Hi neighbor!

California is offering a free pass to get you into a bunch of historic state parks. It's good from now through December 31, and you have to download it by July 6.

I had no idea there were so many historic sites within a short drive from Pleasant Hill:

Have you been to any of these? Reply back and let me know what you thought of them!

See you around town,

Jen

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please verify details with the event website to ensure accuracy.

Details: Free watch party with a big outdoor screen, food, and drink specials

Time: Pre-party 5pm, kickoff 7pm

Location: Jack's Plaza, 60 Crescent Dr, Pleasant Hill

Details: Live music and food trucks

Time: 5–9pm

Location: 138 Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill

Details: Live music and food trucks, featuring Refugees (Tom Petty tribute)

Time: 6:30–8:30pm

Location: Moraga Commons Band Shell

Details: Acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, clowns, and a lively 6-piece band. Bring a blanket or low chair; no seating provided.

Time: 12–1pm

Location: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, 700 Mission Street, San Francisco

Details: Help close up the Little Farm for the night and feed the resident animals their evening meal. Meet at the pig pen; parent participation required.

Time: 3:30–4pm

Location: Tilden Park, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley

Details: Dublin's free outdoor movie series with family games and activities before the film

Time: Movies begin at dusk

Location: Stager Community Gym Field, 6901 York Drive, Dublin

Details: Free in-store craft — make a Hamm piggy bank to celebrate the release of Toy Story 5. Best for children 4+.

Time: 10am-12pm

Location: Michaels, 60 Gregory Ln, Pleasant Hill

Details: Meet a featured animal ambassador, from reptiles to rabbits

Time: 10:30–11am

Location: Tilden Park visitor center front desk, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley

Details: A short hike to search for insects and view them under the microscope

Time: 11am–12pm

Location: Tilden Park, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley

Details: Free ComicCon with artists, art stations, cosplay, and family-friendly programming

Time: 11am-4pm

Location: Bankhead Theatre, 2400 First Street, Livermore

Details: Outdoor market with local makers, music, and shopping in the plaza

Time: 11am–5pm

Location: Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek

Details: Acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, clowns, and a 6-piece band. Bring a blanket or low chair; no seating provided.

Time: 12–1pm and 2:15–3:15pm

Location: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, 700 Mission Street, San Francisco

Details: Natural explorations that might include a mix of crafts, coloring, creatures, or games.

Time: 2–2:30pm

Location: Tilden Park, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley

Details: Help close up the Little Farm for the night and feed the resident animals their evening meal. Meet at the pig pen; parent participation required.

Time: 3:30–4pm

Location: Tilden Little Farm, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley

Details: Dig into the incredible science all around us, like the Toilet Tornado or a Hydro-Canon. Best for children ages 5-11.

Time: 3:30–4:15pm

Location: Martinez Library, 740 Court Street, Martinez

Details: Storytelling, songs, and roasting marshmallows at the Muir orchard. Benches provided, or bring your own chair or blanket. Bring your own chocolate and graham crackers — marshmallows provided.

Time: 5pm

Location: John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez

Details: Free outdoor concert in Clayton's Downtown Park Grove — bring a blanket.

Time: 6–8:30pm

Location: Downtown Park Grove, 6100 Main Street, Clayton

Details: Family games at the plaza, followed by a free concert on the Town Green featuring New Moon on Monday, a Duran Duran tribute band.

Time: Music begins 6pm

Location: Danville Town Green, Danville

Details: Stories and fun with a different nature theme each week. Meet at the visitor center front desk; wheelchair accessible.

Time: 10:30–11am

Location: Tilden Visitor Center, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley

Details: Walk the resident goats out for some exercise and new sights — a short loop starting and ending at the Little Farm.

Time: 11:30am–12:30pm

Location: Tilden Little Farm, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley

Details: Help close up the Little Farm for the night and feed the resident animals their evening meal. Meet at the pig pen; parent participation required.

Time: 3:30–4pm

Location: Tilden Little Farm, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley

I recently started using Honey Homes to fix a few things around the house that we can’t do ourselves (repairing a leaning fence, replacing broken outlets, etc).

They’re offering Pleasant Hill Families a free home walk through and a $400 discount you decide to work with them (I’d get $400 off services too!).

Details: The oldest operating public Japanese Garden in North America.

Time: Enter for free on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9–10am

Location: Golden Gate Park, 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco

Details: Babies (0-1) and their caregivers are invited for stories, songs, and lap bounces.

Time: 12–12:30pm

Location: Walnut Creek Library, 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek

Details: A Dungeons & Dragons® adventure for teens ages 13-18, intended for all experience levels.

Time: 2–4pm

Location: Walnut Creek Library, 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek

Details: Kids (ages 6+) can practice their skills by reading with a certified therapy dog. Sessions are 15 minutes and registration is required.

Time: 2:15–3:15pm

Location: Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette

Details: A Pride celebration for teens to create their own personalized accessories. The library will provide tote bags along with embroidered iron-on patches, fabric paint, and button-making supplies. Feel free to bring your own shirt or fabric item to add a patch.

Time: 4:30–5:30pm

Location: Walnut Creek Library, 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek

Details: Puppet Art Theater presents this classic fairytale full of daring and adventure. For children of all ages and abilities, and their caregivers. 

Time: 6:30–7:30pm

Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill

Details: Songs, stories, movement, and play. Best for ages 3-5, but all ages are welcome.

Time: 10:15–10:45am

Location: Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek

Details: Enjoy storytime and a craft for toddlers and preschoolers provided by I Heart Art.

Time: 11am–12pm

Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill

Details: Bring 4 non-perishable food items for free fair admission before 5pm. (There are also $1 carnival rides until 5pm.)

Time: 12–5pm

Location: Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton

Details: Have fun creating art during our studio time each Wednesday after school.

Time: 1:30–3:30pm

Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill

Details: Celebrate America's 250th anniversary with a free party popper craft.

Time: 1–3pm

Location: Michaels, 60 Gregory Ln, Pleasant Hill

Details: Farmers' market followed by a free outdoor concert in the plaza — check the lineup for this week's band.

Time: Market 4–8pm, music 6:30–8pm

Location: Todos Santos Plaza, Concord

Have an event to add to future newsletters? Reply back and let me know!

Jen