Events

Every year in Palo Alto

October 2026

15Santa Clara Broncos Womens Volleyball vs. Pacific Tigers Womens Volleyball RUSH: Fifty Something The Phantom of the Opera (Touring)+1 more

16The Wallflowers The Phantom of the Opera (Touring)Are You Garbage Podcast: Army of Garbage Tour+3 more

17Santa Clara Broncos Womens Volleyball vs. St. Marys CA Gaels Womens Volleyball The Phantom of the Opera (Touring)Gutenberg! The Musical!+8 more

18Stanford Cardinal Womens Volleyball vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Womens Volleyball The Phantom of the Opera (Touring)Hocus Pocus Drag Brunch+5 more

19San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Commanders Dinosaur Jr w/ Stef Chura

20The Jerry Douglas Band

November 2026

December 2026

Nearby listings: Powered by Ticketmaster, via bossfeed.fun.

Every year

University Avenue to Heritage Park · Early May. In 2026: Saturday, May 2, from 10 am

May Fete Parade & Fair

A children’s parade of floats, school bands and neighbourhood groups down University Avenue, followed by the Kiwanis Club’s fair at Heritage Park. Students reported the 2024 parade as the 100th.

Read on University Avenue to Heritage Park ↗

Private gardens around Palo Alto, and Gamble Garden at 1431 Waverley Street · Late April. In 2026: Friday and Saturday, April 24-25, 10 am to 4 pm

Gamble Garden Spring Tour

A ticketed, self-guided tour of private Palo Alto gardens with a marketplace, plant sale and music at Gamble Garden.

Read on Private gardens around Palo Alto, and Gamble Garden at 1431 Waverley Street ↗

Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive · July 4, 11 am to 3 pm

4th of July Chili Cook Off and Summer Festival

The city’s Independence Day festival with free chili tasting, food trucks, live music and games for children. The 2024 cook-off was the 40th.

Read on Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive ↗

Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road · A weekend in July. In 2026: July 11-12

Clay and Glass Festival

The Association of Clay & Glass Artists of California’s juried show and sale of work by more than 140 clay and glass artists.

Read on Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road ↗

Mitchell Park and Rinconada Park · Summer Saturdays at 6:30 pm. In 2026: June 27, July 11, July 18 and August 8

Twilight Concert Series

Free outdoor evening concerts produced by the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, with food trucks.

Read on Mitchell Park and Rinconada Park ↗

Nine blocks of University Avenue downtown · A weekend in late August. In 2026: August 22-23, the 43rd year

Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

Hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce with the city: 250 booths of fine art, live music and a street painting expo.

Read on Nine blocks of University Avenue downtown ↗

Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road · A weekend in late September. In 2026: September 26-27, 10 am to 5 pm

Great Glass Pumpkin Patch

A free outdoor sale of more than 10,000 handmade glass pumpkins and gourds, with glassblowing demonstrations, benefiting the Bay Area Glass Institute and the Art Center.

Read on Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road ↗

Baylands Athletic Center, 1900 Geng Road · A Friday evening in late September. In 2026: September 25, the 42nd

Moonlight Run & Walk

A 5K walk and run and a 10K run by night, hosted by the City of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Weekly.

Read on Baylands Athletic Center, 1900 Geng Road ↗

City parking lots on Gilman Street, between Forest and Hamilton Avenues · Saturday mornings, year round

Downtown Palo Alto Farmers’ Market

An all-volunteer, nonprofit market that has connected farms with the town since 1981 and gives its proceeds to Avenidas.

Read on City parking lots on Gilman Street, between Forest and Hamilton Avenues ↗

California Avenue at El Camino Real · Every Sunday, year round, rain or shine

California Avenue Farmers’ Market

A weekly market run by the Urban Village Farmers’ Market Association on Palo Alto’s second downtown street.

Read on California Avenue at El Camino Real ↗