There is plenty to keep you entertained, educated and civically engaged this week in Richmond and nearby.
Highlights include: Community meetings on air quality and sea level rise as well as a plethora of holiday events and a new free adult basketball league.
For more, see our list of ongoing things to do (many of which are free). Also, don’t forget to add your events to our free community calendar.
- Festival Opera at the Mac returns
- Bird watching hike and community cleanup along Richmond creek
- City-sponsored adult basketball league starting up
- Dress like Santa and hop on a bicycle
- Crafts, Santa photos, movie at neighborhood holiday event
- Gifts, activities at 63rd annual Richmond Art Center festival
- “Noisy” Hanukkah fair at Richmond temple
- Crafts, food at winter fair at community school
- Learn about the dangers of rising sea levels along Richmond’s coast
- Submit your photographs of tidal flooding along Richmond shoreline
- North Richmond school fundraiser will provide gifts for students
- Holiday dinner helps provide stuffed bears to comfort children
- Chevron meeting is seeking public feedback on air quality
- Hike and story time at Richmond library
- Related stories
Festival Opera at the Mac returns
Catch a night at the opera at a historic hotel in Point Richmond.
This month’s Festival Opera at the Mac will feature mezzo-soprano Leandra Ramm and tenor Adam Chase.
The series, which began last summer, presents opera on the first Friday of every month at Biancoverde, the Italian restaurant at the Hotel Mac.
The next opera evening will be Jan. 2. The monthly events are described as an operatic jam session that feature opera artists from all over the Bay Area.
Festival Opera at the Mac, Fri., Dec. 5, 50 Washington Ave., 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free but registration is recommended.
Bird watching hike and community cleanup along Richmond creek
You can scan the skies for seasonal birds and help clean up a local creek on Saturday.
The Baxter Creek Community Day is co-sponsored by the Golden Gate Bird Alliance and The Watershed Project.
The free event will begin with a bird watching hike from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. along Baxter Creek and the nearby park. Winter birds such as the yellow-rumped warbler, the Townsend’s warbler, and the cedar waxwing may be visible.
The effort then shifts to a community cleanup along Baxter Creek from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will be asked to help plant native plants in a pollinator garden and bioswale as well as pick up trash along the creek.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Baxter Creek Community Day, Sat., Dec. 6, 8 a.m. to noon, Booker T. Anderson Community Center, 960 South 47th St. Free.
City-sponsored adult basketball league starting up
A city-sponsored league for adult basketball is kicking off this weekend.
The Indoor Adult Basketball Open Gym is free and open to anyone 18 years and older. All genders are welcome.
Preregistration isn’t required. Participants can show up and play. Information on future games will be disseminated after the initial contests.
Indoor Adult Basketball Open Gym, Sat., Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Richmond Recreation Complex, 3230 Macdonald Ave. Free.
Dress like Santa and hop on a bicycle
You can pedal into the holidays at a Santa-themed community bicycle ride.
Rich City Rides is sponsoring a Bike Santa-con this weekend.
Participants are urged to dress up like Santa Claus and ride through the streets of Richmond with other cycling enthusiasts.
The event is free and all ages are welcome. The ride will begin at Unity Park.
Santa-con bike ride, Sat., Dec. 6, 9 a.m., Unity Park, 1605 Ohio Ave., Free.
Crafts, Santa photos, movie at neighborhood holiday event
A Richmond neighborhood is holding a holiday event with a variety of activities.
A Holiday with Belding Woods will include arts and crafts as well as photo sessions with Santa and the showing of the holiday movie “Abominable.”
The family-oriented community event is free. It’s described as promoting “community bonding while fostering a sense of belonging.”
The Belding Woods neighborhood is in central Richmond just north of the City Central area.
A Holiday with Belding Woods, Sat., Dec. 6, Noon to 4 p.m., location provided after registration, Free.
Gifts, activities at 63rd annual Richmond Art Center festival
You can get an early jump on the holidays and pick up some original gifts at an annual arts sale.
The 63rd Annual Holiday Arts Festival will feature handmade arts, crafts and ceramics from more than 60 local artists.
There will also be food, drinks, community partner pop-ups and art activities for all ages.
Holiday Arts Festival, Sun., Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave. Free.
“Noisy” Hanukkah fair at Richmond temple
Members of all faiths can join in a community celebration of the Festival of the Lights.
The Crazy, Noisy Hanukkah Fair is designed as a family friendly gathering that promotes joy and laughter.
The free event sponsored by Temple Beth Hillel will feature children’s activities, a homemade latke lunch, a bake sale and raffle prizes.
Guests are encouraged to bring menorahs and join in a communal candle lighting.
“We welcome everyone to join us, whether you’re part of the Jewish community or simply curious to experience Hanukkah,” said the event organizers.
Crazy, Noisy Hanukkah Fair, Sun., Dec. 7, noon to 2 p.m., Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central Street, Richmond. Free.
Crafts, food at winter fair at community school
You can enjoy some holiday music and food as well as purchase some artsy gifts at a gathering at Wildcat Canyon Community School in Richmond.
The Wintertide Faire will feature artisan crafts, nutritious food, a bake-off, solstice activities and music.
The event is described as a “soulful alternative to a commercially-driven holiday.” Admission is free. Adults and children are welcome.
Wintertide Faire, Sun., Dec. 7, noon to 5 p.m., Wildcat Canyon Community School, 3800 Clark Road. Free.
Learn about the dangers of rising sea levels along Richmond’s coast
City officials are sponsoring a community forum to formulate plans on how to deal with rising sea levels along the shorelines of Richmond.
The Sea Level Rise Adaptation and Resiliency Plan will inform the public about Richmond’s vulnerability to sea level rise caused by climate change.
It will also help local officials create a management framework to combat this threat to the city’s coast.
“With rising sea levels, our shoreline and neighborhoods may face growing risks from flooding, rising groundwater and loss of habitat,” city officials said. “This effort will build a community vision of how Richmond can prepare and adapt to these changes.”
Sea Level Rise Adaptation and Resiliency Plan, Tue., Dec. 9, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., RYSE Center, 3939 Bissell Ave., Free
Submit your photographs of tidal flooding along Richmond shoreline
Officials at the California Coastal Commission are asking residents to submit their photographs of coastal flooding during this winter’s king tides.
The California King Tides Project has been organized to document the impact these higher-than-usual tides have on the state’s shorelines.
The images are used by climate researchers to validate sea level rise models and assess local vulnerabilities to erosion and flooding.
Officials advise the public to prioritize safety when taking king tides photos. They caution people to stay clear of waves and always be aware of the ocean. They also ask residents to avoid approaching shore birds or other animals that may move inland during these high tides.
King tides are expected in the Richmond area this Thursday and Friday and on Jan. 2 and 3rd.
North Richmond school fundraiser will provide gifts for students
A holiday party that serves as a fundraiser will be held to celebrate the only school in North Richmond.
The goal of the Verde K-8 School Fundraiser is to raise $6,000 for the Verde students.
The money will be used to provide each Verde student with a new book and a school sweater.
The gifts will be given to the students at the holiday party.
Donations can be made online or by mailing a check.
“The students are bright, talented, and full of hope — but they face significant challenges. Every child at Verde qualifies for free or reduced lunch, underscoring the urgent need for resources and support,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, who sponsors the event.
Verde K-8 Holiday Party, Tues., Dec. 9, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Supervisor John Gioia’s office, 11780 San Pablo Ave., Suite D, El Cerrito. Free.
Holiday dinner helps provide stuffed bears to comfort children
The Santa Fe Neighborhood Council is hosting its annual holiday dinner to raise money and provide toy bears for children’s programs.
The Hug-a-Bear Annual Holiday Dinner will feature a dinner of prime rib, chicken piccata or eggplant parmesan along with a no-host bar and dancing.
Attendees are asked to bring a stuffed bear for the local fire and police department hug-a-bear programs that help comfort children during traumatic situations.
Proceeds go to after-school programs at Nystrom Elementary School as well as Santa Fe Neighborhood Council community events.
Hug-a-Bear Annual Holiday Dinner, Wed., Dec. 10, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Galileo Club, 371 South 23rd St. $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight.
Chevron meeting is seeking public feedback on air quality
Richmond residents will have a chance to provide input on air quality in their community.
Chevron is hosting the Community Air Monitoring Feedback Meeting to gather information on fenceline air monitoring systems at its Richmond refinery as well as ground level monitoring program at three locations around the plant. On Tuesday the Bay Area Air District announced a $900,000 settlement Chevron has agreed to pay for failing to properly monitor air pollution emissions at its Richmond refinery.
During this meeting, representatives from the Chevron Richmond Refinery and Sonoma Technology Inc., the software developer and website designer, will provide a formal presentation as well as solicit public feedback and respond to comments.
Community Air Monitoring Feedback Meeting, Thur., Dec. 11, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., CoBiz Richmond, 1503 Macdonald Ave., Suite A. Free.
Hike and story time at Richmond library
You can get in some reading and walking at an upcoming community event at the Richmond library.
The Hike and Storytime gathering will feature a themed storytime led by two Richmond librarians.
It will also include some nature exploration activities with East Bay Regional Park District naturalist Melissa Fowlks.
The event is free and no preregistration is required.
Hike and Storytime, Thur., Dec. 11, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Richmond Main Library, 403 Civic Center Plaza. Free.
For more things to do check out our recurring list of events. You can also post your events in our calendar.
