CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (July 14, 2024) — The Pioneer Calendar features local events, performances and activities for the whole family.

We update the Pioneer Calendar page weekly, so check back often to see what’s going on near you.

If you would like to submit your event to the Pioneer Calendar page, please email [email protected].

“When should you call 112?” Learn how to recognize a stroke or heart attack, the basics of CPR, what to do if someone is choking, and when to call 911 with CPR trainer and first responder Jeff Patterson from 1 to 2:30 p.m. July 25 at Clayton Community Church, 6055 Main St. Sign up on https://claytonvalley.helpfulvillage.com/events/3576.

Competition for school bag/school supplies. All are welcome to attend this event sponsored by Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery, 9 a.m.-noon on July 27, 555 California Ave., Pittsburg. Parents or guardians must accompany minors under 18. At check-in, everyone must sign a media consent form and a liability waiver. For more information, visit www.mdrr.com/school-supply-giveaway-2024.

National Nightlife/Pleasant Hill. Includes BBQ, giveaways, police drone and K-9 demonstrations, bounce house, face painting, and police car, fire truck and ambulance tours, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 6, City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane. For more information, call 925-288-4630.

National Night Out/Clayton. Includes food trucks and a DJ, 6-9 p.m. Aug. 6, Clayton Community Park, 7411 Marsh Creek Road. For more information about National Night Out, visit https://natw.org.

Every second Saturday at the Salvio Street Market. Music, craft booths and artwork from local artisans, and a beer garden with Hop Grenade Taproom, 4-10 p.m. August 10 and September 14, Salvio Street in downtown Concord.

Celebrating Montecito/Oakmont Senior Living’s 20th Anniversary. Champagne and gourmet canapés in the courtyard, 3-4:30 p.m., Aug. 20, 4756 Clayton Road, Concord. Register by Aug. 13 at 925-692-5838.

Clayton Valley High School Class of 1974 Reunion. 6-10 p.m. Aug. 24, Zio Fraedo’s, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. For more information, email Lori Fogerson Vella at [email protected].

Illustrated book review “Beneath the Tangled Vines”. Featuring Dan Hanel, author of the historical mystery series “In the Shadow of Diablo,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 25, followed by a book signing, William Welch Wines Tasting Room, 837 Main St., Martinez. Sponsored by the Contra Costa County Historical Society. Free admission for members; $10 for nonmembers. RSVP at 925-229-1042 or [email protected]

An intimate gathering with author Victor Lord of the manor. From Struggling to Read to Becoming an Author, 5-7 p.m. Sept. 11, Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Dr. Sponsored by Monument Impact. Get tickets at https://event.auctria.com/6dc19b36-b668-45d6-8fc1-993592c26856.

Gala “Stronger Together” A benefit of Monument Impact, 6-9pm, September 12, Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Blvd. Early bird and VIP tickets available at https://event.auctria.com/6dc19b36-b668-45d6-8fc1-993592c26856.

Off the grid. Featuring food trucks and live music, Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. through October, on the lawn at Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane. For more information, visit www.pleasanthillca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=668.

Concord Farmers Market. Sponsored by the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays year-round and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 26, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Visit pcfma.org for more information.

Diablo Valley Farmers Market. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Shadelands Business Park, North Wiget Lane and Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Watermelon Festival on Aug. 17. For more information, visit @diablovalleyfarmersmarket, 800-806-FARM or CAFarmersMkts.com.

Porch without plug. 7:00-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays through July 31, Pavilion Fountain Park at Diamond Boulevard in Concord. For bands and more information, visit https://shoptheveranda.com/event/Veranda-Unplugged-2024/2145581844.

Music & Market. Farmers Market starts Thursdays at 4 p.m., with music at 6:30 p.m., through Sept. 26 at Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord. July 25: Dirty Cello. Aug. 1: Steve Snyder’s Big Band. Aug. 8: Aja Vu. Aug. 15: Maya Latin Roots. Aug. 22: Rag Dolls. Aug. 29: Mitch Polzak & The Royal Deuces. Sept. 5: The Big Jangle. Sept. 12: Twist on Taylor. Sept. 19: Annie Sampson. Sept. 26: Queenology. For more information on the bands, visit www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11424/Music-and-Market-Postcard-2024.

Concerts at The Grove. 6:00-8:30 p.m. every other Saturday through August 31, sponsored by the City of Clayton, in downtown Clayton. August 3: Pride & Joy. August 17: Club 90. August 31: East Bay Mudd. For more information, visit https://claytonca.gov/fc/Events/concerts-in-the-grove-2024.pdf.

Sunset at the Lake Summer Concert Series. Every other Sunday through September 1, plus food trucks. August 4: Hot for Teacher, plus Family Fun Zone. August 18: The Uninvited. September 1: Zebop. For more information, including the food truck schedule, visit www.pleasanthillca.org/summerconcerts.

Association of Female Marines. The Bay Area Chapter meets every third Saturday at 11:30 a.m., usually at Harry’s Hofbrau, 14900 E. 14th St, San Leandro. For more information, visit https://wmaca3.org or contact Janet Johnson at 925-890-4583.

The theme of the summer reading program is “Read, Renew, Repeat” and offers a wealth of activities for all ages. The Concord Library is located at 2900 Salvio St. For more information, call 925-646-5455 or visit cclib.org.

The Clayton Library is located at 6125 Clayton Road. For more information about any of these events, call 925-673-0659 or visit ccclib.org/events.

Summer reading program. With a focus on conservation, animals, and investing in protecting ecosystems, through August 3. For all ages. Each completed entry is eligible for a free book and a chance to win prizes.

Book club. “Virgil Wander” by Leif Enger, 6-8 p.m. July 23. Adults only. New members always welcome.

Lapsit story time. For children 0-3 years, 11-11:15 on Thursdays. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver.

Story time for toddlers/preschoolers. For children ages 2-5, Thursdays from 11:30-12:00. Children must come with a caregiver. Stay and play with toys that are provided afterwards.

“The Phoenix Project: Rising from the Ashes.” A fundraiser to help Pittsburg Theatre Company after Warehouse Fire, reception at 6 p.m., with concert at 7:30 p.m. July 27, California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. Buy tickets at www.tickets831.com or call 925-427-1611.

“Off the shelves and onto the stage.” A one-act festival by Onstage Theatre, through July 28, Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward St., Martinez. For tickets, call 925-350-9770 or visit www.campbelltheater.com.

“Spontaneous soap opera: an improvised daytime drama.” Synergy Theatre’s show based on the early days of daytime drama, through July 28, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. For tickets, call 925-943-7469 or visit www.lesherartscenter.org.

“Spam” Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble’s musical tribute to “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” Aug. 2-11, Edna Hill Theatre, 140 Birch St., Brentwood. For more information and tickets, visit https://ghostlightte.org.

“Much ado about nothing.” The Orinda Starlight Village Players present the Shakespearean comedy, through Aug. 10, Orinda Community Center Park Amphitheater, 28 Orinda Way. For tickets, call 925-528-9225 or email [email protected].

“My place in the sun.” Featuring oil paintings by Maria SantoStefona, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Tue–Sat through Aug. 3, Valley Art Gallery, 1661 Botelho Dr., Suite 110, Walnut Creek. For more information, visit valleyartgallery.org or call 925-935-4311.

“Beautiful environment.” Ten artists capturing the open spaces of Mount Diablo and the surrounding foothills, through Aug. 11, Shadelands Ranch Museum, 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Walnut Creek. Part of the 50th anniversary of the first acquisition of open space in Walnut Creek. For more information, call 925-935-4311 or visit valleyartgallery.org.

“Radiant visions.” Featuring work by Bay Area sculptor Patty Taylor and San Francisco surrealist Yijun Ge, through Oct. 27, JOR Fine Art Gallery, 1026 Oak St., Suite 102, Clayton.

Headliner series. Includes Fireside Chat with Rita Moreno on Sept. 18, Mandy Patinkin in Concert on Feb. 20, 2025, and Dance Theatre of Harlem on March 14-15, 2025, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. For full schedule and ticket information, visit www.lesherartscenter.org.

Bev Britton

Bev Britton graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in journalism and moved to the Bay Area with her future husband, Jim, in 1986. She was an editor at the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek before becoming managing editor of the Contra Costa Sun in Lafayette in 1995. She retired from the newsroom in 2001, but an ad for the Clayton Pioneer lured her back. The family moved to Lake Wildwood in the Gold Country a few years ago, but her work at the Pioneer keeps her in touch with her old neighborhoods in Concord and Clayton.