Happy 4th of July!
Hi neighbor,
Pleasant Hill is gearing up for another fun Independence Day celebration and it makes me feel so lucky to live here. We have such a wonderful community and I love seeing old friends and making new ones when we’re out and about.
I genuinely hope this newsletter helps us continue building community and exploring all the little gems our area has to offer. Thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to provide feedback over the last month. I’ve been incorporating your suggestions, so please keep them coming!
What do you find most useful about these emails? What would you change if you could? I’d love to hear what you think, whether it's the format, the events I include, how far I should be looking outside Pleasant Hill, or something else entirely. 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, July 2
Details: Stories, songs, and movement. Best suited for ages 0-5 with a caregiver. All ages and abilities welcome.
Time: 11am–12pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: Balloon art and face painting for all ages.
Time: 12–2pm
Location: Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord
Details: Live music and food trucks
Time: 5–9pm
Location: 138 Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill
Additional recurring Thursday events include:
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive — Free First Thursday; 11am–7pm; 2155 Center Street, Berkeley
Museum of Craft and Design — Free First Thursdays; 12–5; 2569 Third Street, San Francisco
Concord Music & Market; Market 4–8pm, music 6:30–8pm; Todos Santos Plaza, Concord
Friday, July 3
Details: All National Parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission, though timed entry, reservation, or other fees may apply.
Time: Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5
Location: National Parks such as Muir Woods, Pinnacles, and Yosemite
Pleasant Hill Night Market
Details: Vendors, kids' activities, live music, and more on the first and third Fridays of the month through November.
Time: 5–9pm
Location: Chilpancingo Park, 200 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill
Details: Arrive early for crafts, lawn games, and pre-movie trivia. Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13) begins when it's dark enough.
Time: 6:30pm for pre-movie fun, followed by the movie at around 8pm
Location: Danville Town Green, 420 Front Street, Danville
Additional recurring Friday events include:
Japanese Tea Garden — Free hour; 9–10am; 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
Good Night Farm; 3:30–4pm; Tilden Park, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley
Downtown Martinez First Friday; 6–9pm; Downtown Martinez, 600 block of Main Street
Free Telescope Viewings at Chabot; 7:30–10:30pm; 10000 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland
Saturday, July 4
Happy 4th of July! Pleasant Hill events include:
Firecracker 5k & Kids 100-Yard Dash; 7:45–9:30am; Downtown Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill 4th of July Parade; 9:30–10:30am; Downtown Pleasant Hill
Party in the Park; 10:30am–1:30pm; Pleasant Hill Park
Fireworks Viewing Party at College Park High School; 6:30–9:30pm; 201 Viking Drive, Pleasant Hill
Additional recurring Saturday events include:
de Young — free Saturdays; 9:30am–5:15pm; 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
Legion of Honor — free Saturdays; 9:30am–5:15pm; 100 34th Avenue, San Francisco
Creature Feature in Tilden Park; 10:30–11am; Tilden Park visitor center front desk, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley
Nature's Notebook; 1–2pm; Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley
Wild Explorations in Tilden Park; 2–2:30pm; Tilden Park, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley
Good Night Farm; 3:30–4pm; Tilden Little Farm, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley
Sunday, July 5
Tilden Little Farm events
Sunday Storytime: Stories and fun with a different nature theme each week. Meet at the visitor center front desk; wheelchair accessible. 10:30–11am
Ruminant Ramble: Walk the resident goats out for some exercise and new sights — a short loop starting and ending at the Little Farm. 12–1pm
Good Night Farm: 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. 3:30–4pm
Location: Tilden Visitor Center, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley
Details: Free general admission to the Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences, as well as all special exhibitions. Reservations are recommended.
Time: 11am–5pm
Location: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland
Details: Free outdoor concert on the lawn by the lake at City Hall with a Family Fun Zone featuring a bounce house and face painting for the kids.
Time: 6–8pm
Location: Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill
Details: Free general admission on the first Sunday of the month.
Time: 10am–5pm
Location: Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco
Monday, July 6
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: Check out the Ygnacio Valley Library’s LEGO® collection and check out a good book before you go.
Time: 3–5pm
Location: Ygnacio Valley Library; 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek
Tuesday, July 7
Details: A drop-in nature walk exploring the marsh and wetland habitat of the bird sanctuary. Meet at the observation platform near Shoreline Drive and Broadway; bring a snack, strollers aren't recommended, and adult participation is required.
Time: 10:30–11:45am
Location: Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary, Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda
Details: Tweens and teens (11-18) can decorate a Summer Reading themed keychain while watching Fantastic Mr. Fox and snacking on popcorn.
Time: 1–2:30pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library Maker Space, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: Craft a tiny fairy garden with cuttings provided by the Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery. Great for all ages, especially 3–9 year olds.
Time: 6:30–7:30pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library Maker Space, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Additional recurring Tuesday events include:
de Young & Legion of Honor — Free First Tuesday; 9:30am–5:15pm; San Francisco
Peek-A-Book Storytime; 10:15–11:15am; Ygnacio Valley Library; 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek
Baby Storytime & Play at Walnut Creek Library; 12–12:30pm; Walnut Creek Library, 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek
Dungeons & Dragons® at Walnut Creek Library; For teens ages 13–18; 2–4pm; Walnut Creek Library, 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek
Read to a Dog at Lafayette Library; 2:15–3:15pm; Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Wednesday, July 8
Details: Drop-in art activities for toddlers.
Time: 11am–12pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: Drop-in art activities for school-age kids.
Time: 1:30–3:30pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: Live music, food, drinks, and a family-friendly atmosphere in Downtown Walnut Creek. Free entry with RSVP.
Time: 5–8:30pm
Location: Locust Street, Cypress Street, and Bonanza Street in Downtown Walnut Creek
Additional recurring Wednesday events include:
Preschool Storytime and Play at Walnut Creek Library; 10:15–10:45am; Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek
Sing Me a Storytime; 10:30–11am; Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Magic Science Show at Clayton Library; 2–2:45pm; Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton
Read to a Dog at Lafayette Library; 2:15–3:15pm; Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Kids Movie Matinee (Hoppers, rated PG); 4–5:45pm; Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek
Meditation; Teens and adults; 6–7pm; Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Thursday, July 9
Details: Stories, songs, and movement for little ones, followed by Stay & Play. Best suited for ages 0–5 with a caregiver.
Time: 11am–12pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: About a dozen food trucks line Trelany Road, with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs provided (or bring your own blanket/chairs). Live music sets the ambiance.
Time: 5–9pm
Location: City Hall Park, 138 Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill
Details: Free one-ring circus performance — jugglers, aerialists, acrobats, and clowns.
Time: 5–8pm
Location: Lincoln Square Park, 261 11th Street, Oakland
Additional recurring Thursday events include:
Museum of Craft and Design — Free First Thursdays; 12–5pm; Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 Third Street, San Francisco
Lego Break at Walnut Creek Library; 4:30–5:30pm; Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek
Moraga Summer Concert Series: Bell Brothers; 6:30–8:30pm; Moraga Commons Park Band Shell, 1425 St. Mary's Road, Moraga
Have an event to add to future newsletters? Reply back and let me know!
Jen