Quote of the week

"Here come the Sun King
Here come the Sun King
Everybody's laughing
Everybody's happy
Here come the Sun King"

– The Beatles, Sun King

Summer Concert Series Finale with the Sun Kings

People dancing in front of a band playing on stage

Here come the Sun Kings and they're bringing all your favorite Beatles classics to the Summer Concert Series finale. Bring your chairs, blankets and favorite picnic essentials to enjoy the concert and family-friendly games as we ring in The Almanac's 60th anniversary with them! Santa Cruz Avenue from University Drive to Johnson Street will be closed from 4–9 p.m. Join us on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. at Fremont Park. Learn more.

Thank you to our sponsors, The Almanac, West Bay Sanitary District and Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan, for supporting this annual summer series.

Last chance to join — 3v3 Basketball Tournament

Men playing basketball in red and blue jerseys

Join us for Menlo Park's Annual Summer 3v3 Basketball Tournament at the Arrillaga Family Gymnasium. Teams of up to four players (ages 18 and older) will compete in four guaranteed round-robin games before the top teams advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket. The team registration fee is $50. Learn more and register here!

The winning team will take home $1,500 in prizes, courtesy of our sponsors, Soleska Market and Agile Physical Therapy.

Bay Area Discovery Museum Try It Truck this Tuesday 

Kids doing science experiments in front of a blue "try it" truck

The Bay Area Discovery Museum Try It Truck invites young scientists to join STEM problem-solving as they move through a variety of design challenge stations. Kids in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to join the museum for an afternoon of science on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from noon–2 p.m. on the Menlo Park Library Lawn, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

This event received funding support from Friends of Menlo Park Library.

Fall activity classes and enrollment dates

Young boy playing pickleball

Learning is an adventure that yields lifelong benefits. The City of Menlo Park hosts a wide range of high-quality classes for all ages at reasonable rates, including fitness, dance, sports, gymnastics, music, drama, arts and crafts, lifelong learning and more. Enrollment dates have been announced and classes are available to preview. Learn more and preview classes.

Summer activity enrollment opens at 9 a.m. on:

  • Thursday, Aug. 13, for hyperlocal (Belle Haven Community Campus only)
  • Saturday, Aug. 15, for Menlo Park residents
  • Wednesday, Aug. 19, for non-residents

IMPORTANT NOTE: Menlo Park recently transitioned to a new payment processor. As a result, some previously saved payment methods may no longer work. If you experience an issue paying for a class, re-add your payment card by selecting "Add a New Card" in your account. To avoid delays, you may wish to do this before the enrollment dates.

Menlo Park Librarian reading lists

An open book resting on a stack of other books

You loved seeing what your local librarians were reading. We've heard your requests for more librarian book picks and they have been hard at work to deliver!

Fall Aquatics registration opens Aug. 16

Kids swimming with goggles, swim caps and kick boards

Keep the fun going at the pool this fall with Fall Swim Lessons, Bridge Swim and Fall Open Swim Passes at Burgess and Belle Haven Pools. Class schedules will be available to preview beginning Thursday, Aug. 13, so you can explore and plan. Spots fill quickly! Resident rates are available for Menlo Park residents. Plus, scholarships and Belle Haven hyperlocal resident discounts are available at Belle Haven Pool. Registration opens at noon on Sunday, Aug. 16.

Learn more and register

Library Makes "Bedazzling" is today

Collage of crafts

Join the Teen Advisory Group for a special Library Makes event to learn the craft of bedazzling! Participate today, Aug. 8, from 2–3:30 p.m. at Belle Haven Library, Makerspace, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.

Drop-in Chess Play

Person playing chess

Whether you're a grandmaster or just learning the basics, our friendly and welcoming environment is perfect for all levels. There is a $3 fee to play. Join us on Thursdays at 6 p.m. at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center in the Oak Room, 700 Alma St. Learn more.

Let's do lunch at Menlo Park Senior Center 

Cheeseburger with fries

For active older adults aged 60 and older: Check out the lunch menu at Menlo Park Senior Center. Freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals are made with local ingredients and paired with health, recreational, social, cultural and educational programs, plus opportunities for conversation and fun! Free, reliable transportation service is available. Join us Monday through Friday from morning to early afternoon at Menlo Park Senior Center, 100 Terminal Ave. See the menu.

Seed lending library

Garden gloved-hands holding three packets of vegetable seeds

With autumn around the corner, August is the perfect time to start gathering seeds and planning your garden. The seed lending library operates as a community seed exchange in which borrowers can "check out" a wide variety of vegetable and flower seeds to plant in their gardens for home use. Learn more.

More free literary and cultural programs 

Kids smiling and listening to someone reading a book during storytime

These free literary and cultural programs received funding support from Friends of Menlo Park Library.

  • Smiley Stories: Latin American Soul. Join us for a fun, action-filled bilingual performance by Colombian artists. Participate on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 11–11:45 a.m. at Belle Haven Library, Makerspace, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.

  • Fiction Book Group Author Visit. Join us online to discuss Crown City by Naomi Hirahara and meet the author! Participate online via Zoom on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 6:30–7:45 p.m. Learn more.

  • A Visit with Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop. Join us online to meet the daughters of the legendary Shari Lewis: Mallory and Lamb Chop! Participate online via Zoom on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 1–2 p.m. Learn more.

  • Middle Grade Book Group (ages six–12). Join us to discuss this month's book: The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber. Participate on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

  • Tea and Tarot. Join us for tea and conversation around the tarot deck. Socialize and practice your skills in reading the tarot. Participate on Sunday, Aug. 16, from 3–4 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

  • Mystery Readers Group. This month, we're reading Japanese mysteries. Join us online via Zoom to discuss on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 6–7:15 p.m. Learn more.

  • Teen Book Group (ages 12–17). Join us to discuss this month's book, Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C. B. Lee. Participate on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more. 

  • Global Language Storytime: Portuguese. Join us for a special storytime featuring books, rhymes and fun in Portuguese! Participate on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 3:30–4 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

Check out more free community programs
The above was just a sample of the many free activities hosted by the City of Menlo Park this week. Check out the community events calendar to see them all!

See more free programs