The Tri-Valley offers many opportunities to enjoy a variety of traditions, holidays, and events during the autumn. “Fall is a magical time of year in the Tri-Valley,” says Amber Haley, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager for Visit Tri-Valley, the region’s destination marking nonprofit. “Restaurants and cafes start highlighting seasonal flavors and comfort foods, wineries are wrapping up harvest season and prepping for cozy indoor experiences, and we get a really beautiful display of fall colors.”

Fall Festivals and Farmers Markets

This year the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show returns to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton on October 24, 25, and 26 between 10 am and 4 pm. As Haley notes, “this long-running market brings together hundreds of artisan-creators showcasing handcrafted jewelry, wood art, glass, metalwork, one-of-a-kind décor and specialty foods. With live entertainment and a dedicated KidZone, it is a fall shopping destination for makers and fans alike. Admission covers all three days, making it easy to explore at your own pace.”

Locals and visitors alike have a new seasonal market to explore in Dublin. The Friday Night Market at St. Pat's Row began in September. It will also be held on Friday, October 24 and Friday, November 21 between 5 and 9 pm. According to Haley, the event features live entertainment and cultural performances, family friendly activities and games, outdoor dining with a variety of cuisines, and handmade crafts, artisan products, and local treasures.

Autumn is an especially fine time to enjoy local farmers markets as well. “Farmers markets are social events that build, support, and link urban and rural communities by fostering economic opportunities, creating public space, and vitalizing neighborhoods,” according to “The Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts of Farmers Markets: Recent Evidence from the U.S.,” a paper published in the journal Sustainability. “More specifically, markets connect citizens as neighbors, consumers, producers, and community groups to the food system, providing opportunities for social interaction, commerce, entertainment, and information transfer. Bringing people together at markets can directly benefit public health by providing a source of healthy foods as well as fostering a social atmosphere that promotes interaction, education, and potentially positive behavior change.”

The Tri-Valley offers a wealth of opportunities to enjoy these beneficial events, with three year-round farmers markets. The Farmers’ Market in Pleasanton is held downtown at West Angela and Main Streets on Saturdays between 9 am and 1 pm. The Danville Farmers' Market at 205 Railroad Avenue is also held on Saturdays during the same hours. Livermore’s Farmers Market is held on Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm downtown at 206 South J Street.

Notable Events This Season

Seasonable events sell out quickly, which makes it important to buy tickets as early as possible. Tickets for the annual Niles Canyon Railway Train of Lights, for example, typically disappear by the end of October. Those lucky enough to nab tickets enjoy a 1.5-hour-long round trip through Niles Canyon aboard antique coaches and open cars. The train is decorated with holiday lights and decorations inside and out and filled with refreshments, music, and cheer, according to officials of the nonprofit Pacific Locomotive Association, which operates the trains. Travel on the Train of Lights, which is the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser, runs between November 21 and December 30, 2025. Tickets for this holiday event go on sale Saturday, October 25, at 10 am.

Many Tri-Valley families enjoy cultural performances as a holiday tradition. The annual performance of Handel’s Messiah by the Pacific Chamber Orchestra is a notable example. This year, the popular and often sold-out event will be held at 3 pm on November 30 at Livermore’s Bankhead Theater. The Livermore-Amador Symphony Joyful Sounds Of the Season concert also takes place at the Bankhead Theater at 8 pm on Saturday, December 6. Organizers encourage the public to put themselves in the holiday spirit by enjoying beautiful seasonal music, featuring Bay Area violist Jenny Douglass. Do not miss the Livermore Amador Symphony’s free family holiday concert held live at the Bankhead on the same day, December 6, at 3 pm. While the event is free, tickets are required and will disappear quickly.

The activities listed above are just a sample of those available in the region. There are many other upcoming holiday performances as well as other seasonal events and activities that are easy to discover courtesy of Visit Tri-Valley; its event platform, The Vibe; and its 2025 Inspiration Guide. Whatever the reason or season, residents and visitors will always find plenty to do in the Tri-Valley.

For more information about the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show in Pleasanton, please visit www.harvestfestival.com/pleasanton.

For more information about Dublin’s new Friday Night Market at St. Pat's Row, please visit www.dublin.ca.gov/2832/Friday-Night-Market-at-St-Pats-Row.

Photo by Jordan Ling on Unsplash