Get ready for the Special Olympics 5K & Polar Plunge, the Rock n’ Roll Flea Market, CarrierCon, and two exciting culinary classes
The days are getting longer, the sun is out, and Alameda is hosting some exciting upcoming events this week. On Saturday, March 21, grab your tennis shoes and your swimsuit for the Special Olympics Northern California 5k and Polar Plunge. The same day, Faction Brewing presents the Rock n’ Roll Flea Market with live music, food, and lots of vendors. On both Saturday and Sunday, the wildly popular CarrierCon returns to the USS Hornet for another year of fun. Learn to brew your own Märzen-style beer with Dahoam 1516 on Sunday, March 22, with their special brewing class and BBQ meal. And on Monday, March 23, satisfy your sweet tooth with the Ube Tiramisu Class at Whisk Cake Creations (yes, you get to take home your own tray of tiramisu).
Special Olympics 5K & Polar Plunge
Saturday, March 21
Let’s take the plunge! The Special Olympics Northern California Polar Plunge is coming to the Bay Area—right here in Alameda. Grab your friends for the scenic 5K run, the Polar Plunge, or both to raise money for a great cause. The big day is Saturday, March 21, at Crown Memorial State Beach, and festivities are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to enjoy the day however they prefer. Enjoy the 5K at your own pace, and feel free to simply dip a toe into the water for the Plunge if you’re not a fan of getting submerged. The race takes off at 9:30 a.m., and the Plunge is scheduled for noon. Awards will be presented for the top individual and team fundraisers, the best costumes, and the top three runners in each age category. After the 5K and Plunge, an afterparty will be held to celebrate the day. Check out the full schedule online.
Register online as an individual or as part of a team. Runners will be required to submit payment for $50 at the time of registration, and Plungers can sign up for no initial charge. Prior to the event, Plungers must raise at least $125 to participate and will receive a Polar Plunge T-shirt and lunch. Participants must raise at least $125 to partake in the Post Plunge Party. Contact Sheena at [email protected] to inquire about scholarship opportunities.
Rock n’ Roll Flea Market
Saturday, March 21
Grab a brew, listen to some tunes, and get shopping at the Rock n’ Roll Flea Market on Saturday, March 21 at Faction Brewing, 2501 Monarch Street. Festivities are scheduled from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Shop about 100 vendors selling records, music memorabilia, instruments, clothing, jewelry, and more. The Rubinoos will headline the event, with additional live music by Par Avion, The IFIC, Chillingsworth Surfingham, and The Ultra Sounds. Once you work up an appetite, stop by a selection of food trucks including Satay by the Bay SF, Crazy Block Cheesecases, Swahili Spot, and more.
Tickets are $5 at the door, and kids 12 and under are free. The event has space inside and outside, and the market will be held rain or shine.
CarrierCon 2026 on the USS Hornet
Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22
The fifth annual CarrierCon is here! Board the USS Hornet, 707 West Hornet Avenue, on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, to join the party. Participants can grab tickets for just one day or the whole weekend, and a special overnight add-on is available for the most adventurous attendees.
CarrierCon is a wildly popular convention celebrating cosplay, tabletop gaming, and Western and Japanese media. The innovative collaboration also engages new audiences with the historic aircraft carrier. Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of activities including panel discussions, a cosplay contest, vendor and artist books, open gaming, and a photo track into areas of the ship not normally open to the public.
Tickets range from $33.52 to $80.77, and they are selling out fast. Prior to attending, please consult the Cosplay, Bag and General Policies section of the website to brush up on the dress code, prop guidelines, and more.
Learn to Brew Märzen with Dahoam 1516
Sunday, March 22
You’ve heard of Christmas in July, but how about Oktoberfest in March? Dahoam 1516 is opening their doors for a special brewing class on Sunday, March 22, from 2 until 6 p.m. Dahoam 1516 is located in a beautiful home at 1516 Lincoln Avenue.
This fun-forward, beginner-friendly class is open to everyone. You just need to bring comfortable clothing, shoes that you can stand in, and a readiness to learn.
Reserve your spot in advance online. Tickets are $65 for adults and $25 for kids under twelve. A BBQ meal is included in the price of the ticket, and attendees are welcome to add on a pretzel plate or charcuterie board for an additional fee. Please note that proof of age is required to sample beer.
Dahoam 1516 is a nonprofit school and club with a mission to “have fun and share the joy of brewing and cooking, with a uniquely Bavarian flare.”
Ube Tiramisu Class with Whisk Cake Creations
Monday, March 23
Learn to make a delightful fusion dessert with the Ube Tiramisu Class at Whisk Cake Creations, 1216 Lincoln Avenue. The class will blend Filipino flavor into a classic Italian dessert on Monday, March 23, from 6 until 7:30 p.m.
Whisk owner and pastry chef Henry Awayan—who literally wrote the book on baking with ube—will personally guide participants through the class. Attendees will go home with their own tray of ube tiramisu.
Only 12 spots are available for this intimate class. Tickets are $90 per person, and the full ticket price will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Alameda.
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].
