Exploring the Best Summer Activities in Palo Alto: A Local Guide

Published in

PaloAltoConnect

5 min readMay 4, 2023

Summer is almost here! Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly outing or a chance to connect with new friends, this season promises to be filled with fun. From outdoor concerts and movie nights to animal encounters and local festivals, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Read on to discover a roundup of community events, activities, and resources to help you celebrate summer in style.

Outdoor Fun & Recreation

Palo Alto offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking in the nearby foothills, biking along the scenic trails and waterways, and picnicking in the many local parks. You can reserve a group picnic site at Mitchell and Rinconada Parks, or explore camping opportunities at Foothills Nature Preserve. You can also enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and boating at the Baylands Nature Preserve or go horseback riding at Pearson-Arastradero Preserve.

Alternatively, enjoy the great outdoors by attending a soccer, pickleball, or frisbee class, learning to skateboard, or exploring the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. Resident registration for summer activities and classes goes live on May 4 at 8:30 a.m., while Junior Museum & Zoo tickets are available on a rolling basis.

Connect with the Community

The 4th of July Summer Festival and Chili Cook-Off returns on Tuesday, July 4 from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m. at Mitchell Park. Enjoy live music, food trucks, and activities for kids. Bring your own chairs, picnic mats, and reusable water bottles to enjoy the fun.

Attend an Open House at the Municipal Services Center (MSC) on Saturday, July 15 to learn more about “behind the scenes” work that supports the community. Plus, enjoy demonstrations and displays, delicious food from attending food trucks (Old Greenwood BBQ and Camila’s Tacos), free ice cream from Mr. Softeez, an electric vehicle expo, music, and other activities. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a fun and educational day for all ages!

allcove’s newest event series, saturday reset, is a chance to relax through movement, music, deep breathing, and more. Events are free, take place through August 26, and are intended for guests ages 12–25.

Find additional ways to get connected with your neighbors, friends and the community by volunteering. Palo Alto offers something for everyone whether you are looking to gain skills, build community, or learn something new. Get started by visiting www.CityofPaloAlto.org/GetInvolved

Attend a Movie, Concert, Theatre Production, & More

Family Movie Nights at Mitchell Park Athletic Fields begin June 9: Upcoming showings include Paws of Fury, Lightyear, DC League of Super Pets, Minions — The Rise of Gru, Strange World, & Super Mario.

The Children’s Theatre’s Summer Hot Dog Series offers a wonderful sensory-friendly experience, as productions are performed in natural light, with no loud sound cues and plenty of outdoor space for moving around and quiet areas if needed. On the first Thursday of each run, we will also limit the audience size, giving every audience member a little extra space.

Twilight Concert Series: June Concerts are held at Rinconada or Mitchell Park from 6:30–8 p.m. A food truck will be available at each event and bands include Fleetwood Mask, Carnaval, Heartless, and more.

Magical Music & Motion: The concerts are for younger listeners with lively sounds and gentle melodies. All Abilities. All Ages. All Welcome.

Celebrate the Arts & Get Crafty

Photo from The Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California

Summer Craft Night Out is a new offering from the Palo Alto Art Center on Wednesdays from 6–9 p.m. through August 16. Create your own jewlery masterpieces solo or with friends, family, and workmates. Registration and a $40 material fee are required to attend.

The 30th Annual Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival will take place on July 15 and 16 at the Palo Alto Art Center. Admission is free and includes the opportunity to view and shop art from local artists. Food trucks will also be available.

The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts on University Avenue takes place on August 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. — 6 p.m. Event will include 250 fine art and contemporary craft displays, an Italian Street Paining Expo, Kids’ Art Studio, street entertainment, gourmet food, fine wines, micro-brews, and more.

Try your hand at floral arranging at the Celebrating Summer with Flowers Workshop on Saturday, August 26 from 2–4 p.m. at the Palo Alto Art Center. Explore additional summer arts opportunities here.

The Art Center continues its Project Look school tour scholarships for East Palo Alto classrooms this fiscal year as well as the Cultural Kaleidoscope arts integration program serving underserved school sites in East Palo Alto as well. To learn more about potentially utilizing these programs, which are funded by the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation, contact the Palo Alto Art Center at (650) 329–2366.

Senior art programs are a great way for our older residents to stay engaged and contribute to the fabric of our community. Available art classes for seniors are here.