Quote of the week

"At the end of the day, it's not about what you have or even what you've accomplished. It's about what you've done with those accomplishments. It's about who you've lifted up, who you've made better. It's about what you've given back."

– Denzel Washington, American actor

PlayLOCAL!

Celebrate Parks and Recreation Month with us this July! Bike, walk or run to your local park to join us for PlayLOCAL!, an hour of guided outdoor play and games. Attendees can also pack a picnic and bring a blanket to stay and chat with their friends and neighbors afterward. PlayLOCAL! events are from 11 a.m.–noon each Tuesday in July. Plus, join us for a bubbly surprise at the PlayLOCAL! series finale on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Willow Oaks Park. Click any event below to learn more.

• July 7, Nealon Park
• July 14, Karl E. Clark Park
• July 21, Burgess Park playground
• July 28, Sharon Park playground
• Aug. 8, Willow Oaks Park

4th of July community parade, picnic and circus

The City of Menlo Park invites you to celebrate the 4th of July and America's 250th anniversary with a community parade, picnic and free, all-new performances by Circus Bella. Bring a picnic basket and blanket, join the parade and get ready for a memorable day of celebration and entertainment. Please register in advance to receive important event information and the chance to win some very cool prizes. Join us on Saturday, July 4, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Burgess Park, 701 Laurel St. Admission is free. Learn more.

Giving 4th

Giving 4th is part of a national movement for America250, which aims to "engage all 350 million Americans" in donating to a charitable cause. Here are some excellent ways to participate in Giving 4th that also benefit our local community. All donation funds raised are used to provide community events, programs and educational services. 

• Event sponsorships – Do you love our 4th of July event, the Summer Concert Series and other celebrations? Event sponsors help make Menlo Park events the very best that they can be!
• Basketball league sponsors – Want something that feels a little more personal? Sponsor a 3v3 basketball league!
• The Menlo Park Library Foundation – A dedicated volunteer organization that raises funds to support library services and capital projects. The Foundation supported the opening of the Belle Haven Library and continues to support ongoing services such as the seed library, Little Free Libraries and Youth Poetry Voices. 
• Friends of the Menlo Park Library – The impact of Friends of the Menlo Park Library in providing funding support for City of Menlo Park programs cannot be overstated. If you’ve been to any library program, chances are it was made possible by the group. They accept monetary donations and resellable books, DVDs and CDs. If you're unable to donate, you can also help by shopping at the Friends of Menlo Park Library's Amazon storefront.

Summer Concert Series begins July 8 with Eagles tribute band

Get ready for an incredible summer of music and fun at Fremont Park and Karl E. Clark Park with the City of Menlo Park's Summer Concert Series! Grab your lawn chairs, blankets and all your favorite picnic essentials as you enjoy music at twilight with your family and friends. All concerts start at 6 p.m. The series begins July 8 and runs weekly through Aug. 12.

Our first summer concert performance is by the Boys of Summer, an Eagles tribute band known as one of the top touring Eagles tribute bands in America! See other concert dates, locations and bands.

Summer Swim Lessons in Menlo Park

Have you signed up for summer swim lessons in Menlo Park yet? Menlo Swim & Sport offers lessons Monday–Thursday (four lessons per session) and single-booking lessons on Saturday at Belle Haven and Burgess Pools. Sunday single-bookings are also available at Burgess Pool. Resident discounts, Belle Haven Hyperlocal discounts and scholarships are available. Registration is open now with sessions through Aug. 30! Learn more.

Summer Puppetry Festival

Kids love puppetry, and each summer, the City of Menlo Park celebrates the art of puppetry in its many forms with a series of puppet shows and events featuring performers from throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

• Pop and Go Puppets: Wildspaces! performance. Scamper Squirrel is in trouble! It appears his tree is about to be torn down by bulldozers. In a forest farce full of shady characters and mistaken identities, Scamper is going to need a lot of help from the audience. Participate on Sunday, June 28, from 11–11:45 a.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave.

Summer Reading Game has begun!

Enjoy the magic of a good summer read with the Summer Reading Game. Readers can earn prizes and free books courtesy of Friends of Menlo Park Library. Players of all ages are welcome to join and participate through Aug. 31. Learn more.

Teen and adult gymnastics

Only a few spots left! Gymnastics now offers a class that welcomes both beginner and higher-level gymnasts for ages 13 and older. Students will work on flexibility, strength training, tumbling and skills on gymnastics equipment. This class includes instructor-led exercises and personal exploration of gymnastics skills. Participate on Tuesdays from 7–7:50 p.m. at the Arrillaga Family Gymnastics Center, 510 Laurel St. Learn more.

Tea and Tarot is in your near future (tomorrow)

Tomorrow, bring your favorite deck of tarot cards and join us for tea and conversation while you practice your skills in reading the tarot. Although this isn't an instructional course, you'll meet like-minded people who can share their tarot experiences. Participate on Sunday, June 21, from 3–4 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

More free literary and cultural programs 

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

• Storytime. Join us for 30-minute-long storytimes at the library. Children and their caregivers will enjoy interactive early learning, featuring stories, songs and fun! 
  • Belle Haven Library – Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m., Fridays at 5:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 10:15 a.m.
  • Menlo Park Library – Thursdays at 10:15 a.m., Fridays at 10:15 a.m. and Saturdays at 11:15 a.m.

• Middle Grade Book Group. Ages six–12, join us to discuss this month's book, Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo. Participate on Saturday, June 20, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

• Library Makes. Join us to make pipe cleaner bouquets! Participate on Saturday, June 20, from 2–3:30 p.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Then, on Saturday, June 27, from 1:30–4 p.m., we're making needle felting animals. Learn more.

• Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Group. Join our Science-Fiction and Fantasy Book Group online or in person to discuss Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Participate online via Zoom or in person at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., on Monday, June 22, from 6:30–7:45 p.m. Learn more.

• A Historical Look at the Art of Drag. Explore the cultural history of drag as a powerful form of artistic expression! Join us on Monday, June 29, from 6–7 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

• Global Language Storytime: Thai. Experience a special storytime featuring stories, singing and learning in Thai! Participate on Tuesday, June 30, from 7:15–7:45 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!