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There is so much going on in the region this weekend – and the excitement and activity start with Tri-Valley Twist.
The inaugural showcase features more than 25 different events branded together through Visit Tri-Valley, the tourism destination marketing agency representing Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and Danville. (San Ramon, if you recall, branched out on its own some years ago and later formed Discover San Ramon for such purposes.)
Visit Tri-Valley seeks to turn “the traditional weekend getaway on its head” for both local residents and out-of-area visitors with the variety of offerings from Friday through Sunday.
“The first-ever Tri-Valley Twist is all about seeing the familiar through a brand-new lens,” President and CEO Tracy Farhad said in a press release.
“We’ve taken the soul of our four distinct communities — their incredible arts, music, and culinary scenes — and added a creative ‘twist’ that turns a standard weekend into an immersive celebration,” she added. “We’re inviting everyone to come find their vibe, experience something new, and maybe discover an unexpected side of the Tri-Valley.”
Tri-Valley Twist opens, fittingly, with the Twist Opening Night Dinner from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday (June 5) at Pippal in Dublin, with a special tasting menu curated by chef Munish Rana.
Also Friday evening are “Laughs in a Glass” comedy show at 3 Steves Winery in Livermore wine country, “The Story We Draw” outdoor projection display tracing human history through art in Livermorium Plaza and Other People’s Money playing the first Concert in the Park of the season in downtown Pleasanton.
This is a big weekend for Main Street in Pleasanton, with the Weekends on Main seeing the road closed off to vehicular traffic from 4 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday in favor of walkers and cyclists free-roaming and enjoying special events.
The Pleasanton Downtown Association is hosting the Hot Rod Row car show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, the Country Fest street fair from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. Sunday and the Bubbles & Boots Crawl on Sunday (mimosa tastings with patrons wearing their Western best).
There will also be the opening reception for the “Fresh Works XIV” art exhibition on Saturday afternoon and Deja Vu – A Musical Retrospective of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on Saturday night at the Firehouse Arts Center, the “Rollin’ Through the Years” Family Day at the Museum on Main on Saturday and “The Longest Table” on Main Street on Saturday evening.
“We are setting up one long table that will run over a quarter mile long filled with 1,500 people sitting for dinner,” PDA Executive Director Gabrielle Welk told me about the sold-out event, coordinated by the new Pleasanton Connects group and the Workday Foundation.
A couple blocks out from downtown, the Pleasanton Senior Center is welcoming the third annual Taste of Greece Festival highlighting Greek culture and cuisine from 12-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Speaking of culinary creativity, the Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore is hosting the new Palate: The Art of Cuisine event from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. “This inaugural lunchtime event brings together top Tri-Valley chefs, mixologists, and pastry artists to showcase signature small plates inspired by bold, single colors — blending flavor, innovation, and visual artistry,” organizers said.
The Bankhead will also welcome the Livermore-Amador Symphony’s “Dramatic Voices” concert on Saturday evening and the daylong Arté Film Festival on Sunday, an inaugural event “showcasing films that explore the complexities, beauty, and depth of the Filipino American diaspora”.
From the new to the old, Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department’s Fire Station No. 6 on East Avenue is holding a party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday celebrating the so-called centennial light bulb, which has been illuminated for what is now 125 years and counting.
Dublin will make a splash with Twist into Summer at The Wave water park on Saturday and Weekend Wonders both days at Heritage Park and Museums. Plus, not on the official Twist calendar, but the city of Dublin’s first of three summer Family Campouts is set for Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning at Wallis Ranch Community Park.
Other notable events on the Tri-Valley Twist list include “Something Rotten Jr.” by the I Can Do That! youth performing arts troupe at the Village Theatre in downtown Danville, Sip and Savor Wine Pairing Tour with a Twist with the Livermore Wine Trolley, Legends of New Country: Wallen & Wilson, a tribute concert to the music of Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson, at Wente Family Vineyards and “To Bubbles and Beyond! Sparkling Class” at Wood Family Vineyards.
For the full lineup, go to www.trivalleytwist.com.
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the associate publisher and editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What A Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
