Labor Day weekend is here…
East Bay, are you ready? 🎉 Labor Day weekend is coming in hot with festivals, live music, food, and endless summer vibes. From block parties to beach days, we’ve got your guide to making the most of the long weekend. Grab your crew, pack your picnic blanket, and let’s send summer off with a bang!
🎨 CREATIVE ESCAPES | EVENTS THIS WEEK
Did you know? US Labor Day has been celebrated since 1894 as a tribute to the American labor movement and the contributions of workers who built our communities. It’s not just the unofficial end of summer – it’s a chance to honor the workers, dreamers, and everyday people who keep the East Bay thriving.
Here’s a look at the local events that will make your holiday shine..
Vegan Street Fair – Bay Area
📅 Aug 30 (Sat)
📍 Faction Brewing, 2515 Monarch St, Alameda
🕒 11am–7pm
💵 Free entry (VIP options up to $117.69)
Dog-friendly! Sample vegan eats, browse vendors, and enjoy live music and games at this plant-based summer fest. A fun way for the whole family (and pups!) to try something new.
Yo-Yo Ma & Angélique Kidjo
📅 Aug 30 (Sat)
📍 Greek Theatre, UC Berkeley
🕒 8pm
💵 Tickets from $80 (ages 8+)
A rare collaboration between two legends blending classical and world music. Splurge-worthy in a stunning outdoor setting.
Roots Man Project Reggae
📅 Aug 31 (Sun)
📍 Vino Godfather, 455 Marin St, Vallejo
🕒 1–4pm
💵 $12 advance | $17 door | Kids 12 & under free
Bay Area reggae/dancehall by the Napa River. Expect a beach-party vibe with food trucks, kites, and family fun. Pet-friendly venue.
Pleasant Hill “Sunset by the Lake” Concert
📅 Aug 31 (Sun)
📍 City Hall Park, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill
🕒 6–8pm
💵 Free
Season finale of the summer concert series featuring The Big Jangle (Tom Petty tribute). Bring chairs, blankets, and a picnic. Food trucks and brews available.
Downtown Vacaville’s Cowtown Shakedown (2nd Annual Car & Truck Show)
📅 Aug 31 (Sun)
📍 Downtown Vacaville
🕒 1–7pm
💵 Free
Classic cars & trucks (’75 and older), motorcycles, live music, food trucks, vendors, and an awards ceremony. A family-friendly street scene in the heart of Vacaville.
Children’s Fairyland 75th Birthday Party
📅 Sept 1 (Mon)
📍 Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland
🕒 10am–4pm
💵 $15 approx. (included with entry)
Celebrate 75 years with DJ Lance Rock, bilingual puppet shows, circus acts, bubble fun, and more. Perfect for young kids and families.
Hiero Day Street Festival
📅 Sept 1 (Mon)
📍 19th & Telegraph Ave, Oakland
🕒 11am–5pm
💵 $16.93–$26.93 (Kids under 12 free)
Celebrate Oakland hip-hop with live music, graffiti art, DJs, breakdancers, and local food vendors. A vibrant outdoor all-ages street festival.
FREE Labor Day ParKoncert – Walnut Creek Concert Band
📅 Sept 1 (Mon)
📍 Civic Park, 1375 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek
🕒 6–7pm
💵 Free
Pack a picnic and enjoy marches, movie themes, and popular tunes in the park. Bring blankets/chairs and the whole crew.
2nd Annual Livermore Wine & Pizza Pairing Competition (Wood Family Vineyards)
📅 Sept 1 (Mon)
📍 Wood Family Vineyards Estate, Livermore
🕒 12:00–4:30pm
💵 Tickets from ~$58 (check link)
Taste your way through pizza-and-wine pairings in a friendly competition and vote for your favorites—perfect for a breezy Labor Day afternoon in wine country
💸Labor Day Deals
Vacaville Premium Outlets is rolling out big Labor Day bargains, with many stores offering up to 65% off plus special promotions.
Locally owned favorites in the East Bay are getting into the festive spirit, too—Benicia breweries (like Mare Island Brewing and Lucca Beer Garden) and restaurants are offering extended holiday hours and BBQ specials. Over in Alameda County, keep an eye out for winery tours and brewery patios running Labor Day happy hours.
Transit & Travel Perks
BART will operate on a Sunday schedule on Labor Day (Monday, Sept 1): service runs roughly from 8 am to midnight.
AC Transit local and Transbay buses will also follow Sunday schedules on Labor Day.
SF Bay Ferry offers weekend service for Monday. Bonus: there’s a special free “Fairy Ferry” departing at 7:50 am from SF Ferry Terminal to Jack London Square, so families can catch Oakland’s Fairyland 75th parade without a ferry fare.
🗺️ EXPLORE THE EAST BAY | SPOTS & HANGOUTS
Discover some of the best parks, waterfronts, and hidden gems right in our backyard. Perfect for a weekend adventure or a quick escape, these spots remind us why the East Bay is such a special place to live.
Redwood Regional Park (Oakland) – Towering redwoods in the Oakland Hills provide a majestic forest retreat just minutes from town . Miles of shady trails wind through giant 150-ft coast redwoods, ferns and oak woodlands. It’s an ideal place for family hikes, picnics or just escaping the city noise. (Pack a picnic – there are BBQ pits and meadow clearings – and keep an eye out for deer and birds.) Even if you don’t hike far, the canyon drive up Skyline Blvd. is breathtaking.
Crown Memorial State Beach (Alameda) – A 2.5-mile sandy beachfront along San Francisco Bay . Grab beach chairs and kites for a breezy day by the water. Wind-surfers, kite-boarders and sunbathers share the wide shoreline. Behind the sand is a big grassy park for picnics or frisbee. (Restrooms, picnic tables and a fishing pier at Crab Cove make it convenient.) The views of the Golden Gate and Berkeley Hills at sunset are spectacular – an East Bay classic for a reason.
Mare Island (Vallejo) – Wander through this historic naval island-turned-arts district. Check out the Mare Island Brewing Company for a cold drink, browse vintage shops, or visit the Mare Island Museum. On weekends you’ll often see mariners and kayakers on the Napa River. Across the water, the Vallejo Ferry Terminal offers summer evening runs to San Francisco – a scenic (and traffic-free) way to dip into the city and back.
🍽️ LOCAL FLAVOR
Kohinoor Indian Cuisine
Kohinoor Indian Cuisine is an exciting establishment that offers traditional Indian dishes infused with a touch of intuitive modernism and rich flavors in the heart of Lisburn. Known as the ultimate destination for impeccable cuisine from the Indian culinary landscape, Kohinoor Indian Cuisine Restaurant provides patrons with a completely immersive dining experience. The dedicated team at Kohinoor strives to ensure that each visit is a truly heavenly culinary adventure. Guests are invited to discover Indian cuisine the Kohinoor way!
Pleasant staff and the best butter chicken!! Garlic Naan was made so fresh and so tasty. Will come back definitely.
🏠 Just Listed: East Bay Homes You’ll Love
🌟 Agent of the Month
Meet Carisa Mondon,
We’re so proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Carisa, one of Twin Oaks’ standout agents. With a strong background in sales and marketing from her Napa Valley wine touring days, she brings an unmatched ability to connect with people and spot opportunities. In just a few years in real estate, she’s built a reputation for being professional, honest, and incredibly responsive—always putting her clients first without pressure.
When she’s not helping buyers and sellers, you’ll find Carisa hiking with her dogs or exploring new corners of the East Bay. Twin Oaks is so glad to have her on our team, and we can’t wait to see all the dreams she continues to make happen.
Highly recommend Carisa. She went above and beyond to get us our first dream house. She’s very professional, honest and very responsive. She does not pressure you and give you good and truthful advices. work with Carisa and you’ll get your dream house.
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🌟 Catch You Next Week...
Have an awesome holiday! Get out and enjoy concerts, food fairs, block parties and more around the East Bay. Check local listings for any last-minute changes, and don’t forget sunscreen (and picnic blankets!) for outdoor fun!
Stay local & stay inspired,
Ryan DeAmaral
Co-Writer, Twin Oaks Insider