Art

Lamorinda Arts Council presents "Enamored with Canvas and Clay" featuring the Bay Area Studio Artists (BASA) at the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library, with works by Sharon Tama, Marcy Wheeler, Ellen Reintjes, Pam McCauley, Suzun Almquist, Ruth Stanton and Lassie Coleburn. Artist Reception on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. More information online at https://tinyurl.com/LACJAN26 

Lamorinda Arts Council's Virtual Gallery highlights works by local artists each month on our website. View January's exhibit online at tinyurl.com/virtlac 

The Moraga Art Gallery’s current exhibit, entitled “OODLES,” features paintings by member artist, Orinda’s Kath Balamuth, admired for originality, exacting details and alluring colors — oodles of them, in fact. Captivating color also enlivens the canvases of featured guest artist, Deborah Ashley of Oakland. Her abstract and fanciful still-life and landscape paintings burst with vitality and joyful energy. For more info visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call 925-376-5407.

Main Street Arts Gallery's Festive Showcase of Member Art features the work of its 12 member artists. The show highlights 12” x 12” creations in a variety of mediums, including paint, glass, metal, and ceramics, offering a unique variety of styles, colors and textures. Adding to the holiday spirit, the gallery’s festive tree is adorned with original handcrafted ornaments created by member artists and available for purchase. The current exhibition will be on view through December. Main Street Arts is located at 613 Main Street, Martinez. Open Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Valley Art Gallery's Holiday Collection presents a wide variety of beautifully crafted ceramic, wood, and glass pieces, original designer jewelry, holiday decorations, gift cards, small paintings, and many other unique, one-of-a-kind items through Dec. 30 at 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek. www.ValleyArtgallery.org; 925-935-4311. 
 
Music

Front Porch Music returns to the Town Hall Theatre stage with an exciting showcase of local musicians as part of its quarterly folk and acoustic music series, Front Porch Music Presents, on Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. This special evening highlights a diverse lineup of local artists who represent the depth, warmth, and creativity of the region’s vibrant music scene. A pre-show lobby performance begins at 6:15 p.m. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. https://www.townhalltheatre.com/front-porch
 
Join First Friday Forum on Friday, Jan. 9, at 1:30 p.m. to hear Donato Cabrera, Artistic and Music Director of the California Symphony, speak on “The Role of the Symphony Conductor and Highlights of Some Maestros.” Cabrera will talk about the role of the conductor through video clips and stories about orchestra conductors such as Leonard Bernstein. This program is free to the community and is sponsored by the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church. It is available on campus at 49 Knox Drive in Lafayette, California. Registration is not required. A recording will be posted at flopc.org/first-friday-forum when available. Questions email fff@lopc.org.
    
Theatre

Town Hall Theatre presents the World Premier of “Snowbound: A Holiday Tale” by Kimberly Ridgeway and Richard Perez. A family friendly play that takes us back 33 years and gives a heartwarming reminder of what the winter season is all about. Play runs through Dec. 20. Town Hall Theatre Co is located at 3535 School Street, Lafayette. Tickets: $20-$45, Pay-What-You-Can tickets starting at $2, use the promo code PWYC followed by the amount you wish to pay per ticket. https://www.townhalltheatre.com/snowbound

“The Little Mermaid” will be performed Feb.  6 and 7 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Performances are Friday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Single tickets are on sale now ($30 - $59) with senior and youth pricing available. Early Bird pricing is available through Jan. 7. For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org.

The first annual PlayGround Comedy Festival has an eclectic lineup of innovative performances including stand-up, sketch, improv, comedic plays, and more! Performances run March 6 through 29, 2026 (Thurs-Mon), presented live at San Francisco’s Potrero Stage and simulcast online. The festival features 18 hilarious acts and 60 performances. This year’s festival was competitively selected from open applications, and is a direct extension of PlayGround’s mission and commitment to the discovery of bold new voices for the stage and the development of innovative and timely original content. Tickets are Admission-Free (Suggested Donation: $10-$30). All donations directly support PlayGround and their guest artists. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit playground-sf.org/comedyfestival.

Literature

Poetry Circle Meeting will discuss Thom Gunn's “The Man with Night Sweats” on Monday, Jan. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda. No RSVP needed; Free.

Other

The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley is sending invitations to groups who may be interested in a presentation on "Voting Challenges Ahead." We've had changes to many laws including the Voting Rights Act, and voters may want to learn about implications of the SAVE Act. If you would like to schedule a no-fee presentation for your group of 10 or more in Diablo Valley (beginning January 2026), please email them with option of dates/time, and contact person information at Marion@lwvdv.org.  The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy.