July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Movies on the Square. Pack a blanket and a picnic dinner and catch a well-loved movie under the stars at this free outdoor movie festival. Movies include Independence Day, Rocky, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Hitch. Showtimes start at dusk, approximately 8:45pm. (Redwood City: Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway St.; 650/780-7000; www.ci.redwood-city.ca.us)
July 4: Summer Festival and Chili Cook-off. Amateur and professional chili-makers face off at this annual event for cash, prizes and bragging rights. Come for the chili, but stay for the live entertainment, kids’ activities, line dancing and more. 12-5. (Palo Alto: Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Dr.; 650/463-4952; www.cityofpaloalto.org)
July 4: Radio Disney’s Evening of Magic & Music. Celebrate Independence Day with a bang at this day-long event, complete with a family-friendly kid zone, games, prizes, live music, and the grand finale, a San Francisco Symphony performance followed by a show-stopping fireworks display. 5-10. (Mountain View: Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy.; 650/967-3000; www.shorelineamp.com)
July 4: Redwood City Independence Day Festival. A full day of festivities kicks off with a parade at Brewster and Winslow Sts., followed by arts and crafts and food vendors, live entertainment, kids’ activities, a Battle of the Bands competition, and an explosive fireworks show at the Port of Redwood City at 9:30. (Redwood City: Various locations; 650/365-1825; www.parade.org)
July 4-6: Roaring Camp Fourth of July Celebration. Good old-fashioned family fun is the name of the game here, with sack races, balloon tosses, hula hoop competitions, live music and more. 10am. (Felton: Graham Hill Rd.; 831/335-4484; www.roaringcamp.com)
July 4: San Jose America Festival. See live music on three stages, eat lots of great food, check out international arts and crafts, enjoy family activities and, of course, “ooh” and “ahh” at the elaborate fireworks show at the end of the day. (San Jose: Discovery Meadow at Woz Way; call 408/841-8411 for times; www.americafestival.com)
July 9-Aug 27: Cinema San Pedro. Enjoy free outdoor movies every Wednesday in San Pedro Square. There’s a concession stand, but you’ll have to bring your own blankets and chairs. Movies begin at dusk. (San Jose: San Pedro Square; 408/279-1775; www.sanpedrosquare.com)
July 12: First Annual Big Bands & BBQ. Eat as much finger-licking good barbecue as you want, then work it all off by jitterbugging and salsa dancing the evening away. 2pm. (Downtown Campbell: E. Campbell Ave.; see www.downtowncampbell.com for more details)
July 12-13: Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival. Browse an impressive array of fine glass and ceramic objects for your home and garden at this festival, which showcases works from more than 180 artists. Stick around for the food, entertainment and fun workshops. 10-5. (Palo Alto; Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd.; 650/329-2366; www.cityofpaloalto.org/artcenter)
July 12-13: Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival. Downtown Los Altos turns into an entertainment hub for a weekend with a marketplace featuring works by 440 artists, bands on three stages, street perfomers, kiddie activities and gourmet food and wines. Sat, 10-8; Sun. 10-6. (Los Altos: Main and State Sts.; 650/949-5282; www.losaltos-downtown.org)
July 12-13: Obon Festival. Presented by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, this weekend outdoor celebration of Japanese tradition and culture kicks off with delicious food, music, games, folk dancing and high-energy taiko and martial arts performances. Sat, 12-10; Sun, 12-8. (San Jose: Between Jackson and Taylor Sts.; 408/293-9292; www.japantownsanjose.org)
July 13: Ninth Annual Strangers BBQ & Car Show. The coolest pre-1965 hot rods and customs are the stars at the Strangers Car Club’s annual show. Come check them out, browse vendor booths, enjoy live music and watch a custom hub cap-making competition. It’s BYOM—bring your own meat—and the grill masters do the work for you. 10-4. (San Jose: Kelly Park, 1650 Senter Rd.; see www.strangerscarclub.com for ticket info)
July 14: Tour des Fleurs. Discover the lush floriculture of Half Moon Bay by touring nurseries throughout the city. Choose from seven different tour packages that also include a range of destinations like ranches, farms and wineries. Tours start at 10am. (Half Moon Bay: various locations; 650/726-8380; www.halfmoonbaychamber.org)
July 19-20: Connoisseurs’ Marketplace. Join thousands of visitors and locals as they pour out into the streets for a vibrant celebration of the arts, music, food and family fun. Sample delicious fare from local restaurants, taste refreshing wines, shop for items across all art disciplines, listen to live music, and watch cooking demonstrations by Draeger’s top chefs. 10-6. (Downtown Menlo Park: Santa Cruz Ave.; 650/325-2818; www.miramarevents.com/marketplace)
July 19-20: California Extreme. If you’ve got a passion for pinball, a mania for Ms. Pacman and a fervor for Frogger, then this two-day arcade game exhibition is for you. With hundreds of video game and pinball machines set for free play, vendors, an arcade trivia challenge and pinball tournaments, this is a gamer’s paradise. 11am. (San Jose: Parkside Hall, 180 Park Ave.; see www.caextreme.org for ticket info)
July 25-27: Gilroy Garlic Festival. Follow your nose to the garlic capital of the world for its renowned, highly-anticipated annual event. Celebrate “the stinking rose” with garlic-infused foods (including ice cream), works by 100 artists, plus jazz, rock and blues performances. Don’t forgot to stop by Gourmet Alley, where pyro chefs entertain with impressive flame-ups while preparing calamari, steak sandwiches and more, and stick around for garlic cookoffs, demonstrations and an Iron Chef-style competition featuring four prominent Bay Area chefs. 10-7. (Gilroy: Christmas Hill Park, 7100 Miller Ave.; 408/842-1625; www.gilroygarlicfestival.com)
July 25-27: Gem Faire. Peruse beautiful gems, jewelry, minerals, fossils, beads, lapidary tools, jewelry making supplies, and other products; attend jewelry-making workshops and classes; and watch demonstrations by the experts. Fri, 12-7; Sat, 10-7, Sun, 10-5. (Santa Clara: Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy.; 503/252-8300; www.gemfaire.com)
