Things to Do in Bakersfield This Weekend | August 15–16, 2026

Looking for things to do in Bakersfield this weekend? I’ve got you covered!

From farmers markets and early-morning workouts to live music, family events, local markets, comedy and even a meteor shower hike, there is a LOT happening around Bakersfield this Saturday and Sunday.

Here’s your Bakersfield Weekend Calendar for August 15–16, 2026.

SATURDAY • AUGUST 15

🏃 Start Your Saturday Early

IBProFun Run Club x Bakersfield Marathon Group Run
📍 Jastro Park
⏰ 5:45 AM–8:30 AM
Choose from 4-, 6- and 8-mile routes, plus raffles, race discount codes and a school-supply donation drive.

Fit Spot’s Free Outdoor Community Workout
📍 Hart Park
⏰ 6:00 AM
💰 FREE
Kick off the weekend with a free outdoor community bootcamp designed to get people moving and connecting.

🥕 Bakersfield Farmers Markets

F Street Farmers Market
📍 In Your Wildest Dreams Parking Lot
⏰ 7:45 AM–12:00 PM

Riverlakes Farmers Market
📍 CHS Parking Lot
⏰ 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

Whether you're stocking up on produce or just looking for an excuse to wander around with a coffee, you've got options Saturday morning.

☀️ Saturday Morning & Afternoon

To Use a Nom de Plume/Pen Name or Not
📍 Hodel’s
⏰ Breakfast 8:30 AM | Meeting 9:15 AM
Writers of Kern explores why authors use pen names, how to choose one, and some of the legal and copyright considerations.

PASALA Pickup Games
📍 Mondavi Park
⏰ 8:30 AM–10:45 AM
💰 FREE
Community pickup soccer games open to local players.

Sensory Play at Baby Wobble: Scoop, Sort, and Shop
📍 Baby Wobble | 1200 California Ave.
⏰ 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
A hands-on sensory-play experience from Sol Mini Lab.

Mat Pilates Moai
📍 nX Annex | 616 18th St.
⏰ 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
A weekly mat Pilates class focused on strength, balance, flexibility and mindful movement.

Endless Summer Mercadito
📍 California Truck | 5800 SW Wible Rd.
⏰ 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
A family- and pet-friendly market with food, drinks, boutiques, crafts, desserts, beauty vendors and other local businesses.

Back to School Skate Special
📍 Rollerama | 1004 34th St.
⏰ 11:00 AM–1:30 PM
💰 $3 including skate rental
A seriously affordable way to squeeze in some end-of-summer fun.

Stories on the Sidewalk
📍 Arts Council of Kern | 1020 18th St.
⏰ 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
💰 $20 general admission | $15 ACK members
Immersive theatrical performances bring notable people and moments from our local history to life.

Last Call for Summer Jam Fest
📍 Lengthwise Pub | 2900 Calloway Dr.
⏰ 11:00 AM–10:00 PM
💰 FREE | All ages
Live music begins at 12:30 PM, plus food specials, raffles and $5 beers throughout the day.

Kern Corgi Club Summer BBQ Bash
⏰ 11:30 AM
A summer Corgi meetup complete with a pup splash pad, swimming, hot dogs, drinks and treats. This one is at a private residence, so RSVP is required for the address.

Ballerina Chicken
📍 Corks & Strokes | 2623 F St., Suite M
⏰ 1:00 PM–2:30 PM
A guided painting class featuring possibly one of my favorite painting names ever: Ballerina Chicken. 😂

Bakersfield Burrito Project: Dungeons & Dragons
📍 1314 Oswell St.
⏰ 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
Community D&D session beginning at Level 3 and using the 2024 5.5E rules.

Bluegrass at Dagny’s Coffee
⏰ 2:00 PM–4:00 PM
Spend your Saturday afternoon downtown with Dagny’s weekly live bluegrass music.

The Bakersfield Soul Food Fest
📍 700 S P St.
⏰ 3:00 PM–8:00 PM
Soul food, entertainment, shopping, local vendors, nonprofits and community organizations come together for an afternoon celebrating food and community.

🌙 Saturday Night in Bakersfield

Ice Cream Zoofari
📍 CALM Zoo
⏰ 5:00 PM–7:30 PM
Build-your-own root “bear” floats, unlimited frozen treats, train rides, games and live music.
💰 Members: $12 adults / $10 kids
💰 Non-members: $17 adults / $14 kids

The View Night Market
📍 Ridgeview High School Parking Lot | 8501 Stine Rd.
⏰ 5:30 PM–9:30 PM
An evening market filled with local shopping, food and vendors.

Legends Blues Bash
📍 Legends Event Center | 7900 Downing Ave.
⏰ Doors 5:30 PM | Music 6:30 PM
Live blues featuring The Guy Martin Band and Tracy Peoples & The Tailgate Disciples.

Forever Mine Soul Show
📍 Jerry’s Pizza & Pub | 1817 Chester Ave.
⏰ Doors 6:00 PM
💰 $9 | All ages
Featuring Las Lagrimas, Stephanie Soul & Band, TCB and vinyl sets from 661 Fine Shyt & Mr Groove.

Build Your Own Mug Class
📍 Lollipots Ceramics at Otto’s Video Games & More | 7401 White Ln.
⏰ 6:00 PM
💰 $35
Sculpt, personalize and glaze your very own ceramic mug.

The Dinner Detective: The Hollywood Hit
📍 Hodel’s Country Dining | 5917 Knudsen Dr.
⏰ 6:00 PM–9:00 PM
An interactive murder mystery where the actors are hidden among the audience while you attempt to solve the case. Admission includes a multi-course buffet and live show.

Bakersfield Movie Club: The End of Oak Street
📍 Regal
⏰ 6:25 PM
The first Bakersfield Movie Club meetup includes a group screening followed by a discussion at Applebee’s.

Bluey
📍 Drip House Coffee Co.
⏰ 7:00 PM–8:30 PM
A Bluey-inspired family event transforming the patio and event space for the evening.

Chris D’Elia
📍 The Well Comedy Club
⏰ 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM
🔞 18+
Two Saturday-night stand-up performances.

Hello Sunshine
📍 Corks & Strokes | 2623 F St., Suite M
⏰ 7:00 PM–9:00 PM
A guided sunflower-and-gnome painting class.

Fireflies
📍 Bakersfield Community Theatre | 2400 S Chester Ave.
⏰ 7:30 PM
Matthew Barber’s stage play Fireflies.

Stargazing Hike: Perseids Meteor Shower
📍 Wind Wolves Preserve | Red-Tailed Trail
⏰ 7:30 PM–9:30 PM
A guided 1.2-mile stargazing hike timed around the Perseids meteor shower. Reservations are required.

Candipop 2000s Night
📍 Uruapan Night Club
⏰ 9:00 PM–2:00 AM
A 2000s-themed nightlife party for anyone ready to pretend it's 2005 again. 😂

SUNDAY • AUGUST 16

🌅 Sunday Morning

Audiobook Walk: Morning Walk at Lake Ming
📍 13375 Lake Ming Rd.
⏰ Meet 6:00 AM | Walk 6:15 AM
A community audiobook walk featuring a two-mile route around Lake Ming.

Cars & Coffee
📍 The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf | 4615 Buena Vista Rd.
⏰ 7:30 AM–10:00 AM
A morning car meetup open to all makes and models.

Haggin Oaks Farmers Market
📍 8800 Ming Ave.
⏰ 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Shop local produce, food vendors, artisans and more.

🎶 Sunday Afternoon & Evening

Old Friend: Sunday Funday Live Music
📍 Jerry’s Pizza & Pub | 1817 Chester Ave.
⏰ 11:30 AM–2:30 PM
💰 No cover | All ages
Sunday afternoon live music from Old Friend.

Fireflies – Final Performance
📍 Bakersfield Community Theatre | 2400 S Chester Ave.
⏰ 2:00 PM
Catch the final performance of Matthew Barber’s Fireflies.

Reptiles Hands-On Experience
📍 Kern River Parkway Nature Center | 8000 River Rd.
⏰ 2:00 PM
Doug Lemmons, “The Snake Wrangler,” brings live reptiles for an interactive and educational experience.

Fan Halen
📍 Temblor Brewing Co. | 3200 Buck Owens Blvd., Suite 200
⏰ 7:30 PM
Wrap up the weekend with Van Halen tribute band Fan Halen.

So… What Are We Doing This Weekend, Bakersfield?

This is exactly why I love putting these calendars together. There is always something happening in Bakersfield if you know where to look.

My picks this weekend? The Ice Cream Zoofari sounds pretty hard to beat for the kids, the Endless Summer Mercadito is perfect if you want to shop local, and that Perseids stargazing hike sounds like such a cool Bakersfield-area experience.

And if your Saturday night ends with a 2000s party after you spent the morning at a farmers market… honestly, that's range. 😂

Save this guide, send it to the person who always asks “What should we do this weekend?”, and check back every week for more things to do around Bakersfield and Kern County.

I'm Kristin Zaben, your Bakersfield Realtor with the Amjadi Zaben Trifecta Group — where we have you covered from A–Z, including what to do once you live here. 😉

Event details, pricing, availability and schedules can change. Always confirm directly with the event organizer before heading out.