25+ Bay Area festivals, fun events and things to do this spring, 2023

Check out all of these things to see and do in the Bay Area for the spring season and beyond.

Mobile Light Art Station: March 3, April 13 and April 22, various venues in Oakland and San Francisco. This unique series features light art installations by five Bay Area artists, including “The Great Wall of Oakland” on March 3, Boeddeker Park in San Francisco’s Tenderloin April 13, and the exterior of the former Esther’s Orbit Room in Oakland on April 22, with music, dance, spoken word and even an open-air dance party added to the display. Free. immersiveartsalliance.org/mobile-light-art-station

San Jose Sketchwalk of Carmela Fallon — A Women’s History: 4 p.m. March 4, 175 W. Saint John St., San Jose. This 90-minute workshop will explore the rarely told histories of Carmela Fallon and her female kin while participants sketch artifacts and rooms along the way. Free. historysanjose.org/programs-events

Courtyard Concert starring Michelle Lambert: 5:30 p.m. March 10, 2400 First St., Livermore. Kick off the weekend with happy hour in the Madden Courtyard starring Michelle Lambert. Mixing breezy pop-country tunes and ballads with a confident hip-hop-flavored flow, Lambert dominates the stage, playing her violin in classic rock goddess mode. $20 admission. livermorearts.org/events/courtyard-concert-starring-michelle-lambert/

Bay Area Kawaii Fest: 12 to 5 p.m. March 11, Solano County Fairgrounds, 900 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo. Enjoy the Bay Area’s second Kawaii Fest, a pink pastel party filled with fun, colorful merch — handcrafted jewelry, soaps, clothing and more — from more than 50 vendors. Tickets go on sale Jan. 7. eventbrite.com/e/bay-area-kawaii-fest-2-early-bird-tickets-available-tickets-469674558247

The Great San Francisco Crystal Fair: March 11-12, San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 Ninth Ave., San Francisco. The largest gem and mineral show in San Francisco features minerals, crystals, beads, gems and jewelry, plus healers, psychics, aura readers and masseuses. $14. crystalfair.com/

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival: March 16-19, various venues in Sebastopol. SDFF brings the best documentaries and filmmakers from around the world to Northern California for an annual celebration of nonfiction films. This festival will present more than 70 films over four days on six screens for a wide audience of documentary film lovers, industry professionals, filmmakers and curious bystanders. $50 to $100. sebastopolfilmfestival.org/

Oakland Running Festival: March 17-19, Snow Park, Harrison and 19th streets. at Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Nationally recognized as one of the country’s best running festivals, this event offers distance running for everyone, followed by an afterparty that includes a beer garden and live music at the Ronald McDonald House Charities Celebration Village. $15-$160. oaklandmarathon.com

New Ballet’s Fast Forward: 7:30 p.m. March 18, Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. This annual event celebrates new contemporary ballet by six choreographers created specifically for the troupe. $10-$250. newballet.com/fast-forward

Whalefest Monterey: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18-19, 201 Washington St., Monterey. Entertaining and educational for all ages, the 13th annual Whalefest features more than 3 dozen interactive marine-themed exhibits, a symposium with marine experts, fun activities, live music and more. Free admission. montereywharf.com

Barrel Tasting Weekend: 12 to 4:30 p.m. March 18-19, various wineries in Livermore Valley. During Barrel Tasting Weekend, participating wineries invite you to sample wines straight from the barrels, chat with winemakers about what new wines are coming up and purchase futures to enjoy for your personal cellar. $15-$25 tasting fees. lvwine.org/event/9476/livermore-valley-barrel-tasting-weekend

‘Pretty Woman’ The Musical: March 21-26, San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose. Based on the famous movie, this stage production hails from two-time Tony-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell with an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. $38+. broadwaysanjose.com/shows/pretty-woman

Sonoma International Film Festival: March 22-26, 103 East Napa St., Suite 2A, Sonoma. Discover the best in independent film from around the world at this annual event that combines film, food, wine and fun. $75 and up. sonomafilmfest.org

California Artisan Cheese Festival: March 24-26, Sonoma County Event Center, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa. This celebration brings together lively experts and presenters from the wonderful world of artisan cheese to promote awareness and enjoyment of those delicious products.  Check back later in 2023 for updated ticket information. artisancheesefestival.com/

Spring Brews Festival: Noon to 4 p.m. March 25, Todos Santos Plaza, 2175 Willow Pass Road, Concord. The Brewing Network’s 12th annual Spring Brews Festival hosts more than 50 breweries and rounds out the festivities with live music, food booths and more. $60-$75. thebrewingnetwork.com/

Celebrating Community, Heritage and HERstories: 12 to 4 p.m. March 26, History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose. Join History San José and Mosaic America for a salute to the achievements and contributions of women throughout Santa Clara Valley’s history. This festival will feature a diverse lineup of performers, storytellers and history makers throughout the park. Free admission. historysanjose.org/programs-events

Oakland Pop-Up Gallery Art Exhibition Series: through March 30, Vespr, 312 24th St., Oakland, and Forma, 2016 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. This new series of pop-up exhibitions showcases the heart and soul of the vibrant Oakland arts community through ongoing collaboration with local galleries and collectives to curate exhibition spaces, host community events and put on arts-focused workshops. Free. oaklandartmurmur.org/events

Deconstructing the Beatles Film Lecture Series: Sundays and Wednesdays, through April 5, Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael. In thoroughly engaging (and often surprising) ways, acclaimed “Beatleologist” Scott Freiman guides you, step by step, on an educational journey into the creative process of The Beatles’ performances and recording sessions, through each story and each album. $5 to $15. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/deconstructing-the-beatles-2

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival: April 8-16, Japantown, San Francisco. Enjoy one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions and 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/

Bay Area Craft Beer Festival: 12 to 4 p.m. April 15, 245 N. Court St., Martinez. Come out to Waterfront Park for a fun afternoon featuring drinks, live music and delicious food. This year’s festival includes more than 40 local breweries and 100 beers to sample, including a home brew category. $60-$70. eventbrite.com/e/bay-area-craft-beer-festival-2023-tickets-526071412757

Taste of Campbell: 3 to 6 p.m. April 15, Orchard City Banquet Hall, 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell. Enjoy an afternoon sampling two dozen wines, food and drinks from local vendors, and live music and dancing at the fifth annual Taste of Campbell fundraiser. $39-$54. campbellcert.org/taste

Bedford Gallery presents ‘About Face’: April 15 to June 25, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. This show examines the age-old tradition of portraits, using a contemporary lens to speculate on how future generations might perceive current societal values such as beauty, power, and cultural significance. $0 to $5. bedfordgallery.org/exhibitions/current-season/about-face

Berkeley Bluegrass Festival: April 21-23, Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. For the seventh year, Freight & Salvage celebrates incredible talent with concerts programmed by Grammy-award winner Laurie Lewis and the Freight’s Artistic Director Peter Williams. This festival brings together leaders of the genre, up-and-coming artists and music fans for three days of concerts, jams, workshops and good old-fashioned merriment to kick off the summer music festival season. $25-$150. bit.ly/BerkeleyBluegrass

HALL Cabernet Cookoff: 12 to 2:30 p.m. April 22, 401 St. Helena Hwy. S., St. Helena. This annual food and wine pairing competition features an impressive lineup of renowned teams vying for a chance to win proceeds for a charity of their choice, with delicious proceedings judged by Huey Lewis, Natalie Morales, Joy Bauer, Craig Conover, Raj Mathai and chef Ken Frank. $150-$300. hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff

Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival: April 22-23, 2400 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay. Commemorate 50 years of local lore at this family-friendly celebration packed with good food, live music and more. $18-$35. eventbrite.com/e/50th-annual-bodega-bay-fishermans-festival-tickets-464378648037