The Pioneer’s Winter 2023 calendar of events and activities, Dec. 31 update
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (Dec. 31, 2023) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole family.
We update the Pioneer Calendar page every week so check back often to find out what’s going on near you.
If you’d like to submit your event to the Pioneer Calendar page, please send email to us at Calendar@pioneerpublishers.com.
Clubs
California Writers Club/Mt. Diablo Branch. Novelist, journalist and poet Achy Obejas will use her writing samples to show how story-telling crosses genres and cultures, 11 a.m. Jan. 13, Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Guests welcome. To register for the meeting online, visit https://cwcmtdiablo.org/meetings-and-workshops. Join the club at https://cwcmtdiablo.org/join.
In the community
Farmers Market. Sponsored by the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Visit pcfma.org for more information.
At the Clayton Library
The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. For more information on any of these events, call 925-673-0659 or ccclib.org/events.
Anime and Manga for Kids with Oliver Chin. Author/artist Oliver Chin will present portions of his book, “The Discovery of Anime and Manga,” about how Japanese animation and comics were created and became popular worldwide, 2-2:45 p.m. Jan. 3. Then, kids aged 4-10 can create their own. Sponsored by the Clayton Community Library Foundation.
Lapsit Storytime. Children ages 0-3 can explore the joys of movement, books and songs while building early literacy skills you can practice at home, 11-11:15 a.m. Thursdays.
Toddler/Preschool Storytime. Children ages 3-5 can explore the joys of movement, books and songs while building early literacy skills you can practice at home, 11:30 a.m.-noon Thursdays.
Tai Chi. Gentle, energizing class for adults taught by Carolyn Lee in the style of Professor Cheng Man-Ch’ing, noon-1 p.m. Jan. 4. Beginners welcome; no registration required.
Teen Thursday: If You’re Board, Switch it Up. Those in 6th-12th grades can play one of the library’s Switch games, plus tabletop games, card games, word games, drawing games and more, 3:30-5 p.m. Jan. 4. Sponsored by Clayton Community Library Foundation.
The arts
“Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding” and “Confetti.” Diablo Ballet features the world premiere of “Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding” by Penny Saunders and an encore presentation of Gerald Arpino’s festive “Confetti,” Feb. 9-10, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Early Bird pricing available through Jan. 10. Visit www.diabloballet.org or call 925-943-SHOW.
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.