Alameda County Fair
Every summer, the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton comes alive for one of the Bay Area's largest and longest-running community traditions. The fair typically runs from mid June through mid July, with carnival rides, livestock and agricultural exhibits, pig races, and no shortage of fair food. For adrenaline fans, Monster Trucks and the Demolition Derby are perennial crowd favorites. The fairgrounds are also home to the historic Pleasanton race track, built in 1858 and recognized as the oldest one-mile dirt horse racing track in America, even older than the famous Saratoga track in New York.
Live music is a big part of the experience, with several stages throughout the fairgrounds featuring performers included with regular fair admission, along with the ticketed Big O Tires Concert Series, which has brought well known acts to the outdoor amphitheater over the years, including En Vogue, War, Lone Star, Blue Oyster Cult, Night Ranger, LeAnn Rimes, Ann Wilson of Heart, and Vince Neil of Motley Crue. For those not attending the concert itself, the shows are also shown on big screens on the lawn on the other side of the amphitheater.
If you're new to the area, the fair is a great way to get a feel for the community spirit that makes Pleasanton and the surrounding Tri-Valley such a special place to call home. Kids can meet farm animals at the petting zoo, catch pig races throughout the day, or ride the carnival rides, while adults can enjoy the wine and food offerings, live music, and the classic small-town fair atmosphere that's been part of this community for generations. The fair also puts on a great fireworks display paired with a drone show, one of the highlights of the run for many families.
The Livermore Rodeo
Every June, the Livermore Rodeo brings a piece of Old West tradition to downtown Livermore. What began in 1918 as a fundraiser for the Red Cross has grown into one of the oldest continuous rodeo traditions in California, held annually at the Robertson Park rodeo grounds on the second full weekend of June. It's a PRCA sanctioned event known locally as the “World's Fastest Rodeo,” and it draws competitors and spectators from across the state.
Rodeo weekend kicks off with the Livermore Rodeo Parade through downtown on Saturday morning, followed by two full days of bronc riding, barrel racing, roping, and bull riding at the arena. For longtime residents and newcomers alike, it's one of those events that captures what makes Livermore feel like a true community, generations of families showing up together to celebrate a tradition that's been part of this town for over a century.
Scottish Highland Gathering & Games
Every Labor Day weekend, the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton transforms into a celebration of Scottish heritage with the Scottish Highland Gathering & Games. Hosted by the Caledonian Club of San Francisco, this Bay Area tradition dates back to 1866, making it California's largest and longest-running Scottish games and one of the oldest continuously held sporting events in the country. The weekend features world-class heavy athletics competition, including caber tossing and hammer throwing, along with Highland dancing, piping and drumming, sheepdog trials, and a Kilted Mile footrace on the fairgrounds' historic track.
Beyond the athletics, the Games bring the atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands to the Tri-Valley with live Celtic music, whisky tastings, a Birds of Prey exhibition, and immersive living history experiences. It's a family-friendly event that draws visitors from across the state and around the world, and it's one of those only-in-the-Tri-Valley traditions that makes Labor Day weekend here feel a little different from anywhere else.
CorgiCon
For something a little lighter, CorgiCon brings thousands of Corgis and their people to the Alameda County Fairgrounds each fall for what's known as one of the largest Corgi gatherings anywhere. This event was originally held at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach for many years.
The day is packed with Corgi races, a costume contest, a Corgi Ninja Warrior obstacle course built for short legs, a Corgi market, and plenty of photo opportunities. Even non-Corgi dogs are welcome to join in “incorgnito.”It's a genuinely joyful, low key event that's become a favorite for local families and dog lovers, and it's a fun reminder of the kind of community events that make the Tri-Valley such an enjoyable place to live, whether you're a dog person or just love a good excuse to see a few hundred wiggly corgi butts in one place. And Corgi owners love to chat about what else? Their Corgis!!!
San Ramon Art & Wind Festival
San Ramon Art & Wind Festival Every Memorial Day weekend, San Ramon's Central Park fills with kites, art, and music for the Art & Wind Festival, the city's signature event and one of the largest festivals in the East Bay. The two-day celebration draws over 40,000 visitors and features professionally choreographed kite flying demonstrations, a free kite-making workshop, and more than 150 fine artists and craft vendors selling everything from paintings and jewelry to pottery and kites of their own.
Beyond the kites, the festival brings four stages of live entertainment, two food courts, a dedicated kids' zone, and family amusements throughout the park. It's a free, pet-friendly, bike-friendly event built around community, with the majority of performers and food vendors coming from right here in the Tri-Valley. If you're new to San Ramon, it's a great first taste of how this city comes together to kick off summer.
Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Dublin St. Patrick's Day Celebration Every March, Dublin turns into the unofficial capital of Irish celebration in the Bay Area for its annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration. What started decades ago has grown into a full weekend of events, including the Dublin Historical Society's Shamrock Gala on Friday night, the Firefighters Pancake Breakfast Saturday morning, the St. Patrick's Day Parade through downtown, and the Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk on Sunday.
The main festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Dublin Civic Center, with three stages of authentic Irish music and dance, an Irish Marketplace featuring more than 250 vendors, a Celtic and international food court, and a carnival with rides for all ages. Admission to the festival and parade is free, though the Gala, Pancake Breakfast, and 5K each require tickets or registration. Whether you're catching bagpipers along the parade route or just wandering the marketplace, it's one of those Tri-Valley traditions that makes Dublin feel like a genuinely tight knit community.
