It’s a new year filled with great things to do in the South Bay and Peninsula. We’ve pulled together the best events, festivals, museum exhibitions and concerts of January to start your year off right. Whether you’re in San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Jose or elsewhere, there’s plenty to do.
Featured photo by Skyler Fusco (@slfusco on Instagram).
Through mid-January
The beloved Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice Rink has been replaced this winter season with roller skating. Make new memories and keep the holiday tradition of skating alive this winter season.
November 16–January 26
For the rest of January, you can still play with colors and learn about light with CuriOdyssey’s seasonal exhibit IlluminOdyssey. The interactive San Mateo museum presents a maze of glowing projections and phosphorescent surfaces, where the whole family can learn about refraction, photoluminescence, color and the properties of light. Grab your lantern and bask in its glow!
January 1
Working on your New Year’s resolution but don’t want to stop celebrating just yet? Filoli is leading a boozy hike through a trail connected to its beautiful Woodside estate. This self-guided hike includes a bit of bubbles to start, mimosas at the halfway point and a poolside bloody Mary to finish. Tickets are on sale now for four different starting times between 10 a.m. and noon.
January 11
Celebrate Latino culture with Mariachi bands, dancing, crafts and more at the Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose. El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos — Three Kings’ Day in English, or the Epiphany — ends the season of Christmas festivities and is widely celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries. Experience folkloric dance while enjoying a slice of King’s Cake in this vibrant event.
January 25 & 26
Get out of the cold weather and cozy up while listening to top-notch classical music at the California Theatre. With a season running from winter to late spring, Symphony San José is a solid activity for a January afternoon or evening. This year, their program includes two performances of Stravinsky’s The Firebird, among other works, conducted by Carlos Vieu.
January 25 & 26
You can celebrate Lunar New Year and participate in family-friendly activities at the Grand Century Shopping Mall, in the heart of San José’s Little Saigon. This two-day celebration, put on by the Vietnamese American Roundtable, will feature traditional lion dances, ribbon dancers, lantern folk dances and so much more! Red envelopes containing chocolate coins will be passed out during the festivities.
Event Venues
Looking to see what’s happening right now in the South Bay? Our comprehensive list of venues below will help you find what you need to know what’s going on.
Looking for more things to do in the area?
Visit our What to Do in Northern California page!
