Events Calendar: May / June 2022

Listen to the sounds of spring: outdoor music festivals plus baseball, ballet, opera, Broadway shows, and more. At the San Francisco Ballet, the 2022 season marks the farewell of Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. At San Francisco Opera, June brings two wonderful productions and Music Director Eun Sun Kim conducts Verdi. At San Francisco Symphony, Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen and guest conductors wield the baton in May and June 2022. Also, mark your calendar for the Stern Grove Festival in its 85th season on Sundays throughout the summer.
 

MAY

6 and 8
Paul McCartney Got Back Tour | Oakland Arena

“I said at the end of the last tour that I’d see you next time. I said I was going to get back to you. Well, I got back!” — Paul McCartney referring to his North American Tour. paulmccartneygotback.com

The Contemporary Jewish Museum – Jim Henson and his characters

Through August 14
The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited | The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Explores the social impact Henson made on popular culture and reveals how he and his team of builders, performers, and writers brought to life the enduringly popular worlds of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and other great contributions. thecjm.org/exhibitions/157

6
Party at the Piers: Uplift | Exploratorium

Bubbles drift on air, tornados rise, and mechanical butterflies fly high. Then, there’s uplift of another kind in the people served—young people discovering the fun of science. The in-person party is back to support programming, coaching, teaching, and more. exploratorium.edu

7
Kentucky Derby Party | Kendall-Jackson Estate

Kendall-Jackson hosts their inaugural Kentucky Derby party at the winery estate in Santa Rosa. Come in Kentucky Derby fashion to celebrate the 148th Run for the Roses benefiting Meals on Wheels. kj.com/events/kentucky-derby-party

7
Mill Valley Music Festival |  Friends Field North 

Live music, art, food, drink, and entertainment for all ages at this new one-day outdoor event presented by the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce. Headliner: Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals. millvalleymusicfest.com

Through May 8
San Francisco Ballet | Swan Lake

Timeless and achingly beautiful, Tchaikovsky’s classical Swan Lake has been beloved for over a century since its American premiere by the San Francisco Ballet. Helgi Tomasson’s Swan Lake has set and costume designs by Tony Award–winner Jonathan Fensom; choreography by Tomasson. Sfballet.org

Through May 8
Immersive Frida Kahlo | SVN West

“Her Life. Her Love. Her Art.” A large-scale digital exhibition set to a musical score from the producers of Immersive Van Gogh. immersive-frida.com 

10
Rise: Professional BusinessWomen of California

The 33rd annual conference includes skill-building seminars and motivational keynotes from Mindy Kaling, Reid Hoffman, Congresswoman Jackie Speier and others. Virtual event. conference.pbwc.org 

11
Carolina Herrera Fashion Show & Luncheon | San Francisco Opera Guild

Pre-Fall 2022 Collection and Fall Winter 2022 Collection on the runway. Presented by San Francisco Opera Guild and Neiman Marcus San Francisco with a special appearance by Creative Director Wes Gordon.
sfopera.com/Opera-Guild/social-events/WesGordonFashionShow

15
Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Fest | Main Street

Wines are poured by 50 California vintners, food is served by local restaurants, live performances are by Bay Area jazz greats: Paula West, Marcus Shelby, and the Bobby Hutcherson Tribute Band. VIP Bubble Lounge. First-time event. hmbwineandjazzfest.com 

18
Andrea Bocelli | SAP Center

Known as “the most romantic voice,” the acclaimed Italian operatic tenor performs one live concert in the Bay Area at San Jose’s indoor arena. andreabocelli.com/tickets

19
Taste of TEL HI | Club Level at Oracle Park

This year’s gala is back in person to benefit educational programs that provide kids with academic support to thrive and ‘get back in the swing of things.’ Dinner, drinks, swing music and auctioneer Franco Finn, voice of The Warriors. telhi.org/taste

Chardonnay Classic (image: Joanna Salazar)

20 – 22
Second Annual Chardonnay Classic | Napa

It’s a weekend-long celebration of the ‘winemaker’s grape’ when Patron Foundation and sister properties, The Meritage Resort & Spa and Vista Collina Resort, co-host with Trinitas Cellars. Expert-led sessions, grand tastings, stunning flights, gourmet meals, and luxurious dinners. Benefiting SommFoundation. trinitascellars.com/event/chardonnay-classic

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, VIP wine lounge at The Matheson
(Michael B. Woolsey Photography)

20 – 22
Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience

Inaugural festival showcases the region’s makers—farmers and growers, top winemakers and chefs— alongside globally recognized wines from the greatest wine regions of the world. In support of charitable and educational foundations. healdsburgwineandfood.com

27- 29
BottleRock Napa Valley

Musical headliners Metallica, Kygo, Twenty One Pilots, The Black Crowes, P!nk, Luke Combs, Pitbull, Greta Van Fleet, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and more. Plus, the Culinary Stage powered by Williams Sonoma. Presented by JAM Cellars. bottlerocknapavalley.com

JUNE 

Tayler Harris as Grizbella in CATS (by Matthew Murphy, Murphymade)

1 – 12
CATS | Golden Gate Theatre 

Make a new “Memory.” Forty years ago, this show started the megamusical trend. The record-breaking, award-winning spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber is in town for two weeks only during its national tour. broadwaysf.com

3 – 4
Chris Botti | Blue Note Napa at Charles Krug Winery

Four shows, live and in-person. Chris Botti delights fans with his unique blues and jazz sound, outdoors on the beautiful grounds of Napa’s oldest winery estate. bluenotenapa.com/event

San Francisco Opera Don Giovanni set design by Erhard Rom

4 – July 2
Don Giovanni | San Francisco Opera

The Mozart-Da Ponte trilogy concludes in a post-apocalyptic future with Don Giovanni, an opera masterfully blending dark comedy with even darker deeds. Bertrand de Billy conducts Mozart’s propulsive score; sung in Italian with English subtitles. sfopera.com/on-stage/don-giovanni

7 – 12
de Young | Bouquets to Art 

Returning for its 38th season, a week-long display of floral installations inspired by works of art in the museum galleries offer new ways of appreciating the permanent collection. Member-only viewing hours are on June 8 – 9 at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. deyoung.famsf.org/bouquets-to-art

7 – July 3
Hadestown | Orpheum Theatre

“Come see how the world could be.” Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Broadwaysf.com

8 –  11
Napa Valley Jazz Getaway | Charles Krug Winery

Brian Culbertson and Friends headlines the 9th annual event at a new venue in 2022. Also, Boney James, Maysa, Lindsey Webster, Eric Darius, Kayla Waters, Marcus Anderson, Nicholas Cole, Mike Manson, DJ’s Rick & Russ w/CJ Flash. jazzgetaway.com

Dianne Reeves performs at SFJAZZ (credit: Jerris Madison)

8 -19
39th San Francisco Jazz Festival 

SFJAZZ will present 40 concerts over 12 days including Pacific Mambo Orchestra and Kim Nalley: Tribute to Nina Simone. On June 12, Dianne Reeves, Chucho Valdés, Joe Lovano present a members-only concert at 2 p.m. and a general public concert at 7 p.m. sfjazz.org 

10 – 11 
Huichica Music Festival | Gundlach Bundschu Winery 

This wine country gem of a festival in Sonoma is back for the twelfth time at California’s oldest family-owned winery. The indie rock and folk artists lineup features Allah-Las, ESG, Turnover, La Luz and 30 more acts. Huichica.com

San Francisco Opera Dream of the Red Chamber (photo: Cory Weaver)

14 – July 3
Dream of the Red Chamber | San Francisco Opera

Adapted from a classic of world literature, Dream of the Red Chamber is an opulent exploration of love, lust, and political intrigue in imperial China by composer Bright Sheng and Tony Award winner David Henry Hwang. sfopera.com/on-stage/dream-of-the-red-chamber

Opening 17
Carlos Villa: Worlds in Collision | Asian Art Museum 

The exuberant work and enduring influence of San Francisco artist Carlos Villa (1936–2013) in the first major museum retrospective dedicated to the work of a Filipino American artist. Opening on June 17. exhibitions.asianart.org/exhibitions/carlos-villa-worlds-in-collision

17 – 19
Mendocino Urchin Fest

In an effort to aid kelp forests and the ecosystem, purple urchins will pop up on plates aplenty in restaurants and hotel dining rooms along the stunning Mendocino Coast in the nation’s first-ever event of its kind. Educational talks, tours, demos. urchinfest.com 

18 – 19
North Beach Festival

Everybody loves this San Francisco street fair tradition, now in its 66th year. Sidewalk chalk art for kids, blessing of the animals, great food, good music, and live performances. northbeachfestival.org  

18 – August 14
de Young | The Obama Portraits Tour

Unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in 2018, the nationwide tour of the official portraits of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama comes to San Francisco. Member preview June 16 & 17. deyoung.famsf.org/exhibitions/Obama-portraits-tour

19
Buena Vista Winery | Father’s Day Brunch

Celebrate Sunday with Dad at the historic , just one mile from Sonoma Plaza 12 p.m. Reservations required. buenavistawinery.com/events

21 – July 17
The Prom | Golden Gate Theatre

“Such a joyful hoot,” says The New York Times. A Broadway musical comedy that’s all about that feel good factor, coming to town on a 20-city tour. broadwaysf.com 

22 – 26
Sonoma-Marin Fair | Petaluma

“Everybody’s Fair” incorporates North of the Gate Wine Competition, Car Show on the Gardenway, and AG Petaluma Youth Day. Sonoma-Marinfair.org

San Francisco Opera Music Director Eun Sun Kim

30
Eun Sun Kim Conducts Verdi | San Francisco Opera

Music Director Eun Sun Kim conducts Verdi’s Requiem and La Traviata. San Francisco Opera Orchestra and the San Francisco Opera Chorus headline the evening with four thrilling soslists. In honor of Kim, a special celebratory post-performance event. sfopera.com/on-stage/eun-sun-kim-conducts-verdi