The East Bay's storied Bruns Amphitheater, which stood vacant for over a year, is slated to re-emerge from its slumber as the newly christened Siesta Valley Bowl. The Siesta Valley Foundation, a nonprofit specifically created for reviving the venue, has inked a 15-year lease with the East Bay Municipal Utility District to breathe new life into the 9-acre property located in the Orinda hills, as reported by SFGATE.
EBMUD and the Siesta Valley Foundation have committed to transforming the historic site into a hub for the arts and ecology, promising to host 40 to 60 ticketed events annually and to also create an EBMUD native plant and bird garden alongside a Watershed Community Center. These efforts aim not only to entertain but also to educate, underlining the land's ecological importance. The Siesta Valley Bowl, set to reopen its doors in April 2026, will maintain an intimate atmosphere, with a capacity of 540 seated or 750 standing guests, according to a press release from EBMUD.
Campbell Foster, chairman of the Siesta Valley Foundation, has made it clear that the organization's broader vision extends beyond mere entertainment, aiming to embrace the East Bay's diverse communities. “And we want to be more of an East Bay-centric organization,” Foster explicitly told SFGATE, distancing the Foundation from the more Berkeley-centric focus of its predecessor, Cal Shakes. This strategic mission encompasses towns such as Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, and Walnut Creek, aiming to establish a broader regional footprint.
Ensuring financial stability while promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship are also cornerstone goals for the Siesta Valley Bowl. EBMUD's lease agreement includes a stipulation for the venue to contribute $3 per ticket sale and 10 percent of its annual profits to support the foundation's conservation efforts. “Siesta Valley Bowl is being revitalized for all East Bay communities,” Tom Romary, founder and chairman of Siesta Valley Bowl Inc., shared in a statement, per the EBMUD press release.
