Summer in the Bay Area has reached that sweet spot. The tourists are busy taking selfies, and our calendars are filling up faster than a parking lot in Sausalito on a sunny Saturday. This month’s lineup has a little bit of everything. You can sway to jazz, wander through gorgeous gardens, hunt for vintage treasures you’ll swear you needed, admire flowers that put your backyard to shame, or spend an evening with legendary folk icon Joan Baez. Consider this your permission slip to say “yes” to a little more fun this month.

 Aug. 7-9. San Jose Jazz Summer Fest

If music feeds your soul, this is your happy place. Downtown San Jose comes alive with world-class jazz, blues, Latin, funk, and more spread across multiple stages. Wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be dancing more than you planned. This weekend you can see Patti Labelle, Trombone Shorty, and Afro-Cuban all-stars, among many other well-known jazz and funk artists. SAN JOSE JAZZ.

 Filoli: Bay Area Magic

An evening performance is lovely. An evening performance surrounded by magnificent gardens? That’s pure Bay Area magic. Arrive early to stroll Filoli’s breathtaking grounds before settling in for a memorable night under the stars. If Summer Stage is sold out, don’t overlook Summer Nights. Wednesday and Thursday evenings feature cocktails, garden strolls, live acoustic music, and gorgeous sunsets. It’s a wonderful date night or girls’ night out. FILOLI

Aug. 22-23.  Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

Art lovers, this one’s for you. Browse hundreds of artists displaying everything from paintings and ceramics to jewelry and photography. Even if your walls are already full, it’s impossible not to leave inspired. The Italian Street Painting Expo—always a crowd-pleaser—will again showcase chalk artists from throughout the state, creating larger-than-life works of art. Tasso Street is where it’s happening, so don’t miss it. While strolling through the festival, don’t forget to stop by and listen to sidewalk piano virtuosos located at Bryant St. Look for the PLAY ME sign. PALO ALTO ARTS

Aug. 9. Pickwick Vintage Show

Vintage shopping is a little like archaeology… except the treasures come in your size. Browse beautifully curated clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home décor from vendors across California. One warning: saying, “I’m just looking,” rarely lasts more than ten minutes. Vintage finds (well maybe you saw them in your closet, because let’s face it tomatoes, we are vintage) are the best. From 1970s Laugh-In-like treasures, to the 1930’s Andrews Sisters inspired looks, even if you aren’t buying, it’s a great way to spend a day. Ferry Building  VINTAGE FASHION

Dahlia Show

Mother Nature clearly likes to show off. The annual Dahlia Show features spectacular blooms in colors and sizes that almost seem impossible. It’s floral eye candy at its finest. View hundreds of the “best-of-the-best” blooms as Dahlia Society members compete for ribbons in several categories, including: Best in Show; People’s Choice Award; Best Arrangement; Best Junior Bloom; and Nature’s Oddities. DAHLIAS

Joan Baez at Alameda’s Circus Spectacle

Musician and political activist Joan Baez, right, practices song and dance numbers in a rare theater performance during a rehearsal of Vau de Vire Society’s “The Soiled Dove,”under the Big Top at the Radium Runway in Alameda, California, on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. Baez plays the character Paloma Blanca in the dinner theater which opens on September 5.

Legendary singer, tomato, and activist Joan Baez joins Alameda’s imaginative circus production for what promises to be a magical blend of music, storytelling, and breathtaking performances. Some events are entertaining. Others become the story you tell your friends for months.  The Soiled Dove combines cabaret, circus arts, live music, and dinner into a glamorous immersive evening. Acrobats tumble midair from silks as sword dancers brandish their weapons below, then the folk music singers weave between seats as the audience enjoys a three course meal. Sensory overload, perhaps, but It’s one of the most unique experiences in the Bay Area this summer. JOAN BAEZ AND MORE

 A Greek Tragedy with Modern Fire

Shotgun Players are known for fearless theater, and their latest production proves why. Their fresh take on a classic Greek tragedy delivers powerful performances and timeless themes with a contemporary edge. “Iphegenia in Splott” takes inspiration from Eurpides’ Iphigenia in Aulis.

Shotgun Players is a company of artists determined to create bold, relevant, affordable theater that inspires and challenges audience and artist alike to re-examine our lives, our community, and the ever-changing world around us. GREEK TRAGEDY IN CONTEMPORARY

 Be Amazed by Kevin Blake, The Illusionist

If you’re looking for a night out that’s a little different, prepare to have your mind delightfully scrambled. Illusionist Kevin Blake, who has appeared on America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us, stars in The Illusionist at the Palace Theater, an intimate show tucked inside a hidden 1920s speakeasy in San Francisco’s North Beach. You’ll enter through what appears to be an old clock shop before stepping into a candlelit world of impossible illusions, mind reading, and sleight of hand that’s equal parts sophisticated, mysterious, and hilarious. Add a handcrafted cocktail, and you’ve got one of the Bay Area’s most unforgettable date nights or girlfriends’ evenings out. Just don’t expect to figure out how he does it. That’s part of the fun! MAGIC and ILLUSION