San Jose

San Jose’s venues range from large arenas and stadiums to mid-size performance spaces in the downtown core.

• SAP Center: The city’s primary arena, SAP Center hosts major concerts, touring shows, and is home to the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, with a capacity of approximately 17,500.¹
• PayPal Park: Home of the San Jose Earthquakes, PayPal Park also hosts international soccer matches and large outdoor events.²
• San Jose Civic: A historic downtown venue with around 3,000 seats, the Civic hosts concerts, comedy, and cultural performances.³

Popular venues just outside San Jose include:

• Frost Amphitheater (Palo Alto): An open-air venue at Stanford University known for concerts, film screenings, and seasonal events.⁴
• The Mountain Winery (Saratoga): A hillside amphitheater offering intimate concerts with vineyard views and a capacity of roughly 2,500.⁵

San Jose hosts a mix of jazz, cultural festivals, and community-driven events throughout the year:

• San Jose Jazz Summer Fest: A major downtown event featuring jazz, R&B, funk, and Latin music, widely recognized as one of the West Coast’s leading jazz festivals.⁶
• San Jose Obon Festival: Held in Japantown, this annual festival celebrates Japanese-American culture with traditional music, dance, and taiko performances.⁷

San Jose boasts a passionate sports culture fueled by a strong sense of local pride among loyal fans:

• Bay FC: This team represents the Bay Area in the NWSL and plays matches at PayPal Park.⁸
• San Jose Sharks: The city’s NHL franchise is known for its intense home games at the SAP Center and a devoted “Shark Tank” crowd.⁹
• San Jose Earthquakes: San Jose natives compete in Major League Soccer in one of the league’s original teams.¹⁰

San Jose’s performing arts and festival scene is as fast-changing as its tech landscape:

• Berryessa Art & Wine Festival: It's a long-running community event featuring local artists, handmade crafts, live entertainment, and regional wines. Set in a family-friendly park setting, it’s a relaxed celebration of creativity.¹²
• SubZERO Festival: Explore street-level showcases of digital art, indie music, and interactive performances, all in the heart of downtown San Jose’s SoFA District.¹¹
• Christmas in the Park: A long-running downtown tradition, Christmas in the Park transforms Plaza de César Chávez into a seasonal display of lights, decorated trees, and live performances. The event draws large crowds each year and is one of San Jose’s most recognizable holiday attractions.¹³