San Francisco Mime Troupe

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GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL
Fri- Sun, July 27 – 29, 10am – 7pm
Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy
$8-17
Most people know the annual Garlic Fest is described as the “Ultimate Summer Food Fair” with three days of food, beverages, arts, crafts and live entertainment. Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one who needs a mint.

Flickr:MayWong

2012 BERKELEY KITE FESTIVAL
Sat-Sun, July 28 – 29, 10am – 5pm
Berkeley Marina
FREE
A quirky festival for more than just kids, the Berkeley Kite Festival features giant artistic kites, high flying kites and opportunities to make your own.

KINKY “UP YOUR ALLEY” FAIR
Sun July 29
Dore Alley at Folsom, San Francisco
11am – 6pm
FREE
This is the ultimate fetish fair with 12,000 “leatherfolk” in attendance. Not for the traditional tourist, and even more hardcore than the Folsom Street Fair, Kinky “Up Your Alley” invites you to dig into your naughty drawer and flaunt it for a day!

Flickr:Michael R Perry

COTATI ACCORDION FESTIVAL
Sat-Sun, Aug 18 – 19, 9:30am – 8:30pm
350 La Plaza St, Cotati
$15 or free for children 15 and under
The instrument, mostly associated with our grandparents’ generation, has experienced a revival of late, championed by bands like DeVotchKa, Beirut, Arcade Fire and Gogol Bordello. Though none of those bands will be at the fest, accordion music from Zydeco to Polka to THAT Damned Band’s “Steampunk Goblincore” will be on the streets and in the air. Plus, the Cotati Accordion Festival, multi-generational, multi-cultural music festival benefits local youth groups and celebrates accordion music.

SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
Various locations
FREE
Through September 9
These mimes are far from traditional, and are not afraid to talk — especially about controversial subjects. This year’s play, The Last Election, updates the 19th-century melodrama The Poor of New York to tell a modern story of corporate greed and the so-called plight of America’s “1 percent.” Join the 99% for free performances parks all over the Bay.For full event calendar, visit the site.

SOUNDWAVE: (5) HUMANITIES, SAN FRANCISCO INNOVATIVE ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL
Through Sept 30
$12 and up
Soundwave’s fifth biennial, Humanities, explores what makes us human against the backdrop of the December 21 end of the Mayan Calendar. The festival features over 30 commissioned performances and pieces of art at various indoor and outdoor venues throughout San Francisco.

Check out KQED Arts for more arts-related ideas.

- By Nicole Zeichick and Adrienne Blaine