Events in San Mateo, CA

The Saint Veronica Parish Festival brings the community together for two days centered on faith and fellowship. Enjoy family friendly games and rides, a raffle, live entertainment with music and performances, plenty of food, and more activities throughout the festival. Admission is free.

Project Joseph Food Distribution is a monthly event focused on distributing food. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the time listed in the event details.

This class shows you how to build your own terrarium with succulents in a glass container. Tickets are available.

Collect A Con is a convention devoted to fans and collectors of geek culture and rare finds. The show floor features a wide mix of vendors with comics, toys, and memorabilia, plus opportunities to pick up exclusive merchandise. Activities run throughout the event, creating a lively, nostalgia‑filled atmosphere for exploring all things collectible.

Enjoy a lively evening with delicious food and numerous opportunities to win a wide range of items. The focus is on fun, good eats, and the excitement of trying for items you will be eager to take home.

Taalsutra revives Creation: From Dashavatar to Elton John at CSM Theatre. The production follows the story of Earth's creation, evolution, and an existential crisis through a blend of diverse dance forms, storytelling, music, and drama. A cast of more than 40 dancers and actors weaves mythology, human experience, and contemporary realities into one cohesive stage work.

Celebrate the world of collecting at a convention focused on geek culture and rare finds. Browse vendors featuring comics, toys, memorabilia, and other collectibles. Look for exclusive items and engaging activities scheduled throughout the event. It delivers a nostalgic experience centered on everything collectible.

Festa Italiana in South San Francisco brings the community together at Orange Memorial Park to celebrate Italian heritage and kick off the festivities that lead into October's Italian heritage celebrations. Visit the event booth to pick up swag.

The 18th annual edition of GO2 for Lung Cancer’s San Francisco Bay Area 5K Walk/Run brings the community together at Seal Point Park to support people impacted by lung cancer. Participants can walk or run the course, take part in person or virtually, and join solo or with a team. Family friendly activities include a children’s dash and music, and the event welcomes all ages and abilities. Funds raised help provide one on one assistance, screening, and treatment navigation, and advance research aimed at speeding cures and replacing stigma with hope.

Silicon Stompers Jazz Band presents a Vintage Vocal Hour highlighting Bay Area singers, featuring songs that span early jazz through beloved standards of the Great American Songbook. The showcase takes place in the middle of the program, with full band sets before and after to round out an evening of swing and classic melodies.

Eurotrash brings a dance-ready mix of vintage blues, rock, funk, and soul to Alhambra Irish House. Food and drinks from the venue are available, and there is no cover charge. Table reservations are available.

The show takes place at the Best Western Plus Grosvenor Airport Inn, set in the hotel's main ballroom. The venue is roughly a mile north of the SFO United Airlines maintenance facility and sits near Highway 101, making it easy to find.

Adoptable cats and dogs will be available to meet at PetSmart in Daly City. This in-store event offers a chance to get to know the animals in person and see if one could be the right fit.

Club Fox hosts Shred is Dead, offering a modern and adventurous take on the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band repertoires. The performance highlights high-level improvisation and fresh arrangements. Led by guitarist and vocalist Marcus Rezak, the lineup features Anna Elva, Scott Guberman, and Murph Murphy.

Women of Rodeo shines a light on the skill, speed, and grit of women in classic rodeo competition. Barrel racing, roping, and additional events take center stage, offering a close view of precision horsemanship and split second choices in the arena. Along with the action, it shares the journeys of competitors who continue to move the sport forward.

Hosted by the Redwood City Library Foundation, this fifth annual Upscale Pub Crawl takes place during Banned Books Week and highlights a theme announced by the American Library Association and the Banned Books Week Coalition that champions the freedom to read. Check in at the Redwood City Public Library, then visit participating pubs in downtown Redwood City for drink specials and light snacks. Along the route, volunteers and Foundation board members share information about banned books, censorship, and practical ways to help protect the right to read.

Ben Rice & The PDX Hustle present a high energy blues performance from a standout young artist that is all about getting people on their feet. The atmosphere is lively and rhythmic, perfect for anyone ready to dance and enjoy the blues.

A festive pre-rodeo gathering at the historic Cow Palace blends Western flair with an elegant tea-inspired setting. The evening features delicious food, tea and hard tea cocktails, and both live and silent auctions, creating a lively setting suited to a date night or a fun outing with friends. Proceeds support Children’s Agricultural Education programs that help young people learn about agriculture, livestock, and Western heritage, uniting community, celebration, and purpose in honor of the rodeo spirit.

Peninsula Gem & Geology Society and Sequoia Gem & Mineral Society present their joint annual Gem & Mineral Show at the Redwood City Communities Activities Building. Display cases highlight creations from lapidary classes, finds from field trips, jewelry, and other member projects and interests. Dealers will offer handcrafted jewelry, gemstones, fossils, mineral specimens, and collectible pieces for home display. Admission is $6 for adults, and children under 12 are free with an accompanying adult. Each child receives a Treasure Wheel ticket for a free prize.

The 26th annual Bay Area Peninsula Walk & Roll to Cure ALS brings the community together at Coyote Point Recreation Area. Participants walk or roll in honor of people living with ALS, in memory of loved ones, and in support of the broader ALS community. The event blends purpose with connection, creating a meaningful experience for everyone involved. Funds raised support efforts to speed the discovery of treatments and cures for ALS.

The annual fall swap meet for water sports gear takes place in Redwood City and is set up in a parking lot, creating a casual marketplace where anyone can sell equipment or browse for deals at no cost. While all water sports items are welcome, shoppers typically find used kayaks, stand up paddleboards, windsurfing gear, kiteboarding gear, and foiling equipment, and general sporting goods are fine to bring as well. Participants are encouraged to bring a towel or tarp to lay items out on the asphalt, with a limited number of tarps available for early arrivals. There is no fee and no RSVP is required, and attendees can come to sell, hunt for bargains, or do both. A spring edition is also held each year.

SOFI TUKKER brings the Animal Talk tour to Cow Palace with DRAMA and Kito. The show is for ages 18 and up.

The Redwood Water Sports Paddle Race Series returns for its third season with a Triple Cork calendar setup. This race welcomes first timers and seasoned competitors, offering a sheltered short course of about two miles and a changing long course on open water. After crossing the finish line, participants can enjoy a light lunch, and potluck dishes are invited. Stand up paddleboards, outrigger canoes, surfskis, kayaks, and prone paddleboards are all included, and any human powered craft is welcome. Rowing shells can take part by registering in the Kayak category, with final details sorted on race day. An inflatable SUP division is available, and iSUP paddlers are encouraged to participate. This event is part of a season series that features multiple race days, including special Corkscrew Course editions later in the season.

Ram Yatra Dharam Ki presents the timeless Ramayan on stage through devotional storytelling, film-style visuals, and live musicians. Expect polished stagecraft, theatrical performances, opportunities to chant and dance, and moments that highlight spiritual teachings. A celebrity meet and greet is planned, with a special guest to be announced soon. Created for audiences of every generation, this immersive experience at Fox Theatre Redwood City evokes the shared wonder of gathering together around a beloved epic.

Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry bring their North American co-headline tour to Cow Palace Warehouse with support from Superheaven and Boundaries. The tour follows their collaborative single Hive Mind, released earlier this year with a music video directed by Eric Richter and Knocked Loose vocalist Bryan Garris and filmed in Louisville, Kentucky. Knocked Loose are currently supporting Metallica across Europe and in 2024 released You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, featuring the Grammy-nominated single Suffocate with Poppy. Denzel Curry supported Deftones across their European and United Kingdom tour earlier this year and released the collaborative project Strictly 4 The Scythe in March with A$AP Ferg, TiaCorine, BKTHERULA and Key Nyata.

Opening day at the San Mateo County History Museum marks the unveiling of a reimagined museum following years of planning, restoration, and change. Explore the Taube Family Carriage House & Automobile Gallery, where innovation, craftsmanship, and elegance meet. Visit the Peninsula Natural History Gallery to see rare fossils and learn about a landscape shaped over millions of years. Step into the restored Lathrop House for insight into the lives that influenced the community. Special activities will take place throughout the day, with opportunities to look up beneath the courthouse dome and connect with the stories that built San Mateo County. Additional details will be shared as the day approaches.

Enjoy an evening of food, beverages, and friendly company at the SF-CESS awards reception and silent auction. The agenda is designed to foster community as the bidding takes place. Tickets are available for the reception and auction, and a full list of auction items is available. Award recipients will be announced soon.

The California Speed Puzzling Championship comes to Northern California at the Bayview Dining Room at College of San Mateo, featuring a full slate of fast paced jigsaw contests. Test your skills in solo, pair, and four person team events, with the Pairs Relay and the Solo Puzzle Pyramid also included. Meet fellow puzzle enthusiasts in a welcoming competition. An early bird offer provides $5 to $10 off each ticket. Orders totaling at least $100 can include a complimentary 2026 Championship T-shirt when the shirt is added to the cart in the same transaction and the coupon code 26FREETEE is applied. Capacity is limited. Perks include opportunities to puzzle with the pros, pick up free puzzles, and trade at a swap table that is free for registrants and $10 for guests. The top three finishers in each division receive gift certificates or free puzzles along with custom laser etched wooden puzzle piece trophies. Registration is complete once payment is received. Tickets reserve one spot per event rather than covering an entire pair or team. Each adult must purchase their own ticket, with a limit of one ticket per event per purchase except when buying for juniors.

Meet Rob Case, author of Surf Paddling Technique, for an in person meet and greet centered on surf and prone paddleboard paddling. He will share insights from his new book to help surfers catch more waves, reduce strain while paddling, improve efficiency, and stay out longer with less effort. The gathering begins with time to mingle, continues with a presentation, and wraps up with additional conversation and questions. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and attendees are welcome to bring their own copy to be signed and personalized. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided, and potluck dishes are welcome. No RSVP is required. This event is free.

Jim Brickman brings his celebrated piano artistry to Fox Theatre Redwood City for an evening that reflects more than three decades of music. Blending pop and classical influences, he has earned many honors and a devoted following, and this concert shines a light on the songs that defined his career. Expect favorites such as Valentine, The Gift, and Love of My Life, along with other well loved selections, all delivered with the connection and warmth that characterize his performances. In the spirit of the tour, the program also includes a touch of holiday cheer as he revisits the hits fans know and love.

Asim Azhar brings a live concert to Fox Theatre in Redwood City, showcasing soulful melodies alongside high energy performances. The set highlights the emotion and passion behind fan favorites, setting the stage for an evening of music, memories, and standout moments. Tickets are available. For VIP or sponsorship information, call 888-396-0005 or email events@cnydesi.com.