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March
Golden Circle Theater Party
Proceeds from this annual black-tie theater party benefit the Santa Clara University Board of Fellows Endowed Scholarship Fund. 408.551.1821
Washington Open Elementary School Drama Production
Each year the Washington Open Elementary School mounts a dramatic production with performances over assorted dates appropriate for all ages. For the sixth season, Peter Pan took audiences to the destination of Neverland. 408.423.3909
San Jose Arts Festival
More than 170 contemporary craft and fine arts exhibitors gather at the McEnery Convention Center for a juried show. Shoppers find works in all price ranges. 408.295.9600
April
Annual Iris Show
Themed each year at Westgate Mall, the Cara B. Rees Iris Society's show provides a chance to talk with cultivation experts while displaying gorgeous arrangements and plants for sale. 408.264.4278
MS Walk in Monterey
Hundreds get together to "walk and roll" in Silicon Valley to halt the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. The 10K walk sponsored by Rainmaker Systems features continental breakfast, fully stocked rest stops, a party at the finish line and transportation back to the starting point. 408.988.7557
Carvers and Wood Turners Show
Going strong for nearly four decades, the Carvers and Wood Turners Show hosted by the Santa Clara Valley Carvers provides opportunity to view carving and wood turning excellence from artisans throughout California. 408.737.8539
57th Annual Spring Style Show
West Coast Beauty Supply, a leading full-service wholesale beauty product distributor, produces the Annual Spring Style Show at McEnery Convention Center with hair, nail, and body products galore. 800.233.3141
Rhythm Spirit
San Jose Taiko celebrates each year at the Campbell Heritage Theatre in nearby Campbell with classics and new works. 408.293.9344
May
Annual Nikkei Matsuri
Among the three remaining Japantown communities in the U.S., San Jose celebrates Japanese American heritage at the annual Nikkei Matsuri, featuring handmade crafts, performing arts and food. 408.241.0900
Cinco de Mayo Parade & Festival
San Jose's Cinco de Mayo includes a downtown Market Street parade heading south to Cesar Chavez Plaza. The Outdoor Fiesta at Guadalupe River Park features Banda, Salsa, Tex-Mex and Latino Sounds. The Battle of Puebla, known as Cinco de Mayo, is commemorated. Free Admission. 408.288.9470
Downtown Farmers Market
On Fridays, from early May through December, San Pedro Square (between Santa Clara and St. John streets) showcases flowers, fruits and vegetables from California-certified growers. Tastings and music add to the festive mood. 800.949.FARM
Evergreen Fine Arts Festival
In San Jose, the Evergreen Fine Arts Festival at Evergreen Village Square over the Memorial Day holiday includes watercolors, photographs, ceramics, woodwork and other fine art presented by California's finest artisans. 209.296.1195
St. Joseph Annual International Festival
St. Joseph School hosts a blend of food, entertainment, carnival rides, bingo and a raffle with free admission and parking. 650.691.1531
Zee Heritage India Festival
The spirit of India comes alive at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds with Zee Heritage India Festival, featuring regional cuisine, exotic dancers, and vendors from New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and elsewhere, with children's activities including kite making and magic shows. 301.731.0300
Boulder Creek Art, Wine and Music Festival
Memorial Day Weekend; free. Highway 9, Boulder Creek
Located in the middle of Boulder Creek, this festival is a curious blend of culture, with sophistication of Santa Cruz Mountain wines, fine juried art and tasteful jazz together with robust beers, earthy crafts and rock and blues. Activities like rock-climbing walls and bouncy houses keep the kids entertained. 831.338.7099
Santa Cruz Blues Festival
Memorial Day Weekend.
Going strong now for 11 years, the Santa Cruz Blues Festival attracts big names in blues, wrapping up its first installment with Albert Collins and including over the years acts like John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite, culminating with last year's legendary headliner, the inimitable Ray Charles. Be sure not to miss it! 831.479.9814
June
Downtown Farmers Market
On Fridays, from early May through December, San Pedro Square (between Santa Clara and St. John streets) hosts the Downtown Farmers Market, showcasing flowers, fruits and vegetables from California-certified growers. Tastings and music add to festivities. 800.949.FARM
Law Enforcement Torch Run
Cheered on by supporters, law enforcement volunteers from each agency in Santa Clara County run a route carrying the Flame of Hope to Summer Games in Stockton. 408.506.8580
Gay Pride
Discovery Meadow, San Jose.
On Sunday, a colorful parade kicks off activities at 10:30am before the festival begins proper with food booths, arts and crafts, informational booths and live performances. There's also a Country & Western dance floor, a ProLatino cultural garden, a Leather Alley and the ever-popular Watergarden Dance Tent. 408.278.5563
July
Downtown Farmers Market
On Fridays, from early May through December, San Pedro Square (between Santa Clara and St. John streets) hosts the Downtown Farmers Market, showcasing flowers, fresh fruits, and vegetables from California-certified growers. Tastings and live music add to the festive mood. 800.949.FARM
America Festival
July 3-4, Discovery Meadow, San Jose.
Day on the Meadow concert on July 3, noon-10pm.
July 4 11am to 10pm
This event raises funds to support their programs designed to end homelessness. The America Festival takes place every year for the Fourth of July holiday in downtown San Jose, and attracts as many as 200,000 for the event that features the City of San Jose's official fireworks show. There are three stages of musical entertainment and cultural performances, great ethnic foods, arts and crafts. 408.284.2100, ext. 444
San Jose International Mariachi Festival and Concert
Mexican Heritage Plaza
The fest draws important bands like Mariachi America de don Jesus Hijar, the all-female Mariachi Reyna de los Angeles and many more. Concerts, workshops, and a mariachi mass are part of this not to be missed weekend. 800.642.8482
San Jose Obon Festival
Fifth and Jackson streets, San Jose
The Obon Festival celebrates dead ancestors and relatives in a lively way. The Obon Festival is Japantown's largest cultural event filled with game booths, food, cultural exhibits and demonstrations, music by the Chidori Band, San Jose Taiko and dancers in full costume each evening. 408.293.9292
Garlic Festival
July 28, 29, 30 2006
Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy
Where else can one feast on food laced with over two tons of fresh garlic, enjoy three stages of musical entertainment, shop in arts and crafts, view the great garlic cook-off and other celebrity cooking demonstrations, spend time in the children's area, visit interactive displays set up by many of our sponsors, soak up some glorious sunshine, and mingle with a fun bunch of garlic-loving people? 408.842.1625
Annual Bodybuilding & Figure Championships
The San Jose Championships at Parkside Hall ranks as northern California's top bodybuilding contest, with winners competing in the nationals. 408.238.7413
Tahite Fete of San Jose
SJSU Events Center hosts a three-day celebration of Bastille Day and French Polynesian cultural heritage. Workshops in dancing, drumming, costume design, nose flute, language and music are part of the weekend. Groups and individuals compete for the coveted dance awards. 408.295.9600
August
Downtown Farmers Market
On Fridays, from early May through December, San Pedro Square (between Santa Clara and St. John streets) hosts the Downtown Farmers Market, showcasing flowers, fruits and vegetables from California-certified growers. Tastings and music add to festivities. 800.949.FARM
Santa Clara County FairFest
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds; 11am- 11pm
The annual celebration of the valley's agricultural roots has dropped its usual $8 adult admission all the way down to... zero. A parking charge remains, but that's still a considerable savings for unlimited access to music, fireworks and exhibits. There are the standard fair to-do's like the destruction derby, livestock and plant judging, the carnival midway, corn dogs, candy apples and cotton candy. It's also the place to watch bands either on their way up. 408.494.3100
Annual Comcast Jazz Festival
The San Jose Jazz Society oversees Jazz Festival activity with performances at seven stage venues, master classes, jam sessions, Jazz After Dark, films, Jazz Masses, and more at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. 408.288.7557
San Jose Jazz Festival
Cesar Chavez Park and other downtown San Jose venues.
In the middle of summer's hot days, the San Jose Jazz Festival takes over downtown San Jose. If there's a stage open, a rhythm outfit will be working it hard. The annual festivities, which are free except for an opening fundraiser, draw tens of thousands of fans to the area. The festival's focus is on Cesar Chavez Park and the main stage, where big-name acts (like Pete Escovedo) dominate on Saturday and Sunday. But the event, sponsored by the San Jose Jazz Society, doesn't stop there. Bands of all stripes and flavors will play on a total of seven stages during the extended weekend, a schedule that adds up to about 50 no-charge concerts. 408.288.7557
Back to School Fair
Back to School Fair, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, reigns as the ultimate one-stop place to shop for back to school needs from kindergarten through high school. 925.245.0700
September
Downtown Farmers Market
On Fridays, from early May through December, San Pedro Square (between Santa Clara and St. John streets) hosts the Downtown Farmers Market, showcasing flowers, fruits and vegetables from California-certified growers. Tastings and music add to festivities. 800.949.FARM
Desert Dance Festival
Music and dance performances from around world meld with lessons from Egyptian, Gypsy, and American belly dance teachers. 510.667.9333
Tapestry Arts Festival
Labor Day weekend, Park Avenue, Almaden Boulevard, San Fernando Street, in downtown San Jose Tapestry Arts Festival is what downtown festivals aim to be, filled with strolling people, bands playing music, lots of good food, and no drama. The festival draws over 200,000 art lovers to the streets of San Jose every Labor Day weekend where they can purchase goods and works from 350 local artisans. 408.494.3590
Art Bark Fest
Art Bark Fest, an animal art, wine and music festival showcasing more than 40 fine arts booths, attracts canine enthusiasts from throughout the Reno, Tahoe and Bay areas. Proceeds benefit the Tahoe-Truckee Humane Society Pet Network. 877.464.3364
Polish Festival
St. Albert Polish Church, 10250 Clayton Rd. (corner of Clayton Rd. and Kaylene Dr.), San Jose
This free festival is a daylong celebration of Polish culture, packed with food, gifts, crafts and folk dance performances. 408.251.8490
October
Downtown Farmers Market
On Fridays, from early May through December, San Pedro Square (between Santa Clara and St. John streets) hosts the Downtown Farmers Market, showcasing flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables from California-certified growers. Tastings and live music add to the festive mood. 800.949.FARM
Italian Family Festa
This three-day festival gets underway the first weekend of October and features live entertainment of the Italian-American variety, and of course food. Grape stomping and cooking demonstrations, crafts booths and a beer and wine garden are among the attractions at this family event. 408.293.7122
Halloween at Bonfante Gardens
Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park, with more than 40 family rides and attractions, stunning gardens, and the intriguing Circus Trees, opens in March and wraps up its season on Halloween. 408.840.7100
Silicon Valley Marathon
Starting in downtown San Jose, new and veteran runners compete in the marathon, half marathon, 5K run / walk, or kid races. Post-race celebration is in Discovery Meadows, close to the start line. A carbo-loading pasta party takes place the previous evening for the first 300 registrants. 408.295-9600 or 800.726.5673
November
Downtown Farmers Market
On Fridays, from early May through December, San Pedro Square (between Santa Clara and St. John streets) hosts the Downtown Farmers Market, showcasing flowers, fruits and vegetables from California-certified growers. Tastings and music add to festivities. 800.949.FARM
Tech Museum Awards
At Parkside Hall, the black-tie Tech Museum Awards gala honors 25 companies, non-profits and individuals for using technology to benefit humanity, with $250,000 in cash awards also made. 408.795.6315
December
Nuestra Navidad
Staged at the Montgomery Theater, an enactment of La Romeria Navideņa includes traditional music, song and dance, highlighting influences shaping Mexican Christmas celebrations. 408.984.0342
Downtown Farmers Market
On Fridays, from early May through December, San Pedro Square (between Santa Clara and St. John streets) hosts the Downtown Farmers Market, showcasing flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables from California-certified growers. Tastings and live music add to the festive mood. 800.949.FARM |
