Art

UGANDA ART: A Group Exhibition at the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way in Orinda will be on view through Oct. 28. The exhibition features the work of eight participating artists: The Gallery is open Monday through Saturaday and is closed on Sundays. The exhibt is presented by The Lamorinda Arts Council;  www.lamorindaarts.org.

Lamorinda Arts Council announces a “Call for Writers” to present spoken word readings and a “Call for Artists” to display original artwork, all with a Halloween theme. Held in the Lafayette Community Center - Jennifer Russell Building, the free program runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. We ask all presenters and guests to appear as their most inspired literary or artistic character for our Cosplay Contest. Contact elanao@mac.com, visit https://LamorindaArts.org/art-embraces-words or call 925-359-9940. Deadline Oct. 19. 

Theater

Saint Mary’s College Theatre presents “The Moors,” written by Jen Silverman and directed by Dr. Javier Hurtado from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.  “The Moors” is a dark, surreal comedy that brilliantly subverts classic 19th-century Gothic literature, drawing inspiration from the works of the Brontë sisters. It explores themes of loneliness, power, and visibility through a bizarre, sometimes violent, but darkly hilarious lens. E-tickets: $10 SMC students; $15 SMC faculty and staff, non-SMC students; $20 at https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/moors. A limited number of tickets are available at the Box Office 30 minutes before curtain. 

One day screening of "Loving Karma" at the Rheem Theater in Moraga on Oct.18 at 3 p.m. This award-winning documentary follows a former monk who built a children’s community in the Himalayas and examines what happens when suffering meets compassion. It's a powerful story of resilience, healing, and the impact of compassion in action. Includes Q&A with producers (in person) and community founder (via zoom). Tickets found here: https://jhamtse.org/loving-karma/.

Submissions are now open for the 7th Annual Young Playwrights Festival (YPF). Part of Town Hall Education’s Young Playwrights Program, YPF showcases the talents of rising teen playwrights from across the East Bay, bringing their original 10-minute plays to the stage with professional Bay Area actors and directors. Submissions will remain open through Dec. 31, for teen playwrights in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.  For details see TownHallTheatre.com/young-playwrights

Literature

Join the Sweet Thursday Author Series on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Lafayette Library to hear author Vanessa Hua discuss her book, “Coyoteland.” This is a free event, but registration is required at www.tinyurl.com/sweet-Oct2026. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee and treats. This program is sponsored by Friends of the Lafayette Library.

Orinda Community Center presents a special "Pop Up" edition of The Story Shuffle, featuring internationally renowned storyteller Ingrid Nixon on Saturday, Oct. 17, 3 to 5 p.m. Plus an Open Mic segment. You can either sign up to tell a 5-minute story or a 1-minute story. Your story can be ANY GENRE! A true, personal story, a tall tale, a braided tale, a myth, a folktale, a fractured fairy tale, etc. No theme; sign up at the door. Tickets: https://shuffleoct17.eventbrite.com/ 

Music

Ensemble for These Times presents Call for Score: Solo Piano, Vol.3 on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Berkeley Piano Club, 2724 Haste Street, Berkeley. What does the future of piano music sound like? Find out when E4TT emerita pianist Dale Tsang performs works selected from the latest Call for Scores. Cost: 0-$30.  For more info see https://e4tt.org/piano3.html or call 510-845-8488 or email info@e4tt.org.

The Diablo Symphony opens its 2026–2027 season, “Breathe,” on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts. The program includes Jean Sibelius’s triumphant Symphony No. 2 and Sergei Prokofiev’s powerful Piano Concerto No. 1 with award-winning pianist Leyla Kabuli (also a PhD candidate in electrical engineering and computer sciences at UC Berkeley). In contrast, Carlos Simon’s meditative piece “Breathe” (composed to encourage listeners to simply reflect and breathe) opens the concert. Adult tickets are $45, youth 13-17 are $15, and children 12 and under are free. $35 tickets are available for senior groups of 10 or more. Visit www.diablosymphony.org for details and a ticketing link.

The Campolindo High School alumni choir will be performing a free show at the Campo Performing Art Center on Sunday Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. "Mr. Hall's Opus," a tribute to Campolindo's former choral director, will feature a combination of choral music and musical numbers, including favorites from Phantom of the Opera, Grease and more. 

Chromatica invites you to “Our Journey Home”, with captivating music celebrating home in all its forms. The Orinda concert will be at 3 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, 433 Moraga Way. Chromatica has sung music from the 12th to the 21st centuries, in many different languages and genres.  For more details and tickets, visit www.chromaticachorale.org.

Other

Lafayette Res Run for Education: 5k, 10k (around the Lafayette Reservoir), or 2 mile fun walk/run in downtown Lafayette on Sunday, Oct. 18 with the Reservoir Challenge “running” Oct. 11-17. Price varies per race. 5k: 8am, 10k: 8:15am, 2 mile: 8:45 a.m. register at https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Lafayette/LafayetteReservoirRun. 

Moraga E-Waste and Shredding  Fundraiser Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1355 Moraga Way in Moraga. Ink jet cartridges and cell phones are free of charge, but there is a $14 charge per banker box of documents and $20-$30 on up for larger electronic items. 

Animal Day, UC Botanical Garden’s annual celebration of all things fauna, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with drop-in experiences, music, educational displays, crafts, community partners, live animals to see and touch, and more. Rain or shine. Free with regular admission. UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. All ages welcome.

Remember when voting meant seeing your neighbors? AAUW-OML brings that back with TOGETHER. WE  VOTE. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Moraga's Official Ballot Drop Box, 1500 Saint Mary's Road (Moraga Library). Cast your ballot, cheer on first-time and Saint Mary's College voters, and celebrate with treats. Wherever you call home, any California ballot box takes your ballot. Bring family and friends. Need a ride? policy@oml-aauw.org

Canes Annual Gala family-friendly Halloween fundraiser for the Jackson Orthopedic Foundation takes place Sunday, Oct. 25, 3 to 5 p.m. at Creekside Commons in Lafayette. Kids are welcome, costumes are encouraged, and tickets are pay what you can. Proceeds support healthcare education and scholarships. https://bit.ly/4x9WCFr 

Trick or Treat Street in Downtown Lafayette. on Friday, Oct. 30, from 4 tp 6 p.m. For a fun, safe Halloween event, children and their parents are invited to Trick-or-Treat at participating merchants along Mt. Diablo Blvd. from Lafayette Plaza to Dewing Ave, Lafayette Circle and La Fiesta Square. This is a free community event. 

Celebrate Orinda’s Naturalist Toris Jaeger on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Orinda Community Center, Founders Auditorium. Open to all, activities for children, speakers, hors d’oeuvres by Diane Eames of Genuine Goodness.

Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk, Saturday, Nov. 7, Heather Farm Park, 301 N. San Carlos Dr., Walnut Creek. Check-in 8 a.m., walk starts at 9 a.m. and ends at noon. Choose a 30- or 60-minute route. Live music, prizes and a finish-line dance party, island attire encouraged. Strollers and leashed dogs welcome. Registration is by donation, any amount. Benefits Northern California families living with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Register at secure.qgiv.com/event/norcal-unite

Moraga Historical Society presents Grant Din, a descendant of four Angel Island immigrants and a former board member of the California Genealogical Society.  He will discuss the island’s estimated one million processed Asian and European immigrants from 80 countries between 1910 and 1940 and the Chinese Exclusion Acts.  Additionally, Jewish refugees escaping Germany spent time on the island. Learn about their stories.  Sunday, Nov. 8, from 1-3 pm, Casita building of Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Dr., Moraga. RSVP: ranchsusan@aol.com by Nov. 1. MHS members free, Guests $5 (cash or check). No children under 12 years. Limited seating.

AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation service in Contra Costa County. To learn more and apply online, visit www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer or call (925) 726-3199 for additional information.

Garden

Moraga Garden Club welcomes guests for Horticulturist and UC Master Gardener Shawna Anderson’s presentation of “Autumn Garden Prep: Tips for a Flourishing Fall” on Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, in Moraga. Free and open to the public. www.moragagardenclub.org.

The Montelindo Garden Club meets Friday, Oct.16, featuring Sogetsu Ikebana experts Susan and Tony diStefano, always crowd-pleasers.  There will also be a bake sale. Lafayette Library Auditorium, social time: 9 to 9:30 a.m., business meeting: 9:30 to 10 a.m.,  speaker: 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette.  See www.montelindogarden.com/2026-meetings.html