In the Community

Red Cross Blood Drive. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 5, Concord Elks Lodge, 3565 Clayton Road. Sponsored by Concord Elks 1994 and VFW 1525. Register at redcrossblood.org. Click “Find a Drive,” enter zip code 94519 and scroll to April 5.

Off the Grid Food Truck Market. 5-9 p.m. Wednesdays, starting April 6, 138 Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill. Includes live music by the lake. For details, visit offthegrid.com.

San Francisco Bay Flower & Garden Show. April 7-10, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton. For details, visit www.SFGardenShow.com.

Contra Costa Con 3. Featuring C. Andrew Nelson (Darth Vader) and Alan Fernandes (Tusken raider) in “Star Wars,” plus a free, family-friendly Cosplay Costume Contest. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 10, Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Blvd. Kids under 10 and parking are free. Tickets at contracostacon.com.

Clayton Art & Wine Festival. Arts/crafts, wine/beer, food court, kids zone and live music. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 23 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 24, downtown Clayton. Sponsored by the Clayton Business & Community Association. Free parking, shuttle and admission. For details, visit https://claytoncbca.org/events/clayton-art-wine-festival-923/.

Concerts in The Grove. 6-8:30 p.m. Saturdays, May 7-Sept. 10, downtown Clayton. Reserve a spot with chairs or blankets starting at 4 p.m. Free but donations welcome. May 7: The Fundamentals with “Red Hot Rockin’ Soul.” May 21: Night Moves and Creedence Classic Revival, two classic rock tribute bands. June 4: Brickhouse with dance-rock. June 18: Pride and Joy SF, featuring Motown’s greatest hits. July 2: The Boys of Summer, an Eagles tribute band. July 16: Cut Loose with your favorite rock, pop and R&B. July 30: Mixed Nuts dance music. Aug.13: The Houserockers, powerhouse of rock and soul. Aug. 27: The Sun Kings, a Beatles tribute band. Sept. 10: East Bay Mudd with classic soul, funk and R&B.

Contra Costa County Fair. May 12-15. Contra Costa Event Park, 1201 W. 10th St., Antioch. Presale tickets begin April 22. Visit www.contracostafair.com for details.

Pleasant Hill Art, Wine & Music Festival. Arts/crafts, wine/beer, food court, kids zone and live music. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 21 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 22, downtown Pleasant Hill. Sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. For details, visit www.pleasanthillchamber.com/art-wine-music-festival.

Sunset by the Lake Concerts. 6-8 p.m. every two weeks beginning Sunday, May 29, 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 more information, contact community relations manager Geoff Gillette at 925-671-5229 or ggillette@pleasanthillca.org.

Farmers Market. Sponsored by the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Todos Santos Plaza, Concord. pcfma.org.

Outdoors

Fernandez Ranch. Naturalist Anthony Fisher will lead a bird-watching hike, 9 a.m.-noon April 4, at the ranch on Christie Road south of Highway 4 between Martinez and Hercules. Free; no registration required. For information, call 510-544-2233.

Morgan Territory Regional Preserve Tour. Eight-mile loop for ages 7 and older, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 9. Naturalist Ashley Adams will discuss fire, conservation and the Native American presence in the area. Free; register at 888-327-2757, option 2.

Tilden Nature Area. Bug and Slug Safari with naturalist Trent Pearce, 11 a.m.-noon April 10. All ages welcome. Free; no registration required. Meet in the yard of the Environmental Education Center at the north end of Central Park Drive, Berkeley. For information, call 510-544-2233.

Clubs

SIR Branch 19. Guest speaker will be BART Director Deborah Allen. Noon April 7, Greenery Restaurant, 1551 Marchbanks Dr., Walnut Creek. Guests welcome; call 925-338-1996 if you would like to attend. SIR is a group of mature men who enjoy various activities. For details, visit www.sir19.org.

Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club. Stephanie Chandler will present “Advanced Book Marketing and Launch Strategies.” 11 a.m.-2 p.m. via Zoom, April 9. $10 members; $15 guests. Register at https://cwcmtdiablo.org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting.

Your Health

“Understanding Advanced Illness.” Hope Hospice clinical staff will provide information via Zoom about the most prevalent co-existing medical conditions among the elderly and the importance of medication management. 10-11:30 a.m. April 14. Register at hopehospice.com/family.

The Arts

“Talking Pictures.” Featuring a wide spectrum of media, motifs, formats, sizes and price points. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday through May 7, Valley Art Gallery, 1661 Botelho Dr., Suite 110, Walnut Creek. Details at valleyartgallery.org or 925-935-4311.

Diablo Ballet’s 28th Anniversary Program. Featuring the company premieres of Penny Saunders “Sur le Fil” and “Orange,” set to music by Antonio Vivaldi. 6:30 p.m. April 7, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Also virtual showings April 15-24. For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org. The live event will be followed by small bites, wine and a champagne toast with the dancers in Grower’s Square. For after-party tickets, call 925-943-1775.

“Slopes of Diablo” Call for Entries. A juried show featuring Bay Area artists’ perspectives and interpretations of Mount Diablo in painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, collage or mixed media. Application deadline is April 8. Exhibit May 14-25 at Valley Art Gallery, Walnut Creek. For entry details, visit www.entrythingy.com/d=valleyartgallery.org#show=8886.

“Keeping It Real: A Festival of One-Acts.” Student written, directed and performed plays under the leadership of Saint Mary’s College’s Theatre Program Class. April 21-24, LeFevre Theatre, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga. Information and tickets at www.stmarys-ca.edu/keeping-it-real.

“Oliver!” Pittsburg Community Theatre presents the popular family musical based on the novel “Oliver Twist.” April 30-May 8, El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. 2nd St., Antioch. For tickets, call 925-757-9500 or visit www.elcampaniltheatre.com.

Submit calendar items to Calendar@pioneerpublishers.com.