Top Tickets: September 16-22

Diablo’s can’t-miss events of the coming week: Wine Walk in Walnut Creek, Cal Shakes’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream, new exhibits at Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, Dublin’s Day on the Glen, and jazz legend Wynton Marsalis.

It’s here: the last week of summer. Soak up the sun at outdoor events in Dublin, Lafayette, Orinda, and Walnut Creek. Or, head indoors to see living jazz legend Wynton Marsalis. Here are your Top Tickets…

September 16: Downtown Wine Walk
Take a stroll through downtown Walnut Creek, where merchants are offering wine tastings and special deals. Start at Pro Home Systems at 1561 Civic Drive for a wristband, map, and commemorative wine class. Downtown Walnut Creek, 6–9 p.m., $30, (925) 933-6778, walnutcreekdowntown.com.

September 16–October 11: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
California Shakespeare Theater concludes its season of outdoor performances with the Bard’s hilarious romantic comedy about young lovers, fairies, and a theater troupe caught in a magical mix-up. Aaron Posner, of New Jersey’s Two River Theatre Co., makes his Cal Shakes directorial debut. Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda, $32–$63, (510) 548-9666, calshakes.org.

September 19: Butterfly Art and Carl Brenders
The Lindsay Wildlife Museum opens two new exhibits: the butterfly-centric work of watercolor painter Elizabeth Koval Maffeo (through November 15), and the internationally acclaimed work of wildlife artist Carl Brenders (through September 27). Both are free with museum admission. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek, $5–$7 admission, (925) 935-1978, wildlife-museum.org.

September 19–20: Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
This popular annual street festival hosted by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce features live music on three stages, more than 250 arts and crafts booths, and a kids zone, as well as food, wine, and microbrews. Free parking and shuttle is available at the Lafayette BART station. Downtown Lafayette, Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., free, (925) 284-7404, lafayettechamber.org.

September 19–20: Day on the Glen
The theme for this annual Dublin festival is “Animal Adventure” and promises to go beyond a traditional petting zoo with appearances by Python Ron, the Wildlife Conservation Fund, and Sandi & Stevie. Plus, there will be live music and entertainment, an international food court, carnival rides, and a skateboard competition. Emerald Glen Park, at Tassajara Road and Gleason Drive, Dublin, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., free, (925) 556-4500, dayontheglen.com.

September 22: Wynton Marsalis
Pulitzer Prize and nine-time Grammy Award–winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis performs with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at Zellerbach Hall. Expect Ellington, Mingus, and Coltrane classics, plus some energetic original big band compositions. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, 8 p.m., $32–$80, (510) 642-9988, calperformances.org.

For even more events happening this week, browse the complete listings on Diablo’s Community Calendar. Follow Diablo on Twitter or Facebook (links below), and you'll be notified as soon as Top Tickets posts each Wednesday afternoon.

Posted at 12:22 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink