Section
277 listings in 25 counties. Evenings out, views, live music and classes. Every listing links to its source.
Every listing links to its source · Updated
9 picks
An adults-only Halloween night at Fairyland, with DJ heyLove and adult elixirs, 6-10pm.
Art galleries and downtown Berkeley's only movie theater. Galleries are free for all on the first Thursday of each month.
Livermore Valley Arts' downtown theater for concerts, jazz, dance and speakers. Upcoming: Al Jardine and The Pet Sounds Band (Oct 24) and Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno (Oct 25).
6 picks
Museum with five exhibits, including the Don Williams Automobile Gallery, and a cafe. Free parking; allow about two hours.
Free national historic site honoring playwright Eugene O'Neill, reached only by the complimentary NPS shuttle from the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Reserved tours at 10am and 2pm.
Year-round day-use park for hiking, fishing and picnicking, one mile from Lafayette BART. Row and pedal boat rentals until 4pm, plus a tot-lot for ages 2-5.
10 picks
Author talk at Mill Valley Public Library, 6:30pm.
Evening record-listening night at Mill Valley Public Library, 6:30pm.
Island state park in San Francisco Bay, reached by ferry from Tiburon or San Francisco. Some services and facilities are restricted. Tiburon ferry round trip $18 adults 13-64, $16 seniors 65+, $15 ages 6-12, $6 ages 3-5, 2 and under free. Through Oct 31 it runs Wed-Sun; in Nov-Dec, weekends only plus Nov 11 and Nov 27.
7 picks
Nearly 150 artworks and photographs by Disney designer and art director Mary Blair, from the Walt Disney Family Museum. Through Jan 10, 2027.
Exhibition on the designers Charles and Ray Eames from the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, at the Napa Valley Museum's new St. Helena location across Highway 29 from V. Sattui Winery. Through Apr 18, 2027.
Friday Night Films screening at Napa Valley Museum Yountville.
13 picks
Tastings from local and global tea producers, a tea market, and a porcelain cup to take home.
One-mile trail of lights through the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Most nights sell out in advance.
Free holiday projection art on downtown landmarks over ten nights, including the Ferry Building.
9 picks
Paved multi-use trail on a former stretch of Highway 1, with benches, observation scopes and interpretive signs above the Pacific. Separate lanes for walkers and cyclists.
1917 Georgian Revival house with a 16-acre English-Renaissance style garden and more than 650 acres of natural lands with two hiking loops. Free parking with a ticket; Museums for All and Discover & Go passes accepted.
Four miles of sandy beaches with gentle dunes and shore fishing, reached from three parking lots including Venice Beach and Dunes Beach.
7 picks
One night only: a documentary screening of stories from mansion caretakers, followed by a flashlight tour through the darkened mansion. Limited spots.
Free downtown holiday celebration with free Santa photos at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, on Market St. between San Fernando and San Carlos.
A free museum of modern and contemporary American art. Visitor parking is paid via ParkMobile.
15 picks
Main-gallery exhibition at the Vacaville Museum, a center for Solano County art, history and culture. Through Nov 14.
Fine art photography in the Vacaville Museum's community gallery. Through Oct 31.
Live show at downtown Vallejo's Empress Theatre.
12 picks
1.5-hour blacklight walk on paved, flat Channel Drive, then a costume contest and Old Caz drinks for 21+. Registration required; under 21 with a parent. Registration currently sold out.
After-hours drop-off fun for kids with pizza, games, crafts and cartooning; recommended for ages 5-10. Advance registration required.
View the sun's sunspots, prominences and flares through visible-light and radio telescopes.
10 picks
Cellar and tank tastings of Di Arie's new 2026 vintages with small bites, and a rare chance to visit the winery itself. The event is at the Mt. Aukum winery, not the Plymouth tasting room; the winery advises avoiding Upton Road, which is closed to the public.
Lighting of the 65-foot fresh-cut Christmas tree at The Shops at Heavenly Village, hosted by Senator Alexandra Duarte and Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, with a live performance by Mark Mackay. Afterward, Santa lights the tree daily at 5:30pm through Christmas. Parking in the Bellamy Way garage.
Placerville's annual tree lighting festival, with live music, food and drinks, Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Bell Tower. Dress up for the Whoville costume contest at Placerville Antiques.
10 picks
Annual fair (formerly the Native Craft Fair) with handmade jewelry, beadwork, pottery, textiles and carvings from Native artisans; held rain or shine.
Downtown Roseville's holiday party with wine and beer tastings.
Year-round PlacerGROWN Saturday market, open rain or shine (closed for winds over 20 mph).
10 picks
Halloween cocktails for $9 and small bites aboard the historic Delta King on the Sacramento River.
Late-night long-form improv (the Harold) from B Street company members Upstairs at The B. Ages 16 and up. Three dates: Oct 24, Nov 21 and Dec 12, 2026.
Outdoor ice rink in Ali Youssefi Square outside Golden 1 Center, a downtown tradition for over 30 years. Veterans skate free.
10 picks
Stage 754 presents Frederick Knott's classic suspense thriller about a blind woman who turns the tables on criminals hunting for heroin hidden in a doll. Rated PG-13. Costume contest Oct 31. Tickets: yubasutterarts.org or the Sutter Theater box office, Tue-Fri 10am-3pm.
Screening of the documentary co-directed by Rajan Gill and Reaa Puri, a Yuba City story of community, resilience and celebration, followed by a panel with the director and others involved. Tickets at yubasutterarts.org.
Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture's art and oyster dinner (chicken too): good food, great art, stronger community. Tickets: yubasutterarts.org or the Sutter Theater box office, Tue-Fri 10am-3pm.
14 picks
High-energy 1980s jukebox musical on the Sunset Strip with hits from Journey, Bon Jovi and Twisted Sister, and a live band. Recommended for ages 13+.
Día de los Muertos concert from one of Latin America's most influential voices, weaving Mexican tradition with jazz, cumbia and folk. About 90 minutes, no intermission.
Downtown Winters kicks off the holidays with a vendor market, a hot cocoa crawl, Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the gazebo and the tree lighting at 6pm.
14 picks
British reggae-pop band behind "Red Red Wine" and "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You."
Yuba College Theatre stages a modern, stylish adaptation of Molière's comedy The Hypocrite (Tartuffe), about deception, human folly and the triumph of truth over manipulation.
The Welsh singer, with a career spanning more than six decades, plays Halloween night.
8 picks
South Pacific Dance Co. presents Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kalani Pe'a, a four-time Grammy winner in Regional Roots and an eight-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner.
A multimedia concert by songwriter and scholar Dr. Julian Saporiti that blends original music, storytelling, archival images, field recordings and historical research about Asian American communities, refugees and immigrants.
Maestro Ming Luke leads the Merced Symphony in holiday classics and festive favorites at the historic Merced Theatre.
13 picks
Billed as the largest Nutcracker production in North America, the 34th annual tour launches in Stockton with an international cast, acrobatics and larger-than-life puppetry set to Tchaikovsky's score.
In its 100th year, the Symphony and conductor Peter Jaffe perform Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Ponchielli with soprano Bianca Orsi and baritone Roberto Perlas Gomez, closing with Respighi's Pines of Rome and offstage brass.
A CDFW docent-led evening tour to watch sandhill cranes fly in to roost, with very little walking. Bring binoculars, a camp chair and warm layers.
14 picks
Canadian blues singer and guitarist JW-Jones, winner of Best Guitarist at the 2020 International Blues Challenge, in concert. Run time 120 minutes.
A new science fiction ballet based on the H.G. Wells novel, moving from Victorian scenes to dystopian landscapes.
A night of clean comedy with Nazareth, 2026 Dry Bar Comedian of the Year, plus Gilbert Esquivel and Cizzle C.
15 picks
Emmet Cahill, Neil Byrne, Damian McGinty and Ronan Scolard, backed by the Celtic Thunder band, perform songs celebrating their Irish and Scottish heritage on the group's 18th North American tour.
The Texas singer, composer and actor, a four-time GRAMMY winner, performs with his Small Large Band, drawing on country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues.
GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Perla Batalla performs her tribute to her longtime friend and mentor Leonard Cohen, with small-table cabaret seating in Sunset Center's Studio 105.
15 picks
Pianist Helen Sung's Oracles Quartet at Kuumbwa Jazz, Santa Cruz's nonprofit jazz venue.
The California Honeydrops' Sweet Like That Tour at the Catalyst. Ages 16 and up.
Free holiday admission to the Boardwalk: a tunnel of lights, festive decor, free light shows every 15 minutes from 5 to 8pm in the Main Plaza, photos with Santa and 10-15 rides (weather permitting), with $2 rides after 5pm.
11 picks
A free, family-friendly Friday evening with live music from Green Broke, Italian Brothers Pizza and wines from the outdoor bar. Kids' activity table; picnic tables first come, first served. RSVP requested.
Live music, Iron Hub wines by the glass or bottle and a costume contest, with food for purchase from Chef Andy's Crossover Kitchen.
The six-member America Made Band pays tribute to Toby Keith with a night of country music, patriotism and party anthems. Open seating; beer and wine available.
11 picks
The author of The Joy Luck Club talks about her life, career and creative process in a conversation moderated by Chico writer and storyteller Bonnie Pipkin.
A Halloween-night bluegrass show by the Santa Cruz band. Doors 6pm; mix of standing room and first-come seating; food available for purchase.
A screening of the 4K restoration of Jonathan Demme's 1984 Talking Heads concert film, hosted by band member Jerry Harrison with introductory remarks, post-screening comments and audience Q&A.
11 picks
Lake County Theatre Company and Mendocino College present the Howard Ashman and Alan Menken musical, a romantic comedy set in a florist's shop on Skid Row.
Free classic film screenings: The Maltese Falcon (Oct 27), Casablanca (Nov 10), Arsenic and Old Lace (Nov 24), Forrest Gump (PG-13, Dec 8) and Beauty and the Beast (G, Dec 22). Doors 5:30pm; concessions for purchase; assistive listening devices available.
Lake County Office of Education's Norton Planetarium shows, each about an hour, hosted by astronomer Angelo Parisi, followed (weather permitting) by a look at the night sky through the observatory's telescopes. Fri Oct 30: Danger from Outer Space!; Sat Nov 14: STARS; Sat Nov 21: The Hot and Energetic Universe.
11 picks
Guided walks from the Kelley House Museum. Haunted Mendocino visits the town's well-known ghost stories; the Murder, She Wrote tour visits landmarks from the TV series. Advance tickets recommended.
Writer, librarian and visual artist Melissa Eleftherion reads at 7pm, followed by an hour of open mic starting around 8pm.
Mendocino Theatre Company stages Joe Landry's adaptation as a live 1940s radio broadcast, directed by Ricci Dedola. Thu Nov 12 is pay what you will. Box office 707-937-4477.
12 picks
Five-time Billboard Top World Music Artist Celtic Thunder (Emmet Cahill, Neil Byrne, Damian McGinty and Ronan Scolard) sings traditional Irish and Scottish music, classic ballads and contemporary hits.
Tupelo storyteller-songwriter Paul Thorn mixes Southern soul, blues and Americana, touring his new album Life Is Just a Vapor.
Solas, called "the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced" by the Boston Globe, plays its 30th anniversary tour with founders Séamus Egan and Winifred Horan.