Palo Alto in May

May is when Palo Alto lives outside. Restaurants fill their sidewalk tables, the parks are busy until dusk and the long evenings invite a walk after dinner. The rain is nearly done for the year. The hills start the month green and finish it gold. In between, the city puts on its oldest tradition, a children's parade down University Avenue that dates to 1924.

May is also a busy month on campus, with the end of spring quarter in sight and commencement a few weeks away. This guide covers the May 2027 weather, what is in season, events with published or usual dates, the school calendars, hotel tips and ideas for day trips and a weekend. For the whole year, see our weather guide.

May weather

The figures below are NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Palo Alto weather station (USC00046646), the same source as our weather page.

Most May days are sunny and pleasant, with afternoons in the low to mid 70s. Mornings start near 50°F. Late in the month the first gray marine layer mornings can appear, a preview of June, though they usually clear by late morning. A brief heat spike into the 90s is possible in a typical year.

Afternoon breezes off the bay are common. The Baylands and the ridge can feel much cooler and windier than downtown. Sunset comes after 8 p.m. by the end of the month. Check the National Weather Service Bay Area office for the forecast, especially for heat advisories.

What is in season

Hills turning gold

The foothills turn from green to gold over the course of May. By Memorial Day most of the grassland around the Dish and Arastradero has dried. The change is beautiful in the low evening light. It also marks the start of the dry season, when fire danger rises in the hills.

Late wildflowers

The early poppies and lupine fade, but the ridge keeps going. At Russian Ridge on Skyline Boulevard, later flowers such as mule's ears and farewell-to-spring bloom into May and June. Our hiking guide covers the trails and parking.

Nesting season at the bay

Most migrating shorebirds have moved north by May. The Baylands shift into nesting season. Black-necked stilts and avocets raise chicks along the ponds and terns dive in the sloughs. Stay on the trails and keep dogs leashed.

Farmers market produce

Cherries arrive in May, joining strawberries, snap peas and the last asparagus. The first apricots often show up toward the end of the month. Both markets run every weekend. See our farmers markets guide.

Events in May 2027

May Fete Parade

Palo Alto's children's parade has marched down University Avenue since 1924. Schools, scout troops, dance groups and families with dogs walk from Emerson Street toward Heritage Park, where the Kiwanis Club hosts a free fair afterward. It is held on a Saturday morning in early May. The 2026 parade, the 102nd, ran on May 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The city had not announced the 2027 date in October 2026. Check the city's May Fete page in early spring and read our May Fete guide for the route and where to watch.

Stanford Powwow

The Stanford Powwow fills the Eucalyptus Grove on campus with dancers, drum groups, artisans and food vendors. It is usually held over Mother's Day weekend. The 55th powwow ran May 8 to 10, 2026. The organizers list May 7 to 9, 2027 for the 56th powwow. Check the Stanford Powwow site and campus listings in spring, since the site is not always updated early.

More in May

• Thursday Live on Cal Ave. From May through September, the city and the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation host free evening events on one Thursday a month on the car-free block of California Avenue. Dates are posted on the Thursday Live page.
• Stanford Live. The published season includes the Dutch piano duo Lucas and Arthur Jussen on May 2, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor on May 5 and the Verona Quartet on May 9, all at Bing Concert Hall.
• Frost Amphitheater. The outdoor concert season at Frost runs from late spring into early fall. Lineups are announced through the year on the Stanford Live website, with many shows ticketed through AXS.
• Mother's Day. Sunday, May 9, 2027. Book brunch early.

Holidays and school calendars

Dates come from Stanford's 2026 to 2027 academic calendar and the PAUSD school year calendar.

Stanford's spring quarter runs all month and the campus is at its busiest. The last weeks of May are crunch time for students, with final exams from June 4 to 9 and commencement on June 13. PAUSD stays in session until its last day on June 3. Memorial Day weekend is one of the year's big getaway weekends, so expect heavy traffic toward the coast, Monterey and Lake Tahoe on Friday afternoon.

What to pack

• Light layers. T-shirts for the afternoon, plus a sweater or light jacket for mornings near 50°F.
• Sun protection. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for parades, hikes and outdoor concerts.
• A water bottle for hikes on the drying hills.
• A warm layer for the coast. Half Moon Bay and Monterey can be gray and cool even when Palo Alto is warm.
• A blanket or low chair if you plan to watch the parade or picnic on campus.

Hotel demand and booking tips

May is one of the busier months for Palo Alto hotels. Spring quarter brings academic visitors, graduation season starts at other colleges in the region and weekends fill with family events. Large tech events add pressure too. Google I/O, for example, has been held at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View in May in recent years. Memorial Day weekend is popular for leisure travel.

1. Book early for the May Fete weekend if you want to walk to the parade from a downtown hotel.
2. Check for big tech conferences in Mountain View or San Francisco before you fix your dates.
3. If you are coming for Stanford commencement on June 13, book now. Rooms near campus fill months ahead.
4. Consider the Caltrain towns of Menlo Park, Mountain View or Redwood City if Palo Alto rates are high.

When your dates are firm, compare Palo Alto hotels for May or look for spring weekend deals.

Day trips for May

• Monterey and Carmel. Humpback whales often feed in Monterey Bay from spring into fall. Spend the morning at the aquarium and the afternoon at Point Lobos. See our Monterey and Carmel guide. If you prefer not to drive, you can book a Monterey day tour.
• Santa Cruz. The Boardwalk's rides run mostly on weekends and holidays outside summer, so plan a Saturday or Memorial Day visit. Read our Santa Cruz guide.
• Napa and Sonoma. Vineyards leaf out in green and the weather is warm without summer's heat. It makes a good long day by car.
• Redwoods. On warm days, the shade at Huddart Park or Big Basin feels 10 degrees cooler. Big Basin day use needs a parking reservation.

Outdoor activities for May

• Early hikes. As the hills dry, start foothill hikes in the morning before the sun gets strong. The Dish is open from about 6 a.m.
• Evening walks. Long days make the Baylands at sunset an easy after-dinner outing. The preserve closes at sunset.
• Bike rides. The Bay Trail and the bike boulevards are pleasant in May's mild weather.
• Outdoor dining. Car-free California Avenue and the sidewalk tables downtown come into their own.
• Picnics on campus. The lawns near the Cantor Arts Center and the Rodin Sculpture Garden make a good lunch stop.

If you only have a weekend

Saturday

If it is May Fete morning, find a curb on University Avenue by 9:30 a.m. and follow the parade to the fair in Heritage Park. Otherwise, start at the downtown farmers market for cherries and strawberries. Spend the afternoon on campus at the Main Quad and the Cantor Arts Center. Have dinner on a patio downtown, then catch a concert at Bing or Frost if one is on.

Sunday

Hike the Dish early, then browse the California Avenue farmers market and stay for lunch on the car-free block. In the afternoon, drive up to Russian Ridge for late wildflowers and views to the Pacific, or relax at the Baylands as the evening breeze comes in. For the busiest weekend of the year, read Palo Alto in June. For greener hills, see Palo Alto in April.

Frequently asked questions