Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on December 20, 2025
Ashkenaz has been keeping Berkeley moving since 1973—an all-ages, nonprofit dance hall and live-music room where community comes first and the calendar stays wonderfully eclectic. This holiday stretch leans especially sweet for Deadheads, with a centerpiece benefit on Tuesday, December 23 supporting beloved Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten, followed by multiple Grateful Dead Night dates in January featuring Stu Allen & Mars Hotel.
Ashkenaz’s café opens when doors open (30 minutes before show time), serving beer, wine, kombucha, coffee/tea, snacks, and light meals that are vegetarian and mostly organic—perfect fuel for a long night on the floor.
Venue: Ashkenaz — 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702 | (510) 525-5099 | ashkenaz.com | Always All Ages
Contact: ashkenaz@ashkenaz.com | Instagram | Facebook
Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz — Tuesday, December 23
The heartbeat of this run is Hall of Fans presenting a benefit for Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten, with a deep bench of scene veterans and friends stepping in to keep the spirit high and the music flowing. The lineup includes Scott Guberman, Mark Karan, Prairie Prince, John Paul McLean, Anna Evla, Sam Whitman, and many others—an evening built for the extended-family feeling that’s always lived inside this songbook.
Showtime: 8 pm
Tickets: $80 VIP / $30 Advance / $35 Door — Tickets
And the Dead at Ashkenaz doesn’t stop there: January brings multiple chances to drop back into the groove with Stu Allen & Mars Hotel—a reliable North Bay torchbearer lineup for those nights when you just want the songs to stretch, shimmer, and lift.
More Grateful Dead Nights at Ashkenaz
Wednesday, January 7 — Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz: Stu Allen & Mars Hotel
8 pm — $30 Advance / $35 Door / $20 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
Friday, January 16 — Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz: Stu Allen & Mars Hotel
8 pm — $30 Advance / $35 Door / $20 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
Wednesday, January 21 — Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz: Stu Allen & Mars Hotel
8 pm — $30 Advance / $35 Door / $20 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
All Listings
Saturday, December 20 — Honky Tonk Night: Mitch Polzak (Country/Two-Step-LIVE MUSIC)
8 pm — Beginner-friendly Country Two-Step dance lesson at 8 pm — $20 Advance/$25 Door/$15 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
Wednesday, December 24 — Nittel Nakht Variety Show
Borscht Bay featuring Nitl Nakht Variety Show, live bands, comedy, Crankie/Instrumental Puppet Show, and Burlesque Act (VARIETY/LIVE MUSIC/COMEDY/BURLESQUE)
7:30 pm — $20 Advance/$25 Door/$15 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
Friday, December 26 — Rico Fridays with DJ Ron (Latin/Salsa/Bachata/Merengue/Cumbia-DJ/DANCE)
8 pm — Beginner-friendly Salsa lesson at 8 pm — $16 Advance/$25 Door/$15 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
Saturday, December 27 — Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums featuring Miss Carmen Getit (Swing/Jump Blues/Jazz-LIVE MUSIC)
8 pm — Beginner-friendly dance lesson at 8 pm — $20 Advance/$25 Door/$15 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
Tuesday, December 30 — Berkeley Bluegrass Barn Jam (Bluegrass/Jam-LIVE MUSIC)
6:30 pm — No Cover — More Information
Wednesday, December 31 — Balkan New Years Eve (Balkan-LIVE MUSIC)
True Life Trio, Fanfare Zambaleta and Dan Cantell & Friends, plus dancing all night, and a midnight champagne toast
8 pm — $35 Advance/$40 Door — Tickets
Thursday, January 1 — Bachata Nightz Berkeley Edition, featuring DJ Ron and DJ Kris Kros (Bachata/Latin/Dance-DJs)
8 pm — Beginner-friendly Bachata lesson at 8 pm — $16 Advance/$25 Door/$15 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
Thursday, January 15 — Third Thursdays Tango with live music and DJ (Tango-LIVE MUSIC)
7:30 pm — Beginner-friendly Tango dance lesson at 7 pm — Alternating DJ and live music sets from 8 pm–12 am — $20 Advance/$25 Door/$15 Students (with ID/door only) — Tickets
Friday, January 23 — Bayou Boogie West Friday Kick Off Party (Cajun/Zydeco-LIVE MUSIC & DANCE)
Featuring Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Geno Delafose, Ruben Moreno, Mark St. Mary, Okie Weiss & the Zydeco Playboys, Iko Ya Ya, Aux Cajunals, and more TBA
7:30 pm — All-levels Cajun & Zydeco dance lesson at 7:30 pm; live music, social dancing and open jam session (bring an instrument!) at 8 pm — $36-$350 — Tickets
Saturday, January 24 — Bayou Boogie West Festival (Cajun/Zydeco-LIVE MUSIC & DANCE)
Featuring Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Geno Delafose, Ruben Moreno, Mark St. Mary, Okie Weiss & the Zydeco Playboys, Iko Ya Ya, Aux Cajunals, and more TBA
2 pm — All-levels Cajun & Zydeco dance lesson at 7:30 pm; live music, social dancing at 2 pm and 8 pm (dinner break at 5:30 pm) — $36-$350 — Tickets
Sunday, January 25 — Bayou Boogie West Festival (Cajun/Zydeco-LIVE MUSIC & DANCE)
Featuring Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Geno Delafose, Ruben Moreno, Mark St. Mary, Okie Weiss & the Zydeco Playboys, Iko Ya Ya, Aux Cajunals, and more TBA
1:30 pm — All-levels Cajun & Zydeco dance lesson at 1 pm; live music, social dancing at 1:30 pm — $36-$350 — Tickets
