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15 ways to celebrate Veterans Day 2023 in the Bay Area

Here’s a sampling of local Veterans Day celebrations and ceremonies

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11:  Grand Marshal U.S. Marine Corps Col. William E. Peacock points to the crowd during The Veterans Day parade in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.(Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 11: Grand Marshal U.S. Marine Corps Col. William E. Peacock points to the crowd during The Veterans Day parade in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.(Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
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Looking for local ways to honor the military veterans of the United States Armed Forces this Veterans Day? Check out this lineup of Bay Area Veterans Day events including ceremonies, parades, concerts and museum exhibitions.

One Vet, One Voice Veterans Gala: 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 9, War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. This gala honors the brave men and women who have served our country with a community awards event featuring live entertainment, dinner, auction and a raffle. $50-$100. bit.ly/OVOVveterans

Veterans Day at Charles M. Schulz Museum: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 10, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. Schulz Museum will be honoring Veterans Day with a plaque dedication ceremony, a performance by the Maria Carillo High School Jazz Choir, special speakers, film screenings and military planes flying overhead. Free admission. bit.ly/SchulzVeteransDay

Winters Tavern Veterans Day Festival: 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Nov. 10, 1522 Francisco Blvd., Pacifica. Honor Veterans Day with a music festival featuring live country, western, bluegrass and Americana music plus free barbecue fare. Free admission. bit.ly/WintersTavernVeterans

Farm Bureau Veterans Day Dinner: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 321 Verde Road, Half Moon Bay. Come out to Long Branch Saloon & Farms to join the San Mateo County Farm Bureau in celebrating Veterans Day. Enjoy a meal grown by local farmers, ranchers and fishermen, plus live entertainment from the Wildcat Mountain Ramblers and a special farm gift. $0-$50. bit.ly/FarmBureauVeterans

Vietnam veteran Willie Sharp explains all the controls to Grace Martin, 8, from Danville, in the cockpit of a F8 Crusader fighter aircraft during the Veteran's Day Open House at the Veteran's Memorial Building in Danville, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. The Veteran's Day Open House runs through the weekend with special displays commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, the war in the Philippines and the Bataan Death March. In addition, military memorabilia, archival films, and military vehicles will be on display with special speakers scheduled. (Laura A. Oda/Bay Area News Group)
Vietnam veteran Willie Sharp explains all the controls to Grace Martin, 8, from Danville, in the cockpit of a F8 Crusader fighter aircraft during the Veteran’s Day Open House at the Veteran’s Memorial Building in Danville, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. (Laura A. Oda/Bay Area News Group) 

Veterans Memorial Building Open House: Nov. 10-12, Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley, 400 Hartz Ave., Danville. This Veterans Day observance program includes  military vehicles on display, a space and robotics exhibition featuring Space Force and NASA exhibits, “Star Wars” re-enactors, live robot demonstrations and an astronaut presentation. Free admission. vmbsrv.org/

Veterans Day on the USS Hornet: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 11, USS Hornet, 707 Hornet Ave., Alameda. This historic aircraft carrier will honor Veterans Day with a color guard presentation and wreath-laying ceremony, and a celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Hornet’s commissioning and its 25th anniversary as a museum with live speakers, open aircraft cockpits, food and drink vendors, and a flyover from the Memorial Squadron. Free admission. uss-hornet.org/calendar/silveroak

Marin Veterans Day Ceremony: 9 a.m. Nov. 11, Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. This Veterans Day celebration includes a marching band, military exercises, refreshments and an address from retired U.S. Navy and civilian aviator Rick Saber. Free. bit.ly/MarinVeteransDay

Martinez Veterans Day Ceremony: 10 a.m. Nov. 11, Martinez. The City of Martinez Veteran’s Commission Memorial Day Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery with a short flag raising ceremony before moving to Ignacio Plaza in front of City Hall for a full ceremony featuring a three-volley salute at 11 a.m. Free. bit.ly/MartinezVeteransDay

Members of the Welcome Home “Doughboys” of World War I Greg Tiede, left, Ed Archer, center, and Gregg Greenwood, march during the Veterans Day parade in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2022. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) 

San Jose Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony: 10:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 11, San Jose. Each year, since 1918, the United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County has produced a Veterans Day Parade honoring all who served or are currently serving their country. A ceremony at Plaza de Cesar Chavez will precede this year’s parade, which will stretch from SAP Center to Market St. at San Carlos St. and feature marching bands, color guards and community groups. Free. sjveteransparade.org/

Concord Veterans Day Ceremony: 11 a.m. Nov. 11, 2175 Willow Pass Road, Concord. Come out to Todos Santos Plaza to join the Concord and Clayton communities in honoring the brave men and women of our armed forces. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 1525, is organizing this special ceremony, and will be featuring special guest Jake Larson, US Army WWII D-Day, Battle of the Bulge. Free. bit.ly/ConcordVeteransDay

Walnut Creek Veterans Day Ceremony and Concert: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 11, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. This Veterans Day celebration at the Lesher Center includes a ceremony and concert by the Walnut Creek Concert Band honoring veterans. Free. bit.ly/WCveterans

Petaluma Veterans Day Parade and Flyover: 12 to 3 p.m. Nov. 11, Walnut Park, 201 Fourth St., Petaluma. Celebrate Veterans Day with live music from the USAF Commanders jazz combo, a parade featuring military vehicles and marching bands and a Veterans Day service featuring guest speakers and a flyover from the “Huey Vets.” Free. petalumaveteransparade.com/index.html

248th Marine Corps Birthday Ball: 6 to 11 p.m. Nov. 11, Memorial Club and Hotel, 609 Sutter St., San Francisco. Enjoy a gala evening celebrating Veterans Day and the United States Marine Corps anniversary. This event will feature guest of honor Lt. Gen. David A. Ottignon and a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, dinner, live entertainment, an awards ceremony and after-hours party. $325-$75. bit.ly/MarinesMemorial

National Parks Celebrates Veterans Day: Nov. 11, various National Parks locations. In celebration of Veterans Day, enjoy free entry to all national parks and monuments including Muir Woods, Yosemite National Park and the historic vessels of Hyde Street Pier at Maritime National Historical Park. Free. bit.ly/NPSveterans

Goodguys 33rd Fuel Curve Autumn Get-Together: Nov. 11-12, Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton. Celebrate Veterans Day with color guard presentations and a car parade, plus vintage campers, a vending marketplace, food and drinks, a classic car show and a kids zone. $10-$25. good-guys.com/agt