From food and film to art, music and nature, here’s an epic sampling of ways to have some Bay Area fun this spring and beyond.
Cirque du Soleil presents ‘KOOZA’: Now through March 10, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco. This cirque show combines acrobatic performance with the art of clowning while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power. Sit back and watch as The Innocent’s journey brings him into contact with comic characters from an electrifying world full of surprises. Tickets starting at $72. cirquedusoleil.com/kooza
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Bay Area Arts & Crafts Exhibition: Now through March 15, Sausalito Center for Arts, 750 Bridgeway, Sausalito. This exhibition features expert levels of skill, craftsmanship, materials, techniques and creativity from more than 50 Bay Area artists. Free admission. sausalitocenterforthearts.org/arts-crafts
2024 Culinary Clash: March 4, 8 and 11, Luce, 888 Howard St., San Francisco. Six rising City College of San Francisco students take over Luce’s world-class kitchen to showcase their very own three-course fine-dining menu. Revel in the rivalry as these culinary students compete for scholarships and cash prizes. $55. bit.ly/CulinaryClash
‘God is a Scottish Drag Queen’: 8 p.m. March 8, Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Revel in the humorous genius of award-winning comedian Mike Delamont. Winner of “Best of Fest” a staggering 18 times, this one-man show is a side-splitting comedy that clears up some misconceptions about God, while also allowing God to vent about human behavior. $25 to $55. livermorearts.org/events/god-is-a-scottish-drag-queen/
Early Blooming Wildflowers Hike: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 9, Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. Amazing wildflowers! On this walk through Jack London State Historic Park, guests will learn how to identify them and their potential pollinators, and how to recognize common Sonoma County plant family characteristics. $15. jacklondonpark.com/events/early-wildflowers-2024/
‘Eden’ Cinequest Film Screening: 4:30 p.m. March 9, California Theatre, 345 S First St, San Jose. See the feature-film debut of Los Gatos filmmaker Chris McGilvray. ‘Eden” tells the story of a family that operates one of California’s most historic wineries, struggling with succession in a hauntingly beautiful mediation on balancing personal and professional identities. $14. bit.ly/EdenScreening
Berkeley Chamber Performances Presents The Zodiac Trio: 7:30 p.m. March 12, Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. Premiere clarinet-violin-piano ensemble, the Zodiac Trio, is known for its performances featuring unconventional instrumentation, hidden gems, eclectic arrangements, and the occasional duo/solo. $35. berkeleychamberperform.org/zodiac-trio
Fork2Film Festival: March 14-17, Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena. This festival brings together audiences, filmmakers, chefs and winemakers for a celebration of culinary, wine-centric and agriculture films from around the world with epicurean screenings, food and wine experiences and filmmaker Q&As. $20-$25 per event. cameocinema.com/
All Star Swing Jam: March 14-17, Embassy Suites, 101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael. Swing into spring with a casual event where attendees can try out new swing skills in a pressure-free atmosphere while enjoying the expertise of all-star level competitors, instructors, judges and DJs. $0 to $179. allstarswingjam.com/
OAKLAND, CA – MARCH 20: Runners race through downtown Oakland during the 13th Oakland Running Festival on Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Oakland, Calif. Thousands of runners took part in races that included a full marathon through the city of Oakland. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Running Festival: March 15-17, Oakland venues. Nationally recognized as one of the country’s best running festivals, this three-day series offers distance running for all skill levels, as well as other events featuring food, drinks and fun activities. Register at Oaklandmarathon.com
‘Dancing With The Stars’ Live 2024: 3 p.m. March 17, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is back to heat up this winter with an all-new stage show featuring your favorite professional dancers from the hit television series performing glittering new numbers, as well as some unbelievable showstoppers from Season 32. $59 to $575. lutherburbankcenter.org/event/dwts24/
SF Salsa Festival: March 21-23, SF Airport Marriott Waterfront, 1800 Old Bayshore Hwy., Burlingame. Celebrating samba — the dance, not the condiment — the 14th annual festival offers a weekend of world-class performances, dancing, competition and workshops with top salsa instructors. $20-$170. sfsalsafestival.com/
California Artisan Cheese Festival: March 22-24, Sonoma County Event Center, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. This celebration brings together lively experts and presenters from the artisan cheese world to promote awareness and enjoyment of those delicious products. Enjoy tours, tastings, seminars, a cheese crawl and an artisan marketplace. $25-$175. artisancheesefestival.com/
Appellation St. Helena bASH: 6 to 8:30 p.m. March 23, CIA at Greystone, 2555 Main St., St. Helena. Appellation St. Helena invites guests to its 13th annual bASH, a wine and food pairing competition. Wines from twenty ASH member wineries will be paired with savory bites prepared by professional chefs and teams of ‘rising star’ students at the CIA. $200. bit.ly/bASH2024
West Coast Taco & Beer Festival: March 23-24, History San Jose, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose. Eat. Sip. Repeat! This event features unlimited taco and beer tastings from dozens of restaurants and breweries, plus live music, boutique vendors, games and entertainment. $49 to $109. bluestreament.ticketspice.com/wctbfbayarea
Frank Sinatra Dinner Show: 7 to 9 p.m. March 30, Alhambra Irish House, 831 Main St., Redwood City. Enjoy a five course meal and a glass of wine while watching as award-winning artist Perry D’Andrea pays tribute to one of the most iconic members of the Rat Pack. $55. bit.ly/SinatraDinner
A Conversation with The Lincoln Lawyer: 7:30 p.m. April 5, Danville Village Theatre, 233 Front St., Danville. Best-selling crime novelist Michael Connelly engages in conversation with his long-time collaborator, legendary former LAPD homicide detective Rick Jackson, about murder investigations and the real-life Southland mysteries of Connelly’s “Lincoln Lawyer” and “Harry Bosch” series. $95. bit.ly/LincolnLawyerConvo
Folk Music Festival Series: April 5, Aug. 2 and Nov. 1, Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette. Front Porch Open Mic continues its partnership with Town Hall Theatre to present a folk music festival series featuring acoustic musicians and performers. $15 to $20. townhalltheatre.com/front-porch
Bay Area Super Ball Competition: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. April 6, Stanford ACSR, 341 Galvez St., Stanford. Step out for a ballroom and Latin dance competition featuring competitive events in international standard and Latin, American smooth and rhythm, and nightclub dances. There also will be performances, a team match and other fun events throughout the day. $5 to $50. bit.ly/BayAreaSuperBall
Bay Area Printers Fair & Wayzgoose: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13, History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose. Join this annual celebration of printmaking, book arts and letterpress printing. The fair features a wide range of activities, book artists, letterpress printers, live demonstrations and a marketplace with more than 40 vendors. Free admission. printersguild.wordpress.com/
Mad Tea Party: 6 to 10 p.m. April 13, Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Fairyland invites adults for an Alice in Wonderland immersive experience filled with fantasy, dance, games, live entertainment and special libations including the March Hare’s Madness cocktail. $35. fairyland.org/events-and-performances/mad-tea/
Hopkins Marine Station PhD candidate Ben Burford shows the beak of a Humbolt squid to Litchi Li, left, 9, and Arthur Ventrice, 4, during Whalefest Monterey at the base of Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey on Saturday January 27, 2018. (David Royal/Herald Correspondent)
Whalefest Monterey: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13-14, Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park. This festival features engaging and educational activities for all ages, including live music, a symposium and dozens of fascinating marine-related interactive exhibits by local and national organizations. Free admission. whalefest.org/
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival: April 13-21, Japantown, San Francisco. Enjoy the largest Cherry Blossom Festival on the West Coast. Each year, more than 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing vibrant Japanese culture and the rich heritage and diversity of the Japanese American community. Free admission. sfcherryblossom.org/
Sausage Making at The Local Butcher Shop: 7 to 9 p.m. April 14, The Local Butcher Shop, 1600 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. Learn how to make sausages with The Local Butcher Shop’s sausage makers. From grinding and mixing to recipes, proportions and casings, you’ll become a sausage pro in no time. $135. bit.ly/LocalButcherClass
Tech Roast Show 2042: 8 to 9:30 p.m. April 19, SFJAZZ, 201 Franklin St., San Francisco. Humanity may be toast, but we can still go out with a laugh. Enjoy a comedy show where renegade tech comedians will roast whimpering techies on stage in front of a live crowd. $44 to $129. bit.ly/Roast2042
Sacramento Grilled Cheese Festival: 1 to 4 p.m. April 27-28, Southside Park, 2115 Sixth St., Sacramento. This annual festival pairs grilled cheese with everything from craft beer to kids fare, so there’s fun for everyone. Enjoy unlimited samples while sipping from your souvenir tasting glass, playing games and enjoying live music. $10-$95. sacgrilledcheese.com/
Sol Blume Festival: May 3-5, Discovery Park, Downtown Sacramento. Enjoy music performances by some of the most sought-after R&B, soul and hip-hop acts, plus family-friendly activities, wellness experiences, immersive art activations and local vendors. $249-$449. solblume.com/
Foodieland Night Market: May 10-12 at Sacramento’s Cal Expo and May 24-26 at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. FoodieLand is a renowned outdoor festival featuring food, shopping, games and live entertainment. This year’s edition promises more than 185 food and retail vendors. $0 to $7. foodielandnm.com/
SF Beer Fest: 12 to 10 p.m. May 11, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco. Head for Fort Mason to try the best beer in town, all under the same roof. Enjoy a vast selection of specially curated beers set to an absolutely jamming soundtrack. $45-$65. bit.ly/SFBeerFest2024
Bottle Rock: May 24-26, Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St., Napa. This annual Wine Country music festival features a fabulous lineup of live entertainment from nationally known artists, singers and bands, as well as gourmet food, wine and beer stalls and a culinary stage. $233. bottlerocknapavalley.com/
Carnaval San Francisco: May 25-26, San Francisco venues. The 46th edition of this annual multicultural celebration and parade will feature a rich assortment of food, music, dance, arts and crafts, games and live entertainment for all ages to enjoy. Free admission. carnavalsanfrancisco.org/
Have an entertainment event to add? Submit it online at forms.gle/Cu9J6Ks2fQiQUcKk8.