With long days and near-perfect temperatures, summer is one of the best times of the year in Palo Alto, California. If you're ready to start making summer plans, there are a variety of events you may want to add to your calendar. Whether you're interested in art, music, or food, there's an event for you to enjoy this summer. Here are six summer events happening in the Palo Alto area.

Stanford Jazz Festival

After a two-year hiatus, the Stanford Jazz Festival will return in 2022 for its 50th-anniversary celebration. For the anniversary year, past artists who have performed at the festival and taught workshops will return to Stanford University, teaching their techniques during the day and dazzling audiences with performances in the evening.

This year, Grammy Award winner Eliane Elias will officially open the festival with a concert on June 18 at Bing Concert Hall. The festival continues through the end of July with a variety of workshops and performances. Musicians performing at the festival in 2022 include Patrice Rushen, Bobby McFerrin, and Faye Carol. Jazz singer Dianne Reeves, a five-time Grammy Award winner, will close the festival on July 30 with a performance at Frost Amphitheater.

You can purchase tickets for the festival online. Ticket prices vary for each performance and program. Check the event website for more information.

July 4th Celebration

While you have many options for celebrating the Fourth of July in the Bay Area, it's worth attending Palo Alto's July 4th Celebration. The annual event features live music, games and activities for kids, and various local vendors serving delectable food and drinks. Typically, the highlight of the event is a chili cook-off, where cooks face off in the hopes of winning one of the competition's coveted awards. In the past, judges have awarded cash prizes to the best overall winners.

The Palo Alto July 4th Celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 4. It's held at Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive. The city recommends bringing your own chairs, picnic mats, and reusable water bottles. It's free to attend.

Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival

It doesn't get much better than an outdoor festival featuring art and wine. The popular Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival will take place in downtown Los Altos this summer for its 43rd year. Local and national artists will showcase their creative artwork at the festival. In addition to art, the festival will highlight select vintage wines from some of the top local wineries in the Bay Area.

Other highlights of the festival include live entertainment on two stages each day, including an opening night concert with The Megatones on Saturday evening. There will be a variety of foods at the festival, and a Kidzone area will provide entertainment for children all weekend long. The festival takes place on Main and State streets in downtown Los Altos. This year, it will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 9 and 10. Admission is free.

Clay and Glass Festival

Find some new art pieces for your home or garden at the Clay and Glass Festival in Palo Alto. For 29 years, the festival has provided a central location for talented artists to display their clay and glass pieces in one place. The festival typically features a number of artists who display and sell their unique works of art, such as geometric sculptures, glazed pottery, or blown glass. For two days, attendees can stroll the grounds, meet local artists, and support their work.

In 2022, the Clay and Glass Festival, hosted by the Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 9 and 10 at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road. Over 100 clay and glass artists will have their artwork available for sale. There will be various food trucks with food and beverages available for purchase. Admission to the festival is free. There's free street parking near the festival site, and valet parking will be available at the Art Center for a fee.

Shakespeare in the Park

Make the short trip to nearby Redwood City for Shakespeare in the Park. This year, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival will bring performances of "Much Ado About Nothing" to Redwood City for three weekends as part of its 40th season. William Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy tells the love stories of two couples with plenty of twists and turns. Don't miss this chance to see high-quality professional theater for free in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Free Shakespeare in the Park has brought Shakespeare to communal audiences since 1983. This year, you can catch a performance in Redwood City on Saturdays and Sundays from Aug. 13 through 28. All performances take place at 4 p.m. It's free to attend the show. Redwood City locations have yet to be announced for 2022, so check the city's website for more information.

Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

Featuring local artists, live entertainment, and delicious food, the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts is a must-attend summer event. The festival, now in its 39th year, often attracts 150,000-plus people to downtown Palo Alto in the summer. This year, 300 artists and crafters will display their beautiful works of art along University Avenue. There will be gourmet food, fine wines, and micro-brews available for purchase at this year's festival.

This year, a festival favorite will return to create a temporary on-the-ground art exhibit. Over 60 chalk artists will participate in the Italian Street Painting Expo, creating large-scale works of art on Tasso Street to benefit Palo Alto's Youth Community Service. Other events at the festival include an arts and crafts area for kids, an upcycled chandelier visual art display, and an outdoor piano for festival attendees to play.

The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 28 on University Avenue in Palo Alto. Free parking is available near the festival site.

Now you know all about six summer events happening in Palo Alto this year. What events do you plan to put on your summer calendar? If you're a local, did we miss one of your favorite summer activities in the area? Send us a message or stop by our dealership to let us know. You can also call Volvo Cars Palo Alto at (650) 353-4700 We enjoy spotlighting local events to help others explore everything our community has to offer. Check out our other blog posts for more information about unique places and events in the Palo Alto area.