CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (Aug. 25, 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

An Intimate Gathering with Author Victor Villaseñor. From struggling to read to becoming an author, 5-7 p.m. Sept. 11, Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Dr. Sponsored by Monument Impact. Get tickets at https://event.auctria.com/6dc19b36-b668-45d6-8fc1-993592c26856.

“Stronger Together” Gala. A benefit from Monument Impact, 6-9 p.m. Sept. 12, Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Blvd. Early bird and VIP tickets on sale at https://event.auctria.com/6dc19b36-b668-45d6-8fc1-993592c26856.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Project Meetings. The city of Concord is hosting two community meetings regarding a program that may change allowable land uses to facilitate the development of high-density residential housing. In-person meeting 6 p.m. Sept. 16, Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. Virtual meeting 6 p.m. Sept. 19 via Zoom. Register for Zoom meeting at https://cityofconcord.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkceigrDorGtaMYdEB1J8TlVXiPAwazoHj#/registration To view a list of properties under consideration for rezoning, visit www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH.

Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year Celebration. Presented by the Contra Costa County Office of Education. 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 19, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. For details, visit https://www.lesherartscenter.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/17371/3094.

Low Rider Car Show. With DJ Jeff Brown playing music from the ’50s, ’60s and beyond, noon-2 p.m. Sept. 21, downtown Clayton. For more information, visit claytonca.gov/events.

Creative Concord Art & Music Jam. Live local music, 16 artists creating large-scale canvas paintings and the unveiling of six public murals, noon-6 p.m. Oct. 5-6, Todos Santos Plaza and downtown Concord. For details, visit www.creativeconcordca.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.

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

Diablo Valley Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Shadelands Business Park, North Wiget Lane and Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Watermelon Festival on Aug. 17. For more information, see @diablovalleyfarmersmarket, 800-806-FARM or CAFarmersMkts.com.

Community Concerts

Music & Market. Farmers Market begins at 4 p.m. Thursdays, with music at 6:30 p.m. through Sept. 26, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Aug 29.: Mitch Polzak & The Royal Deuces. Sept. 5: The Big Jangle. Sept. 12: Twist on Taylor. Sept. 19: Annie Sampson. Sept. 26: Queenology. For details on the bands, visit www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11424/Music-and-Market-Postcard-2024.

Concerts in The Grove. Final concert Aug. 31 with East Bay Mudd, 6-8:30 p.m. in downtown Clayton. Sponsored by the city of Clayton For more information, visit https://claytonca.gov/fc/Events/concerts-in-the-grove-2024.pdf.

Sunset by the Lake Summer Concert Series. Final concert Sept. 1 with Zebop, by the lake in downtown Pleasant Hill. For more information, go to www.pleasanthillca.org/summerconcerts.

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.

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.

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.

The Arts

“A Mid-Summer Day Dream.” A new selection of artwork and crafts by member artists, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays through Sept. 14, Valley Art Gallery: 1661 Botelho Dr., Suite 110, Walnut Creek, CA. For more information, visit www.valleyartgallery.org or call 925-935-4311.

“Human Error.” Eric Pfeffinger’s comedy about two very different couples with fertility issues, through Sept. 14, Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette. Get tickets at www.townhalltheatre.com/human-error.

Headliner Series. Includes a Fireside Chat with Rita Moreno Sept. 18, Mandy Patinkin in Concert Feb. 20, 2025, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem March 14-15, 2025, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. For the full schedule and ticket info, visit www.lesherartscenter.org.

“The Daughter of the Regiment.” Livermore Valley Opera presents one of Gaetano Donizetti’s most popular comic operas, which includes the memorable aria that crowned Luciano Pavarotti as “King of the High Cs.” Sung in French with English supertitles, Sept. 28, 29 and Oct. 5, 6, Bankhead Theater, 2400 1st St., Livermore. For details, call 925-373-6800 or visit LVOpera.com.

“Radiant Visions.” Featuring the work of Bay Area sculptor Patty Taylor and San Francisco surrealist Yijun Ge, through Oct. 27, JOR Fine Art Gallery, 1026 Oak St., Suite 102, Clayton. For more information, visit https://jorfineartgallery.com.