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
October 5 - 11, 2026
Banned Book Read In
Date: 10/7/26 • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Host: Peninsula Book Collaborative
Description: Join us for a our annual “Silent Book Club” Banned Book Read-In. This year, LibroFM is providing a free audiobook to attendees (choose between Banned Together or How to Defend Books and Why).
Location: 441 Westlake Center, Daly City
Cost: Free
Make & Take Thursdays
Date: 10/8/26 • Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00PM
Host: Center for Creativity
Description: Free, drop-in art sessions at the Center for Creativity.
Location: 800 Main Street, Redwood City
Cost: Free
Gutenberg! The Musical
Date: 10/8 - 10/11/26 • Time: See website for dates and times
Host: Hillbarn Theatre
Description: In this cult-favorite musical comedy, two wildly enthusiastic aspiring writers present their dream Broadway show about Johannes Gutenberg—armed only with cardboard props, baseball caps, and boundless imagination.
Location: 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City
Cost: Tickets: Adult $65; Senior (65+) $58; Student (under 18 or with student ID) $30
Masha Campagne & Alegre Menina
Date: 10/10/26 • Time: 7:30 PM
Host: Pacifica Performances
Description: Join us for an evening celebrating rich rhythms, poetry, and passion of Brazil. Drawing on her celebrated album, Alegre Masha Campagne & Alegre Menina: Menina, Campagne brings fresh interpretations of beloved Brazilian classics alongside her own original compositions. This concert will feature the blending of Samba, Bossa Nova, Baião, and contemporary Brazilian Jazz with warmth, elegance, and infectious energy.
Location: 1220A Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica
Cost: Tickets: $25
October 12 - 18, 2026
Nightmares in the Starry Sky Paint & Sip
Date: 10/13/26 • Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Hosts: Emma Rose and Pinstripes
Description: Join us for a spooky spectacular paint and sip night at Pinstripes just in time for Halloween! Bring your friends, family or your boos!
Location: 36 Hillsdale Mall, San Mateo
Cost: Tickets: $50
Filipino Cooking Lesson: Sinigang
Date: 10/14/26 • Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Host: Menlo Park Library
Description: Zoom with us to the Philippines and cook along during a delicious cooking lesson! Chef RG Enriquez-Diez of Astig Vegan will show us how to make her version of Sinigang, a sour, tamarind-based soup that is a Filipino classic. Sign up, download the recipes and join us!
Location: On Zoom
Cost: Free, registration is required to receive the Zoom link
Make & Take Thursdays
Date: 10/15/26 • Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00PM
Host: Center for Creativity
Description: Free, drop-in art sessions at the Center for Creativity.
Location: 800 Main Street, Redwood City
Cost: Free
Indie Author Fest
Date: 10/17/26 • Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Hosts: Millbrae Library and San Mateo County Libraries
Description: San Mateo County Libraries is thrilled to bring our fourth annual Indie Author Fest. This vibrant festival is the perfect place for independently published writers to table their work, energize their craft and explore the publishing world with our featured speakers. With lively panel discussions, giveaways and boundless opportunities to interact with brilliant authors, attendees are guaranteed to discover their next favorite read.
Location: 1 Library Avenue, Millbrae
Cost: Free
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
Date: 10/17 - 10/18/26 • Time: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Hosts: The Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee and the City of Half Moon Bay
Description: Join us to celebrate the spectacular 54th Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival! The day starts with a pancake breakfast and includes art, music, parade, food, and fun. See website for schedule of events.
Location: Main Street, Half Moon Bay
Cost: Free
Rock the Dock: Soucano
Date: 10/17/26 • Time: 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Hosts: Port of Redwood City and Rock the Dock
Description: Join along the waterfront at the Port of Redwood City, to enjoy live R&B and Latin Rock at festivities brought to you by Live Music Fostering Community.
Location: 459 Seaport Court, Redwood City
Cost: Free
Escher String Quartet
Date: 10/18/26 • Time: 6:00 PM - pre-concert talk; 7:00 PM - Concert; 9:00 PM - Celebrate with a complimentary glass of wine and dessert!
Host: Music at Kohl Mansion
Description: The Escher String Quartet has established itself as one of the most accomplished chamber ensembles of its generation. Formed in New York City in 2005, and named after the Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher, the quartet is celebrated for performances that combine technical brilliance, interpretive insight, and a distinctive ensemble sound.
Location: 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame
Cost: Tickets: $68 (Adult), $65 (Seniors, age 62+) and $30 (youth under 30)
October 19 - 25, 2026
Make & Take Thursdays
Date: 10/22/26 • Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00PM
Host: Center for Creativity
Description: Free, drop-in art sessions at the Center for Creativity.
Location: 800 Main Street, Redwood City
Cost: Free
Celebrate Belmont's 100th Birthday!
Date: 10/24/26 • Time: 1: 30 PM - 8:00 PM
Host: City of Belmont
Description: The day will start off with a car parade followed by a car show and a time capsule ceremony.The festival portion of the day filled with live music, food trucks, Alpha Acid, games, and more! We will close out the night with a drone show.
Location: See website for times and places in Belmont.
Cost: Free
Saturday Afternoon Live Music
Date: 10/24/26 • Time: 2:00 PM - 600 PM
Host: The Hub RWC
Description: Looking for some great live music in the Bay? Look no further than our talented lineup of original and cover bands! Join us every Saturday afternoon for some amazing performances and keep an eye out for our evening shows.
Location: 2650 Broadway, Redwood City
Cost: Free
Mike Lipskin Trio with Don Neely
and Dinah Lee
Date: 10/24/26 • Time: 7:30 PM
Host: Pacifica Performances
Description: Only a handful of contemporary jazz pianists play Harlem Stride Jazz Piano, the sound of Fats Waller, James P. Johnson, Duke Ellington, Willie the Lion Smith and Art Tatum. Mike Lipskin has devoted his life to stride jazz, and is one of these rare pianists and has even created his own sound within stride jazz piano.
Location: 11220A Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica
Cost: Tickets Adults: $25, Kids: $12
Vintage Films Night: Timeless Fun
Date: 10/24/26 • Time: 7:30 PM
Hos: Odd Fellows Half Moon Bay
Description: Come for an evening of timeless fun with a vintage episode from the kitsch sci-fi Flash Gordon serial and two silent films classic comedies starring Buster Keaton - with live piano accompaniments composed and performed by Shauna Pickett-Gordon.
Location: Old Fellows Hall, 526 Main Street, Half Moon Bay
Cost: Tickets: $10
"Pumpkin Spice Latte” Paint & Sip: Caffeinated Cowboy
Date: 10/25/26 • Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Hosts: Emma Rose and Caffeinated Coffee
Description: Join us for a fun day of coffee & canvases at Caffeinated Cowboy! Enjoy some coffee while painting a cute pumpkin spiced latte.
Location: 3721 S El Camino Real, San Mateo
Cost: Tickets: $50
October 26 - November 1, 2026
Make & Take Thursdays
Date: 9/24/26 • Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00PM
Host: Center for Creativity
Description: Free, drop-in art sessions at the Center for Creativity.
Location: 800 Main Street, Redwood City
Cost: Free
Senior Prom
Date: 9/25/26 • Time: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Host: City of East Palo Alto Senior Advisory Committee
Description: If you are 55+ years of age we welcome you to join us for an unforgettable evening where global cultures, dining, dancing, & connections come together for a night on the town. Come dressed to impress in your cultural attire and proudly showcase their heritage and style that represents you. Prizes await the most captivating looks!
Location: Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, 2050 University Ave., East Palo Alto
Cost: Tickets $50
September Arts & Culture Fest
Date: 9/26/26 • Time: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Host: Office of Arts and Culture, San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce, & Downtown San Mateo Association
Description: Join us in the heart of Downtown San Mateo for a fun day-long celebration of art, music, dance, poetry, food, and culture! From live bands and dazzling cultural performances to interactive kids’ activities, LIVE mural painting competitions, artists selling original handcrafted artworks, and poetry open mic, the September Arts & Culture Fest has something for everyone!
Location: B Street, Downtown San Mateo
Cost: Free
Art & Lit Fest
Date: 9/26/26 • Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Host: Daly City Public Library Associates
Description: Join us for this fun event that showcases local artists and encourage the cultural rise of Daly City’s art community. The Art & Lit Fest will be a day of arts and crafts, performances, workshops, live music, and fun – celebrating the talent in our community while raising funds for Daly City Public Library.
Location: Serramonte Center, Daly City
Cost: Free
The Movement Lives On! A Riotous and Historic Prankster Ride
Date: 9/26/26 • Time: 7:30 PM
Host: Odd Fellows
Description: Fifty years after the iconic first Trip, Ken Kesey’s son Zane took the Furthur Bus - and his father’s legacy - back on the road, for its longest running tour in history.
Location: Old Fellows Hall, 526 Main Street, Half Moon Bay
Cost: Free
Fog Fest
Date: 9/26 - 9/27/26 • Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Host: Pacific Coast Fog Fest
Description: The Pacific Coast Fog Fest promotes the City of Pacifica, attracts visitors, celebrates our community and raises funds for local community groups.
Location: Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica
Cost: Free
Cozy Coloring Corner
Date: 9/27/26 • Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Host: Menlo Park Library
Description: Adult coloring is back! Bring your own materials or take some humble printer paper and see what you create. We’ll provide coloring sheets & colored pencils and put together a still life for you to try your hand at.
Location: 800 Alma St., Menlo Park
Cost: Free
Storyteller Clara Kamunde: Afri-Crafty Tales
Dates: 9/27/26 • Time: 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Host: Belle Haven Library
Description: The 11th Annual Menlo Park Storytelling Festival kicks off -- Kenyan-born performer Clara Kamunde will ignite your imagination with African “How & Why” and “Origins” tales!
Location: 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park
Cost: Free