Each month we highlight performances, poetry readings and open mics, arts and culture classes for children, teens, adults, and seniors, arts exhibitions and arts-related holiday celebrations. Our goal is to promote the essential and joyful events that our artists and arts/culture organizations provide for our community! ENJOY!
Submit events by the 20th of each month to:
https://bit.ly/SMCArtsandCultureEventsCalendar
May 1 - 4, 2025
Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Month
Dates: 5/1/25 • Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Host: Make It Main Street
Description: Join us as we kickoff the 2025 Season with a celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Month. We have a full line up of Live Music & Cultural Performances, Poets, Storytellers & Authors, and Art Demonstrations & Kids’ Crafts.
Location: Main Street and Kelly, Half Moon Bay
Cost: Free
Songwriters in-the-round for Mental Health
Dates: 5/3/25 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Host: Belle Haven Library
Description: In honor of Mental Health Month, enjoy a songwriter-in-the-round style performance from three local performers! Singer-songwriters Kimberlye Gold, Mardi Morillo, and Gaby Castro will join us to share their talents.
Location: 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park
Cost: Free
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration
Date: 5/3/25 • Time: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Hosts: City of San Mateo and Parks and Recreation Department
Description: Join us as we launch a vibrant new celebration honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! This event will showcase the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of AAPI communities through dynamic demonstrations, interactive experiences and amazing food and drinks.
Location: Central Park, 50 E. 5th Ave., San Mateo
Cost: Free
May Day Music and Art Festival
Date: 5/3 & 5/4/25 • Time: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Host: Pie Ranch
Description: Join us for the 4th annual May Day Music & Art Festival at Pie Ranch in Pescadero. Celebrate spring with two days of live music, delicious food from multiple vendors, art, and the option to camp on property!
Location: Pie Ranch, 2080 California Highway 1, Pescadero
Cost: Tickets required, see website for pricing
Silicon Valley Open Studios Coastside
Date: 5/3/25 and weekends throughout May • Time: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Host: Sanchez Art Center
Description: Please visit us weekends in May beginning on May 3 at Site #268.
Location: 1220-B Linda Mar, Pacifica
Cost: Free
Knitting 101 with Rhonda Rungsitiyakorn
Dates: Saturdays, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17 and 5/24/25
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Host: Madrone Arts
Description: Enjoy Rhonda's dynamic knitting classes for the gallery on Saturdays in May. Rhonda’s 4 session classes, called Knitting 101, will provide instruction to those with little and/or no experience -- as well as helping knitters with intermediate skills.
Location: 216 Stage Road, Pescadero
Cost: $125 for 4 sessions
Alexander String Quartet with pianist Jeffrey LaDeur
Dates: Saturdays, 5/4/25
Time: 6:00 PM Pre Concert Talk; 7:00 PM Concert
Host: Music at Kohl Mansion
Description: Music at Kohl's 42nd season concludes with the world-renowned Alexander String Quartet in a program with guest pianist Jeffrey LaDeur performing works by Joseph Haydn, Johannes Brahms, and American-Iranian composer Kian Ravaei. This concert will mark the ensemble’s 29th and final appearance at Kohl Mansion.
Location: 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame
Cost: Tickets: $62 (adult), $60 (senior, 62+) and $30 (age 30 and under)
May 5 - 11, 2025
Film: American Muslim
Date: 5/6/25 • Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Host: Menlo Park Library
Description: American Muslim, by New York-based filmmaker Adam Zucker, follows five Muslim Americans living in New York—each once an immigrant and now a naturalized citizen—during the infamous "Muslim Ban."
Location: 800 Alma St., Menlo Park
Cost: Free
Mental Health Open Mic
Dates: 5/8/25 • Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Host: Menlo Park Library
Description: Please join us for Menlo Park’s 7th Annual Mental Health Open Mic Night! Let’s bring our voices together—or feel free to come and share support as a listener--to increase awareness and inspire action to reduce stigma against those with mental health conditions.
Location: 800 Alma St., Menlo Park
Cost: Free
Poetry, Latinidad, and Identity w/ Antonio López
Dates: 5/8/25 • Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Host: Stanford Creative Writing Program
Description: Join us for a discussion on Latinidad, Identity, and Creative Writing with San Mateo County Poet Laureate, Antonio López. Bring a pen or pencil and be prepared for a night of food, conversation, and writing!
Location: Mariposa House, Stanford
Cost: Free but registration is required
SVOS at Art Bias
Dates: 5/10 & 5/11/25 • Time: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Host: Art Bias
Description: Come join the fun and meet over 30 participating artists in one location! Art Bias, site #18, is the largest community of artists on the Peninsula making our destination a 'must see'! For a full list of participating artists and activities, check the Art Bias website.
Location: 1700 Industrial Road, San Carlos
Cost: Free
Blossoms Exhibition
Date: 5/10/25 • Time: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Host: Art Bias
Description: This heartfelt exhibition by Bay Area-based artist Yucali and Japanese calligrapher Hosui Sato, celebrates the power of creativity and connection across cultures. The show honors the recent completion of the Sister City Mural, a collaborative public artwork located in downtown San Carlos as a vibrant symbol of international friendship. Through a thoughtful pairing of painting and calligraphy, this exhibition reflects the blossoming of relationships— between artists, communities, and cultures.
Location: 1700 Industrial Road, San Carlos
Cost: Free
Stir Fry Stories Artists' Talk: Have you eaten yet?
Dates: 5/10/25 • Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Host: Stir Fry Stories
Description: Come join us for a morning talk where San Mateo County-based Asian American artists Don Miralles, Na Omi Shintani, and VC Tang share live song, artwork, stories, and mother-inspired light breakfast.
"Have you eaten yet?" is the true "hello" in many Asian cultures. This newly formed collective of creatives gives us their take on how art and stories feed our hunger, and not just for food. For more information, see the website.
Location: Center for Creativity, Hotel Sequoia,
800 Main Street, Redwood City
Cost: Free but RSVP is requested
MerMay
Dates: 5/10/25 • Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Host: Royal Bee Yarn Company
Description: Handmade by the sea, with love, Coastal Creationz crafts beautiful polymer clay jewelry inspired by the colors and textures of the ocean. 🌊💙 From delicate seashell motifs to shimmering coastal hues, each piece is made with care and creativity, bringing a little bit of mermaid magic to your everyday look.
Location: 1922 Palmetto Ave., Pacifica
Cost: Free
May 12 - 18, 2025
Exhibition: Traveling Stitches
Dates: 5/14/25 through 6/24/25 • Time: See library hours on website
Host: Menlo Park Library
Description: Visit the library to view handmade quilts created by men and women who have come to California from all over the world. The quilts will be on display during library hours through June 24.
Location: 800 Alma St., Menlo Park
Cost: Free
Global Language Storytime: Korean
Date: 5/15/25 • Time: 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Host: Menlo Park Library
Description: Preschoolers with their grown-ups are invited to join us for a special story time featuring stories, songs and movement in Korean!
Location: 800 Alma St., Menlo Park
Cost: Free
Intro to Figure Drawing with a Costumed Model
Date: 5/16/25 • Time: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Host: Madrone Arts
Description: This is 1-hour of instructional time with a live, clothed model. The model will start with short poses, gradually moving into longer pose times. Students will have an opportunity to be introduced to drawing techniques and observation methods to help develop skills in drawing different scales, shapes and proportions. more information on the website.
Location: 216 Stage Road, Pescadero
Cost: $60
Website
Studio Figure Drawing with a Costumed Model
Date: 5/16/25 • Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Host: Madrone Arts
Description: This is two hours of studio time with a clothed model. This session directly follows the Introduction to Figure Drawing Class. The model will be warmed up and moving into longer pose times. More information on the website.
Location: 216 Stage Road, Pescadero
Cost: $30
Improv Comedy Camp
Date: 5/17/25 • Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Host: Art Bias
Description: A Circus of Creative Arts with Terry Sand- This is a 4- week playful summer camp of Improvisational Comedy. Three rings of fun including circus acts (no skill required, please!), backstage drama, and pathetic puppetry all coming to life under a very small “big top.”
Location: 1700 Industrial Road, San Carlos
Cost: $250 per 4-week session including props and art supplies
Klein Competition Winner
Date: 5/18/25 • Time: 2:30 PM
Host: Peninsula Symphony
Description: Accepted into the famed Curtis Institute at 16, 2023 Irving M. Klein International String Competition Winner, Toronto-based violist Emad Zolfaghari has garnered numerous awards during his young and exciting career. Don’t miss our season finale, also featuring Respighi's Pines of Rome, Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, and the music of Jessie Montgomery.
Location: Capuchino Performing Arts Center, 336-398 Millwood Dr, Millbrae
Cost: $50
Asian Animal Tales with Roopa Mohan
Date: 5/18/25 • Time: 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Host: Belle Haven Library
Description: People of all ages will be enchanted by Storyteller Roopa Mohan's wild tales of animals from across Asia!
Cost: Free
May 19 - 31, 2025
Club Fox Blues Jam, The Greg Rahn Band
Date: 5/21/25 • Time: 6:00 PM
Host: Club Fox
Description: “Greg is one of the most versatile keyboard players in the Bay Area. He can play jazz, classical, contemporary, and has a flair for upbeat honky-tonk and ragtime compositions.”
Location: 2209 Broadway, Redwood City
Cost: Tickets $13.38
LOVE FLAMENCO WORLD TOUR 2025
Date: 5/29/25 • Time: Doors Open at 7:00 PM
Host: Fox Theatre Redwood City
Description: Love Flamenco comes to us from Spain with pure and a live flamenco show with the top and unique contemporary performers.
Location: 2221 Broadway Street, Redwood City
Cost: Tickets, see website for pricing and seating
San Mateo County Fair
Date: 5/30 - 6/8/25 • Time: See website
Host: San Mateo County Fair
Description: The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is back and bigger than ever! The Peninsula’s premier community celebration brings eight days of non-stop fun, entertainment, and new experiences for all ages. Be sure to check out the music and fine arts.
Location: 1346 Saratoga Avenue, San Mateo
Cost: See website for ticket pricing
First Annual Mama Dee Day Festival
Date: 5/31/25 • Time: 12:00 PM - 8:00PM
Host: Anamatangi, City of East Palo Alto, and Youth Community Service
Description: Join us in a community event honoring the life of Mama Dee in a Pacifica Islander Heritage celebration! Enjoy music, raffles, cultural performances, community resources, and more!
Location: Bell Street Park, East Palo Alto
Cost: Free
Portola Art Gallery Presents Sacred Places of the World
Date: 5/31/25 • Time: 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Host: Allied Arts Guild
Description: Photographs from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas" by Frances Freyberg. Meet the artist day.
Location: 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park
Cost: Free
Metal: Blighted Eyes with Vintersea, Crepuscule
Dates: 5/31/25 • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:30 PM
Host: The Hub Redwood City
Description: Please join us as the "Eyes of the Sea" tour comes to Redwood City.
Location: 2650 Broadway, Redwood City
Cost: Free