On the Peninsula and into the South Bay, temperatures are rising and people are turning out for fun events and festivals. This May, there’s a lot to celebrate, with AAPI Heritage Month and Cinco de Mayo at the top of mind. Community-driven gatherings take center stage as the South Bay welcomes culture, the planet, art and more.
We’ve done the deep research for you on the best things to do in the South Bay including museums, cultural events, food tours, athletic events, hikes and more. Speaking of food, we also have an extensive list of our best restaurants in the South Bay, and if you’re planning a weekend, the best places to stay.
Featured Photo: Hillsborough Memorial Day Parade
Cinco de Mayo Salsa Fest
May 4
Put together by the community group Opening Doors 2020, this festival invites everybody to come dance salsa in Downtown San Jose. Look forward to live music, costumed dancers, a classic car show and loads of food and artisan vendors throughout the day for Cinco de Mayo. Hungry attendees can even compete in a burrito eating contest — a 5-pound burrito eating contest. Proceeds benefit Opening Doors 2020’s mobile meals programs which serve low-income seniors, families and people facing homelessness.
More info: od2020.com
Latinx Art Now! Exhibition and Auction
Through May 18
Admission is free to this exhibition of contemporary pieces by Latinx artists, on display in downtown San Jose. El Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) showcases 30+ California-based Latinx contemporary artists in this annual event, which finishes off with a live auction. Support Latinx artists and MACLA’s missions and continued art preservation by attending.Â
More info: maclaarte.org
One Ocean Festival
May 18
The costal community of Half Moon Bay hosts an afternoon of music and environmental education during this relatively new festival, the One Ocean Festival. Admission is free, music will be playing and festivalgoers can interact with a number of environmental nonprofits that will be in attendance.Â
More info: coastsideparks.org
South Bay AAPI Festival
May 18
San Jose’s History Park lights up with a joyous celebration of the South Bay’s diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Educational panels and exhibits are planned by both the Japanese American and Chinese American museums of San Jose, and many will gather for traditional dance, food and activities.
More info: chcp.org
Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival
May 25–26
Mushroom art. Mushroom dishes. Mushroom beer?! Learn about, buy and eat all things mushroom at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival. Not just a two-day festival for all things mycological, this event also boasts multiple music stages, hours of live entertainment and plenty of shopping on the street. With all these activities, it’s no wonder that the festival is 44 years strong.
More info: morganhillmushroomfestival.org
Hillsborough Memorial Day Parade
May 27
The city of Hillsborough on the Peninsula holds a festive Memorial Day parade every year with marching bands, mounted patrols and community groups all making their way through the city. Be sure to stick around for the music festival slash carnival that follows the parade.Â
More info: hillsborough.net
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!
