Live it up on Labor Day: 24 local happenings for the long holiday weekend on the Peninsula.
Concerts! Festivals! Food Trucks! Monster Trucks!! It’s the Six Fifty’s guide to winning Labor Day 2019.
And so, summer draws to a close.
But Labor Day Weekend still provides ample opportunity to live it up before heading back to the grind. And there is certainly a lot going on here on the Peninsula, with festivals happening in nearly every direction all weekend long, not to mention some big spectacles, which just so happen to include monster trucks and short rib tacos.
So get your game plan going and check out the many happenings on this handy list for getting your holiday weekend dialed in.
Festive festivals and festivities
Millbrae will be celebrating their 49th Annual Labor Day Weekend Festival — AKA “The Last Blast of Summer” — with a Mardi Gras-themed atmosphere which will include a wide range of food and festivities (as well as a classic car show and a long list of musical acts).
Meanwhile, the Kings Mountain Art Fair returns to Skyline Boulevard in Woodside for three days of art among the redwoods. Now in its 56th year, the annual festival showcases well over 100 artists of many mediums in one of the most unique and beautiful (and uniquely beautiful) locations around. If you’ve never been, it’s a Bay Area classic.
There will also be two huge heritage festivals over this long weekend, with Belmont’s Greek Festival (a three-day affair) as well as the San Francisco Bay Area Lebanese Festival in downtown Redwood City on August 31st.
And don’t sleep on the 8th Annual Taco Festival of Innovation in San Jose, because—Vietnamese shrimp tacos! Yep, twenty of the best taco trucks in the Bay Area will be cheffing up their new innovations. Pace yourselves!!
Music, movies and dance moves!!
Lots of live music this weekend. First off, we highly recommend heading to Frost Amphitheatre on the Stanford campus to see The National — great band in a wonderful setting. Speaking of amphitheaters, Shoreline is hosting Nelly, TLC and Flo Rida on Friday night and then Smashing Pumpkins on Saturday. More locally, head to San Bruno’s Rotary Pavilion for the bluesy sounds of Full House, or catch the soul music stylings of Pride & Joy in Redwood City.
Need to get out of the sun for bit? The always-enchanting Stanford Theatre is showing the 1940s classic The Mark of Zorro throughout the weekend. Also, there’s still time to head outside for a film in the park: catch Captain Marvel on the square in Redwood City, Finding Dory at Burgess Pool in Menlo Park and Dumbo at Cottonwood Park in San Jose.
Or, just get your dance on. The big annual Los Gatos Park Dance takes place on Saturday… and there’s an after party, too! Need a bit of bhangra? Opal Nightclub in Mountain View is hosting a late-night Bollywood Dance Party on Sunday.
Fun for the kiddos
If (like us) giant trucks crushing things speaks to your idea of Labor Day, then head over to SAP for Monster Jam to marvel at all manner of motorized mayhem in the mud (all weekend long).
Or get some gaming going: the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel is hosting Pacificon 41, a three-day gaming event featuring all manner of dungeon diving, dice rolling and war gaming excitement. So dust off that old D&D player sheet for your 8th-level Tabaxi rogue and introduce the kids to a classic non-screen hobby (remember, the family that slays together….).
Stanford is hosting Cardinal Kids Day, with free tickets for Saturday’s kickoff against Northwestern (up to four free youth tickets, 8th grade and below).
Need to NOT entertain them all weekend? Check out Hiller Aviation’s list of events and activities, including their Invention Lab, Flight Simulator and Drone demo.
Get a sitter (and a designated driver)
And on the boozy side of things this weekend, start off right with Devil’s Canyon Brewery’s always fun Beer Friday event, with food trucks, live music and an awful lot of finely-crafted beers (and don’t sleep on their root beer, either).
If you’re thinking a little more picnic-oriented, Shoreline Lake’s American Bistro is pairing up with the Boathouse to provide a pedal boat picnic basket option. Order a delicious picnic lunch and rent a pedal boat ($10) to meander around the lake as you enjoy your food.
Finally, if you’re more into the grapes than the hops, Savannah-Chanelle continues their summer music series with acts playing throughout the long weekend and specials to match.
And whatever you do, please be safe — take advantage of the free Lyft and Uber rides being offered around Northern California this Labor Day.
Enjoy, 6–5–0ers!
Stay up to date with other coverage from The Six Fifty by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, featuring event listings, reviews and articles showcasing the best that the Peninsula has to offer. Sign up here!
