CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (April 28, 2024) — 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.

In the community

Bay Area SpringFest. 3rd annual free festival in downtown Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza featuring music, exhibitors, food, plants, children’s activities and a beer and wine garden benefiting Sustainable Contra Costa. Free admission and free parking. May 4, 12 noon-7 p.m. 2175 Willow Pass Rd., Concord. www.BayAreaSpringFest.com

Mad Hatter Garden Party/High Tea. Wear a pretty or crazy hat or “Alice in Wonderland” attire for this fundraiser for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1525 Clayton Valley and its auxiliary, 1-3 p.m. May 12, Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Dr., Walnut Creek. Send checks payable to VFW Auxiliary Post 1525 for $35 a person by May 5 to Box 79, Clayton CA 94517. For more information, call 925-673-0205.

Singer-Songwriter Sundays. 2 p.m. May 12 and June 2, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. For details, email concordcouchconcerts@gmail.com.

Contra Costa County Fair. May 16-19, Antioch Fairgrounds. Pre-sale tickets available now. For details, visit contracostafair.com.

Pleasant Hill Art, Wine, and Music Festival. Includes arts and crafts, two performer stages and a kids zone, May 18-19, downtown Pleasant Hill. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. More information and performer schedules at www.pleasanthillchamber.com.

Sunset by the Lake Summer Concert Series. Every other Sunday, May 26-Sept. 1. New this year will be food trucks. May 26: the Great Space Coaster with hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. June 9: Van Goat plus a Family Fun Zone. June 23: Beaufunk featuring Michael Jeffries, plus Nash Metropolitan Car Show. For more information, go to www.pleasanthillca.org/summerconcerts.

Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival. Vendors, wines, craft beer, live music, food and children’s activities, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. June 1 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 2, Heather Farm Park. Visit www.walnut-creek.com/art-wine-festival-2024 for details.

Music & Market. Farmers Market begins at 4 p.m. Thursdays, with music at 6:30 p.m. June 6-Sept. 25, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. June 6: Andre Thierry, Cajun and Zydeco. June 13: The Houserockers salute to Earth, Wind & Fire. June 20: Sacred Fire, a Santana tribute band. June 27: Traveling Wilburys Revue, the best of George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. For the complete schedule, visit www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11424/Music-and-Market-Postcard-2024.

CBCA Round Up. The Clayton Business & Community Association celebrates its 40th anniversary with a BBQ dinner, music, dancing, raffles and silent auction, 6-10 p.m. June 14, Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. For tickets, visit www.claytoncbca.org.

Juneteenth Celebration. Activities, performers and music recognizing the June 19 end of slavery, 5-9 p.m. June 19, on the lawn by Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane. Sponsored by the Diversity Commission and held in conjunction with Off the Grid.

Blues and Brews Festival. Beer garden, music and food, pre-party 6-9 p.m. July 19, and main event 3-9 p.m. July 20, Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane. Sponsored by Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District. For more information, visit www.bluesandbrewsfestival.com.

Off the Grid. Featuring food trucks and live music, 5-9 p.m. Wednesdays until October, on the lawn by Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane. For details, visit www.pleasanthillca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=668.

Farmers Market. Sponsored by the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays year-round and 4-8 Thursdays June 6-Sept. 26, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Visit pcfma.org for more information.

In the Garden

AAUW Garden Tour. A fundraiser to support college scholarships for local women, STEM camperships for middle school girls and educational programs in our community, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 10-11. Hosted by the Danville Alamo Walnut Creek American Association of University Women. Tickets are $40 before May 1, $45 thereafter. For more information, visit https://daw-ca.aauw.net/2024-garden-tour.

Plant Sale. Sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 11, Hillcrest Congregational Church, 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. The club is co-sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District. For more information about the sale or the club, go to www.phgsc.com or e-mail phgardenstudyclub@yahoo.com.

Clayton Gardens Tour. Five unique gardens, May 17-18. Sponsored by the Clayton Historical Society to raise funds for the Clayton Museum. To volunteer as a docent, call JoAnn Caspar at 925-567-6079 or Joan Bergum at 925-672-4597. Purchase $40 tickets online at www.claytonhistory.org; at R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens, 6780 Marsh Creek Road, Clayton; or by sending a check to Clayton Museum, P.O. Box 94, Clayton CA 94517. Tickets will be $45 on tour day at the Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St.

Clubs

Women Marines Association. The Bay Area chapter meets 11:30 a.m. every third Saturday, usually at Harry’s Hofbrau, 14900 E. 14th St, San Leandro. For more information, visit https://wmaca3.org or contact Janet Johnson at 925-890-4583.

Concord Library

The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. For more information, call 925-646-5455.

Cascada De Flores presents Aquíles Va Un Cuento. Celebrate Children’s Day and Book Day with a bilingual musical adventure, 5 p.m. April 30.

Clayton Library

The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. For more information on any of these events, call 925-673-0659 or visit ccclib.org/events.

Homework Help. For children in grades K-5 in all subjects, 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays. Assistance in select subjects is available for those in grades 6-9. Call to make a 30-minute appointment. Drop-ins accommodated as available.

Lion Dance. A children’s program to kick off Asian American Pacific Islander Month, 2-2:30 p.m. May 1. Performed by members of Concord Kung-Fu Academy. Sponsored by the Clayton Community Library Foundation.

Lapsit Storytime. For children aged 0-3, 11-11:15 a.m. Thursdays. Children must attend with caregiver.

Toddler/Preschool Storytime. For children ages 2-5, 11:30 a.m.-noon Thursdays. Children must attend with caregiver. Stay and play toys available afterward.

Teen Thursday: Watercolor Cookies. Yvonne Lin will teach those in 6th-12th grades how to make stunning watercolor cookies, 4-5:30 p.m. May 2. Registration required. Sponsored by the Clayton Community Library Foundation.

The Arts

“9 to 5 The Musical” Auditions. Prepare a two-minute monologue and 32-measure song for Clayton Theatre Company’s production, 7-10 p.m. April 29 and 30, Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. No appointment necessary. Open to non-Equity actors 18+. For details, visit www.claytontheatrecompany.com/auditions.

“Ekphrasis 2024.” An exhibition of fine art that inspires literary works, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, April 29-June 28, Art Gallery at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way. Grand opening program and reception 1-5 p.m. May 4. Sponsored by the Lamorinda Arts Alliance, Lamorinda Arts Council and California Writers Club/Mt. Diablo Branch. For more information, call 925-254-2184 or visit http://ccclib.org.

“Mass Appeal.” Plotline Theater Company’s comedy-drama about a young upstart and an older priest, May 3-19, Campbell Theater, 636 Ward St., Martinez. For tickets, go to campbelltheatercompany.com.

“Willy Wonka.” A musical based on the Roald Dahl book from Pittsburg Theatre Company, through May 5, California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. Go to pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org for tickets.

Sweet Adelines/Diablo Vista Chorus Guest Program. Singers can learn a song in the a cappella barbershop style, 6-8:30 p.m. May 7, 14, 21 and 28, Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Fee is $10. To register, email Nancy.Blom@gmail.com. For more information about the chorus, visit www.diablovistachorus.com.

“Good Vibrations.” Paintings by Valley Art Gallery artists, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday through May 11, 1661 Botelho Dr., Suite 110, Walnut Creek. For details, call 925-935-4311 or visit valleyartgallery.org.

Call for Artists. The Concord Art Association is looking for exhibitors for its Spring Pop-up Art & Craft Show. Deadline is May 9. To register, visit www.concordartassociation.org/spring-popup-art-show-2024. The show will run 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11 in Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord.

Meet the Authors. Featuring Mark R. Clifford, Deven Greene, Bruce Lewis and S.Q. Orpin, noon-2 p.m. May 17, Papillion Coffee, 67 Lafayette Circle in Fiesta Square, Lafayette. Clifford’s “Typhoon Coast” is a story of danger and redemption. Greene applies her love of science and medicine to her medical thrillers, including the Erica Rosen MD trilogy. Lewis is the author of four novels in the “Angel of Mercy” series. Orpin wrote the five-part “Catwalk” series and accompanying cookbooks.

“The Firebird,” “4 in the Morning” and “Light Rain.” Diablo Ballet’s “Firebird” is based on the Russian folktale. World-renown dance maker Val Caniparoli created “Morning,” and “Light Rain” has been an audience favorite since 1981, 7:30 p.m. May 17 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 18, Lesher Center for the Arts, Hofmann Theatre, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Get tickets at www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org.

“A Lovely Way to Spend the Evening.” The Diablo Women’s Chorale blends the nostalgic and the contemporary, featuring the Stephen Evans Cello Choir, 7 p.m. May 18, 3 p.m. May 19, Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universal Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. For tickets, visit diablowomenschorale.org.

“Tribute to Tina.” An art exhibit in memory of Tina Turner, through July 12, JOR Fine Art Gallery, 1026 Oak St. No 102, Clayton. For more information, visit jorfineartgallery.com.

Read more Pioneer news.