Have you driven past Stockmen's Park this month and wondered how long the elephants are staying? Downtown's busiest public spaces are now holding about 30 life-size elephants. The herd has been the starting point for every fall plan downtown since early October.
The exhibit is "The Great Elephant Migration: A Family Gathering." It opened October 10 and runs through Sunday, December 6, so you have about five and a half weeks left from today. According to Livermore Vine, Livermore is the project's first Bay Area stop since it started traveling in 2024, and the only West Coast stop planned for this year.
Where the herd stands, and what it's made of
Most of the elephants are in Stockmen's Park at 29 S. Livermore Ave. A smaller group stands on Bankhead Plaza at 2400 First St., in front of the Bankhead Theater. Livermore Vine, The Independent and Livermore Valley Arts all count 30 in the herd. Co-host Three Thirty-Three Arts lists 27 on its page. The project owns 100 elephants in total, so Livermore is getting what Livermore Vine called a "mini-migration."
Each sculpture is modeled on a specific wild elephant from the Nilgiri Hills in southern India. The makers are the Real Elephant Collective, Indigenous artisans from the Bettakurumba, Paniya, Kattunayakan and Soliga communities of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The material is lantana camara, a flowering plant that Livermore Vine, citing the project's website, calls one of the world's most invasive weeds. The same story reports that it has taken over 40% of India's forests, so every elephant built from it removes some of the weed from that habitat. Pod Blagg, who handles operations and exhibitions for the project, told The Independent that "each elephant is known by name and personality by the creator."
Some of the elephants also carry local artwork. Members of the Indian American Artists Association added pieces for opening day. Livermore Vine pictured several of them:
- "The Elephant Warrior's Bandana" by Abhishek Nigam of Danville, a replica of a traditional headdress called a nettipattam, made from plastic filaments and peacock feathers
- "Mamta's Mantle: Armored in Love" by Charmaine Hussain, a 16-foot by 8-foot piece made from industrial house wrap that drapes over one elephant's back
- "Lakshmi Ganesh" by Pragati Sharma Mohanty and "Thriving with Nature" by Deepti Saraswat
The Independent also described a sari by Hetal Anjaria for Lila, one of the herd's matriarchs. It shows Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu deity, with dozens of people coming to meet him in the forest. Anjaria spent more than 10 days on it.
This is an art show you can touch
Viewing is free, and touching is allowed. The host asks visitors not to climb on or push the sculptures. If you're bringing kids, keep an eye on them. Anne Giancola, visual arts and education manager for Livermore Valley Arts, is the person who brought the herd to town, and she told The Independent about a recurring problem when each stop wraps up.
"When they move the herd, they have to remove tufts of grass from their mouths because kids have tried to feed them."
Giancola first saw the elephants on vacation in Rhode Island about two years ago and pitched them to Livermore. In the same interview she said volunteers will be stationed around the herd to answer questions. Mayor John Marchand said in a statement quoted by Livermore Vine that the installation "has fired the imaginations throughout our community."
The elephants are also for sale
The herd isn't just on loan for display. Anyone can buy or commission an elephant, and the project's Livermore purchase page lists four categories.
| Category | Listed price |
|---|---|
| Calf | $8,500 |
| Adolescent | $14,500 |
| Matriarch | $18,000 |
| Tusker | $22,500 |
The host says purchases fund forest restoration, Indigenous livelihoods, lantana removal and coexistence projects. Since 2024, the project has given more than $1.4 million in grants to that kind of work. Livermore Valley Arts and Three Thirty-Three Arts also take donations to cover the exhibit's education programs and events. Three Thirty-Three names the City of Livermore, Visit Tri-Valley and Jean King as core supporters.
Why Hay Day ended up at Carnegie Park
You saw the effect on downtown's own calendar last Saturday. Kidz Town Halloween Hay Day ran October 24, but the activity booths and costume contest moved to Carnegie Park at 2155 Third Street. Livermore Downtown's event page explained that the exhibit would be sharing Stockmen's Park and Bankhead Plaza from October through December. Trick-or-treating at downtown businesses went ahead as usual. Only the gathering point moved.
The rest of the fall works the same way. Any downtown event through December 6 shares the two central spaces with the herd. For you, that means a parade night, a shopping morning or a dinner on First Street can all include a stop at the elephants, because they're right on the route.
Zephyr's final weekend on First Street
One downtown change this fall has nothing to do with the herd. Livermore Vine reported that Zephyr Grill & Bar at 1736 First Street closes Saturday, October 31, after 22 years downtown. It opened in 2004. Until then it's open 3 to 9 p.m. on Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday. That leaves tonight, Friday and Halloween itself.
East County diners still have options. The same owners run Zephyr Grill & Bar in Brentwood and Smith's Landing Seafood Grill in Antioch, and both are staying open. In their farewell post, the owners thanked past and current staff who "helped make Zephyr what it has been for more than two decades."
November, with the herd still in town
November is the quietest stretch of the exhibit's run, and you can plan a few dated downtown events around it:
- Friday, November 6, through Sunday, November 8: Holiday Open House sale. This is the 35th year. Participating downtown retailers, plus Alden Lane, give 25% off one item each. Pick up a passport at any participating shop and collect stamps, and you're entered to win $250 in gift cards. No purchase is needed to get a stamp. The event page lists Sunrise Mountain Sports at 2184 First Street as the location.
- Saturday, November 21, 7 to 10 a.m.: Earlier Than the Bird. Pajama-themed early shopping at Livermorium Plaza and around downtown. Bankhead Plaza is a short walk away, and the elephants are there around the clock.
For a weekday visit, two newer downtown spots fit easily. Dumont Creamery & Café opened its first East Bay location on September 18 at 2375 Railroad Ave., Suite 101. It serves internationally inspired ice cream, coffee, boba, slushies and milkshakes. For grown-ups, the Downtown Pour Collective launched a paid membership in August. It covers five drinks a month at participating venues, including Demitri's Taverna, Swirl on the Square, The Cheese Parlor, Calamari Bistro & Bar, Stampede Bar & Grill, Bruno's Italian Cuisine, L Campo and Wingen Bakery & Restaurant.
December 5 and 6, when everything overlaps
The exhibit's last weekend lines up with Livermore's two biggest early-December traditions.
On Saturday, December 5, the Holiday Sights and Sounds Parade starts on First Street at 6 p.m., and the tree lighting follows right after. The elephants will still be on Bankhead Plaza, facing the parade's main street, that night. That same weekend, December 5 and 6, wineries across the valley host Holidays in the Vineyards from noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, though Livermore Valley Wine notes that tasting fees may vary by winery.
Sunday, December 6, is the herd's last day in Livermore. If you've been saving a visit for when out-of-town family arrives, that weekend combines all three: a winery afternoon on Saturday, the parade that evening, and one last walk through Stockmen's Park on Sunday before the elephants are packed up. Before you go, the project's visit page lists both locations.
Want help planning out-of-town guests' visit around December 5 and 6, or tips on which downtown stops pair well with a walk through the herd? I'm happy to share what I know about Livermore and the rest of East County. Reach out to Deborah Maisterrena anytime. Let's Connect.
