Category: Walnut Creek Events

Broadway Plaza Concert Series Begins!

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The 2024 Broadway Plaza Summer Concert Series begins tomorrow August 8th at 7 pm! Will I see you there? I love taking advantage of one of Walnut Creek’s best free, outdoor events each year. Thursday night, they kick things off with 24K Magic, a tribute to Bruno Mars. You can’t beat that kind of sound for an opening night! Seating is limited, get their early and bring a chair, friends and some beverages.

There are drinks for sale at each show, and the surrounding restaurants will be open for food, too. Though the event is free, A Brighter Day is a sponsor of the series and accepts donations for their cause. It’s a great cause, so please learn more about it and consider a donation if you go to the concerts. Below are a couple of pictures from past events.

More acts for the month of August include Evolution August 8th (a Journey tribute) and Kalimba August 15th (an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute). This is always a really fun time and the Walnut Creek Downtown Association does a wonderful job putting it on. Let me know if you’re stopping by!

Upcoming Events In Walnut Creek

If you don’t get the “This Week in the Creek” newsletter, make sure you sign up. It is a great resource for those of us living in or around Walnut Creek who like to go out and do things. Just visit www.walnutcreekdowntown.com and scroll to the bottom to find the “stay in touch with eNews” button.

Anyway, one of the most valuable aspects of the newsletter for me is the events calendar. I love to know what’s going on in my backyard, both for my own personal benefit and so I can help clients get acclimated to the town. So, as you can see on the graphic from the newsletter below, here are some upcoming events!

Next month, you can join the Walnut Creek Downtown Business Association, the City of Walnut Creek, and Steinway Piano Gallery for an Earth Day “beautification project” called Painted Pianos. This is a really unique event designed to bring the community together through music and art. To learn more, visit this website.

That cool event will be going on for about six months! And you can never go wrong with live music, First Wednesdays, or the fan-favorite Uncorked in June. They even have the local skating rink opening and Oktoberfest mapped out so we can plan way ahead. There is never a shortage of fun things to do where we live!

Are you going to any of these? Maybe I’ll see you there!

Local Events In August

There’s nothing like summer in the Bay Area! Here are some fun events taking place near us in Walnut Creek, and further out for your enjoyment:

East Bay

Saint Mary’s College and the Alumni Association invite you to campus for an afternoon of wine and beer tasting, delicious appetizers, and fun! Proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction support student scholarships at Saint Mary’s.

North Bay

Attendees of all ages are welcome to this free community event located at Drakes Beach. There are different sculpture competition categories, including Children (14 and under), Families, and Adults. Prizes will be awarded in each category and in a People’s Choice category. Bring a picnic and spend the day!

South Bay

Well-known for showcasing high-quality art, Palo Alto’s Festival of the Arts celebrates its 40th anniversary. Explore this beautiful venue and delight all senses with the festival’s diverse elements including sidewalk piano virtuosos, Italian Street Painting, hands-on kids’ art activities, delicious food selections, and alcoholic beverage varieties.

San Francisco

San Francisco’s oldest music festival is back! The final two shows feature Patti Smith with Bob Mould on Aug. 13th and The Big Picnic starring The Flaming Lips (with a Neon Indian DJ Set from Alan Palomo) on Aug. 20th. Don’t miss out on the 86th season of free music for all!

Huge names like Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Odesza, Lana Del Ray, The 1975, Megan Thee Stallion, Zedd, Janelle Monáe, and Maggie Rogers headline this annual three-day music festival in Golden Gate Park. It is the 15th anniversary of the festival and tickets are still available at this time.

School is back in session, but it is still summer so get out an enjoy it with some of these fun events.

A Summer Of Music

There’s nothing better on a warm summer day in California than enjoying some live music outside. Luckily for us, both Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek have some outdoor concert series coming up, and I’ve got the lowdown on both of them.

First, let’s talk about Pleasant Hill: their summer “Concerts by the Lake” series takes place at City Hall and runs from the end of May to early September. The free shows even offer communal Adirondack chairs to relax in. Upcoming acts include the Groove Doctors, Native Elements, and Big Jangle (a Tom Petty tribute band).

In Walnut Creek, I’ve written many times before about the great Broadway Plaza Summer Concert Series. The month of August is jam-packed with great 80s tunes, including Dog N Butterfly, Fleetwood Mask, and Mustache Harbor. Tomorrow (Thurs., 8/3), Tainted Love will be playing a show.

Will I see you out at either of these events? The food items, drinks, and happy company is enough to keep me coming back for more – and that’s before we even get to the music! I will there to dance to Tainted Love, hope to see you too!

Broadway Plaza Summer Concert Series

This is one of my favorite Walnut Creek events of the year: the Broadway Plaza Summer Concert Series! Since Nordstrom was robbed in 2021, they have closed the street between it and the fountain by Brighton’s off to traffic. This makes for a much more enjoyable and intimate concert series event!

Petty Theft Logo

Starting this Thursday, Aug. 4, and continuing every Thursday throughout the month, a Bay Area band will take the stage at 7 p.m. each night. This week, it is Petty Theft, which is a San Francisco-based tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Next week (Aug. 11), The Sun Kings (a Beatles tribute) will take the stage, followed by a Journey tribute band on Aug. 18 and The Best Intentions on Aug. 25. The Walnut Creek Downtown Association will serve beverages at each concert, and surrounding eateries will be open to the public. Time to rock out to some fun music!

Music In Broadway Plaza

As we (very) slowly creep back towards normal with more people getting vaccinated, we are allowed to go back to some of our regular social activities – especially those ones that are outdoors and naturally socially distanced. Baseball games come to mind, for instance. But so does music in Broadway Plaza!

Every summer, Broadway Plaza hosts a summer concert series on Thursday nights in August. They are back in 2021, with two of their shows remaining. Tomorrow night, Briefcase Blues Brothers will take the stage at 7 p.m.

white and black boat on sea under blue sky

The following (and final) Thursday (Aug. 26), Tainted Love will play at the same time, in the same place. They encourage concert-goers to bring their own chairs, as there is only limited seating provided, and drinks and food will be available for purchase at the show and at the surrounding eateries.

I’ve been to a few of these in the past and they are always such a blast! And it feels great to get back out there and do something social, even if we are still under some COVID restrictions.

Event Round-Up: Mar. 14, 2020

Spring has nearly sprung around Walnut Creek, and though I’m so excited for the Open Space to bloom, I am hoping we have a good amount of rain in March! This can be a great time of year to go exploring – here are some fun events to check out for the next few weeks in and around Walnut Creek.

The Real Irish Comedy Fest at the Lesher Center – Mar. 15 (Walnut Creek)

Join comedians and performers at the Lesher Center for a gut-busting Irish-themed comedy show before the official St. Patty’s Day celebrations take shape. Tickets as low as $25.

St. Patrick’s Day Bands and Corned Beef at Norm’s Place – Mar. 17 (Danville)

Live bands. Green beer. Guinness. And hundreds of pounds of corned beef and cabbage! It may not smell great, but that’s going to be a darn good, tasty time at Norm’s Place in Danville! More info here.

Belgian Beer Tasting at Bierhause – Mar. 18 (Walnut Creek)

Bierhaus’ first tasting was a sold-out success! Join them on Mar. 18 to learn about the world of Belgian beer. A $20 tasting fee gets you a free drink and huge discounts. The event takes place from 6-7:30 p.m.

Sports Basement BrewFest at the Presidio – Mar. 28 (San Francisco)

Speaking of beer, you don’t want to miss this huge brewery blow-out at the Sports Basement in the Presidio. You can’t beat the locale, and you get to try beers from a ton of great craft breweries! Get more info here.

Easter at the Garden – Apr. 12 (Walnut Creek)

Bring the kids to the Ruth Bancroft Gardens for Easter activities! This will include an easter egg scavenger hunt and other festivities! Tickets are only $8-10 right now.


Event Round-Up: Feb. 8, 2020

Well, winter skiing is winding down. The Super Bowl is over. The holidays have passed. What in the world is there to do in the Bay Area over the next month? Luckily for us, there’s ALWAYS something fun going on!

Image result for chinese new year parade

Chinese New Year Parade – San Francisco (Feb. 8)

Yes, this is TODAY! But get out there and enjoy a beautiful day in the city and watch the awesome Chinese New Year parade to honor the beginning of the Year of the Rat! Details.

Sunday Sessions on the River – Antioch (Feb. 9)

Music, food, drinks, and a waterfront view? Count me in. Go check out Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill for what is sure to be a magical, delicious afternoon. More information here.

Oscar-Nominated Short Films – Walnut Creek (Feb. 15)

Are you a movie buff? You can check out this year’s Oscar-nominated short films at the Walnut Creek Library on Feb. 15th. Showtimes are at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., and tickets aren’t crazy expensive!

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Champagne & Roses Valentine’s Day Sail – San Francisco (Feb. 15)

Want to go all out to impress your partner this Valentine’s Day (okay, so technically the day after…)? I think this event headline says it all. Get more information and tickets here.

CCAR Crustacean Sensation Celebration – Pleasant Hill (Feb. 21)a

I’m a sucker for a good crab feed, and this is the 21st annual version of the Contra Costa Association of Realtors’ Crustacean Sensation Celebration! Join us! More info here.

Event Round-Up: Jan. 11th, 2020

It’s the first event round-up of 2020! Here’s to a year full of wine walks, beer fests, art galleries, and more. I love finding fun, local events each month, and I hope you take advantage of a few of these ideas! So, for this month…

Mesmerica 360 – Oakland (Jan. 12)

If you can squeeze it in tomorrow, this “visual musical journey” looks really cool! It is good for all ages and is supposed to elicit a relaxing experience for the viewers and listeners. Check it out!

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“Letters to 87” – Walnut Creek (Jan. 16)

It’s not every day that 49ers legends convene in Walnut Creek. They will be on this day, as a panel led by Steve Young will chat at the Lesher Center. Ticket revenue goes to charity! More info here.

Comfort Food Week – Concord (Jan. 17-26)

The name says it all! And who doesn’t love breaking those New Year Resolution diets with some good ol’ fashioned comfort food? More information can be found here.

Sound of Music Sing-A-Long – Berkeley (Jan. 17)

Head over to Freight & Salvage in Berkeley for a sing-a-long and costume contest of the classic film, Sound of Music! It’s 18+ and only $20. This looks like so much fun!

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2020 Bay Area Brew Fest – San Francisco (Jan. 25)

I swear, there’s a brew fest every month now! And I’m not complaining! This one takes place in San Francisco and tickets are going for as low as $45. That’s a good deal for beer, food, music, and more!

Event Round-Up: Dec. 14

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We may not get snow in Walnut Creek, but it’s still a winter wonderland as far as I’m concerned. ‘Tis the season for holiday festivities, whether it be Christmas, Hannukah, or something else entirely! Enjoy some of these local events over the next month!

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1. Night Bloom SF – thru Jan. 5, 2020

The gorgeous Conservatory of Flowers does an awesome holiday-themed night bloom each winter and you must go see it! Lights and sounds will glorify the conservatory! More details here.

2. GLOW: Festival of Lights – thru Jan. 26, 2020 (San Francisco)

Kids 3 and under get into this fun, festive show on Pier 15 for free! The normal price of the ticket for adults is $30, but you’ll be treated to a brilliant display of lights during the holiday season.

3. Annual Winter Delight Night – Weds., 12/18 (Lafayette)

Take the family to the Lafayette Library for a winter-themed storytime and dance party, before winding down with crafts, hot chocolate and cookies. It’s a perfect holiday expedition!

4. Grand Menorah Lighting – Sun., 12/22 (Walnut Creek)

For those who celebrate Hannukah or for those who just want to see a cool holiday spectacle – venture down to Broadway Plaza from 4-6 p.m. for a free lighting ceremony of a grand menorah!

5. Big Fat Year End Kiss Off Comedy Show – Sat., 12/28 (Walnut Creek)

Head on down to the Lesher Center to see a comedy show that looks back at the major news stories of 2019 using stand-up comedy, improvisation, and loosely-written sketches! More information here.