Honor Mom with a Discover Diablo hike on Mother’s Day.
Stephen Joseph
HolidayCelebrating Mother’s Day with Mother Nature
5/10
Head to Round Valley Regional Preserve in Brentwood to kick off your Mother’s Day festivities with a morning hike. The easy stroll, part of Save Mount Diablo’s Discover Diablo program, stretches approximately three miles and should include vistas of golden hills. savemountdiablo.org.
DanceCoppélia
5/15–5/16
Coppélia, a comedic ballet about a doll that springs to life, is a favorite among dance aficionados. Catch Diablo Ballet’s rendition, featuring reimagined choreography by the company’s artistic and rehearsal directors, over three shows at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts. diabloballet.org.
TheaterThe House of Bernarda Alba
5/22–6/7
Federico García Lorca’s tragic masterwork tells of a grieving mother’s controlling hand over her daughters’ lives after her second husband’s passing. See Oakland Theater Project’s show at Flax Art and Design. oaklandtheaterproject.org.
LiteratureBay Area Book Festival
5/29–5/31
Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Susana M. Morris, and Rebecca Solnit are the headliners of the 2026 Bay Area Book Festival, now on its 12th year. Save time to shop at the free outdoor fair in downtown Berkeley featuring author booths, literary merch, and more. baybookfest.org.
SwimmingCelebration of Champions
5/30
Take part in a Las Vegas–themed fundraiser for the Walnut Creek Aquanuts at Clarke Memorial Swim Center. In addition to dinner and artistic swimming performances, the night will feature a showcase from the United States national team. gomotionapp.com/team/reczzwca/page/home.
TheaterJagged Little Pill: The Musical
5/31–6/28
Revisit the catalog of singer- songwriter Alanis Morissette during this jukebox musical that received a pair of Tony Awards. The show will be presented by Center Rep at the Lesher Center’s Margaret Lesher Theatre. The musical explores the meaning of community through the lens of one suburban family that appears to have it all together. centerrep.org.
FestivalWeekends on Main
6/5–6/7
Stroll along Main Street in Pleasanton and enjoy classic cars, food and drink, and more during the Weekends on Main festival. This year’s event includes Hot Rod Row on Saturday and Country Fest on Sunday. The latter features multiple musical stages, a beer garden, line dancing, cornhole competitions, and much more. pleasantondowntown.net.
Classical MusicDramatic Voices
6/6
Livermore-Amador Symphony concludes their latest season at the Bankhead Theater with a striking program. Virtuoso clarinetist Steve Sanchez acts as a centerpiece to a lineup that features powerful compositions by Samuel Barber, Amy Beach, and Óscar Navarro. livermoreamadorsymphony.org.
Pop MusicAriana Grande—The Eternal Sunshine Tour
6/6–6/10
Fresh off her portrayal of Glinda in Wicked and Wicked: For Good, Ariana Grande stops by the Oakland Arena for three shows on her Eternal Sunshine Tour. Grande’s album of the same name, released in 2024, includes hits such as “The Boy is Mine” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).” theoaklandarena.com.