What's Up This Weekend with Fonseca 07/02/26

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Friday, July 3

First Friday at CuriOdyssey ~ San MateoSwing into the weekend with science, animals, music, food trucks, and fun! On the first Friday of every month, from 5 PM until 8 PM, parents and kids celebrate together at CuriOdyssey. Dance to some of your favorite hits, while enjoying animal presentations and science activities.

Telescope Viewing at Chabot (Free) – Oakland

Moonlight Movies: Captain America (Free) – Danville

Pastimes of the Past – Livermore

Harry Potter Drone Art Show – San Jose

Saturday, July 4 (also see 4th of July Fun)Alameda County Fair ~ PleasantonEnjoy rides, concerts, drone shows and fireworks!

Marin County Fair – San Rafael

Cereal Cinema – Oakland

Circus Bella Circus in the Park (Free) – Menlo Park

San Jose Giants Fireworks Night – San Jose

Science Saturdays – Capitola

Sunday, July 5

Dinos Alive Immersive Experience ~ OaklandTravel back millions of years for an epic adventure through the age of dinosaurs! Encounter life-size animatronic giants, from swift Velociraptors to the mighty T-Rex, and explore immersive prehistoric environments that bring the Jurassic era roaring to life. Perfect for families, kids, and dinosaur fans of all ages, this unforgettable experience combines thrills, discovery, and hands-on fun in one larger-than-life adventure.

Sundays at the Asian Art Museum – San Francisco

Storytime Science for Kids – San Francisco

Good Night Farm (Free) – Berkeley

Farmyard Storytime – Fremont

Storytime with Anna at the Foster Museum (Free) – Palo Alto

The Magic of Magnetism (Free) – San Jose

Redwood Grove Guided Walk with Big Basin Redwoods State Park – Boulder Creek

New movies opening this weekend: July 3–5, 2026

Wide releases

Minions & Monsters — PG — opened Wednesday, July 1
Young Washington — PG-13 — opens Friday, July 3

Limited releases

I Know Who You Are
Baby Do Die Do
The Battle of Oslo
Gangland
Gatta Kusthi 2
Lockbox
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Nagabandham – The Secret Treasure
Roid
Swallowtail & Dragonfly
Sherman’s March — theatrical rerelease

Bay Area Fourth of July Events — Saturday, July 4, 2026

San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge Fireworks — The Bay Area’s biggest special event this year, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m., with viewing from Crissy Field, Marina Green, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 and the northern waterfront. The bridge closes from 9–10 p.m., and major nearby streets will also close, so public transit is strongly recommended.
Fillmore Jazz Festival — Free live jazz, food, art vendors and community activities along Fillmore Street on July 4 and 5.
Parade at Sunset Dunes — A neighborhood celebration with a marching band, family activities and apple pie.
Free Symphony Concert in Golden Gate Park — Patriotic and classical music, along with a dog costume contest.

East Bay

Alameda Fourth of July Parade — Starts at 10 a.m. at Park Street and Lincoln Avenue. The 3.3-mile parade features floats, bands, dancers, antique cars and community groups. It is promoted as the longest Fourth of July parade in the nation.
Pleasant Hill Fourth of July Celebration — Includes a morning fun run, a 9:30 a.m. parade, afternoon park activities, food trucks and evening fireworks at College Park High School. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for the fireworks event.
Orinda Fourth of July Celebration — Community breakfast, parade and family festivities beginning in the morning near Theatre Square.
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont — A 1900-style Independence Day celebration from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., offering an old-fashioned alternative to large fireworks crowds.

South Bay and Peninsula

Rose, White & Blue Parade and Festival — San Jose — The annual parade and neighborhood festival returns for its 19th year.
Lake Cunningham Fourth of July Celebration — San Jose — Entertainment includes live music, mariachi and professional wrestling, followed by the holiday celebration. There is no event parking inside the park; nearby parking and VTA are recommended.
Santa Clara Community Celebration — A free family event at Mission College from 5–10 p.m., featuring activities, live entertainment, food trucks and fireworks courtesy of California’s Great America.
San Francisco Symphony and Fireworks — Mountain View — A ticketed concert and fireworks spectacular at Shoreline Amphitheatre. This is a good option for assigned seating and less standing than waterfront events.

North Bay

Sausalito Fourth of July Celebration — Parade at 10 a.m., picnic and music at Dunphy Park from noon to 4 p.m., and fireworks near Gabrielson Park around 9:15 p.m.
Claypool Gold — Napa — Les Claypool performs music from Primus and his other projects at the Meritage Resort as part of Blue Note Napa’s Summer Sessions.

My strongest recommendations

For the most memorable show, choose the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks. For easier family fun, consider Santa Clara or Pleasant Hill. For someone with a leg injury or limited walking, the ticketed Shoreline Symphony concert may be the most manageable, while San Francisco’s waterfront will involve the biggest crowds, closures and longest walks.

Bay Area Sports Home Games Only

Friday, July 3–Sunday, July 5, 2026

Friday, July 3

California Classic: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers

7:30 p.m.
Chase Center, San Francisco
The same ticketed session also includes Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs at 5 p.m.

San Jose Giants vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

6:30 p.m.
Excite Ballpark, San Jose
Postgame Independence Weekend fireworks.

Saturday, July 4

San Jose Giants vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

6:30 p.m.
Excite Ballpark, San Jose
Features the team’s biggest fireworks show of the season for America’s 250th anniversary. Tickets are reportedly very limited.

Sunday, July 5

California Classic: Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs

4 p.m.
Chase Center, San Francisco
The session begins with Lakers vs. Heat at 1:30 p.m.

San Jose Giants vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

5 p.m.
Excite Ballpark, San Jose
Final game of the six-game series.

The San Francisco Giants, Valkyries, Bay FC and Athletics are away this weekend. The Athletics are playing in West Sacramento, which I did not count as a Bay Area home game.

The Randall Museum (always free) – San FranciscoThe Randall Museum is a museum of science, nature and the arts as well as a San Francisco Recreation and Park Department community learning center.

The San Francisco Zoo (select Wednesdays) – San FranciscoFree only for San Francisco residents on select Wednesdays.

Asian Art Museum (1st Sunday) – San FranciscoOn the first Sunday of each month, general admission is free and tickets to special exhibitions are offered at a discounted price of $15. Limited same-day, walk-up availability, so it’s highly recommended that you reserve your tickets in advance.

SFMOMA (select days) – San FranciscoSFMOMA offers regularly scheduled free days and guests 18 and younger always enjoy free admission to the museum. Visit sfmoma.org/free-days for upcoming dates and activities or sign up for their newsletter to be notified when new events, exhibitions, and activities are announced.

Museum of the African Diaspora (2nd Saturday) – San FranciscoContemporary art and artists of the African Diaspora.

Museum of Craft and Design (1st Thursday) – San FranciscoMCD showcases designers, makers and artists through an exciting and distinctive series of craft and design-focused exhibitions and public programs.

The de Young Museum (Tuesdays and Saturdays) – San FranciscoSaturdays free for Bay Area residents. Tuesdays free for all.

The Fine Arts Museum (Tuesdays and Saturdays) – San FranciscoSaturdays free for Bay Area residents. Tuesdays free for all.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (Wednesdays) – San FranciscoThe cultural anchor of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood with work that spans the realms of contemporary art, performance, film, civic engagement, and public life.

Conservatory of Flowers (1st Tuesday) – San FranciscoSet in a landmark building — the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America — the Conservatory of Flowers inspires awe and fascination with its rare and tropical plant collection.

San Francisco Botanical Garden (2nd Tuesday) – San FranciscoExplore 55 beautiful acres of landscaped gardens and open spaces that showcase more than 8,000 different kinds of plants from around the world.

Cable Car Museum (always free) – San FranciscoHouses a collection of historic cable cars, photographs, mechanical displays.

San Francisco Fire Department Museum (always free) – San FranciscoAs the museum is staffed by volunteers, it is best if you call 415-558-3546 after 1PM on the day of your visit to make sure it will be open.

The Marine Mammal Center (always free) – SausalitoTickets are free but must be reserved online in advance.

Bay Model Center (always free) – SausalitoThe model provides scientists, educators and visitors interested in San Francisco Bay and the Bay – Delta Model a unique opportunity to view the complete bay-delta system at a glance.

Oakland Museum of California (first Sunday) – OaklandEvery first Sunday of the month, admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, Natural Sciences, and any Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are free.

Telescope Viewing at Chabot (Fri & Sat evenings) – OaklandJoin Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing! Weather permitting, this is a chance to explore stars, planets and more through Chabot’s historic telescopes.

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (1st Thursday) – BerkeleyAs part of the University of California, Berkeley, BAMPFA is committed to artistic diversity through its robust slate of art exhibitions, film screenings, artist talks, live performances, and educational programs that shed new light on the art of the past and connect audiences with leading filmmakers and artists of our time.

Richmond Art Center (always free) – RichmondOpportunities for adults, teens and kids to create, see and learn about art.

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front Museum (always free) – RichmondEducational and interactive exhibits designed for visitors of all ages, offering insights into the significant impact of WWII on daily life.

San Mateo County History Museum (1st Friday) – Redwood CityFree admission to the History Museum 10AM – 4PM. Free Playing in the Past at 11AM. Free general tour at the History Museum at 2PM.

South Bay Historical Railroad Society Museum (always free) – Santa ClaraThe museum consists of three major areas: the historic buildings, railroad artifacts, and operating scale model displays. Open Tuesday evenings and Saturdays.

The Intel Museum (always free) – Santa ClaraGo behind the scenes in the high-tech world of California’s famed Silicon Valley. See what it’s like inside an ultra-clean, highly automated silicon chip factory, and connect with technologies that give us new ways to work, learn, play, and communicate. The Intel Museum is 10,000 square feet of fun, interactive learning for children and adults. Open Mondays through Friday, 9AM-5PM. Call 408-765-5050 to confirm the museum is open to the public, since they sometimes close for private events.

San Jose Museum of Art (First Friday after 6pm)Contemporary art in downtown San Jose. Occasional free community art days.

Home Depot Kids Workshop (1st Saturday) – all locationsJoin at 9AM on the First Saturday of every month.

Bay Area Street Fairs & Festivals This Weekend

July 3–5, 2026

San Francisco

Fillmore Jazz Festival

Saturday–Sunday, July 4–5
10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Fillmore Street, Jackson to Eddy
Free live jazz, food, art vendors and community activities.

Sunset Dunes Fourth of July Parade & Celebration

Saturday, July 4
Outer Sunset
Neighborhood parade, marching band, family activities and apple pie.

Golden Gate Park Fourth of July Concert

Saturday, July 4
Spreckels Temple of Music
Free patriotic and classical concert, plus family activities and a dog-costume contest.

Forever Grateful Opening Celebration

Friday–Saturday, July 3–4
Haight Street Art Center
Grateful Dead exhibition featuring hundreds of artifacts, artwork and memorabilia, with a free July 4 performance by Grahame Lesh and his band.

Queer as Fourth Block Party

Saturday, July 4
El Rio, Bernal Heights
DJs, dancing and a festive outdoor neighborhood party.

East Bay

worldOne Fourth of July Festival

Saturday, July 4
11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Cerrito Vista Park, El Cerrito
Free multicultural festival with food, live entertainment, jump houses, small rides and a classic-car show.

Albany Fourth of July in the Park

Saturday, July 4
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Memorial Park, Albany
Live music, food, children’s activities and community contests.

Ardenwood Independence Day Celebration

Saturday, July 4
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont
An old-fashioned 1900s-style festival with music, games and historical activities.

Pleasant Hill Fourth of July Celebration

Saturday, July 4
Downtown Pleasant Hill and Pleasant Hill Park
Fun run, parade, food, music, park activities and an evening fireworks event.

Concord Fourth of July Festival and Carnival

Saturday, July 4
4–9:30 p.m.
Mt. Diablo High School
Carnival attractions, food, entertainment and fireworks.

Moraga Fourth of July Celebration

Saturday, July 4
Noon–10 p.m.
Moraga Commons Park
Community festival with activities, music, food and evening fireworks.

San Pablo Multicultural Fourth of July Celebration

Saturday, July 4
5–9 p.m.
San Pablo Community Center
Food, music, family entertainment and multicultural activities.

Summer Fun on the Fourth

Saturday, July 4
5–8 p.m.
Jack London Square, Oakland
Waterfront family celebration with entertainment and activities.

Alameda County Fair

Friday–Sunday, July 3–5
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton
Carnival rides, exhibits, food, animals, live entertainment and a July 4 fireworks show.

USS Hornet Fourth of July Festival

Saturday, July 4
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
USS Hornet, Alameda
Flight-deck party with barbecue, music, games, ship tours and arts-and-crafts vendors.

Peninsula and South Bay

Half Moon Bay Ol’ Fashioned Fourth of July Festival

Saturday, July 4
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Main Street, Half Moon Bay
Pancake breakfast, downtown festival and parade beginning at noon.

Rose, White & Blue Parade and Festival

Saturday, July 4
San José
Neighborhood parade followed by a festival with live music, food, vendors and family activities.

Redwood City Fourth of July Festival

Saturday, July 4
Downtown Redwood City
Parade, community festival and evening fireworks at the Port of Redwood City.

Menlo Park Fourth of July Celebration

Saturday, July 4
Burgess Park
Parade, picnic, circus-style entertainment and children’s activities.

Santa Clara Fourth of July Community Celebration

Saturday, July 4
5–10 p.m.
Mission College
Live entertainment, food trucks, family activities and views of Great America’s fireworks.

Lake Cunningham Fourth of July Festival

Saturday, July 4
San José
Live music, mariachi, professional wrestling, food and an evening drone show.

North Bay

Marin County Fair: Stars, Stripes and Stories

Friday–Sunday, July 3–5
Marin County Fairgrounds, San Rafael
Carnival rides, concerts, exhibits, food and family entertainment. The fair runs July 1–5.

Mare Island Spirit Ship Celebration

Saturday, July 4
5:30–9:30 p.m.
Mare Island waterfront, Vallejo
Food trucks, live music, face painting, magic, children’s activities and a drone-light show.

Sonoma Fourth of July Plaza Celebration

Saturday, July 4
Sonoma Plaza
Parade and community celebration, followed later by fireworks at General Vallejo’s Field.

Corte Madera–Larkspur Fourth of July Festival

Saturday, July 4
Corte Madera and Larkspur
Parade followed by music, food, vendors and community festivities.

Kenwood Hometown Parade and Shindig

Saturday, July 4
Kenwood Park
Small-town parade, picnic atmosphere, food and community entertainment.

Healdsburg Kids’ Parade and Duck Dash

Saturday, July 4
Healdsburg Plaza
Children’s parade, family games and the annual duck race.

Best true street-fair choices

The strongest choices for vendors, food and live entertainment are Fillmore Jazz Festival, worldOne Festival, Half Moon Bay’s Ol’ Fashioned Fourth, Rose, White & Blue Festival, Alameda County Fair and the Marin County Fair.

Bay Area Concerts This Weekend

Friday, July 3–Sunday, July 5, 2026

Friday, July 3

Elderbrook with Massane — Gold Bar Whiskey, San Francisco
Jinjer — The Fillmore, San Francisco
Shiba San — PURE Nightclub, Sunnyvale
Kelsy Karter & The Heroines with Frankie and the Studs — Cornerstone, Berkeley
Paul Thorn — Rancho Nicasio, Nicasio
Goom Gum — Halcyon, San Francisco
Roddy Lima and Weska — 1015 Folsom, San Francisco
Cyclops — The Midway, San Francisco
Cootie Catcher — The Knockout, San Francisco

Saturday, July 4

Les Claypool: Claypool Gold — Meritage Resort and Spa, Napa

A special show featuring music from Primus, the Claypool Lennon Delirium and Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade.
San Francisco Symphony with DJ Umami — Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View

Fourth of July concert followed by fireworks.
ILLUM Block Party: Deadmau5 and NERO — The Midway, San Francisco
BadBadNotGood, Joyce Wrice, Sir Odeal, Zaînab and DJ Miss Milan — Pier 3, San Francisco
Grahame Lesh & Friends — Haight Street Art Center, San Francisco — Free, 2 p.m.
Todd Terje — Public Works, San Francisco
Turnover and Narrow Head — The Ritz, San Jose
Pan-Pot — Halcyon, San Francisco
Generación Suicida, False Figure and The Big — Thee Stork Club, Oakland
Tierra Cali and Banda Los Montoya — Maya Nightclub, Redwood City
Sinego — Madarae, San Francisco
Louisahhh, DJ Starr Noir, DJ Sage, Melting Girl and DJ Plastic Disease — DNA Lounge, San Francisco

Sunday, July 5

Major Lazer with Fijiana and DJ Bad Juuju — Stern Grove, San Francisco — Free with reservation
Nelly — The Midway, San Francisco
Jayda G — The Midway, San Francisco
The Altons — Levitt Pavilion, San Jose — outdoor show
KISS Destroyer and Modern Monsters — Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco
Pedroz — Halcyon, San Francisco
The Good Evening Folks, Meredith Edgar and Smelley Kelley’s Honky-Tonk Nighttime Band — Madrone Art Bar, San Francisco
Steve Egelman — Outer Sunset Farmers Market, San Francisco
DJ D Sharp — The Midway, San Francisco

Featured Events

Dinos Alive Immersive Experience ~ Oakland, through September 7Travel back millions of years for an epic adventure through the age of dinosaurs! Encounter life-size animatronic giants, from swift Velociraptors to the mighty T-Rex, and explore immersive prehistoric environments that bring the Jurassic era roaring to life. Perfect for families, kids, and dinosaur fans of all ages, this unforgettable experience combines thrills, discovery, and hands-on fun in one larger-than-life adventure.

Rhythmix in the Parks (Free) ~ Alameda, July 18Grab your chairs and blankets, pack a picnic lunch, and head outdoors for zydeco grooves. Playing with a force few can match, Grammy-nominated artist, Andre Thierry is “breaking accordion stereotypes”, merging traditional Créole and Zydeco music with contemporary influences of Blues, Funk, R&B, Jazz, and Rock. Get ready to dance and play along in this exuberant fun-filled family performance!

Future of Us Festival ~ San Francisco, July 3–12Launching on America’s 250th anniversary, the inaugural Future of Us Festival is a 10-day celebration of civic imagination across San Francisco with something for everyone. Ten days of arts, food, music, tech, dance, family programming, civic gatherings, and wellness events, spanning every corner of the city. Events range in price. No one is turned away for lack of funds.

The Freight Community Education Festival (Free) ~ Berkeley, July 11Join The Freight’s Education team for a full day of free festivities on July 11th from 12-4:30pm. Celebrate a diverse array of programs with multiple workshops and performances. Festivities for the whole family and doors open at 11:00 AM.

Alameda County Fair ~ Pleasanton, June 19 – July 12, 2026Enjoy rides, concerts, movie nights, drone shows and fireworks on July 4.

The Freight Community Education Festival (Free) ~ Berkeley, July 11Join The Freight’s Education team for a full day of FREE festivities on July 11th from 12-4:30pm. Celebrate our diverse array of programs with multiple workshops, a jam, and a Freight Singers mini concert. Festivities are open to the whole family and doors open at 11:00 AM.

Raptor Encounter (Free) ~ Morgan Hill, July 26Join Peninsula Open Space Trust and master falconer and educator Antonio Balestreri for a Raptor Encounter in Morgan Hill! Guests will experience a presentation featuring several species of native owls, falcons, and hawks, focusing on the roles raptors play in our environment, raptor biology, and conservation. Sign up for this unique opportunity to see these rescued and captive-bred raptors up close.

Touch a Truck SF ~ San Francisco, September 19Touch a Truck SF is now in it’s third year as a big fundraiser for Miraloma Cooperative Nursery School. At the event, kids get hands-on experience to sit in the seat, honk the horn (for the final hour), pretend to drive, and get up close and personal with your favorite vehicles, including police cars, school buses, diggers and more!

June 2026

Save the Bees (Free) – Dublin, June 30

Dinosaur Puppet and Magic Show (Free) – Albany, June 30

July 2026 (also see 4th of July Fun and Outdoor Movie Nights)Marin County Fair – San Rafael, July 1-5

Animal Meet & Greet (Free) – Fremont, July 2

Soul4Kidz Music in the Park (Free) – Sausalito, July 2

Coventry and Kaluza Circus Show – Gilroy, July 2

Harry Potter Drone Art Show – San Jose, July 2, 3

Moonlight Movies: Captain America (Free) – Danville, July 3

First Friday at CuriOdyssey – San Mateo, July 3

Free First Friday at the San Mateo County History Museum (Free) – Redwood City, July 3San Jose Giants Fireworks Night – San Jose, July 3, 4

Redwood Grove Guided Walk with Big Basin Redwoods State Park – Boulder Creek, July 3, 4, 5