Quote of the week

"You cannot define a person on just one thing. You can't just forget all these wonderful and good things that a person has done because one thing didn't come off the way you thought it should come off."

– Aretha Franklin, American musician

Summer Concert Series

Summer Concert audiences are in for two high-energy concerts this week. Don't forget to pack your chairs, blankets and favorite picnic essentials. Concerts run weekly through Aug. 12. See the full series lineup and details.

Smokin' Slice of Mojo brings the fun to a concert packed with classics from beloved artists such as Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. Join us on Wednesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. at Fremont Park.

Patron Latin Rhythms is bringing the sounds of Latin Jazz, Mambo, Latin Rock, Salsa and R&B to the park, guaranteed to keep the audience on their feet. Join us on Friday, July 31, at 6 p.m. at Karl E. Clark Park.

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

Bay Area Discovery Museum 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.

Mister Softee is visiting PlayLOCAL! at Sharon Park

Come out and play with us as we celebrate Parks and Recreation Month! Bike, walk or run to your local park to join us for PlayLOCAL!, an hour of guided outdoor play and games at your local park. Pack a picnic and blanket to stay and chat with your friends and neighbors afterward. Plus, fan favorite ice cream vendor Mister Softee will be out selling treats to help beat the heat. PlayLOCAL! is held from 11 a.m.–noon.

• July 28, Sharon Park playground
• Aug. 8, Willow Oaks Park (with a bubble surprise)

Friends of the Library Book Sale today!

Join us today for a huge book sale! The Friends of the Menlo Park Library have thousands of items to offer in all categories. Most items are priced at $1 or $2. All funds raised support library programs and events. Participate today, July 25, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Available items include:

• Adult fiction and non-fiction
• Children's books 
• CDs
• DVDs
• Collectibles
• Board games
• Puzzles

Learn more.

Summer Puppetry Festival: Tommy's Space Adventure!

Join us for a wacky, spaced-out comedy adventure! Tommy loves books about outer space and space aliens. His greatest wish is to someday meet a real, live space alien. Little did Tommy know, his wish was about to come true. Find out what happens on Thursday, July 30, from 10:15–11 a.m. on the Menlo Park Library lawn, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

Garden talk: Fall crops to grow now

If you've been thinking about starting a garden, join us online to learn about easy-to-grow veggies and greens for the fall. We'll cover what varieties grow well in our area and when and how to get them started. Participate online via Zoom on Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Learn more.

Sign up for Summer Swim Camp! Spots still available!

Have you signed up for Camp Menlo yet? Camp Menlo at Burgess Pool offers camps for kids ages five–14 with plenty of swim-friendly options! Camps run Monday–Friday, from 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., with after-camp care available from 1:30–4:30 p.m. Camps are available through Aug. 14. Resident discounts are available. Learn more.

More free literary and cultural programs 

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

• The Art of the Puppet. Enjoy an interactive presentation on the art of puppetry, from creation to performance. Join us on Sunday, July 26, from 11–11:45 a.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.

• Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Group. Join our Science-Fiction & Fantasy Book Group to discuss The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. Participate online via Zoom or in person at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., on Monday, July 27, from 6:30–7:45 p.m. Learn more.

• Global Language Storytime. Join us for a special storytime featuring stories, songs and movement in Korean! Participate on Wednesday, July 29, from 12:15–12:45 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

• Drag Game Night. Adults aged 18 and older, save your spot for a very special after-hours game night! Pre-registration is free but required. Join us on Friday, July 31, from 6:30–8 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

• Music: Jazz and Broadway Hits with Alexander Taite. Join us for a jazz musical experience! Alexander Taite's one-man show shares Broadway hits and big band standards. Participate on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 1–1:50 p.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.

• Co-Writing Workshop. Join us for fun prompts, free writes and literary community! This workshop is a chance to connect with other writers and to discuss and share creative works with like-minded people. Participate on Sunday, Aug. 2, from 2–3 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

• Melanated Women Read. This month, we will discuss Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux. Join us online via Zoom on Monday, Aug. 3, from 6:30–8 p.m. Learn more.

• Middle Grade Book Group Author Visit. For kids aged six–12: join us for a virtual Q&A with bestselling author Alyson Gerber, author of The Liars Society series. Participate online via Zoom on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 5–5:45 p.m. 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!