The Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival celebrated its 50th year this past weekend, bringing good eats,…read morelive music, art and merchandise booths, and just a lovely atmosphere for individuals of all ages. The event was set up along East Washington, near Historic Murphy Avenue, and stretched to East McKinley (near Target), with the main food vendor and entertainment area taking over an entire parking lot and block. Seating was limited. But there were more than ten food trucks/stands offering pizza, bbq, vietnamese cuisine, ice cream from Mister Softee, and more. There were also drinks stands selling lemonade and alcoholic beverages (of course, wine). I snacked on some savory filipino empanadas from Tita Weewin's and a delicious sushi taco from Aki (a vendor based in SF). I also perused the amazing variety of merchandise tents and displays lining the streets, including some of the most beautiful collections of artwork I've ever seen, especially one of my faves, CatZooArt as well as as a vendor selling awesome vintage menu art. I enjoyed the live music taking place throughout the festival. On the main stage, Ryan Woodward & J Stewart played a variety of songs on the guitar and vocals, like Tom Petty and Dave Matthews Band covers, followed by the Sean Carscadden Trio entertaining the crowd on Saturday afternoon. Other tribute bands were scheduled to take the stage throughout the two-day event too, as well as street performers such as Bob Culbertson, a musician playing lovely tunes, including the Harry Potter theme song, on the chapman stick, a unique string instrument I was unfamiliar with until this day. In addition, the event offered art workshops and fun activities for kids, like a spider jump bungee trampoline and water ballerz (giant "hamster balls" for humans to climb inside and walk on water). No shortage of options for things to see, do, and appreciate. I certainly had a good time.

The festival is at the same place as the farmers market. So there is plenty of parking…read more The art just seemed ok. Nothing really stood out. Same with the food trucks. Nothing really looked good or smelled appealing. The line for soft serve was the longest..the high light was the many options for kids

Come next year if you want to get in the holiday spirit! About three blocks of houses with lights…read more Some are cute and some are simply amazing !! A few sell hot cocoa. They don't shut the street from car traffic, but they do limit it to one way. You walk on the sidewalk but there's enough room to go around people. Incredibly crowded. Pro tip: Find parking a few blocks away and walk. Like on Arroyo. Park BEFORE the car line starts or you will be stuck.

Á fun way to get in the holiday spirit. This last Dec we took my granddaughter and she was amazed…read moreat all thé beautiful lights and colorful decorations. Almost every house on the 2 block walkable streets are fully decorated in holiday spirit. Many houses in the adjacent area join in with more festive fun decor. My personal tip is to go on a weeknight, early in Dec for less crowds. Best to park a couple blocks before Orange Ave (near Britton Park) and walk into the area. Bring the family and enjoy!

I've been coming to the Willow Glen Holiday lights for almost 10 years now, and it is pure…read moremagic...minus the crowds. It's amazing to see how all-out so many of the houses go, just about every single one has some sort of Christmas or Hanukkah display, light, or decoration. It's also amazing how much more crowded it gets every year. I used to drive it, but now I don't dare try. I'll typically park near one of the main streets and get out and walk. This is usually much more enjoyable since you aren't having to fight nonstop car and foot traffic. This year I went a little late in the season and even walking it wasn't all that enjoyable because of the groups of 15+ people together and the people running around doing a scavenger hunt, so lesson learned. This past year we parked a bit further and got to see some displays that I either haven't seen in the past or are newer, but it was nice to stroll the less crowded streets and still enjoy the holiday magic. Unlike in years past, there were even street dog vendors out this time around. Felt like I was leaving a concert or a sporting event!

The wonderful people of Willow Glen produces amazing holiday displays for both Halloween and…read moreChristmas. The festivities and major decorations are very much appreciated by those who may not have the resources to partake in decorating. There are a few neighborhoods in Willow Glen you can walk through and look at beautiful displays. It is animal and kid friendly Another way to view these decorations is something called the Holiday Trolley Ride that you purchase to participate and The trolley rides through the decorated neighborhoods. (Not pet friendly) I recommend bundling up because it gets chilly at night. Don't miss out! Thank you people of Willow glen!

So imaginarium is a little pop up that comes out in different locations, constantly moving! Seen…read morethis little pop up and had to bring my lil family to explore this! I heard from my coworker how fun and exciting this place is! Definitely a place to take a lot of pictures! You will have to come when the sun is out so you can experience the beautiful lights! They have little coloring games, a bubble foam machine, and even little concerts!

Took my niece and nephew here and my nephew kept screaming "best day ever" while running around, so…read moreI'd say this place is a resounding success! We went at around 9 pm on July 4th and there was still a lot of people but not enough to dampen the experience thankfully. Tickets are easy to grab online and there is ample parking available because it's in the great mall. When we first walked in we were greeted with lots and lots of foam. Foam in the air like its snowing, and foam on the ground. My nephew was so excited and kept running through it excitedly which was cute. We were also told the last show of the day was about to start so we luckily caught it. Loved watching all 3 performers - aerial, juggling, and hoops. From there we just walked around and saw as much as we could. The little rooms they have with different decorations and aesthetics are great for pictures and selfies. There are so many good photo ops that I basically spent an hour being the munchkins personal photographer :) was a great time

Water Lantern Festival is a must, you have to attend at least once and youll be hooked to come…read moreagain and again. What a fun experience this was to create a lanten and then launch it off into the lake. Got our Water lantern Kits and began getting creative on how to decorate our oun indivitual lanters. You get only one marker so its a good idea to be prepared and bring your own markers of you want to have a veriaty of colors. Dawn was upon us and we began to get ready to launch our lanterns. It was biter sweat launching them because it part of the process however part of you wnts to keep it and take it home. I was curiouse as to what happens to them after they are launched and everyone goes home for the night. You do have your deck of cards both playing cards and conversation cards that were fun to keep as your souvenirs. You also get a wrist band and draw sting backpack that comes in a veriety of colors. Ther are lots of food trucks for purshasing food, drinks and treats. Remember to come early if you want to have dibs on a good spot. Bring a picnic blanket and a pictic to share as they do alow outside food and drinks. Also remember to bring a jacket or light sweater as it gets cooler in the earning. Cant wait for next year and bringing the hubs to enjoy a picnic and the Wate Lanters.

Wished it could have been a 5 but ended up being a 4 due to some poor execution…read more The Water Lantern Festival is a family friendly event where the community comes together and you are able to self reflect, put your hopes out into the universe, make notes of gratitude, and reminisce on memories. Do not be surprised if this event becomes both emotional & memorable all at once. Attendees decorate and customize their own paper lanterns that are made of eco-friendly paper. Arrive at any time but you should ideally arrive at least an hour before sunset. Securing a really good spot requires an even earlier arrival time. For those who have not experienced this event before, make sure you come equipped with a few things: *spacious picnic blanket or mat *some snacks or food [if you would like to save some money from having to buy from vendors] *a light blanket or coat because the night will eventually get cold *wear comfortable shoes. The designated parking area is far so you're gonna be doing a bit of cardio. *come with crayons, markers, stickers, and photos that you may want to beautify your lantern with. Each kit is only provided with one marker and the color is RANDOM. There were quite a number of food trucks and food offerings. Lines are extremely long and things can get a little chaotic. Again, bringing something to eat- even a few snacks- helps tremendously especially with those who may be on a strict timeline when it comes to meals. Food was pricey and was simply okay. I wished I had made a quick pitstop prior to heading to Almaden Lake Park to grab some food elsewhere. Not only would it save me money but the food would have been better enjoyed. The event itself was nice. Waiting around got a bit boring at times especially when you are with a rambunctious toddler who can't sit still for even the shortest amounts of time. This experience brings in a large amounts of people and that includes people who come last minute and will aggressively squeeze their way into tiny pockets. When the time came to release our water lanterns in the lake, there was no order or staff to make sure things were happening in a smooth manner. If this was all strictly adults it would have been manageable but for those coming here with smaller kids, it was chaotic. There are definitely things that the can be worked on but the event overall was really nice. I'm glad I was finally able to take part in this experience and I know my daughter is looking forward to coming back. She couldn't stop talking about this for the next two weeks.

The annual celebration at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a wonderful family friendly…read morefestival for all ages. Lots of good food like baklava, kataifi, ellinikos cafe, lamb chops, horiatiki salad. Free parking at the festival is available, with free shuttle service.

There was no parking at or near the festival, but it was a nice day for a walk (and my running day)…read moreanyway, so I was fine with this. They accepted both cash and credit cards for the $5 admission fee at the entrance. Taking place at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, there was plenty of outdoor space for food, drink, and merchandise vendor booths. So many delicious bites sold throughout, from grilled meats to classic greek desserts, I was overwhelmed with choices, but having too much good stuff to choose from is not a bad thing. I ended up grabbing a few delectable specialty dishes, including some to take home, like tiropita, spanakopita, pastitsio, and moussaka. That greek lasagna was especially yummy! Greek beer and wine, and cocktails, as well as frappes/coffee, were available on site too. Church tours were scheduled throughout the day, and of course live entertainment. Music and dance performances full of energy and smiles, embracing the culture, and keeping the crowd in good spirits with lovely sounds. This included live music by Mythos, with open public dancing. A unique song selection played, beyond just classic fast-paced greek tunes. Think a mashup of greek melodies and Wipe Out, yup those musicians definitely kept it interesting. I was captivated by the footwork as guests engaged in chain dancing in front of the stage. The mayor of San Jose joining in the fun as well, putting on his best moves on the dance floor. Also, a greek dance performance by Ethnos on Sunday afternoon (and multiple times throughout the 3-day event), a group of middle school kids dressed in costume showcasing their talents for the crowd. There were plenty of tables and seating throughout, including an air-conditioned indoor hall, and even the entire entertainment stage area outside was shaded for the comfort of guests. Wow, amazing! The festival was organized incredibly well, and a detailed event program and map was available online, which was ideal for attendees to plan ahead of time while learning a little bit of history about the food, traditions, and more. A joyful atmosphere and great sense of community, altogether.

The San Jose Jazz Summer Festival is held every year in downtown San Jose…read more It was a great time! Good vibes, multiple stages to choose from, lots of vendors and an awesome grown & sexy vibe. There are levels to the stage access, general access wristband gives access to 4 stages. Then there's an all stages wrist band that gives access to additional stages. Those stages were on the perimeter of the festival at the surrounding hotels and one stage was at the BreakRoom close to the festival main entrance. I arrived to the festival around 12 noon and the lines to enter were long. There are a host of volunteers who show up take the event flow. Day 2 of the festival Patti LaBelle was headlining!! Bring your own chair for a seat at the main stage, people arrive early to set their chair up, so consider this if there's someone you want to see on the main stage. The weather was great and I had a fantastic time. I'll check out next years lineup for sure! Cheers!

There was a promo saying "beat the rush & buy your tickets online!" So, I did. When I arrived,…read morethinking I just needed to show my QR code get my wristband and away I go - WRONG!!! Everyone else must have seen the same promo because the line snaked around so much I couldn't find the end. No exaggeration. Was in line over 1 hour to get in. They definitely need to improve this. So, once I got in, the music was great. I missed The Altons due to the line fiasco. I did get to see the Sinceres from East LA. They were very good.

Highly recommend checking out the obon festival. This is an all hands on deck community event to…read morehost locals and those who just want a taste and feel of culture! Enjoy the amazing musical performances, yummy food/snacks, and carnival games (led by the local Boy Scout troops) fun will be had by all!

First time to this festival and learned that it is tiny compared to the festival that in San…read moreFrancisco Japantown which takes up about 6 blocks. Food stalls are all in one area located next to the Japanese Buddhist church annex. Overall I enjoyed seeing friends and the sunshine compared to the overcast skies where I live.

Great vendors! Great music! Great weather! Well attended event!…read more Had a blast at Cambell's Oktoberfest and was impressed by all of the local vendors and business owners who were celebrating in showcasing their businesses with the community. Such a smart way to highlight the hard-working business owners in in the neighborhood. Parking is a little tricky, so be prepared to circle a few times to find a spot or come early. Hats off to the downtown Cambell Chamber of Commerce for throwing such a wonderful event.

We had a great time at this event! There are plenty of food and drink options, not only from the…read morevendors but the local business too! We did wish that they had more seating throughout the event. Lots of different local musicians playing on different stages. There is a 5/10k race prior to the start of the event. We signed up for this race and enjoyed our run. The course is out and back and was run on a paved trail. They provided snacks prior to the start of the race and Square Pizza Guys were handing out free pizza sqaures after the race. We will definitely attend these events next year!

TLDR: Nice stroll for adults, good rides for kids. Overall worth checking out at least once…read more Good for an hour distraction, plus lots of restaurants nearby. Ambiance (4/5): * Lots of lit and decorated Xmas trees. * Heavier on the high schoolers than I expected, mostly around the churro vendor at the end. * Overall a pleasant setup. This is my second time going. I'll likely go back again in future seasons. Service (2/5): * Website and/or phone number given says you can text and get a reply with an answer to a question. I never received a reply. Offerings: * Lots of rides for kids 3 ft or taller. Four rides for kids under 3 ft. * Alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages available. Good looking churros for sale.

I have been going to Christmas in the Park pretty much all of my life. It has changed a lot, little…read moreby little every year. Some people might not notice the little changes but I have. It's free and a San Jose tradition and always a treat to walk around and get into that festive Christmas spirit. There are hundreds of decorated Christmas trees around the park and also wonderful lights strung around the park as well. I love checking out the different organizations that have their trees there and also the wonderful displays. I love how some of the displays have been updated year after year with new modern versions. They also have added lots of more food, drink and merchandise vendors and a lot of them are pretty good as well. I do miss having the little replica of the San Jose Light Tower and also the snow machines in the park. I hope they bring both of those back at least. But I know Christmas in the Park keeps on evolving and having new and exciting things every year. I look forward to visiting the San Jose tradition year after year and making more new memories. By the way, there's free parking in the city-owned parking garages for the first 90 minutes. Or you can park on the street for free after 6:00 p.m. as well.