From cultural celebrations and foodie events to The Fair and music festivals, we’ve got a lot to look forward to this year in the great 408. Bust out the calendar and pencil in these important events happening in San Jose in 2025.
San Jose Lunar New Year Tet Festival
Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, Feb. 9 | Eastridge Mall
SJ’s largest free Lunar New Year festival will return for its 10th anniversary with live music, carnival rides, lion dances, food vendors, and games. The opening ceremony is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Friend Fest
Saturday, Feb. 22-Sunday, Feb. 23 | South Hall
San Jose Made’s fifth annual Friend Fest will revolve around a “friendship-inspired vendor marketplace” featuring 275+ makers, plus fun giveaways and activities for friends of all kinds.
Cinequest Film Festival
Tuesday, March 11-Sunday, March 23 | California Theatre
Silicon Valley’s annual indie film fest — once voted Best Film Festival by USA Today readers — will feature screenings, workshops, and tech forums showcasing the latest in innovation. Buy your passes or a virtual ticket now.
San Jose Day
Sunday, April 13 | Emma Prusch Farm Park
The 7th annual festival celebrating the arts + culture of the great 408 will go down at Emma Prusch Farm Park this spring with live local music, dance, family-friendly activities, and its biggest vendor market yet. Check out these fun community events in the week leading up to the big day.
Nikkei Matsuri
Sunday, April 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Japantown
The annual festival celebrating Japanese American culture will return to Japantown in 2025 with performances, artisans, exhibits, and food vendors. Join the Yu-Ai Kai Japantown 5K Fun Run at 9 a.m., right before the festival.
San Jose Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Sunday, May 4 | King + Story
The United Lowrider Council of San Jose will celebrate our city’s vibrant lowrider culture at this family-friendly event. Expect a parade along King Road, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., starting from Alum Rock Avenue followed by a festival at Emma Prusch Farm Park, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
SJ Made Fest
Saturday, May 31-Sunday, June 1 | History Park San Jose
SJ sure loves its markets. San Jose Made’s largest outdoor event of the year will feature 250+ local markers, artists, designers, curators, chefs, crafters, and small businesses, alongside food trucks and live entertainment. If you want to participate as a vendor, applications are due by Monday, Jan. 20.
SubZERO Festival
Friday, June 6 + Saturday, June 7 | SoFa District
This fest shines the spotlight on SJ’s indie artists with live performances, vendors, food trucks, and a beer garden on South First Street.
Blues & Brews Festival
Saturday, June 14 + Sunday, June 15 | Plaza de Cesar Chavez
The Bay Area’s longest-running blues festival was started in 1981 when San Jose State’s Associated Students organization wanted to put on a free festival for students. Today, it has grown to welcome 2,500+ attendees and offer vintage games, craft beer, Southern cuisine, and great tunes. Check out this year’s schedule and buy your tickets.
FoodieLand San Jose
Friday, June 27-Sunday, June 29 | Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
More than 100 food vendors and 75 merch vendors will line the fairgrounds for this family-friendly foodie festival. Pro tip: Admission is free for kids under 5.
The local San Jose band, Flock of Seagulls, performs at Music in the Park.
Photo via @jamadrien
Dine Downtown San Jose
Thursday, July 3-Sunday, July 13 | Downtown San Jose
Enjoy prix fixe menus, food + drink pairings, and chef specials from participating restaurants and cafes during this local Restaurant Week.
Pacific Feats Festival
Saturday, July 12-Sunday, July 13, 2025 | Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
This festival features Pacific Island beats, merchandise, food, and dance. Past events have featured artists Sammy Johnson, Common Kings, and Maoli. Check out the 2025 lineup and grab tickets.
San Jose Obon Festival
Saturday, July 12-Sunday, July 13 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, Japantown
This annual Buddhist event commemorates those who are no longer with us and features food, bon odori dances, and other live performances.
Music in the Park
July-September | Plaza de Cesar Chavez
This festival has rocked downtown San Jose since 1989, bringing high-profile artists to the park including Maroon 5, Neon Trees, The Wailers, Flock of Seagulls, and CeeLo Green. Along with music, festival goers can also enjoy local vendors, beer + wine, and food trucks. The Psychedelic Furs will perform in July 2025 with special guest Rooney.
The Italian Family Festa is coming in July 2025 — magnifico.
Photo via Italian Family Festa San Jose
Italian Family Festa
Saturday, July 26-Sunday, July 27 | History Park San Jose
The Italian American Heritage Foundation’s free festival features culinary demos, arts + crafts, live music, vendors, activities for the kids, Italian cars + Vespas, and a Grape Stomp — magnifico.
The Fair
Wednesday, July 30-Sunday, Aug. 3 | Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
The summertime staple will return with livestock shows, live entertainment, fun rides, exhibitions, and fried food aplenty — and it’s OK to go hog-wild.
San Jose Summer Jazz Fest
Friday, Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 10 | Plaza de César Chávez
This fest will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2025 with nine stages of musical performances ranging from salsa and blues to Latin and R&B. The lineup was announced in mid-March and includes headliners like Common, Mavis Staples, PJ Morton, and Ghost-Note. Tickets are on sale now.
South Bay SummerFest
Friday, Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 10 | Eastridge Center
This inaugural, multi-cultural celebration will include food vendors, music, carnival rides, games, live music, DJs, and — oh, snap — an “immersive photo theme park.” Registration is free.
San Jose Lowrider Day
Saturday, Aug. 30 | San Jose City Hall
The United Lowrider Council of San Jose will highlight our city’s vibrant lowrider culture with this community event along Santa Clara Street between 3rd and 7th streets.
Silicon Valley Pride
Saturday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Aug. 31 | Plaza de César Chávez Park
Our region’s 50th annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebration culminates with a colorful parade and festival in downtown San Jose. Rapper + SJ native Snow Tha Product will headline the festivities on Saturday night — buy tickets.
Chicano Soul Fest
Saturday, Sept. 6 | History Park
Music, art, and 200+ lowriders will fill the landmark for this 4th annual celebration of Chicano culture. Expect performances spanning genres, from mariachi and banda to soul and funk, and an exhibition that explores Chicano record collectors. Get tickets.
Dumpling Time is one of the participating restaurants offering a special menu during Taste of the Row.
Photo via Santana Row
Restaurant Week: Taste the Row
Friday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Sept. 28 | Santana Row
Explore Santana Row’s dining scene with $50 prix fixe, three-course menus from 14 participating restaurants including Augustine, Meso, Dumpling Time, Left Bank Brasserie, and Ozumo. Some restaurants will also offer signature cocktails + seasonal specials. Pro tip: Make reservations.
ILLO Mart 2025
Saturday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 28 | South Hall
San Jose Made’s newest event will bring 350+ illustrators, artists, and designers to downtown SJ for a celebration of all things creative. Admission is free.
Great Big Family Play Day
Sunday, Sept. 28 | Excite Ballpark
Parents, this one rocks. Dubbed “Coachella for Kids,” this music festival focuses on family-friendly acts like Twinkletime, DJ dance parties, and special guests your littles will love.
Little Italy San Jose Italian Festival
Sunday, Oct. 5 | Little Italy
The 8th annual fest will boast Italian food vendors galore, live entertainment, wine tasting, an arts + crafts village, and one of the largest Italian car shows in the US — think: Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and more.
Silicon Valley African Film Festival
Thursday, Oct. 9-Sunday, Oct. 12 | Locations vary
Lights. Camera. Action. The 16th annual festival returns to showcase Africa through the lenses of the continent’s veteran and emerging filmmakers. Expect screenings, post-screening discussions, and lots of outreach + education.
Pumpkins in the Park
Saturday, Oct. 11 | Discovery Meadow
Bring the whole family to this free fall celebration that also aims to highlight Guadalupe River Park as one of our region’s important natural resources.
Campbell’s annual Oktoberfest party is certainly worth a toast.
Photo via Campbell Oktoberfest
Campbell Oktoberfest: A Taste of Bavaria in the Bay Area
Saturday, Oct. 18 + Sunday, Oct. 19 | Downtown Campbell
Prost! This free 30th annual shindig will feature 150+ arts and crafts vendors, German beers, food, best dressed contests, stein-holding competitions, and live music from the Zicke Zacke Band. Pro tip: Pre-purchase drink tickets and festival upgrades so you spend less time in line.
Trick-or-Trick The Row Halloween Family Festival
Tuesday, Oct. 28 | Santana Row
Live music, pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating, and lots of family-friendly fun await at this free community fest — costumes encouraged.
SJMade Holiday Fair
Saturday, Nov. 28-Sunday, Nov. 29 | Santa Clara Convention Center
Cross off your holiday list early by shopping small + local at South Bay’s largest holiday craft fair. Browse 350+ makers, artists, designers, food producers, and small businesses for truly unique gifts.
Christmas in the Park
December | Plaza de César Chávez
You know the holiday season has arrived when Christmas in the Park takes over the plaza, transforming the park into a winter wonderland filled with 40+ musical exhibits, twinkling lights, and the 50-ft Community Giving Tree.
San Jose Winter Wonder Market
Saturday, Dec. 13-Sunday, Dec. 14 | South Hall
Finish your holiday shopping by perusing 250+ makers, designers, artists, bakers, and more showcasing the best of creative gifts made in San Jose.
