Spring Into May Events in Palo Alto

Published on April 29, 2026

May is full of opportunities to connect, learn, and get involved in the community. Join beloved local traditions like the May Fete Parade and Fair or take part in Bike to Work/Wherever Days and National River Cleanup Day. Join conversations at the Neighborhood Town Hall and the Quarry Road Transit Connection Pedestrian & Bicycle Workshop or learn and connect through Mental Health First Aid training, Magical Bridge Community Partner Day, and the Homekey Palo Alto Community Celebration and Open House. Explore the lineup below and join us throughout May for activities that bring Palo Alto neighbors together.

Creative Connections and Youth Art

02 May 2026 Our annual showcase of youth creativity features artwork by students of all ages in Palo Alto Unified School District as well as artwork created in the Art Center’s artist-in-the-schools program in East Palo Alto, Creative Connections.

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May Fete Parade & Fair

02 May 2026 Celebrate the 102nd annual May Fete Parade & Fair! Join marching bands, floats and children's groups to recognize and celebrate people in our community who use their talents each day to improve our quality of life.

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

PAUSD Youth Art and Creative Connections Exhibitions

02 May 2026 Celebrate youth creativity this spring in two new exhibitions at the Palo Alto Art Center.

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Housekeeping for Artists: Organizing Your Creative Assets

02 May 2026 Housekeeping for Artists: Organizing Your Creative Assets with Cubberley Artist-in-Residence Brittany Bradley.

Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events

Julia Robinson Math Festival @ Magical Bridge

03 May 2026 The Julia Robinson Math Festival creates joyful, collaborative math experiences through hands-on games and puzzles that encourage creative problem-solving.

Magical Bridge Playground, 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306

1 more date

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

Magical Bridge Community Partner Day

03 May 2026 Connect and create together on the playground! Join us on the first Sunday of each month for a celebration of local nonprofits, small businesses, and community groups.

Magical Bridge Playground, 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306

1 more date

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

Magical Tennis

03 May 2026 Magical multi-session tennis class thoughtfully designed for neurodiverse players! All abilities welcome.

Mitchell Park Tennis Courts, 3800 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

Mini Music Lessons for Kids @ Magical Bridge

03 May 2026 Join us for Magical Bridge Music, a youth-led program designed to inspire young learners to explore music in a safe, inclusive, and joyful way. This engaging experience is led by a group of passionate high school students from The Nueva School who love music and want to share it with the community.

Magical Bridge Playground, 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306

1 more date

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

Bridges in Music @ Magical Bridge

03 May 2026 Bridges in Music is a youth musician program hosted by Magical Bridge Foundation that brings teen-led performances and hands-on workshops to the playground.

Magical Bridge Playground, 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306

1 more date

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

Meet the Artist: Phillip Hua

06 May 2026 Meet the Artist: Phillip Hua - webinar about his upcoming temporary mural on the Sherman Avenue Garage.

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events

PAUSD Youth Art Opening Celebration

06 May 2026 Join us to celebrate the annual showcase of youth creativity featuring artwork by students of all ages in Palo Alto Unified School District.

Tagged as: , Community Events

Meet the Artist Phillip Hua on California Avenue

07 May 2026 Stop by a pop-up table on California Avenue to meet artist Phillip Hua who is commissioned to create a temporary mural for the Sherman Avenue Parking Garage.

Birch St & California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events

Y2K Approved! Upcycled Graphic Tees

07 May 2026 Come to this workshop for teens and tweens to remake old or thrifted graphic tees.

Mitchell Park Library, 3700 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303

Tagged as: , Community Events

Harvesting Rainwater and Building a Rain Garden Webinar

07 May 2026 Learn about the critical role rain gardens play in the urban environment and how they add to your yard at the same time. This class will cover how to site, plan, and build your own rain garden.

Tagged as: , Activities & Classes , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

Quarry Road Transit Connection: Pedestrian & Bicycle Workshop

07 May 2026 Help improve bicycle and pedestrian access to the Palo Alto Caltrain Station and Transit Center as part of the Quarry Road Transit Connection project.

Palo Alto City Hall Lobby and Community Meeting Room, 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Tagged as: , Community Events, Other City Meetings

Mental Health First Aid Training

09 May 2026 Learn how to support your friends, families, neighbors, and community members by becoming certified in Mental Health First Aid.

Downtown Library, 270 Forest Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301

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Frozen with Palo Alto Players – Magical Series Relaxed Performance

09 May 2026 For the first time in forever, experience the musical phenomenon that has taken the world by storm! Join us for a relaxed, sensory-friendly performance of Frozen by Palo Alto Players!

Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Tagged as: , Activities & Classes , Community Events

Bangtan is Back: A BTS Celebration

09 May 2026 Celebrate the return of the BTS by singing along to the hits, crafting fan bracelets, and learning some choreography!

Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303

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Tour the Regional Water Quality Control Plant

13 May 2026 Take a free walking tour of the City's wastewater treatment plant. See how operators, scientists, and engineers work together to keep it operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Regional Water Quality Control Plant, 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303

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Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

Bike to Work/Wherever Days

14 May 2026 May is Bike Month, celebrate by participating in Bike to Work/Wherever Days!

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events, Community Events

Homekey Palo Alto Community Celebration & Open House

14 May 2026 Join the City of Palo Alto and LifeMoves to celebrate HomekeyPalo Alto, a new interim supportive housing community made possible through Project Homekey.

1237 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, CA

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Police Memorial to Honor Fallen PAPD Officers

15 May 2026 This National Police Week, join the Palo Alto Police Department in a short ceremony to honor the sacrifice of the three officers in Palo Alto history who have been killed in the line of duty.

Memorial Grove (at Cogswell Plaza), 264 Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Tagged as: , Community Events

National River Cleanup Day 2026

16 May 2026 Join the City of Palo Alto in National River Cleanup Day. Cleanup sites will be located at Adobe and Matadero Creeks. Gloves, litter sticks, bags, and snacks will be provided.

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Community Indigo Dye Extravaganza: Indigo Dye Day!

16 May 2026 Across three weekends, participants can sew, pattern, and dye their own textiles, including flags, bandanas, and bags. Learn a range of techniques—from stitching and folding to resist methods—before dipping your work into a shared community indigo vat.

Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303

Tagged as: , City Sponsored Events

Teen Arts Council DIY Self-Care Night

16 May 2026 Stop by for a bit of self T.L.C. in the middle of the busiest month of the school year!

Palo Alto Children's Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA

Tagged as: , Community Events

Master Gardeners Workshop

17 May 2026 Join us for an informative workshop presented by UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County!

Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303

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Author Event: Zareen and Umair Khan – High Chai and Conversation

17 May 2026 Join the founders of Zareen’s for conversation and high chai as they share their culinary journey through their cookbook, Zareen's Pakistani Kitchen: Recipes From a Well-fed Childhood.

Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303

Tagged as: , Community Events

Neighborhood Town Hall May 2026

20 May 2026 Neighborhoods: Barron Park, Greenacres I and II, Monroe Park and Palo Alto Orchards

Fire Station 5, 600 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Tagged as: , Other City Meetings

Stop the Bleed Training Class

21 May 2026 Become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. Multiple sessions available throughout the day.

City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Tagged as: , Activities & Classes

Newell Road Bridge Replacement Construction Start Celebration

21 May 2026 Join Palo Alto and East Palo Alto City Officials, Caltrans, Valley Water, and other regional partners to recognize the start of construction of the Newell Road Bridge Replacement Project.

Newell Road Bridge, 479 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303

Tagged as: , Community Events