Happy Wednesday, Walnut Creek.

💡 Did you know the first American settler in W.C. was William Slusher, who arrived in 1849?

Now somewhere between a morning walk on the trail and a stop for coffee, it becomes clear there’s always something going on around town. This week’s Digest highlights a mix of events and local moments worth knowing about, whether you’re making plans or just staying in the loop.

In today’s edition:

Let’s get to it.

— Sean Casey

Walnut Creek is getting an underwater night out, no scuba gear required. Diablo Ballet is bringing The Little Mermaid to the Lesher Center for a two-day run, featuring a brand-new ballet choreographed by Julia Adam inspired by the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale.

It’s a great pick for a date night, a friend outing, or bringing the littles to watch their smiles light up. An extra bonus is the Lesher calendar lists complimentary extras for ticket holders, including pre-performance talks and a post show, meet-and-greet with autograph signing after the Saturday performances.

📍 Where: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr
📅 When: Fri, Feb 6 | 7:30 PM; Sat, Feb 7 (2:00 PM and 7:30 PM)
💲 Price: $30–$59

Get Tickets

If you want weekend plans that come with wagging tails and good energy, Joybound People & Pets is hosting its annual Unleash the LOVE festival and adopt-a-thon. Expect adoptable pets from rescue groups across Northern California, plus a festival setup with food, music, and a beer garden. It’s family-friendly, easy to drop into for 20 minutes or two hours, and it’s a solid “do something nice and leave in a better mood” kind of outing. The festival itself is free, and there’s also an optional fun run/walk with registration if you want to earn your snacks.

📍 Where: Joybound Campus, 2890 Mitchell Dr
📅 When: Sat, Feb 7 (Festival 11:00 AM–3:00 PM; Fun Run/Walk starts 10:00 AM)
💲 Price: Festival is free; Fun Run/Walk registration $25 for adults & $15 for kids

Register For The Event

This Galentine’s Gathering is all about celebrating connection, friendship, and the women who make Walnut Creek feel like home. Designed as a feel-good evening rather than a formal event, it brings people together to connect, support local causes, and enjoy time with friends old and new. Expect a welcoming atmosphere with thoughtful touches, conversation, and opportunities to engage with community-focused initiatives. It’s a great fit if you’re looking for a social night that feels meaningful and festive without being over the top. Come with friends, or arrive solo and leave with a few new connections.

📍 Where: Industrious , 1212 Broadway Plaza #Suite 2100
📅 When: Friday, February 6th | 6pm – 9pm
💲 Price: $25

Get Tickets

A special Lunar New Year storytime is happening at the Walnut Creek Library, featuring children’s author Oliver Chin. The program highlights his latest zodiac-themed book for the Year of the Horse, and includes a drawing activity afterward so kids can leave with something they made. It’s geared toward families and younger kids, and it’s the perfect screen-free activity.

📍 Where: Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N Broadway
📅 When: Thu, Feb 5, 4:30–5:15 PM
💲 Price: Free

Event Details

If trading cards are your thing, or you have someone at home who can spot a rare Pokémon card from across the room, the TCG Verse Card Show is coming to town for a two-day event. The show brings together vendors, collectors, and casual fans for buying, selling, trading, and browsing cards across popular games like Pokémon, sports cards, and more. It’s set up so you can drop in for a quick look or spend time digging through tables at your own pace. Even if you’re not a serious collector, it’s a fun peek into a hobby that’s having a major moment right now.

📍 Where: Civic Park Community Center
📅 When: February 7th & 8th | 10am - 4pm
💲 Price: $7.18

Purchase Tickets

The City is hosting a casual meet-and-greet with new Police Chief Ryan Hibbs. This is more “say hello, ask a question, put a face to the role” than anything formal. If you’re curious about community priorities, city services, or you simply like knowing who’s who in town, it’s something explore. You can drop by anytime during the window, no need to arrive at the exact start time. Congrats to Ryan!

📍 Where: Rotunda at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr
📅 When: Wed, Feb 4, 5:00–6:30 PM
💲 Price: Free

🥧 Weekly Walnut recipe: Date and Walnut Rugelach with Tahini Glaze. The dough is tender and light. Subtly sweet. Just perfect!

🎵 Who we are listening to: Better Than - Lake Street Dive. Bass line lodged in our heads, drums, vocals, soft organ, brass. It couldn’t be better.

🎁 Local small business highlight: Athletic Outpost - Since 1979, Athletic Outpost has been your go-to running & walking specialty store.

🙏 Positive News: Astonishing 1400 year old tomb featuring a giant owl sculpture discovered in Mexico. Read Article

✨ You’re allowed to enjoy the middle, not just the finish line.

As always, we read every reply and truly appreciate hearing from you. If there’s something you’d like to see more of locally, let us know. Thanks for being part of the Walnut Creek Digest community.

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our readers in Walnut Creek? Drop us a line here → [email protected]

— Sean Casey | Publisher | Walnut Creek Digest