand-Up” features Jana Schmieding from FX’s “Reservation Dogs,” Brian Bahe from Comedy Central, Larry Omaha from Showtime and Dakota Ray Hebert from CTV’s “Shelved.” $25-$40. calshakes.org/good-medicine/

Festival Napa Valley- Summer 2023: July 8-23, various venues in Napa Valley. The 17th season of this wine country festival includes a rich lineup of music, food and wine events for every taste and budget. Free daytime concert admission, other events individually priced. festivalnapavalley.org/

Golden Gate International Choral Festival: July 9-15, various Bay Area venues. Hear hundreds of singers from around the globe perform during an unforgettable week of concerts, special events and cultural exchange. Free admission. piedmontchoirs.org/golden-gate-festival

Downtown Martinez Makers Market: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 15, Downtown Martinez. Spend a day strolling downtown as you enjoy indoor and outdoor dining, chalk artists, live entertainment and shopping from local vendor booths, including The Makers Movement. Free admission. downtownmartinez.org

Taste of Napa: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 15, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa. Held on the central piazza of the Meritage Resort, Taste of Napa features offerings from more than 70 wineries, breweries, restaurants and culinary artisans, plus live music and other attractions. $150-$295. bit.ly/TasteofNapa2023

ACGA Clay & Glass Festival: July 15-16, Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. For 30 years, this festival has celebrated the beauty and whimsy of 100 California artists and their clay and glass creations. Free admission. acga.net/clay-and-glass-festival/

ComicCon Livermore: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 22, 400 1st St., Livermore. Get ready for a day of adventure, creativity and family fun featuring everything from toy anime to costume contests, comic creators, science fiction and fantasy displays and hands-on projects to take home. Free admission. bit.ly/ComicConLivermore

Santa Clara County Fair. July 26 – August 6

This year the Santa Clara County Fair will be dedicated to livestock and home art exhibits. Admission will be free. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer a carnival, any commercial vendors or traditional fair food in 2023, but we encourage you to visit our exhibits and support our youth who have spent countless hours volunteering and preparing their animals for show.

AUGUST:

Sonoma County Fair. August 3 – 13, 2023

The Sonoma County Fair is the Northbay’s largest summer event.

Italian Family Festa San Jose: Aug. 5-6, History Park, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose. This festival showcases authentic Italian culture, food and wine. Live entertainment will provide classic Italian sounds for Festa-goers, while food vendors offer up delicious bites. Plus: grape stomping, a wine garden and kids activity area. Free admission. italianfamilyfestasj.org/

Napa Town and Country Fair. August 10-13

We hope you enjoy the Napa Town and Country Fair! This is where our community comes to gather, and we welcome you. We know that our guests will be respectful, courteous, and considerate. It is important that everyone feel safe and comfortable while enjoying the fair.

Laurel Street Fair World Music Festival: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 12, Laurel District, 4222 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Reimagine and recreate Oakland’s beautiful Laurel District as a global celebration of music, cuisine, folkloric arts, artisans, and cuisine. Free admission. visitoakland.com/events/annual-events/laurel-streetfair/

Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival: Aug. 19-20. This annual festival features fine art booths, live entertainment, a Cops ‘n Rodders Car Show, a Dog Day, and a vast array of wine and beer booths from local, award winning vendors . Free admission. svartfestival.com/

Palo Alto Festival of the Arts: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 26-27. University Ave., Palo Alto. This festival, hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, attracts more than 300 fine art and contemporary craft displays, 60 Italian street painters and attractions that include a kids art studio, stage and street entertainment, gourmet food, wines and micro-brews. Free admission. paloaltochamber.com/festival-of-the-arts/

SEPTEMBER:

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival: Sept. 2-3, Broadway Avenue. between Victoria and Meadow Glen, Millbrae. This vibrant end-of-summer celebration features two days of crowd pleasing live music, hand-crafted work by nearly 300 talented artists and crafters, gourmet food, refreshing ice treats, wine, beer, champagne and specialty drinks, a car show, a decked out Kids Zone and more. Free admission. millbrae.com/art-wine-festival/