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
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
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
(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
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
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
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
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
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