Sadly, this may be the Bay’s first summer without Cal Shakes, but that doesn’t mean the alfresco arts and culture scene is dying. In fact, there are a ton of places where the outdoor arts are still thriving here — and often right next to incredible recreational opportunities.
We put together seven itineraries to inspire your next outdoors-meets-arts-and-culture outing, with opportunities to combine theater, movies or live music with outdoorsy fun such as hiking, swimming, cycling or just strolling.
See a Shakespeare (or Jane Austen) work while camping — Saratoga
Throughout August, Sanborn County Park is hosting two productions by Silicon Valley Shakespeare: “Richard III,” featuring an all-female and non-binary cast, and “Emma,” adapted from the beloved Jane Austen novel. And, through October, the 3,453-acre park is also home to RV and hike-in campsites. So why not mix the two and get your theater and forest fixes in one go?
On its opening night, the amphitheater beneath the redwoods glowed with moody lighting as “Richard III” unfolded — all told in a film noir setting. The venue’s snack shack, openness to BYO picnic supplies and designated dog-friendly area added to the delights of the evening.
And after the show, there was no need to navigate the winding, dark twists of Pierce Road, because a campsite with a fire pit, picnic table and food storage box was waiting just up the hill.
Still, consider packing light or using one of the on-site wheelbarrows to lug your camping supplies up the fairly steep quarter-mile or so to where the campsites are spread. Otherwise, you might just find yourself repeating the final line of the play: “My kingdom for a horse!”
Details: Sanborn County Park is open 8 a.m.-sunset daily at 16055 Sanborn Road, Saratoga; parks.santaclaracounty.gov/locations/sanborn-county-park. Silicon Valley Shakespeare presents “Richard III” on select Thursdays-Sundays through Aug. 29 and “Emma” on select Thursdays-Sundays through Aug. 31; svshakespeare.org.
Go for a hike, then see a musical in the woods — Oakland
The vibrant, woodsy trails of Joaquin Miller Park are worth an outing unto themselves, but why not pair it with a Great American Musical — under the stars?
Start your afternoon near the Woodminster Amphitheater parking with the three-mile loop connecting the Sunset, Sequoia Bayview, Cinderella and Sinawik trails. Once you’re back, it’s time for a picnic before settling into an East Bay tradition that dates back to 1967. Over the years, the outdoor amphitheater nestled among Joaquin Miller Park’s redwoods has been home to productions of nearly every musical you can think of.
This season brings “In the Heights” by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes (Aug. 8-10 and 14-17) and Aaron Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men” (Aug. 22-24) to the city of Oakland-owned venue. Tickets are $40-$86. Wearing layers and being prepared for the dark and colder temperatures in the evening are advised.
Picnic tables with grills can be reserved for $20 for a cook-your-own dinner experience before the 8 p.m. shows. (Note: They fill up early.) Theater-goers can also bring their own refreshments to the show, or buy coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, hot dogs, candy, popcorn and cookies onsite.
Details: Joaquin Miller Park is open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily at 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland. Woodminster Summer Musicals run through Aug. 24; woodminster.com.
Visit a free aquatic park, then dance to live music — Pleasant Hill
When the dog days of summer hit and the pool is the only place to be, head for Pleasant Hill, where you’ll find the city’s aquatic park just across the street from where it hosts its “Sunset by the Lake” summer concert series venue. They’ve got a spray ground and training pool, plus a 25-yard heated pool, open weekend afternoons from 1-5 p.m. Better yet, admission is free.
After your swim, catch one of the concerts scheduled for this month: Dirty Cello on Aug. 17 and The Big Jangle on Aug. 31, both from 6 to 8 p.m.
Details: The Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park is at 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill; pleasanthillrec.com. The Pleasant Hill Sunset by the Lake concert series takes place at Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane; pleasanthillsummerconcerts.com.
Cycle a velodrome, then see a drive-in movie — San Jose
Did you know there’s a velodrome in San Jose? This track at Hellyer Park — Northern California’s only dedicated track bicycling facility — hosts beginner sessions on Saturday mornings. The facility offers rental bikes, as well as structured and unstructured training sessions and competitive leagues for more advanced riders.
After you spin to your heart’s content, then rest up, spend the evening at San Jose’s West Wind Capitol Drive-In, where you’ll find blockbuster movies starting around 9 p.m. Tickets are $2 for kids 5-11 and $10.25 general admission.
Details: The Hellyer County Park Velodrome is at 985 Hellyer Ave., San Jose; hellyervelodrome.com. The West Wind Capitol Drive-In is at 3630 Hillcap Ave., San Jose; westwinddi.com/locations/capitol.
Stroll through a garden estate, then hear a video game orchestra — Woodside
Filoli, the historic and sumptuous Woodside estate, is hosting the UC Davis Video Game Orchestra at an upcoming Aug. 19 show. The 30-person student ensemble is set to perform tunes from games like Skyrim, Kingdom Hearts II, Zelda, Final Fantasy and more.
It’s easy to make a day of it here in the rolling foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. You’ll find there’s plenty to entertain on the grounds of this estate — the stunning gardens, a charming cafe and gift shop and a traveling exhibit featuring Thomas Dambo’s whimsical troll sculptures throughout the property.
And it’s also a perfect starting point for other adventures nearby. Take a quick detour to see the Pulgas Water Temple, a Beaux Arts memorial and reflecting pool marking the western end of the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct, which brings drinking water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in Yosemite to the Peninsula. Or hike the trails of the nearby Phleger Estate or Edgewood County Park.
Details: The UC Davis Video Game Orchestra performs at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Tickets, $55 and up; filoli.org/summer-stage/video-game-orchestra/.
Go kayaking (or kayak fishing), then catch Rhythms by the River — Antioch
Looking to get in some river time this summer? Head for the Antioch Marina, where you’ll find outfitters like Delta Kayak Adventures offering kayak and SUP rentals and lessons to help visitors connect with the California Delta, where the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers merge. They also offer kayak fishing tutorials and rentals. As you paddle through the water, keep an eye out on the shoreline for birds like great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, green herons and white-faced ibis.
And if you plan your outing on a Thursday through Aug. 21, you can also catch Rhythms by the River, an outdoor free concert series running in the evenings at the Antioch Community Center Amphitheater. The Houserockers, a 10-piece R&B horn band, will perform on Aug. 14, and Grooveride, an 11-piece R&B horn band, on Aug. 21.
Details: Delta Kayak Adventures is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Tuesday at 5 Marina Plaza, Antioch; deltakayakadventures.com. Rhythms by the River runs Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. through Aug. 21 at 4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch; antiochca.gov/summer-concert-series.
Swim at a reservoir, then hit the comedy club — Pleasanton
Just two miles from downtown Pleasanton, the Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area — a former quarry converted into a 266-acre park — boasts a chain of lakes, the largest of which, Shadow Cliffs Lake, has a swimming beach overseen by a summer lifeguard. Next to the swimming beach are a changing room and restroom, refreshment stand, plus picnic facilities and a nearby boat launch — and some hiking trails. Check the posted water conditions at ebparks.org for the latest updates.
After enjoying a swim and beach lounge, head for Tommy T’s Comedy Club, where you’ll find plenty of laughs, plus dinner and drink options, like honey-glazed salmon, a fried chicken sandwich or homemade chili, plus cocktails, beer and wine. Look up the calendar of upcoming performers at tommyts.com.
Details: Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area is open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. until Labor Day, with lifeguards on duty 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily until Aug. 18, then only on weekends and holidays at 2500 Stanley Blvd., Pleasanton, $5 parking; ebparks.org/parks/shadow-cliffs. Tommy T’s Comedy Club is open noon-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, noon-midnight Friday-Saturday and 6-10 p.m. Sunday at 5104 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton; tommyts.com.
<
