Each month we highlight performances, poetry readings and open mics, arts and culture classes for children, teens, adults, and seniors, arts exhibitions and arts-related holiday celebrations. Our goal is to promote the essential and joyful events that our artists and arts/culture organizations provide for our community! ENJOY!
Submit events by the 20th of each month to:
https://bit.ly/SMCArtsandCultureEventsCalendar
February 1 - 9, 2025
14th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration!
Dates: 2/1/25 • Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Hosts: Redwood City, RWC Parks Recreation and Community Services Department, and Redwood City International
Description: Celebrate the new year with lion dancers, martial artists, taiko drummers, and other live performances, for this celebration of the Year of the Snake. Plus, folks can enjoy FREE ADMISSION to the San Mateo County History Museum where they can find FREE Kids Arts and Crafts!
Location: Courthouse Square, Redwood City
Cost: Free
The Tortured Poets Workshop
Dates: 2/1/25 • Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Host: Burlingame Public Library
Description: Join Burlingame-Hillsborough Youth Poet Laureate Sierra Elman as we explore the poetics of pop songs in this one-time workshop! Analyze the lyrics of your favorite song, write your own poetry, and share it with us! No registration required. Refreshments will be available.
Location: 480 Primrose Road, Lane Room, Burlingame
Cost: Free
City of Belmont Lunar New Year Celebration
Date: 2/2/25 • Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Hosts: City of Belmont
Description: Join us in the celebration of the Year of the Snake! We will have a fun and varied afternoon filled with traditional Chinese dancers, musicians, poetry, crafts, refreshments, and more! Free and open to all ages.
Location: 20 Twin Pines Lane, Belmont
Cost: Free
First Sundays
Date: 2/2/25 • Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Hosts: Art Bias
Description: Join us for an afternoon filled with creativity, inspiration and engaging conversation! Discover a wide range of artistic styles, from traditional to contemporary, as you stroll through our diverse studios. Chat with the artists, ask questions, and gain insights into their techniques. Find a new favorite artist or artwork that speaks to your soul.
Location: 1700 Industrial Road, San Carlos
Cost: Free
Leung's White Crane:
Date: 2/6/25 • Time: 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Hosts: North Fair Oaks Library
Description: Celebrate Lunar New Year with traditional lion dancing White Crane emphasizes the sport of Lion Dancing within the traditional, physical culture of Chinese Kung Fu, and they are well-recognized as one of the oldest martial arts schools in California. Their dynamic, high-energy lion dance is sure to be a memorable way to start the year.
Location: 2510 Middlefield Road, Redwood City
Cost: Free
Poetry Out Loud 2025
Date: 2/6/25 • Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Host: Office of Arts and Culture
Description: Please join us for an inspiring evening as San Mateo County high school students participate in the 7th Annual Poetry Out Loud Competition on February 6, 6:00-8:00PM. This virtual event celebrates our youth and poetry. We invite family, friends, and the community to attend and cheer them on!
Location: Online
Cost: Free but registration is required: bit.ly/SMCPoetryOutLoud2025
First Friday Artwalk Artist Talk with Na Omi J. Shintani
Date: 2/7/25 • Time: 5:00 PM
Hosts: M Stark Gallery
Description: Shintani makes art as a way to connect and heal during times of trauma, chaos, and uncertainty. Her solo exhibition “Our Hearts Pulse Together” expresses her relationship with her ancestors and culture.
Location: 727 Main Street, Half Moon Bay
Cost: Free
YANovCon: Young Adult Novelist Convention
Date: 2/8/25 • Time: 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Hosts: Redwood City Public Library
Description: Meet top authors at the 10th Annual Young Adult Novelist Convention! Menlo Park is teaming up with libraries throughout San Mateo County to present a half-day celebration of books and authors. Join us in Redwood City for the big event: this year’s featured theme is Coming of Age in a Digital World. We’re looking forward to meeting award-winning, notable, and new young adult novelists!
Location: 1044 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park
Cost: Free but registration is required
Bring Your Own Title
Date: 2/8/25 • Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Hosts: Gallery House
Description: Second Saturday artist reception. We feature 20+ local artists.
Location: 826 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park
Cost: Free
K-Pop Dance Workshop
Date: 2/8/25 • Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Hosts: Motion Arts Center
Description: Are you ready to unleash your inner K-Pop star? Join us for our very first Intro to K-Pop Dance Workshop. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just curious about the K-Pop craze, this workshop is for YOU!
Location: 217 South Claremont Street, San Mateo
Cost: $40
February 10 - 16, 2025
Faithfully Live
Date: 2/14/25 • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Host: Club Fox
Description: Treat yourself this Valentine's Day and experience all the greatest hits from the JOURNEY catalog as Faithfully Live returns to Club Fox! FAITHFULLY LIVE recreates note-for-note accurate renditions of Journey classics, all in their original keys, and gives its audience an uncannily accurate tribute to the "Perry & Rolie" sound without pre-recorded backing tracks or digital vocal enhancements.
Location: 2209 Broadway, Redwood City
Cost: $20 - $25
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress
Dates: 2/14 - 2/16/25 • Time: Times vary, check website
Host: Coastal Repretory Theatre
Description: Alan Ball's glib, bitingly funny look at weddings and well-to-do Southern culture, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, has more substance than all the taffeta and crinoline suggests. With modern sensibility, the show pulls back the mask on recognizable stereotypes, revealing contemporary women grappling with age-old issues.
Location: 1167 Main Street, Half Moon Bay
Cost: Tickets from $17- $32
Black History Month Joy Fest
Dates: 2/15/25 • Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Host: South San Francisco Library
Description: CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH with Joy Fest Lyrical Joy Showcase!!!
Lyrical Joy - Opening and Black History Month message by Mayor Eddie Flores. Hosted by J. R. Rice, MC, spoken word artist, teacher, and author of Broken Pencils. Musical selections by BB Brown, singer, song writer and composer, with spoken word by Briana Grogan.
Play Joy - All ages are invited to a screening of the short film, Hair Love (2019), followed by double-dutch, hopscotch, clothespin people craft, and a food tasting from SSF's own Flavas Jamaican Grill.
Location: 901 Civic Campus Way, South San Francisco
Cost: Free but registration is required
Leather Wrapped River Rocks
Dates: 2/16/25 • Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Host: Madrone Arts
Description: Learn how to combine Japanese wrapping techniques with nautical knotting to create a beautiful meditation stone. Instructor, Lisa Werner-Carey will show participants how to choose materials to create a beautiful leather wrapped river rock using traditional knotting methods. After basic techniques are mastered, students will have freedom to create additional rocks adding more complicated or embellished patterns of their choice. All materials will be supplied. For ages 14 and up. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Location: 216 Stage Rd, Pescadero
Cost: $120
February 17- 28, 2025
Half Moon Bay Writing Club
Date: 2/18/25 • Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Hosts: Office of Supervisor Ray Mueller and Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Description: This is dedicated time to work on your own writing projects in the company of other writers. There are no prompts, nothing will be read aloud, and no feedback will be offered. We will simply enjoy conversation about our creative practice and one hour of writing together.
Location: 620 Correas Street, Half Moon Bay
Cost: Free
Sip and Paint
Date: 2/21/25 • Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Host: Madrone Arts
Description: Designed for "budding artists" in need of an extra creative confidence booster. This unique painting class provides step-by-step instruction from two experienced Madrone artists who will help you to let your creativity soar!! No experienced needed. You'll meet new people, enjoy great conversation and have fun in a high-spirited 2 hour painting class. Admission includes canvas, paint, apron and instruction. Light snacks provided. Bring your own beverage. Adults only.
Location: 216 Stage Rd, Pescadero
Cost: $45
Brazillian Big Blowout
Date: 2/22/25 • Time: 7:30 PM
Host: Pacifica Performances
Description: Enjoy MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira), Brazilian music from the 70s and 80s. There’s a wealth of wonderful songs from that time, and I hope we can turn you on to some music you might not have heard before. We also have lots of bossa nova and samba for you, and some very cool rhythms you might not be familiar with: baiao and xote.
Location: The Mildred Owen Concert Hall, 1220 Linda Mar Boulevard, Pacifica
Cost: Tickets: Adults $25, Children $12
Spread the Love, Sidewalk Saturday
Dates: 2/22/25 • Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Host: The 25th Avenue Collective
Description: Join us for a day full of Family Fun, Pet-Friendly Activities, Live Entertainment, Amazing Vendors, Dining w/ San Mateo’s Finest Restaurants. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to celebrate community, support local businesses, and enjoy great vibes! available in English and Spanish.
Location: 25th Avenue, San Mateo
Cost: Free
Trio Karénine
Dates: 2/23/25 • Time: 6:00 PM Pre-concert talk; 7:00 PM Concert
Host: Music at Kohl Mansion
Description: The French trio is acclaimed by critics and audiences for its musical integrity and passionate interpretations, Program includes works by Camille Saint-Saëns, Germaine Tailleferre, and Maurice Ravel.
Location: 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame
Cost: Tickets: $62 (adult), $60 (senior, 62+) and $30 (age 30 and under)