Looking for events and things to do in Palo Alto? In the heart of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto pairs Stanford University culture with a refined calendar of arts and community events. This local guide covers Palo Alto’s biggest annual festivals, recurring markets and events, seasonal highlights, and how to find out what’s happening this weekend — straight from the people who live here.
Palo Alto’s biggest annual events & festivals
Palo Alto’s signature events include the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts on University Avenue, the May Fête Parade (a beloved community tradition), the Stanford Jazz Festival and countless Stanford lectures and performances, the Moonlight Run & Walk, and the Chinese New Year and cultural celebrations reflecting its diverse community.
Farmers markets & recurring things to do in Palo Alto
The Palo Alto farmers markets (California Avenue and downtown) run in season, and University Avenue, California Avenue, and the Stanford campus host regular concerts, art fairs, and world-class lectures and performances year-round.
Palo Alto through the seasons
Spring brings the May Fête Parade and campus events; summer offers the Festival of the Arts, the Stanford Jazz Festival, and farmers markets; fall features Stanford football and cultural festivals; and winter fills the campus arts calendar.
What to know about Palo Alto events
Downtown and California Avenue are walkable, and Caltrain and the Stanford campus are event hubs. Stanford’s lectures and performances are a major (often free) draw. Festivals bring street closures downtown.
What’s happening in Palo Alto this weekend
Printed event calendars go stale fast, and the best local happenings — pop-ups, block parties, last-minute shows — often never make the official listings. The most current, honest answer to “what’s going on this weekend?” comes from neighbors. On Neighborhood Nurturers’ Palo Alto community, real Palo Alto residents post and discuss what’s happening right now. For more ideas any time, see our guide to the best things to do in Palo Alto. Join your Palo Alto neighbors free and never miss what’s happening →
Fitting it into a day in Palo Alto
The best events here are seasonal and neighborhood-driven, so timing is everything. What sets Palo Alto apart is how close everything sits together. Start near the Stanford campus and free Cantor Arts Center, work in one of the spots from this guide, and you are minutes from the Baylands Nature Preserve if you want to keep going. Locals often round out the local calendar with a detour to Foothills Nature Preserve or a quieter stop at University Avenue. Because the distances are short, you can improvise as you go rather than lock the whole day down in advance.
More Palo Alto guides
Palo Alto rewards people who dig a little deeper. These related guides map the same neighborhoods from different starting points: Things to do in Palo Alto, Free things to do in Palo Alto, Things to do with kids in Palo Alto — enough to plan a whole day or two.
Get a local’s take
Guides are a starting point; the current, on-the-ground details come from people who live in Palo Alto. Hours shift, favorites change, and residents always know what is genuinely worth it now. Ask Palo Alto neighbors directly or join your town community free to hear from real locals.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest events in Palo Alto?
The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, the May Fête Parade, the Stanford Jazz Festival, and countless Stanford University lectures and performances.
Does Palo Alto have a farmers market?
Yes — the California Avenue and downtown farmers markets run in season.
What’s happening in Palo Alto this weekend?
Palo Alto neighbors share the most current local events — from Stanford happenings to downtown festivals — in our community.