It’s rumored that Redwood City earned its slogan, “Climate Best by Government Test,” after a joint survey conducted by the US and German governments. Whatever the case, this mid-Peninsula city is sure to be an epicenter of great beer this weekend. The first day of fall has officially fallen (even if it still feels like mid-July), and Redwood City is marking the changing of the season with its own take on the traditional German celebration of schnitzel and suds: Oktoberfest. For five days—Wednesday through Sunday—Courthouse Square will be the place to gather for authentic German fare, music, cultural demonstrations and plenty of brew.

Oktoberfest
Wed-Sun, $15+
Courthouse Square, Redwood City

Redwood City’s annual celebration of dance and picante sauce returns. Eleven blocks of downtown Redwood City transforms into a salsa-dancing playground on Saturday with three stages of live salsa, Latin jazz and reggae. And then of course there is the salsa. From mild to medium and hot to “what hath God wrought?!”—there’s a little something for everyone. Enjoy salsa tastings from top local chefs as they compete for bragging rights and the title of best salsa in the Bay Area. There’s also art projects, entertainment for kids and—praise be!—tequila tasting as well.

Redwood City Salsa Festival
Sat, Noon, Free
Courthouse Square, Redwood City

The one and only Sir Paul McCartney is coming to the SAP Center next week. But tickets to see living legends are expensive. Ticket to Ride, on the other hand, are playing for free at Redwood City’s family-friendly Music on the Square series. This Beatles tribute act has been channeling its collective passion for the Fab Four into energetic live shows around the Bay Area for more than two decades. You don’t need to be a math whiz to work it out.

Ticket to Ride
Fri, 6pm, Free
Courthouse Square, Redwood City

Salsa festival? So, are we talking the music or the condiment? Good news: It’s both! Eleven blocks of downtown Redwood City transforms into a salsa-dancing playground on Saturday with three stages of live salsa, Latin jazz and reggae. And that other stuff? It’s all over the place, with salsa tasting from top local chefs all competing for bragging rights for best salsa in the Bay Area. (Contest tasting takes place from noon to 5pm with winners announced shortly afterward.) There’s also art projects, entertainment for kids and—praise be!—tequila tasting as well.

Redwood City Salsa Festival
Sat, Noon, Free
Courthouse Square, Redwood City

Before the glittery vampire romances of the aughts and the leathery techno terrors of the ’90s, this bloodsucking biker gang from Santa Carla lent a distinctly ’80s vibe to the genre. Local fans know that Santa Cruz served as the backdrop for the fictional California beach town immortalized by this cult classic’s cast—which includes Kiefer Sutherland, Dianne Wiest and Corey Feldman. This is the penultimate film in Redwood City’s summer series, Movies on the Square. The whole family is invited, but be advised: Lost Boys is rated R, so consider hiring a sitter.

The Lost Boys
Thu, 8pm, Free
Courthouse Square, Redwood City

Redwood City’s Police Activities League is gearing up for its annual summer shindig. This year features a stacked lineup of Bay Area acts. Firing up the stage, Bayonics will bring their distinctive blend of Latin, reggae and hip-hop to the party, while San Francisco cover band Livewire will perform rock and dance numbers. The festival also features Art on the Square, which highlights the unique creations of local creatives—including photographers, fiber artists, and jewelry makers. All proceeds go to benefit Redwood City PAL’s summer programs for children.

PAL Music Festival
Fri, 12pm, Free
Courthouse Square, Redwood City

Engage in some seriously meta nostalgia with The Sandlot—a coming of age tale, set in small town America in 1962, about a bunch of kids playing baseball on a weed-choked neighborhood sandlot. Thirty-somethings may wince when they realize that this film was first released 25 years ago. Then again, many at the upper end of the millennial curve have little ones of their own. Bring them down to Courthouse Square and clue them in to all the film’s classic one-liners—while taking time to acknowledge that not everything ages well and that it’s perfectly fine to play ball like a girl.

The Sandlot
Thu, 8:45pm, Free
Courthouse Square, Redwood City

It’s rumored that Redwood City earned its slogan, “Climate Best by Government Test,” after a joint survey conducted by the U.S. and German governments. Whatever the case, this mid-Peninsula city is sure to be an epicenter of great beer this weekend. The first day of fall is this Friday, and Redwood City is marking the changing of the season with its own take on the traditional German celebration of schnitzel and suds: Oktoberfest. For four days—this Thursday through Sunday—Courthouse Square will be the place to gather for authentic German fare, music, cultural demonstrations and plenty of brew.

Oktoberfest
Thu, 5pm, $15+
Courthouse Square, Redwood City