The Pioneer Spring 2022 calendar of events and activities, May 22 update
(CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, May 22, 2022) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole family.
If you’d like to submit your event to the Pioneer Calendar page, please send email to us at Calendar@pioneerpublishers.com.
In the community
Digital Art Showcase. Featuring work from Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s Art & Digital Media Pathways, through May 25. Sunvalley Shopping Center, 1 Sunvalley Mall Road, Concord.
Concord Historical Society Spring Fundraiser. Includes the dedication of the Dave Brubeck Stage and a performance by his sons, Chris and Dan, 5:30 p.m. May 27, Event Center, 1928 Clayton Road, Concord. $100-$150. For more information, call Lloyd Crenna at 415-722-7100 or click here.
Bay Area KidFest. Entertainment, rides and food, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 28-29 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 30, Mt. Diablo High School, 2450 Grant St., Concord. Blue Devils will perform at a Memorial Day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. May 30. For details, visit www.kidfestconcord.com/bay-area-kidfest.
Memorial Day Service. Sponsored by the cities of Concord and Clayton, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1525, Blue Star Moms Chapter 20 and Korean War Veterans Chapter 264, 11 a.m. May 30, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord.
Sunset by the Lake Concerts. 6-8 p.m. every other Sunday at the lake by Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane. May 29: Unauthorized Rolling Stones. June 12: Tom Rigney & Flambeau. June 26: Frankie G & the Conviction. July 10: The Bell Brothers. July 24: East Bay Mudd. Aug. 7: Cut Loose. Aug. 21: The Landbirds. Sept. 4: The Big Jangle. For details, visit pleasanthillca.org and click on “Festivals and Events.”
Music and Market. Music along with the Farmers Market, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays, June 2-Sept. 29, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. June 2: Gator Nation. June 9: The Bell Brothers. June 16: Diablo Symphony. June 23: Fleetwood Mask. June 30: Orquesta Borinquen. July 7: Aja Vu. July 14: George. July 21: Local Bands Night. July 28: David Martin’s House Party. Aug. 4: Carlos Reyes. Aug. 11: The KillBillies and Quattro. Aug. 18: Matchbox Twenty Too. Aug. 25: Zepparella. Sept 1: Local Bands Night. Sept. 8: Fast Times. Sept. 15: Steve Snyder’s Big Band. Sept. 22: Midnight Sun. Sept. 29: House of Floyd. For music details, visit cityofconcord.org/downtownevents.
Concerts in The Grove. 6-8:30 p.m. every other Saturday through Sept. 10, downtown Clayton. Reserve a spot with chairs or blankets starting at 4 p.m. Free but donations welcome. June 4: Brickhouse. June 18: Pride and Joy SF. July 2: The Boys of Summer. July 16: Cut Loose. July 30: Mixed Nuts. Aug.13: The Houserockers. Aug. 27: The Sun Kings. Sept. 10: East Bay Mudd. Visit claytonconcerts.com for more information.
World Pickleball Tour. The largest, non-sanctioned amateur pickleball series in the nation, June 4-5, Willow Pass Community Park, 2748 E. Olivera Road, Concord. Also, Nike Adult Pickleball Camp, June 2-3. For details, contact Ben Harrison at ben@wptevents.com or 614-557-1475.
Mt. Diablo Branch/California Writers Club. Betsy Graziani Fasbinder will present “How to Be the Best Ambassador for Your Book,” 11 a.m. June 11, Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, and via Zoom. Register at https://cwcmtdiablo.org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting.
Concord Crawl. Art and Wine Walk in downtown Concord to benefit educational scholarships for local women and girls, 1-4 p.m. June 18. Sponsored by the Concord branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). $27 before April 30. $30 at the door. For tickets, click here.
Clayton Pride Parade. With the theme “Every Color in the Rainbow,” everyone is invited to dress colorfully. 10 a.m. June 25, down Main Street. June 11 deadline for submitting an application to participate; visit claytonpride.org
Tuesday Night Blues. Family-friendly lineup plus food vendors, 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays in July, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. July 5: Katie Knipp. July 12: Maria Muldaur. July 19: Terry Hanck. July 26: Annie Sampson. For music details, visit cityofconcord.org/downtownevents.
Farmers Market. Sponsored by the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays year-round and 4-8 p.m. Thursdays, June 2-Sept. 29, Todos Santos Plaza, Concord. pcfma.org.
The Arts
“Slopes of Diablo.” Juried painting competition celebrating our iconic mountain. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays through June 25, Valley Art Gallery, 1661 Botelho Dr., Suite 110, Walnut Creek. Opening reception 2-5 p.m. May 15. For details, call 925-935-4311 or visit valleyartgallery.org.
“Romeo y Juliet.” Spanish and English intermingle in this Cal Shakes adaptation featuring two women lovers, May 25-June 19, Bruns Amphitheater, Orinda. Call 510-548-9666 visit www.calshakes.org.
“Antigone, presented by the girls of St. Catherine’s.” High school drama students find their lives suddenly mirror the classic story in this town Hall Theatre adaptation, June 2-25, Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette. Call 925-283-1557 or go to www.townhalltheatre.com.
Submit calendar items to Calendar@pioneerpublishers.com.
Bev Britton
Bev Britton graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of North Dakota and moved to the Bay Area with her soon-to-be husband Jim in 1986. She was features editor at the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek before becoming managing editor of the Contra Costa Sun in Lafayette in 1995. She retired from newsrooms in 2001, but an ad for the Clayton Pioneer drew her back in. The family moved to Lake Wildwood in the Gold Country a few years ago - but working at the Pioneer keeps her in touch with her old neighborhoods in Concord and Clayton.