FOURTH OF JULY AT THE BERKELEY MARINA If you’re not going away for the long weekend and haven’t yet figured out your Fourth of July plans, consider heading down to the Berkeley Marina for a day of live entertainment, food and fireworks. The event starts at noon with musical performances by Bang Data, The Boston Boys, and others on the main stage. On the Buddy Club Stage in Shorebird Park, spectators will be treated to juggling, magic acts and Afro-Cuban drumming. Performances will go until 9:30 p.m. During this time, eventgoers can also indulge in dragon boat rowing (until 5 p.m.), massages, live pony rides, carnival rides and a fireworks show over the water at 9:35 pm. Food trucks and booths will be present as well. This year, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream co-founder Ben Cohen is also bringing his one-of-a-kind StampMobile to the event “to help stamp money out of politics on Independence Day.” Vehicle parking in the marina is $15 for the day and admission is free.
CUBAN MAESTRO FITO REINOSO & CLÁSICOS DE CUBA This Saturday, Ohmega Salvage will be hosting a Cuban dance party to celebrate 30 years of Cuban music in the Bay Area. From 1-3 p.m., there will be food trucks and music by Cuban Maestro Fito Reinoso and Clasico De Cuba. Attendees are also invited to participate in the store’s Fourth of July weekend sale. Ten percent of the sale’s proceeds will go to Youth Spirit ArtWorks.
Solo Art Exhibition ‘Treasure View’ by Sola Aina La Peña Cultural Center is showcasing the artwork of Sola Aina this Saturday from 6-8 p.m. Aina grew up in Nigeria where he received formal training at Osun State College of Art. He attempts to capture indigenous Western African cultures in his artwork so he can share it with the world. This particular exhibit, titled Treasure View, will feature beadworks, bead painting and tie-dye clothing from his home country. Admission is free.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR 14th DALAI LLAMA For the first time, members of the Tibetan Association of Northern California are having an open birthday celebration for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who was born July 7, 1935. They have held annual birthday events for the past two decades, but decided this year to welcome all cultures and ethnicities to “celebrate love, compassion and non-violence,” according to their website. The celebration will happen this Sunday at the Berkeley Marina’s César Chávez Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a vegetarian potluck, so everyone is invited to bring food, although plenty will be provided.
NIGHT TRAIN SCREENING The Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive is continuing its series, Martin Scorsese Presents Masterpieces of Polish Cinema, this Sunday at 5 p.m. with a screening of the 1959 movie Night Train. The film stars Lucyna Winnicka and Leon Niemczyk as Marta and Jerzy, two strangers who accidentally get placed in the same sleeping chamber on an overnight train to the Baltic Sea. Also onboard is Marta’s ex-lover, played by Zbigniew Cybulski, and a mysterious murderer who, as the story unfolds, may not be as mysterious as once thought. Tickets for the film range from $5.50 to $9.50.
Don’t miss these other events recently featured on Berkeleyside:
SF Jewish Film Festival: The Berkeley highlights
Kavita Shah: Bringing a world of jazz to Berkeley
Check out Berkeleyside’s event calendar for many more events, and make sure to post your own community happenings.