Catch a documentary, learn Hula, explore the origins of vampires, raise money for the animal shelter, and run for the love of donuts
Get out your calendars! This week’s events require a little more planning than usual, but we promise it’ll be worth it. The annual Donut Fun Run is set for Saturday, October 18, and advance registration is required for both the race and the donut eating contest. That afternoon, be ready at 3:30 p.m. sharp to catch a free documentary screening of Finding the Italians: A Granddaughter’s Journey at Mastick Senior Center. There will be a Q&A after, too. If you’re looking for something elegant and celebratory this weekend, be sure to grab a ticket for FAAS’s annual After the Ball fundraiser, and plan your snazziest disco-themed outfit for the occasion. On Sunday, October 19, Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Arts Center is presenting fantastic, free classes and a recital at their Hana Hou Hō’ike. Be sure to register in advance for an amazing workshop slot, from hula to jewelry making. If you can help it, don’t schedule any late meetings on Wednesday, October 22—Profs & Pints® is presenting a new lecture, The Rise of Vampires, starting at 6 p.m. at Faction Brewing. You can grab a ticket online or at the door. Cheers to planning ahead!
Donut Fun Run
Saturday, October 18
Did somebody say “donuts?” The third annual Donut Fun Run and Festival is headed to Seaplane Lagoon Promenade, 2151 Ferry Point, on Saturday, October 18. The 5K race starts at 9 a.m., and the festival starts at the finish line!
The Donut Festival has lots of fun planned for after the race, including:
- The “Dancing Donuts” performance, featuring Alameda’s Dance/10 studio dancers.
- Donut-themed photo opportunities.
- The Donut Eating Contest.
- Live music.
- Local food and beverage booths.
- A craft market.
- Donuts by Donut Petit, of course!
Registration prices for the race range from $33.86 to $55.06, and kids 10 and under may run for free. Please note that finishers’ medals and T-shirts are not included in the free kids’ ticket. Runners may pick up their race packet at designated times and locations on the days leading up to the Donut Fun Run, or they may pick it up on the morning of the race at the venue for an additional fee of $5.
Advance registration is required to participate in the race. The Festival is free to attend, and participants are not required to run the race in order to join the party at the festival. Please note that all participants in the Donut Eating Contest must register for—and complete—the race. Get the details on @thedonutfunrun on Instagram or on the event website.
Finding the Italians: A Granddaughter’s Journey Screening
Saturday, October 18
From 1880 to 1924, over 4 million Italians fled their home country and set sail for the United States in search of a better life. Learn about their remarkable story with a free screening of the documentary Finding the Italians: A Granddaughter’s Journey at Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Avenue, on Saturday, October 18. The event is scheduled from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Filmmaker Giovanna Capone traces her own journey through time, starting with her four grandparents who arrived on U.S. soil a century ago. “Seeking to understand the trajectory of her own life, the filmmaker asks the pertinent question: How do you hold onto your culture in a new land?” the film description states. “It’s a question every granddaughter of immigrants must face.”
Following the screening, there will be a short Q&A session with filmmaker Giovanna Capone and Lillian Taddei, a current resident of Alameda. Taddei will tell the story of her Italian grandparents who lived in the Bay Area during World War II. They survived suspicion and scrutiny as they were considered enemy aliens from Italy.
Light snacks will be provided. You do not need to be a Mastick Senior Center member to attend this free event. The film is 102 minutes long, and is recommended for viewers ages 12 and up.
After the Ball 2025
Saturday, October 18
Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) is hosting their annual extravagant fundraiser, After the Ball, this Saturday, October 18, at the Albert H. DeWitt Officers’ Club, 641 West Redline Avenue. Get ready for a full evening of tail-wagging fun from 5 to 9:30 p.m. while raising money for a great cause.
This year’s fundraiser is leaning into the spirit of disco. Attendees are encouraged to wear “cocktail attire with a disco flair.” The evening’s schedule is as follows:
- 5 p.m. – Hors d’oeuvres, cocktail hour, and auction games.
- 6 p.m. – Three-course Moroccan dinner, FAAS presentation, and live auction.
- 8 p.m. – Disco, drinks, and dancing, dancing, dancing!
Tickets for the fundraiser start at $300, and group packages are available. If you’d like to contribute from home, check out the online silent auction. It’s already live, and it includes dozens of fantastic prizes from pet portraits, to restaurant experiences, to a walk with Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and an adorable shelter pup!
Hana Hou Hō’ike
Sunday, October 19
Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Arts Center invites Alamedans to step into the vibrant world of Polynesian culture with Hana Hou Hō’ike on Sunday, October 19, at Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Avenue. The free all-day event runs from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Start your day with a completely free, two-hour workshop to learn hula, Tahitian dance, Tahitian drumming, how to make leis, the basics of ukulele, or jewelry making. Be sure to register in advance to secure your spot. If you’d like a delicious catered lunch, check the box to pre-order a meal from Shaka Shack while you’re at it!
After lunch, it’ll be time for the main event—the Hō’ike (recital)! Everyone will show off their skills, including workshop participants, Mastick Senior Center’s hula class, and seasoned performers from Hālau Makana’s dance studio.
In addition to the other festivities, attendees are invited to participate in a silent auction, where you can bid on Hawaiian-themed baskets, a Wine Country Getaway, and more. Attendees do not need to be a member of the Mastick Senior Center to participate.
Profs & Pints®: The Rise of Vampires
Wednesday, October 22
What came before the sparkling Cullen family of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight universe? Join Sara Hackenberg, professor of English at San Francisco State University, at Profs & Pints®: The Rise of Vampires on Wednesday, October 22, to turn back the clock on folklore traditions. Head over to Faction Brewing, 2501 Monarch Street, for the lecture, scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Vampires appeared in literature decades before Bram Stoker brushed his pen across the pages of Dracula. Trace the history of the vampire through time, folklore, and literature. Along the journey, Professor Hackenberg will introduce the earliest vampiric characters, from femme fatales to violent, bloodthirsty fiends.
Tickets are available for advance purchase online for $14.77 plus a processing fee, or may be purchased at the door for $17, or $15 for students with a student ID. This lecture is presented by Profs & Pints®, an organization with a mission to bring “college faculty members into bars, cafés, company offices, and other off-campus venues to share their knowledge.”
What else is going on in Alameda?
All these events and more, in Alameda and beyond, are always posted on our online Events Calendar. Post yours, too, for free!
Amanda Laird is the Content Manager and Events Editor of the Alameda Post. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Amanda-Laird. Reach her at [email protected].
