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ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

There’s Always Something Happening San José, America’s Safest Big City for the third consecutive year, and recently named the third Most Fun City by Cranium Inc., offers visitors of all ages a variety of high-tech, historic and fun activities to take part in. Here is a sampling of things to see and do while visiting San José:

TOP TEN Events and Activities to Explore in San José
  1. Community Events and Festivals
    With more than 300 days of sunshine on average per year, San José is a great place to enjoy a range of community events and festivals tailored to every age and demographic.
    Cinequest San José Film Festival (Feb)
    State Farm Pac-10 Women’s Basketball Tournament (Feb)
    San José Tahiti Fete (July)
    Comcast San José Jazz Festival (Aug)
    Read-to-Lead (Sept)
    Christmas in the Park (Dec)
    Silicon Valley Football Classic (Dec)

  2. Cultural Diversity
    A city rich in history and cultural diversity, San José has developed into a community influenced by culture. Japantown, one of last three remaining in the nation, and the Mexican Heritage Plaza, a state-of-the-art cultural facility showcasing Mexican-American culture and San José’s rich Mexican history, are just two reflec-tions of the area’s diversity.

  3. High-Tech Experiences
    NNo visit to San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is complete without a taste of high-tech. Begin a high-tech journey at the Tech Museum of Innovation, a 132,000-square-foot facility in the heart of downtown San José. Other high-tech stops in the Bay Area include the Com-puter History Museum, Apple headquarters, the Hewlett-Packard garage (where the company began), Stanford and San José State Universities.

  4. Magnificent Museums
    San José’s seven distinct museums offer visitors a look at our past and a glimpse into the future. Conveniently located in or within minutes of downtown, the museums include: Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, History San José, Peralta Adobe & Fallon House, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles and the Tech Museum of Innovation.

  5. Nightlife and Performing Arts
    When the sun goes down in San José, the nightlife heats up! San José’s entertainment, dining and world-class arts can be found in the heart of downtown. San José’s SoFA (South First Area) District is a concentrated five-block area incorporating nightclubs, restaurants, art galleries and theater. The San Pedro Square District offers a mix of outdoor dining and nightlife options, and also serves up some great entertainment year-round.

  6. Shopping: Upscale, Outlets, Boutiques and Flea Market

    Whether you are a shopaholic, bargain hunter or a window browser, San José offers a number of shopping possibilities from upscale Santana Row and boutiques stores on Antique Row, to outlet and shopping malls to the largest open-air market in the U.S.

  7. Sports & Recreation
    San José offers an array of sporting activities for spectators and competitors. Come cheer for the home team at any of our professional sporting events, play a round of golf at a nearby course, or visit any one of San José’s neighborhood and regional parks where you can participate in a variety of activities including hiking, biking, basketball and tennis.

  8. Theme Parks: Paramount’s Great America, Bonfante Gardens and Raging Waters
    For thrills and excitement, visit some of the Bay Area’s theme parks: Paramount’s Great America, the largest theme park in Northern California; Paramount’s Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park, a one-of-a-kind experience combining unique gardens and amusement rides with the mid-20th century history and agricultural roots of Santa Clara Valley; or Raging Waters, the area’s premier water theme park with more than 18 acres of slides and attractions.

  9. Winchester Mystery House
    Once owned by Winchester Rifle heiress Sara Winchester, the beautiful but bizarre mansion is a 160-room Victorian filled with stairs that lead to the ceiling and doors that open into walls.

  10. Winery Tour
    More than 20 award-winning wineries can be found in Santa Clara County with two located in San José – J. Lohr Winery and La Rochelle Vineyards. Tastings, outdoor concerts and special dinners are just a sample of their offerings.

Contact:
Marie Vasquez, 408.792.4125
mvasquez@sanjose.org
San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau