November in the South Bay is full of exciting and festive events. As the weather cools down, the season makes a surprisingly good time for hiking, but there are still plenty of cozy activities to get out of the cold. Partake in cultural celebrations or get ready for the holidays, go to a play or just get a great bite to eat.
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: The Sonic Runway public art installation, on view in downtown San Jose. Photo courtesy of Sonic Runway Facebook.
All month
Multiple locations in the mid-Peninsula
The air turning crisper and the leaves turning shades of gold, red and burgundy makes November one of the best months of the year to get out and enjoy nature. Take your pick from 250 hiking trails — many of which are free, low-impact and open daily — which are managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space. The trails wind through preserves covering over 70,000 acres of diverse and scenic landscapes: from bay wetlands to redwood forests and coastal grasslands. Midpen also offers guided hiking and volunteer-driven habitat restoration projects.
November 2
San Jose
Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue
Altars, offerings and marigolds fill San Jose’s Mexican Heritage Plaza for this immersive, free celebration of Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Families and kids will love this event for its vibrant art and activities like face painting, but it’s also bound to be a night filled with dancing and entertainment. Lucha libre wrestlers are one part of the show, and micheladas keep the party going after sunset.
November 8 and 9
San Jose
Almaden Lake Park, 6099 Winfield Boulevard
Write a message of love with your boo, or scribble an affirmation before setting off your lantern in a cathartic release on Almaden Lake. This festival is an afternoon of fun with food trucks and music, followed up by a splendid display of floating lanterns once the sun goes down. Don’t even worry about cleanup: These all-paper lanterns will be picked up by staff after the event.
November 9 and 24
Santa Clara
Levi's Stadium, 4701 Great America Parkway
Can’t make it to Super Bowl LX in February? Try the next best thing, namely seeing an iconic NFL team play at the same venue! The San Francisco 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams on the 9th and the Carolina Panthers on the 24th, the start of Thanksgiving week. The Bay Area is known for its unparalleled sports venues, and Levi’s Stadium – which is also the site of many top concerts – is definitely one of them.
Through January
San Jose
Circle of Palms Plaza, 120 South Market Street
A popular winter tradition returns to the Circle of Palms plaza in downtown San Jose — an ice skating rink originally founded by Kristi Yamaguchi back in the mid-1990s (the plaza was used as a roller skating rink in 2022). The reinstated ice rink is under new management, so lace up your skates and be prepared to make your ice capades debut!
November 22
Mountain View
Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street
The holiday season is a perfect time to immerse yourself in this truly original American art form. Jazz at the Ballroom brings this fresh, hip take on holiday favorites reimagined in the style of Broadway, jazz, and Old Hollywood greats. With rising stars from Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC’s famed Birdland Club, and NBC’s “The Voice,” the all-ages concert promises to be an incredible night of music and holiday cheer.
November 28-30
San Jose
Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Boulevard
Broadway’s Tony- and Grammy-winning big-hearted musical hit comes to the South Bay, boasting a score by Cyndi Lauper, book by Harvey Fierstein, and original direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Based on true events, the musical portrays an unlikely pair who discover that you change the world when you change your mind.
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!