Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Events The King Papers Project at Stanford University hosts an annual open house and other events to commemorate the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday, and to celebrate the ideals for which he worked. All are welcome to come learn more about this national leader and the U. S. Civil Rights movement, and to view the permanent exhibit on King's life. KingPapers.org

Valentine's Tea Enjoy afternoon tea among the flowers at the Gamble Garden Center, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Docents also are on hand to give guided tours. Teas are held the third Wednesday of each month, year-round (except January, August and November) from 2-4 p.m. Advance reservations recommended. Call 650-329-1356 GambleGarden.org. E-mail: admin@GambleGarden.org.

Elephant Seal Tours Last chance of the season to see the elephant seals on tours at Ano Nuevo State Park. The 2-1/2-hour guided tours operate from Mid-December through March. There is an entry fee to the park, plus a vehicle-parking fee. Advance reservations are needed. No dogs allowed. Call 800-444-4445 for reservations; 650-879-0227 for recorded information. AnoNuevo.org

Sunrise Easter Service The Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry at Stanford University sponsors a sunrise Easter morning service up at "the Dish" at Stanford University every year. People of all faiths are invited to join in the singing, prayers and readings. Call 650-857-9660. elcm.stanford.edu

Earth Day in the Palo Alto area. Local groups plan creek clean-up projects, community forums and fun events in April leading up to Earth Day on April 22. Call 650-962-9876. Acterra.org

Gamble Garden Spring Tour Specially selected local private gardens and the Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden are on show on a Friday and Saturday in late April or early May each year. During Spring Tour days, Gamble Garden also features exhibits, talks, lunch and gift boutiques. Tickets for the tour can be purchased in advance or on the day of the event. Lunch is separate and must be reserved in advance. Call 650-329-1356. GambleGarden.org E-mail: admin@GambleGarden.org.

May Fete Parade Palo Alto's annual children's parade down University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto takes place on the first Saturday of May. Call 650-463-4921.

Stanford Powwow Billed as the largest gathering of Native Americans in California, this weekend-long, open-to-the-public celebration of American Indian culture takes place on the Stanford campus in the Eucalyptus Grove in early May, usually on Mothers' Day weekend. Call 650-723-4078. powwow.stanford.edu

Russian-American Fair Annual art and wine festival with Russian food and entertainment, activities for children, arts and crafts on a Sunday in May. Sponsored by the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center and held at 655 Arastradero Road (Terman Middle School), Palo Alto. Call 650-493-9400. PaloAltojcc.org

Hotdog Suppertime Productions The Palo Alto Children's Theatre presents one-hour-long performances for kids and their families, Tuesday-Friday at 6:30 p.m. in June and July. Located at the Roy A. Ginsburg Magic Castle Stage, 1305 Middlefield Road. Bring a picnic supper or purchase dinner there. The Secret Garden gate opens at 5:45 p.m. Call 650-463-4930. cityofpaloalto.org

Twilight Concert Series This series of free, outdoor evening concerts in various Palo Alto parks runs every year mid-June through mid-August. Concerts are held from 6:30-8 p.m. Bring a picnic! Call 650-463-4940. cityofpaloalto.org/concerts

Stanford Jazz Workshop and Festival Some of the country's preeminent jazz musicians come to the university for six weeks of workshops and concerts, from late June through early August. Concerts are held at the Braun Music Center, Dinkelspiel Auditorium and other venues. Call 650-736-0324. StanfordJazz.org

Summer Jazz Series A 10-week-long jazz series on Thursdays from June through August at Stanford Shopping Center, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Bring picnic and lawn chairs to the Clock Tower Plaza (near Neiman Marcus). Call 650-617-8200. StanfordShop.com

Concours d'Elegance The annual classic-car show in late June is sponsored by the Palo Alto Lions Club, and proceeds benefit South Bay charities. Held at Stanford University, the Concours traditionally includes a Gallery of Greats and two theme cars. Call 650-961-5444. paconcours.com

Fireworks at Frost Stanford Lively Arts hosts its annual pre-Independence Day concert at Frost Amphitheater on the Stanford campus. Tickets required. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking; concert begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. 650-725-ARTS. livelyarts.stanford.edu

Hotdog Suppertime Productions The Palo Alto Children's Theatre presents one-hour-long performances for kids and their families, Tuesday-Friday at 6:30 p.m. in June and July. Located at the Roy A. Ginsburg Magic Castle Stage, 1305 Middlefield Road. Bring a picnic supper or purchase dinner there. The Secret Garden gate opens at 5:45 p.m. Call 650-463-4930. cityofpaloalto.org

Summer Festival and Chili Cook-off Palo Alto's annual July 4 party is held in Mitchell Park from noon to 5 p.m., 600 E. Meadow Drive. Chili teams start cooking up spicy concoctions in the morning. Admission is free; tasting kits can be purchased for a nominal fee. Live musical entertainment and special children's activities included. Call 650-463-4921. cityofpaloalto.org/entertainment/chili.html

Summer Symphony The annual Summer Symphony to benefit Children's Health Council is one of the most popular outdoor events of the summer, held on a Sunday in mid-July. A noted guest artist performs at Stanford University's Frost Amphitheater. Call 650-617-3859. SummerSymphony.org

Bank of the West Classic The annual women's tennis tournament is held in July at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium, Stanford University. Call 866-WTA TIXS for ticket information. BankoftheWestClassic.com

Twilight Concert Series This series of free, outdoor evening concerts in various Palo Alto parks runs every year mid-June through mid-August. Concerts are held from 6:30-8 p.m. Bring a picnic! Call 650-463-4940. cityofpaloalto.org/concerts

Stanford Jazz Workshop and Festival Some of the country's preeminent jazz musicians come to the university for six weeks of workshops and concerts, from late June through early August. Concerts are held at the Braun Music Center, Dinkelspiel Auditorium and other venues. Call 650-736-0324. StanfordJazz.org

Summer Jazz Series A 10-week-long jazz series on Thursdays from June through August at Stanford Shopping Center, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Bring picnic and lawn chairs to the Clock Tower Plaza (near Neiman Marcus). Call 650-617-8200. StanfordShop.com

Obon Festival This two-day Buddhist religious festival has been held since 1950 at the Palo Alto Buddhist temple, 2751 Louis Road in Palo Alto on the first weekend in August. Call 650-856-0123.

Vintage Vehicles & Family Festival Held annually in early August at El Camino Park, the festival features antique cars, classics, hot rods, bicycles, motorcycles and more, as well as entertainment and food. Admission is free, but all other proceeds benefit the Museum of American Heritage. Call 650-321-1004. www.moah.org

Palo Alto Festival of the Arts The annual festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday in late August. University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto is filled with booths featuring fine arts, as well as food and wine. A benefit for the Chamber of Commerce. Call 650-324-3121. www.paloaltochamber.com

Twilight Concert Series This series of free, outdoor evening concerts in various Palo Alto parks runs every year mid-June through mid-August. Concerts are held from 6:30-8 p.m. Bring a picnic! Call 650-463-4940. cityofpaloalto.org/concerts

Stanford Jazz Workshop and Festival Some of the country's preeminent jazz musicians come to the university for six weeks of workshops and concerts, from late June through early August. Concerts are held at the Braun Music Center, Dinkelspiel Auditorium and other venues. Call 650-736-0324. StanfordJazz.org

Summer Jazz Series A 10-week-long jazz series on Thursdays from June through August at Stanford Shopping Center, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Bring picnic and lawn chairs to the Clock Tower Plaza (near Neiman Marcus). Call 650-617-8200. StanfordShop.com

Electric Vehicle Rally & Show This annual one day event held on a Saturday every September (occasionally it is held during August or October) features plug-in electric cars and hybrids. Visitors to the rally, which takes place at Palo Alto High School, 50 Embarcadero Road at El Camino Real, are invited to go on a three-mile loop through downtown Palo Alto in an electric car. A wide variety of vendors show their wares and share information about electric bicycles, motorcycles, scooters and solar panels. Food is available for sale. The rally boasts entertainment such as the Raging Grannies. Call 408-464-0711. eaasv.org.

To Life! A Jewish Cultural Street Festival The annual festival, presented by the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, takes place on a Sunday in September on California Avenue at El Camino Real in Palo Alto. This day-long celebration showcases fine art, traditional Jewish music, dancing and food. Call 650-852-3506. paloaltojcc.org

Palo Alto Weekly Moonlight Run & Walk Held on the Friday closest to the Harvest Moon in September or October. Participants can choose between a 10K run, a 5K run and a 5K walk through the Palo Alto Baylands. The runs and walk start and finish at the Baylands Athletic Center on Geng Road near Embarcadero Road. Call 650-463-4921. Information and registration at PaloAltoOnline.com E-mail: MoonlightRun@PaloAltoOnline.com.

The Winter Lodge This Palo Alto outdoor ice skating institution opens this month for ice skating lessons, parties, group lessons, and public skating throughout the winter season, September-April. The lodge is located at 3009 Middlefield Road. Call 650-493-4566. WinterLodge.com

Solar homes tour Reservations are usually needed by late September for this October tour of homes that utilize solar energy. Call Lindsay Joye at City of Palo Alto Utilities, 650-329-2680. cityofpaloalto.org/depts/utl/default.asp

Great Glass Pumpkin Patch Thousands of one-of-a-kind hand-blown glass pumpkins of all sizes and colors adorn the Palo Alto Art Center at the annual Glass Pumpkin Patch every year. Proceeds benefit the Bay Area Glass Institute, a nonprofit glass school promoting glass art, and the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation. Exhibition and Pumpkin Sale take place in October at the Palo Alto Art Center 1313 Newell Road at Embarcadero. Contact the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation 650-329-2366 paacf.org or BAGI at 408-993-2244 bagi.org E-mail: studio@bagi.org.

United Nations Association Film Festival This annual festival of documentary films from around the world starts out at Stanford University in October before traveling to other venues. UNAFF selects documentary films dealing with human rights, environmental survival, women's issues, protection of refugees, homelessness, racism, disease control, universal education, war and peace. The UNAAF encourages dialogue and action by humanizing global and local problems. Call 650-724-5544.unaff.org

Holiday Traditions, Filoli, 86 Canada Road, Woodside. A festive kickoff for the holiday season, Holiday Traditions takes place in late November, early December at the historic Filoli estate in Woodside. There will be evenings of food, music and dancing, children's parties and holiday teas in the beautifully decorated house. Call 650-364-8300 ext. 508. filoli.org

PAST Holiday Home Tours Get in the mood for the holidays and tour historic local homes in Palo Alto for this annual holiday season event on a Sunday afternoon in December. Call Palo Alto Stanford Heritage, 650-299-8878. pastheritage.org

Christmas Tree Lane A Palo Alto tradition since 1940. Lighted Christmas trees are set up and houses are festively decorated along a two-block stretch of Fulton Street, between Embarcadero Road and Seale Avenue.

Seniors' New Year's Eve Day Bash Palo Alto area seniors gather for this event held close to New Year's Eve that is sponsored by the Palo Alto Recreation Division. The bash is held at Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, with lunch and dancing. Call 650-463-4910. www.cityofpaloalto.org

California Avenue Farmers' Market Sponsored by the California Avenue Area Development Association, and hosted by the nonprofit Urban Village Farmers' Market Association, farmers sell a wide variety of organic and traditionally grown produce, fresh fish, assorted breads, cheese, fresh honey, Sundays, year-round; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 510-745-7100. urbanvillageonline.com/home.php; californiaavenue.org/caada e-mail: urbanvillage@earthlink.net

Elephant Seal Tours - See March.

Filoli tours Fields of daffodils herald spring at Woodside's Filoli estate, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Docent-led (by reservation) tours and self-guided tours of the house and the estate's 16 acres of gardens are held Tuesday-Sunday. From February to the end of October. Special events take place throughout the year. For calendar of events, hours and admission fees, call 650-364-8300 ext. 507. Filoli.org. See November for holiday events.

Palo Alto Farmers' Market The outdoor market opens the second Saturday in May and runs every Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon through the second Saturday in December. Farmers and merchants sell locally grown fruits and vegetables and other edibles including cheese, bread, honey, eggs, fish and flowers. Located on Gilman Avenue, behind the downtown Post Office on Hamilton Avenue. Music every Saturday, free parking underneath City Hall. A portion of the proceeds from booth rentals goes to Avenidas, which serves seniors on the Midpeninsula. Call 650-328-2827. pafarmersmarket.org

Palo Alto Players Palo Alto's community theater ensemble's season runs from September through June. All productions take place at Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Call 650-329-0891. paplayers.org

Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden Created on-site at Stanford by artists from Papua New Guinea, the garden contains wood and stone carvings of people, animals, and magical beings that illustrate clan stories and creation myths. Tours available on the 3rd Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. through mid-December. Free. Call 723-3469 or visit museum.stanford.edu. Meet at the corner of the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden, at Santa Teresa and Lomita Drive.

TheatreWorks presents its annual season of theater at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts and Lucie Stern Theater in Palo Alto. Productions run from June through April. Call 650-463-1960. theatreworks.org

West Bay Opera Palo Alto's own opera company opens its season in October and productions run through May. All performances are at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road. Call 650-424-9999. wbopera.org

The Winter Lodge This Palo Alto outdoor ice skating institution offers ice skating lessons, parties, group lessons and public skating throughout the winter season, September-April. The lodge is located at 3009 Middlefield Road. Call 650-493-4566. WinterLodge.com