Make the most of summer with a movie, pinball, circus performances, a street faire, pancakes, and Halloween baseball!
We still have three weekends left of summer before AUSD’s first day of school on August 11. That leaves plenty of time to make some memories. On Friday, July 25, grab your picnic blankets and snacks for a free outdoor showing of The Wild Robot. On Saturday, July 26, Circus Bella invites audiences of all ages to their dazzling show, HOOPLA!. Start your Sunday with delicious food and cool vintage trucks at the Alameda City Firefighter’s Annual Pancake Breakfast. That afternoon, kids from 2 to 17 are invited to The Legend of Polybius, a Literary Pinball Adventure at Pacific Pinball Museum. The same day, get ready for costume contests and trick-or-treating at Halloween in July at Raimondi Park in Oakland. And don’t forget that the Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire is back on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27 with a kid-friendly activities zone, lots of yummy street food, and fun for everyone!
Starlight Movies in the Parks – The Wild Robot
Friday, July 25
Alameda Recreation and Park Department (ARPD) is back with another family-friendly Starlight Movie in the Parks event on Friday, July 25. Catch a free showing of The Wild Robot at Alameda Point Multi-Purpose Field, 1101 West Redline Avenue.
Pre-show festivities start at 6:30 p.m. with games and crafts for kids. Throughout the summer, the movies start between 8:15 and 8:45 p.m., depending on darkness. Snacks and food will be available for purchase—proceeds support the Alameda Youth Committee and Teen Programs.
Pre-registration is not necessary. Please bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Kindly leave all barbecue grills, alcoholic beverages, and pets at home. The Wild Robot is rated PG for “action/peril and thematic elements.”
Circus Bella Presents HOOPLA!
Saturday, July 26
The circus is back in town! Join Circus Bella at RADIUM Runway, 2151 Ferry Point, on Saturday, July 26 for two performances of their amazing show, HOOPLA!. The free hour-long events begin at 1 and 3 p.m.
Prepare to be dazzled with live music and fantastic acrobatic performances in the ring. Circus Bella’s performers work year-round to perfect their remarkable stunts and bring something fresh to audiences each season.
“There’s this thing about circus that both inspires us to be our best selves and unifies with the joyous experience that happens,” Abigail Munn, co-founder and creative director of Circus Bella, told the Alameda Post. “We just did our show in San Bruno for the Fourth of July, and there were a thousand people having the best time ever. It’s infectious.”
This event is free to attend, though a donation of $20 is suggested. Drink and food vendors will be onsite to complete your family fun day in the sun. Catch a sneak peek of some of the fantastic HOOPLA! performances online.
Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire
Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27
It’s that time of year again! Alameda’s largest outdoor street event—the Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire—is back on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27. Check out the online map to see which sections of Park Street, Central Avenue, and Alameda Avenue are participating. The Faire will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. both days.
Crafters, musicians, artists, food vendors, and all sorts of interesting booths will be on display all day. Be sure to check out Alameda Avenue for all of Alameda’s local artisans and businesses. Kids are sure to have a blast at the Kid’s Area on Park Street with bungee jumping, face painting, puppet shows, and more.
Make a transportation plan before you go. Check out AC Transit routes, enjoy free valet bike parking on Alameda Avenue, or try your luck with parking spaces at the Civic Center Parking Garage. Please note that smoking is prohibited in all public spaces. This all-ages event is free to attend.
Alameda City Firefighters Annual Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, July 27
Did somebody say mimosas? Join City of Alameda firefighters for their annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, July 27, from 9 a.m. until noon. The breakfast will take place at Alameda Fire Station #1, 2401 Encinal Avenue.
The whole family is invited to get to know our local firefighters at this annual fundraiser. Check out vintage fire engines, sip beverages from a mimosa booth, enter a raffle, and learn more about our first responders. Tickets are $10 at the door, and kids under five eat for free.
The annual Pancake Breakfast is organized by the Alameda Firefighters’s Association, an affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters labor union. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, which delivers fire prevention education and provides services to burn survivors and their families.
The Legend of Polybius, a Literary Pinball Adventure
Sunday, July 27
The term “summer reading” may send a chill down your kids’ spines, but sharpening literacy skills doesn’t have to be a bore! Pacific Pinball Museum, 1510 Webster Street, invites kids ages 2-17 to The Legend of Polybius, a Literary Pinball Adventure on Sunday, July 27, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The Legend of Polybius, a Literary Pinball Adventure centers around Polybius, an arcade game that lives in urban legend thanks to the Mandela Effect. The team at the Pacific Pinball Museum (PPM) is thrilled for the first-of-its-kind event. PPM Executive Director Evan Phillippe told the Alameda Post, “We’re really happy to have this first ever literary event at our nonprofit museum, it aligns strongly with our mission to offer a ‘Play & Learn’ environment for our patrons.” The event has been largely organized by Scott Weigum, who is currently a special education teacher in Union City. Weigum told the Post he tried to infuse the event “with solid literacy activities mixed with mystery and fun.” We’re sure it’s going to be a hit!
Adventurers will be greeted with a choice of three pathways based on age and literacy level:
- Ages 2 to 6: Grab a picture book guide for this adventure. Children will complete the activities with help from parents and volunteers using skills like phonics-based word blending, rhyming, and word building. After finishing the book, the youngsters will set off on a series of physical tasks and word challenges to complete their mission at their own pace.
- 1st Grade to 5th or 6th Grade: Pick up your choose-your-own adventure book and get ready to play! Participants in this age range will complete reading activities and other literary tasks before receiving pinball challenges.
- Middle School and Up: The oldest kids will be given a young adult novella to read before trying their hands at some of the fantastic pinball machines at the museum. This literary tier involves some decision making, too.
Complete the activities at your own pace. Each adventurer will receive general museum admission with their ticket, as well as a gift bag with books, comics, and swag. Parents can work alongside their children for free. Tickets are $12 per child. This special event is made possible by Alameda Sports Cards and Comics, Books Inc., Rocket Reuse, The Flipper Room, The Little Flippers, and Pinball Pirate.
Oakland Ballers – Halloween in July
Sunday, July 27
Spooky season is coming to the Bay Area a little early this year! Cheer on the Oakland Ballers against the Colorado Spring Sky Sox during Halloween in July at Raimondi Park in Oakland, 1689 20th Street. The game begins at 1:05 p.m.
The whole family is invited to dress in their Halloween best for this themed day at the ballpark. Get ready for a costume contest, trick-or-treating, and extra halloween magic from our very out Alameda Haunts Boo Crew. That’s right—the Island City’s beloved local spooky team is creeping out of their corners to spread ghoulish delight, a whole three months early!
Whet your appetite for pumpkins and ghosts at the game, then mark your calendars for Alameda Haunts’ full schedule of spooktacular fun in October. Check out the kiddie Halloween costume parade and bake sale, enjoy a creepy cocktail night, get ready for the Krampus Carnivale, and more!
The Oakland Ballers are our local Pioneer Baseball League, and they’re here to stay. Their Instagram bio reads, “We’re stealing Baseball back for Oakland. We vow to never leave town. Built By Oakland. Forever Oakland.” Check out their online schedule for home games through September. Reserve your tickets for Halloween in July online and use code “HALLOWEEN25” for a discount.
What else is going on in Alameda?
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Amanda Laird is the Content Manager and Events Editor of the Alameda Post. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Amanda-Laird. Reach her at [email protected].
