Happy Labor Day!
Hi neighbor,
Happy Labor Day weekend!
I hope you have something fun planned. If not, you’re in the right place. There is so much to do in our area over the next week.
We’re looking forward to a Cal game or two, a block party with friends, and some lazy mornings.
What are you up to for the long weekend? Reply back and let me know.
See you around town,
Jen
Here’s what happening in and around Pleasant Hill this week
All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please verify details with the event website to ensure accuracy.
View events by date
Thursday, September 3
San Francisco Botanical Garden | 7:30–9am
Free entry before 9am. San Francisco.
Storytime | 11am–12pm
Stories, songs, and movement. Pleasant Hill Library.
Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive | 11am–7pm
Free admission to BAMPFA on the first Thursday of every month.
Cal Bears Women’s Soccer | 4pm
Cheer on the Cal Bears at their home soccer game against Cal Poly. Edwards Stadium, Berkeley.
Off the Grid | 5–9pm
Food trucks and live music. Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.
Thursday Nights in Orinda | Food trucks 5–8pm, concert 6–8pm
Grab dinner from the food trucks, then stay for a free concert from the Mixed Nuts Band. Orinda Community Center Park.
Friday, September 4
San Francisco Botanical Garden | 7:30–9am
Free entry before 9am. San Francisco.
Japanese Tea Garden | 9–10am
Free admission before 10am every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
Dinosaur Disco Dance Party! | 11am–12pm
A roarin' good time for little ones. Pleasant Hill Library.
Goodnight Farm | 3:30–4pm
Feed the animals and close the farm for the night. Meet at the pig pen at Little Farm (Tilden Park) in Berkeley.
Pleasant Hill Night Market | 5–9pm
Dance performances, vendors, food, and kids' activities. Chilpancingo Park, Pleasant Hill.
Martinez First Friday | 6–9pm
Rock painting, baby disco, art supply swap, crown making, Pride activity. Downtown Martinez on the 600 block of Main.
Saturday, September 5
San Francisco Botanical Garden | 7:30–9am
Free entry before 9am. San Francisco.
Park District fishing fees and state fishing license requirements are waived for visitors on September 5. This includes Temescal (Oakland; open 5am–10pm), Lake Anza (Berkeley; open 5am–10pm), Contra Loma (Antioch; open 6am–8pm in September), and more. Parking fees may apply (usually $5 per vehicle).
Pleasant Hill Farmers Market (and yoga!) | 9am–1pm
Fresh produce, vendors, live entertainment — as well as a yoga class at 9 (RSVP required). Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.
de Young & Legion of Honor Free Admission | 9:30–5:15
Free general admission every Saturday for Bay Area registrations. Reserve your tickets in advance. San Francisco.
Martinez Library Storytime | 10–10:30am
Stories, songs, and fun for babies and toddler.
Saturday Stroll: Lake Temescal | 10am–12pm
A 2.25-mile guided walk around the reservoir. Temescal Regional Recreation Area, Oakland.
Tree Talk | 10:30am–11am
A ranger-led stroll to talk about native trees. Meet at the visitor center patio. John Muir National Historic Site, Martinez.
Creature Feature | 10:30–11am
Meet an animal ambassador in the Tilden Nature Area Park, Berkeley.
¡Calaveras! | 11am–12pm
Learn about the skulls of native East Bay animals. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.
Play at the pool and spray ground. Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park.
Lego Builders Club | 2–4pm
Free-build time with the library's Lego collection. Pleasant Hill Library.
Join a docent-led tour of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park. Meet at the Visitor Center. Berkeley.
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival's free outdoor production runs weekends through September 27. McLaren Park, San Francisco.
Goodnight Farm | 3:30–4pm
Feed the animals and close the farm for the night. Meet at the pig pen at Little Farm (Tilden Park) in Berkeley.
Yerba Buena Gardens Movie Night: Black Panther | 7:30–9:30pm
Outdoor movie screening. Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco.
Sunday, September 6
San Francisco Botanical Garden | 7:30–9am
Free entry before 9am. San Francisco.
Asian Art Museum | 10am–5pm
Free admission on the first Sunday of the month. Reserve tickets in advance. San Francisco.
Sunday Storytime | 10:30–11am
Stop by Tilden Nature Area for a children’s book. Berkeley.
Bioblitzing | 10:30am–12pm
Help catalog Tilden's plants and wildlife with the iNaturalist app; open to all age 5 and up. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.
Regional Parks Botanic Garden Guided Tour | 11am–12pm and 2–3pm
Join a docent-led tour of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park. Meet at the Visitor Center. Berkeley.
Oakland Museum of California | 11am–5pm
Free admission on the first Sunday of the month. Oakland.
Have some fun at the pool and spray ground. Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park.
Cal Bears Field Hockey | 1pm
Cheer on the Cal Bears at their home field hockey game. Underhill Field, Berkeley.
Cal Bears Women’s Soccer | 1pm
Cheer on the Cal Bears at their home soccer game against Columbia. Edwards Stadium, Berkeley.
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival's free outdoor production runs weekends through September 27. McLaren Park, San Francisco.
Goodnight Farm | 3:30–4pm
Feed the animals and close the farm for the night. Meet at the pig pen at Little Farm (Tilden Park) in Berkeley.
Cal Bears Men’s Soccer | 4pm
Cheer on the Cal Bears at their home soccer game against North Carolina. Edwards Stadium, Berkeley.
Monday, September 7
San Francisco Botanical Garden | 7:30–9am
Free entry before 9am. San Francisco.
Japanese Tea Garden | 9–10am
Free admission before 10am, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
Join a docent-led tour of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park. Meet at the Visitor Center. Berkeley.
The final day of the 2026 swim season to swim at Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park for free.
Meditation Mondays | 1–3pm
A guided meditation in English at 1pm and in Spanish at 2pm. Concord Library.
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival's free outdoor production runs weekends through September 27. McLaren Park, San Francisco.
Live music with movie and musical soundtracks, marches, and more. Bring a picnic and a blanket. Civic Park, Walnut Creek.
Tuesday, September 8
San Francisco Botanical Garden | 7:30am–7pm
Free admission to the Garden all day, plus hands-on activity stations for kids from 10am–12pm. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
Peek-A-Book Storytime | 10:15-11:25am
Books, songs, and movement for babies and toddler. Ygnacio Valley Library, Walnut Creek.
It's Yoga Kids | 6:30–7:30pm
A calm hour of yoga. Bring your own towel or yoga mat. Pleasant Hill Library.
Mini Miners: Geology Rocks! | 10–11am
A drop-in nature program for ages 2–5 (siblings welcome); Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, Antioch.
Baby Songs and Play | 12–12:30pm
Songs and lap bounces for babies. Walnut Creek Library.
An after-school painting session where tweens and teens create art on mini canvases. Pleasant Hill Library.
Read to a Dog | 3–4pm
Kids 6 and up can practice their literary skills by reading to a certified therapy dog. Registration required; Lafayette Library.
Wednesday, September 9
San Francisco Botanical Garden | 7:30–9am
Free entry before 9am. San Francisco.
Japanese Tea Garden | 9–10am
Free admission before 10am, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
All-Ages Storytime | 10:15–10:45am
Lively songs and stories. Walnut Creek Library.
Sing me a Storytime | 10:30–11am
Read, talk, sing, and play. Lafayette Library.
I Heart Toddler Art | 11am–12pm
Hands-on art for the toddler set. Pleasant Hill Library.
Join a docent-led tour of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park. Meet at the Visitor Center. Berkeley.
I Heart After School Art | 1:30–3:30pm
Drop-in art projects for school-age kids. Pleasant Hill Library.
Wonderful Wednesdays: Jungle James | 2–2:45pm
Learn about reptiles from around the world and their habitats. Clayton Library.
Kids Movie Matinee: Beauty and the Beast | 4–5:45pm
Rated G. Walnut Creek Library.
Cal Bears Men’s Soccer | 4pm
Cheer on the Cal Bears at their home soccer game against Cal State Fullerton. Berkeley.
Thursday, September 10
San Francisco Botanical Garden | 7:30–9am
Free entry before 9am. San Francisco.
Storytime | 11am–12pm
Stories, songs, and movement. Pleasant Hill Library.
Read to a Dog | 4–5pm
Build reading confidence during a 15-minute individual session with a gentle therapy dog. Concord Library.
Off the Grid | 5–9pm
Food trucks and live music. Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.
Free Movie Night at West Wind Drive-In | Gates 6pm, movies at 8pm
A free family movie night with bounce houses, a foam pit, and face painters. Concord.
Concord Music & Market: Strange Daze | 6:30–8pm
The Doors tribute; Todos Santos Plaza, Concord
Have an event to add to future newsletters? Reply back and let me know!
Jen
