A month by month guide to the parades, free concerts, Stanford traditions and weekly markets that shape the year in Palo Alto, with tips on what to book ahead.
Palo Alto's calendar runs on two clocks. One is the small city clock of parades, park concerts and neighborhood traditions. The other is Stanford's academic year, with its football Saturdays, concerts and the giant commencement weekend in June. Put them together and there is something going on almost every week of the year.
This guide walks through the year month by month. We give months rather than exact dates unless dates have been announced for 2026 or 2027. Always confirm on the organizer's site before you plan a trip around an event. For background on where to sleep during busy weekends, see where to stay.
The year at a glance
Month
Highlights
January to March
Stanford Live season at Bing Concert Hall, weekly farmers markets
April
Spring concerts on campus, wildflowers in the foothills
May
May Fete Parade, start of Thursday Live on Cal Ave
June
Stanford commencement, first Twilight Concert
July and August
Twilight Concerts in city parks, summer events downtown
September
Stanford move-in, start of football season
October
Football, Halloween events, Code:ART in odd years
November
Last home football games, the Big Game
December
Holiday concerts at Stanford, neighborhood lights
Spring: May Fete and campus concerts
May Fete Parade
The May Fete Parade is one of Palo Alto's longest running civic traditions. It is a children's parade first and foremost. School groups, scout troops, dance teams and families march down University Avenue on a Saturday morning in early May. The 2026 parade was the 102nd and took place on May 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. University Avenue closes to cars from High Street to Waverley Street during the parade.
After the parade, the Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto hosts a free fair in Heritage Park with booths, kids' games and food trucks. Families can even join the parade on the day in a "Friends, Family and Pets" group by checking in at University Avenue and Emerson Street early that morning. Details are on the city's May Fete page.
Thursday Live on Cal Ave
From May through September the city and the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation host free evening events on the car-free block of California Avenue between El Camino Real and Birch Street. Expect local bands, games and giveaways from 5 to 8 p.m. on one Thursday each month. Check the city's Thursday Live page for dates and read our California Avenue guide for dinner ideas.
Spring holidays
Our St. Patrick's Day guide covers where to find a pint downtown and how to reach San Francisco's parade by Caltrain. On Cinco de Mayo, East Palo Alto holds its Festival Latino and San Jose has a parade; see our Cinco de Mayo guide. Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 9 in 2027, the same weekend as the Stanford Powwow. Our Mother's Day guide covers brunch, tea and gardens to walk.
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Summer: commencement and Twilight Concerts
Stanford commencement
Stanford's commencement weekend in mid-June is the biggest single event of the year for Palo Alto hotels. In 2027 the weekend runs June 10 to 13. Baccalaureate is on Saturday, June 12, at Frost Amphitheater. The main ceremony is on Sunday, June 13, in Stanford Stadium, with most school and department ceremonies that afternoon. Graduates register for guest tickets through the commencement office.
If you are coming for a graduation, book your room as early as you can. Hotels across the Peninsula fill up and prices climb. You can check hotels for commencement weekend now and choose a refundable rate while plans firm up.
Twilight Concert Series
On summer Saturday evenings the city puts on free outdoor concerts in its parks. In 2026 the series ran from late June to early August with shows at 6:30 p.m. at Mitchell Park and Rinconada Park. The lineup leaned on tribute bands playing familiar hits. A food truck sells dinner, or you can bring a picnic. Shows last about 90 minutes. The Palo Alto Children's Theatre runs the series and posts each summer's lineup on the Twilight Concert Series page.
Palo Alto Festival of the Arts
For many years a large outdoor art fair has filled University Avenue on a weekend in late August, with artist booths, live music and food. The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce hosts it with the city as a co-sponsor. The 2026 festival, the 43rd, ran August 22 and 23 with about 250 booths. Dates for 2027 were not posted at the time of writing, so check the festival's own website before you plan around it.
Fourth of July
The city's 4th of July Chili Cook Off and Summer Festival fills Mitchell Park on Independence Day. In 2026 it ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and was free. The 2027 program was not posted at the time of writing. Check the city calendar in early summer.
Father's Day
Father's Day 2027 is Sunday, June 20, the day after Juneteenth. Our Father's Day guide rounds up steakhouses, golf, hikes and museums for the weekend.
Fall: football and Code:ART
Stanford football
Stanford plays its home games at Stanford Stadium, just off El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road. The season runs from September through November. Stanford now plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which brings East Coast opponents to the Farm. The last home game of 2026 is against SMU on November 28.
The Big Game against Cal is the highlight of every season. The two schools alternate hosting. The 2026 edition, the 129th, is in Berkeley on November 21, so the game is expected back at Stanford Stadium in 2027. Tickets are sold through Stanford Athletics at gostanford.com.
Getting there is easy without a car. Caltrain said Stanford station would not open for 2026 games. Ride to Palo Alto station and walk about 22 minutes along Palm Drive and Arboretum Road. See getting around for parking tips.
Stanford Stadium hosts football in the fall and commencement in June. Photo: BrokenSphere, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Stanford move-in
New students arrive in mid-September. In 2026 move-in day was Tuesday, September 15, at the start of a week of orientation. It is a busy, cheerful week on campus and a tight one for hotel rooms.
Code:ART
Every other October the city turns downtown into an outdoor gallery of light and media art. Code:ART is free. Past editions projected artwork onto the City Hall facade and filled plazas and alleys with interactive pieces. The fifth edition is set for October 13 to 16, 2027.
Winter: holiday concerts and lights
December is concert season on campus. Stanford Live programs holiday shows at Bing Concert Hall and Memorial Church. The 2026 calendar includes Canadian Brass on December 9 and A Chanticleer Christmas in Memorial Church on December 10. See our guide to Memorial Church for a look at the building.
Palo Alto neighborhoods also go all out with lights. The best known is Christmas Tree Lane on Fulton Street near Embarcadero Road, where residents have decorated their homes and yards together for decades. It is a neighbor-run tradition, not a city event, so confirm it is on before you go. Walk rather than drive if you can, since the street gets crowded on December evenings.
Stanford Live is the university's performing arts presenter. Its home is Bing Concert Hall, a modern concert hall known for its acoustics. The program mixes classical music, jazz, world music, dance and comedy, with smaller shows in The Studio. The fall 2026 calendar includes the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and a piano recital by Hélène Grimaud. Buy tickets through live.stanford.edu or the ticket office at 327 Lasuen Street.
Frost Amphitheater
Frost Amphitheater is an outdoor bowl on campus that holds about 8,000 people. Stanford Live and Goldenvoice present around 20 large concerts there each year. Lineups are announced through the year, so check the Stanford Live site. For bigger touring acts around the region you can also browse Bay Area concert tickets.
Farmers markets
Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market: Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon on Gilman Street between Forest and Hamilton avenues. It runs year-round, rain or shine.
California Avenue Farmers Market: Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at California Avenue and El Camino Real. It also runs every week of the year, with occasional closures posted by the organizer.
Both markets are compact and easy to combine with breakfast nearby. See our food and drink guide for where to eat.
Good to know
Commencement and move-in weeks fill hotels fastest. Book those first.
Free city events can change with the weather or budgets. Check the city calendar the week before.
Use Caltrain for football and big campus events. Parking near the stadium is limited and slow to clear.
Planning your trip around events
If an event is the reason for your trip, lock in the expensive parts first. Book your room, then your flight, then the event itself if it needs a ticket. Free events need no booking but reward an early arrival for a good spot. For a broader plan with itineraries, read plan your trip. Tech visitors should also look at our list of startup and tech events, which run on their own calendar through the year.
The parade is held on a Saturday morning in early May along University Avenue. In 2026 it ran on May 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a free fair in Heritage Park. The 2026 parade was the 102nd edition.
Are the Palo Alto Twilight concerts free?
Yes. The city's Twilight Concert Series is free. In 2026 the concerts were on Saturday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in June, July and August at Mitchell Park and Rinconada Park. Bring a blanket or low chair.
When is Stanford commencement 2027?
Commencement weekend runs June 10 to 13, 2027. The main ceremony is on Sunday, June 13, in Stanford Stadium. Graduates register for guest tickets and hotels fill months ahead.
Where is the Big Game in 2026?
The 2026 Big Game against Cal is at Berkeley on November 21. Stanford's last home game of the 2026 season is against SMU on November 28 at Stanford Stadium. Caltrain riders should use Palo Alto station, since Stanford station is not open this season.
Is there a farmers market in Palo Alto on Sunday?
Yes. The California Avenue farmers market runs every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at California Avenue and El Camino Real, rain or shine. The downtown market runs on Saturday mornings on Gilman Street.
