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’s 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
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
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 8–10
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 15–January 20
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!
Dates vary
At the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, dozens of shows come through every season, ranging from Broadway hits to one-off performances. This month starts off with Clue, the hilarious stage adaptation of the classic board game, and a live orchestra performing the soundtrack of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Then, look forward to the touring production of Come From Away from November 21–24. This Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, based on a true story, follows the passengers of international flights grounded in Newfoundland on September 11, 2001, as the strangers come together in a period of confusion and turmoil.
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!
