This summer, the weekends are packed and the Bay is brimming with ways to gather and get inspired to eat, imbibe and dance the night away. This guide offers a fest, a fair or a celebration for everyone, from friends and families to pets and neighbors. Once it all starts in June, get ready—because the fun doesn’t stop for a moment.
WHAT TO WATCH: FILMS, LITERARY EVENTS AND MORE
Fairyland Puppet Shows: ‘Peter Pan’ Opening Weekend
June 1 & 2 | 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland | fairyland.org
Fly into Neverland through Oakland’s storybook theme park, Fairyland. The park’s puppet adaptation of children’s classic Peter Pan is sure to have little ones on the edge of their seats. Join Peter, Wendy, John and Michael for a thrilling adventure out of Oakland and into the world of imagination. Adventurers can arrive 15 minutes early during opening weekend to meet the star puppets. General admission is $17 for children and $19 for adults, and Fairyland members get in free.
Bay Area Book Festival
June 1–2, 11am to 5pm | Berkeley Public Library and Freight & Salvage | baybookfest.org
Readers and writers rejoice. The 10th annual Bay Area Book Festival brings together some of today’s most groundbreaking writing along with new techniques, tips and ideas for aspiring authors. The festival begins with a “Writer’s Day,” where a variety of workshops and sessions cover everything from genre-specific writing to publishing. And throughout the weekend enough panels, conversations and Q&A sessions are offered to fill any bookworm’s cup. In the evenings, headliners Viet Thanh Nguyen, Joan Baez and Naomi Klein take the stage to share their perspectives and latest works.
West Wind Solano Drive-In
Shows begin at 8:45pm, Monday through Sunday | 1611 Solano Way, Concord | westwinddi.com
Bring screen time outside and go back in time. The West Wind Drive-In is showing movies all summer long and offering an updated viewing experience on select screens. A new laser projection system makes colors brighter, pictures sharper and every movie just a little bit better while still preserving that old-school vibe. Perfect for the family or a date, with showings of the latest releases across all genres and ratings. Settle in for the night with concession classics—buttery popcorn, personal pizzas and candy to share.
Waterfront Flicks
June 15, 22, 29 and July 6, 8:30pm | Jack London Square, Oakland | jacklondonsquare.com
Trade the drive-in for something different: a marina. Saturday nights will transform Jack London into Oakland’s very own outdoor cinema with family-friendly movie screenings. Folks can pack their coziest camp chairs and enjoy nostalgic hits like Shrek, Toy Story, Beetlejuice and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids while the sun goes down—or make it dinner-and-a-show by arriving early to grab takeout from the dozen-plus restaurants in the Square. Everyone can choose their favorite cuisine, from tacos and Thai to seafood and salads. These nights are free and low-key—no reservations required.
L.U.N.A Film Festival
June 23, noon to 6pm | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St., Ste 290 |
Love. Unity. Narrative. Action. That’s the message behind the L.U.N.A. Film Festival, hosted by the Justice Reinvestment Coalition. Join a day dedicated to highlighting the stories of those impacted by incarceration and to enacting greater change. Along with performances from local artists and poets, a lineup of films will be accompanied by panels and activities to help audiences learn, understand, and work toward collective healing and policy change. Connect and support local community organizations, discover new resources, and get inspired and informed.
‘Galileo: A Rock Musical’
Now thru June 23 | 2025 Addison St., Berkeley | berkeleyrep.org
Step into a groundbreaking theatrical performance with Galileo, a dazzling world-premiere musical starring four-time Tony Award-nominee Raúl Esparza. Featuring original rock composition by Broadway songwriter Michael Weiner, this musical is an avant-garde tribute to Galileo and his contributions to astronomy and our understanding of the universe.
WHERE TO BE: FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
San Leandro Cherry Festival
June 1, 10am to 6pm | Downtown San Leandro | downtownsanleandro.com
A century-old tradition dating back to 1909 carries on with this summer’s return of the San Leandro Cherry Festival. The day-long festival kicks off with a parade of costumes, classic cars and community floats in honor of San Leandro’s history as a regional cherry-growing epicenter. The festivities continue with music, activities and entertainment, including a beer garden and a main stage roster of blues, soul, Latin music and more. And, of course, there will be plenty of cherry-centric eats, with contests for the best cherry pies and the heroes who can eat them the fastest.
Chou Chou Menu: Doggy Dining on the Patio at Left Bank
Daily | 55 Webster St., Ste 66-055, Oakland | visitoakland.com
Dining with doggos in the Jack London District! Left Bank Brasserie is rolling out a menu curated to the tastes of our four-legged friends. Diners can soak up the sun on the patio and grab a bite while their pooch enjoys some tail-wagging treats. And patrons aren’t just pampering their pup by showing up. Ten percent of the proceeds from the sale of the menu will be donated to Oakland Animal Services to support the city’s homeless, injured, unwanted and orphaned animals.
First Fridays
June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, 5–9pm | Telegraph Avenue between 22nd St. and 27th St., Oakland | oaklandfirstfridays.org
Oakland’s beloved monthly street celebration is still going strong, bringing tens of thousands of revelers to Telegraph Avenue as art galleries open their doors and extend their hours. This summer’s series starts with a recognition of Black love and Juneteenth, honoring the rich history and culture of the Black community with an evening full of art, music, food, unity and love. What began in 2011 following the formation of the Art Murmur collective continues to uphold its mission of bringing together people in an inclusive, welcoming space.
Prescott Night Market
June 6, July 11, Aug. 15, 4–8pm | 1620 18th St., Oakland | @prescottmarketwestoakland
A new monthly outdoor market from the folks behind West Oakland’s highly anticipated 12,000-square-foot food hall is kicking off the first Thursday in June and posting up every month through October. Stretched along a few blocks of newly paved and beautified 18th Street, Bandaloop is performing, Almanac Brewery is pouring and the community is showing up. Fans can do a little shopping, sipping and spectating before they catch the Oakland Ballers at Raimondi Park right next door on coinciding game nights.
10th Annual Montclair Beer, Wine & Music Festival
June 15, noon to 6pm | 6235 La Salle Ave., Oakland | montclairvillage.com
Beer, wine and music, oh my! Ken Betts Company is thrilled to bring a selection of over 50 artisan drinks, in partnership with the Montclair Village Association. Festival goers can discover their new favorite craft beer or grab a bite at one of the neighborhood’s nearby restaurants. And parents don’t need to book a sitter for the afternoon; this event will have activities for all ages. Entry is free, and unlimited tasting packages are available for purchase.
Berkeley Juneteenth Festival
June 16, 11am to 7pm | 3271-3299 Adeline St., Berkeley | berkeleyjuneteenth.org
Berkeley is hosting a vibrant Juneteenth celebration, honoring African American history, heritage and culture. This year’s 37th anniversary promises a lineup of activities and entertainment all members of the family will enjoy. Revelers can groove to an eclectic mix of live music as they stroll the city’s five-block Alcatraz-Adeline corridor, or tantalize their taste buds with flavors of the African diaspora, courtesy of this year’s featured vendors. All are invited to the party; this event is free to enter.
Drag Brunch Sundays
June 16 | 2295 Broadway, Oakland | parcheoak.com
Parche’s dazzling Drag Queen trio invites all to a spectacle not to be missed. Sponsored by Grand Mayan Tequila, this event makes for a fabulous Sunday afternoon. Diners can get a taste of Colombian culinary flair with a finger-licking selection of empanadas, arepas and short rib sandwiches, and be charmed by some talented drag artists. If they’re down, serious drag brunchers can then head over to Fluid510 for the after-party.
Rock & Roll Beer Stroll
June 22, 1-5pm | Downtown Alameda | alamedastrolls.com
What better way to wander through Alameda’s vibrant food and beer scene than by being part of its third annual Rock & Roll Beer Stroll? Sample and sip craft beer on tap from Bay Area breweries including Alameda Island Brewing, Canyon Club Brewery and Faction Brewing—perfectly paired with bites from more than a dozen local chefs. Along the way, enjoy live entertainment to help raise funds to beautify Downtown Alameda. That’s a very good Saturday indeed.
Beyonce-Themed Gay Pride Party
June 21 at 9pm to June 22 at 2am | 6551 Telegraph Ave., Oakland | eventbrite.com
Calling all Beyhive! Get in “Formation”; Queer Fem Parties by Zahra is bringing a Bey-themed karaoke night this Pride month to White Horse Inn. Enjoy music mixed by DJ BlackWoman, along with taco plates prepared by Lei’s Lavishly Catering.
Lakefest
June 22, 11am to 7pm | Lake Merritt, Oakland | lakefestoakland.com
Lake Merritt goes from scenery to scene on June 22, when more than a hundred vendors and thousands of Oaklanders descend on its shores for an all-day outdoor party. Nonstop entertainment begins onstage—with fashion shows, DJ sets and musical performances—and continues throughout the afternoon with endless food and drink options. The fest enters another dimension with VR and video gaming in a special tech pavilion, plus there’s a fun zone just for kids, a beer garden for adults and shopping from local businesses for everyone.
