Take an evening stroll looking at art in Oakland, enjoy a free symphonic concert in Berkeley, gather for a weekend of art and wine at a festival in Fremont, and celebrate Asian Pacific culture in San Francisco. It’s a weekend full of summer events along the Capitol Corridor!
Art Murmur First Fridays: 8/4, Oakland
Indulge in an evening of art and entertainment at Oakland Art Murmur First Fridays. On Friday, August 4, from 6pm to 9pm, stroll through the collection of more than 30 galleries for the free monthly evening art walk. See artist collectives, street artists, local culinary artisans, performers, musicians, dancers, DJs. Wander from gallery to gallery, see occasional outdoor movies, find some new artists to love at venues like Classic Cars West, Manna Gallery, Mercury 20, Vessel Gallery, and others. Telegraph Ave. above Grand Ave. and below 27th will be closed to car traffic, with art, craft, and food vendors set up along the corridor. View the map online for more specific locations. To get there, take the Capitol Corridor to the Richmond Station, connect to BART, and take it to the 19th St. Station, which is just a few blocks down to 23rd St. and Telegraph Ave. Discounted BART tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car.
Summer Symphony: 8/4 – 8/5, Berkeley
Join the UC Berkeley Summer Symphony as they close the summer season on Friday, August 4, through Saturday, August 5. Starting at 8pm, the symphony will be playing Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and excerpts from Suites Nos. 1 and 2. The two-day free event will take place at the Hertz Concert Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus. The UC Berkeley Summer Symphony draws its players from the University, Cal State East Bay, San Francisco Conservatory, and the Oakland and San Francisco Youth Orchestras. To get there, take the train to the Richmond Station or Oakland Coliseum Station, connect to BART, and get off at the Downtown Berkeley Station, which is about half a mile from the campus. Discounted BART tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car.
Festival of the Arts: 8/4 – 8/6, Fremont
Head over to Fremont this weekend for the largest free art, wine, and music festival at the 34th annual Fremont Festival of the Arts. From 10am to 6pm on Saturday, August 5, through Sunday, August 6, over 500 artisan booths will showcase handmade works including paintings, drawings, jewelry, clothing, household decorations, and furnishing. Every piece of beautiful art sold at the festival will be a unique find, with some being one-of-a-kind. Activities are for all ages, along with continuous live music performances on two stages. The Festival will offer beer, wine, and margaritas in branded glasses, a variety of food for sale, including famous fair favorites such as funnel cakes and Philly cheese steaks; and food trucks will be selling the hottest street food and food-truck cult favorites. To get there, take Capitol Corridor to the Richmond Station or Oakland Coliseum Station, connect to BART, and get off at the Fremont Station. The festival is within walking distance of the station or are accessible by the VTA, with a free Transit Transfer from the Capitol Corridor. Discounted BART tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car.
Nihonmachi Street Fair: 8/5 – 8/6, San Francisco
Come celebrate Asian-Pacific culture this weekend in Francisco’s Japantown at the 44th annual Nihonmachi Street Fair, considered the original “melting pot” of street fairs. Starting on Saturday, August 5 from 11am to 6pm, and continuing on Sunday, August 6, this event will feature a variety of contemporary and traditional cultural shows and diverse musical performances on the Clear Channel Outdoor Stage. The diverse line-up will include Hawaiian music and dance, Japanese dance, and more. Food trucks and booths will offer a variety of eclectic dishes — from teri burgers and adobo, to okonomiyaki and waffles. The free event is expected to attract more than 30,000 attendees, so arrive early! To get there, take the Capitol Corridor’s dedicated connecting bus from the Emeryville Station to one of our San Francisco stops, or connect to BART at the Richmond Station or Oakland Coliseum Station. From any of these San Francisco bus or BART stops, you can take SF Muni, catch a cab, or take Lyft or Uber. Discount BART tickets and Muni tokens are available for purchase in the Café Car.
Written by Sylvia Sheehan
Photo courtesy of Fremont Chamber of Commerce