Submit calendar items to Calendar@pioneerpublishers.com.

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.

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, click here.

Concerts in The Grove. 6-8:30 p.m. Saturdays, May 7-Sept. 10. Downtown Clayton. 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. For more details, click here.

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.

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

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.

Outdoors

Tilden Nature Area/Berkeley. Gail Broesder will lead an exploration of the watershed area, 1 p.m. March 27. Free; no registration required. Meet at the Environmental Education Center at the north end of Central Park Drive. For information, call 510-544-2233.

Diablo Foothills Regional Park/Walnut Creek. Discover wildflowers on a four-mile hike led by naturalist Kevin Dixon, 8:30-11:30 March 27. Free; registration required at 888-327-2757, option 2.

Tilden Nature Area. Learn about the creatures that live in the waters, 11 a.m.-noon April 3 with naturalist Trent Pearce. Prepare to get muddy. Meet at the Environmental Education Center at the north end of Central Park Drive. Free; no registration required. For information, call 510-544-2233.

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.

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.

“Festival 10 – A Treasury of 10-Minute Plays.” From Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble. Through March 27, Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St. Details at ghostlightte.org.

“Laurie Sings a Song for You.” A cabaret concert inspired by the music of Karen Carpenter, featuring Laurie Roldan. Through March 27, El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. Tickets at https://us.patronbase.com/_ElCampanilTheatre/Productions/R014/Performances.

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.