Build wonderful, amazing things with Legos at the Mountain View Public Library’s Lego Lunchtime Build-a-thon. The free drop-in event with no registration required takes place on every third Wednesday from 12:30 to 1:30 pm (upcoming event March 21, 2018).
Mountain View Public Library
585 Franklin Street
Mountain View, 94041
The 2018 Blossom Festival featuring music of the 30’s – 40’s, antique cars, vintage motors, children’s crafts, and craftspeople on Saturday, March 24 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Saratoga Heritage Orchard and Civic Center area.
The free event includes:
Live Music
Children’s Activities
Craftspeople
Vintage Motor and Farm Vehicles
Vintage Vehicles
Old Films and Historical Figures
Artists
Food Trucks
Docent-Led Orchard Tour
Prune & Apricot Tasting
Poetry Reading by Poet Laureates
Saratoga Heritage Orchard
13650 Saratoga Avenue
Saratoga, 95070
408.867.4311
Sunday, December 31, 2017 Christmas in the Park presents a New Year’s Eve East Coast Countdown. This free event begins at 7:00pm and continues until just past midnight. Christmas in the Park is open on New Year’s Eve, December 31, from 9:00am.
There will be a special family oriented attraction from 7:00-9:00pm, conduct an “East Coast” countdown and then live music until the new year.
Plaza de César Chávez
1 Paseo De San Antonio
San Jose, 95113
Admission: Free
Once again Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose is transformed into Christmas in the Park from the day after Thanksgiving through New Years Day.
The free event includes more than 550 decorated Christmas trees, over 40 animated displays/exhibits, visits with Santa, nightly entertainment and more.
Special areas of Christmas in the Park include Reindeer Ranch, Snowflake Falls, North Pole Plaza, Gingerbread Village, Candy Cane Lane and Mistletoe Row. There is also Adoption Alley where you can adopt a cat or dog to take home.
Christmas in the Park kicks off at 6:00pm on Friday, November 24 with the lighting of the 60-foot Christmas tree. Christmas in the Park is then open daily 9:00am to midnight.
Christmas in the Park is expensive to produce and operate. Thus, they ask you to visit their food court. All of the proceeds go directly toward bringing this event free.
Plaza de César Chávez
1 Paseo De San Antonio
San Jose, 95113
Admission: Free
From the day after Thanksgiving (11/24/2017) through New Years Day (1/1/2018).
The Cupertino Carnival 2017, a three-day festival featuring live music, entertainment, real amusement rides, jump houses/inflatables, games, arts and crafts, a wide variety of food and more at St. Joseph of Cupertino School and Parish; from Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17.
Admission is free; however, there is a cost for rides, games and food. Note: three to four tickets are required for each ride.
Schedule (subject to change):
Friday, September 15 | from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Saturday, September 16
11:00 am
Carnival Opens
11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Amusement Rides, Arts & Crafts, Games, and Food Booths
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Free Show
Master Magician Phil Ackerly
(Main Stage)
1:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Silent Auction
(Parish Hall)
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Free Show
Martial Arts
(Main Stage)
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Free Show
Happy Birds
(Main Stage)
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Free Attraction
Hey Balloon Lady
(Main Tent)
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Free Show
China Dance & Arts
(Main Stage)
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Free Concert
Big Daddy Rockers
(Main Stage)
10:00 pm
Carnival Closes
Sunday, September 17
10:30 am
Carnival Opens
10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Amusement Rides, Arts & Crafts, Games, and Food Booths
10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Silent Auction
(Parish Hall)
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Free Show
Master Magician Phil Ackerly
(Main Stage)
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Free Show
East West Dance
(Main Stage)
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Free Attraction
Hey Balloon Lady
(Main Tent)
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Free Concert
Plastic Paddy Band
(Main Stage)
4:00 pm
General Raffle Drawings
(Main Stage)
4:30 pm
Carnival Closes
Cupertino Carnival 2017
St. Joseph of Cupertino
10120 N. De Anza Blvd
Cupertino, 95014
Free parking is available at Stevens Creek Blvd., beside the school ground and at Lazaneo Dr. beside Intero Realty. There will be a shuttle bus ferrying patrons between the Lazaneo Dr. parking lot and the carnival.
Saturdays in August is Free Outdoor Movie Nights at Saint James Park.
Movies are free and begin at dusk; about an hour before the film will be fun and games for kids of all ages. Also, costumes are encouraged – prizes to those who dress on theme.
Bring a blanket or low-chair to sit on.
You may bring your dog if Fido is “dog/people friendly”.
Bring food or purchase something from the food trucks.
August 5 – Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone
August 12 – Cars
August 19 – Nacho Libre
August 26 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Saint James Park
2nd Street and St. James Street
San Jose, 95112
Free admission to the Wings of History Air Museum on Saturday, May 20 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. See various airplanes (including antique, modern and Warbirds), antique cars, antique farm equipment, steam engines and hot air balloons.
Free airplane rides for kids 8 years to 17 years old. Limited space, pre-register here (2017-05-20 South County).
Wings of History Museum
12777 Murphy Avenue
San Martin, 95046
(408) 683-2290
Saturday, May 20, 2017
7:30 am to 3:30 pm (hot air balloons from 7:00 am)
Admission: Free
Free admission to the Santa Cruz Museum on the first Friday of every month.
Museum exhibits focus on the natural history of the Santa Cruz region and the Monterey Bay.
Wildlife & Habitats — On display… Owls, Hawks, a Golden Eagle, Reptiles, Amphibians, Foxes, Coyotes, Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Jack Rabbits, Brush Rabbits, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, California Quail, Hummingbirds Song Birds, Nests, Calls, Squirrels, Raccoons, Skunks.
Geology of Santa Cruz — The Museum features fossilized bones of whales, dolphins and an entire sea cow skeleton.
Parking is available on Pilkington Avenue or in surrounding streets. From April-September you must get a free parking permit from inside the Museum to park on the museum-side of Pilkington Ave.
Public transit — Santa Cruz Metro.
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 East Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz, 95062
831-420-6115
Free admission on the first Friday of every month.
Tuesday-Friday, 11am-4pm | Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm | closed Mondays.
The Blossom Festival 2017 is March 18 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the Saratoga Heritage Orchard and Civic Center area.
Antique cars, vintage motors, children’s crafts, craftspeople, and live music from the 30’ and 40’s calibrating the original Blossom Festival that debuted in 1900. Also, vintage farm vehicles, artists, along with prune and apricot tasting.
Saratoga Heritage Orchard
13650 Saratoga Ave
Saratoga, 95070
Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission: Free
The Bay Area Pet Expo at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds is Saturday and Sunday, March 11 &12.
Admission to this indoor event is free (Parking $8.00) and non-aggressive, well-behaved pets are welcome — all pets must be on a fixed lead or in a carrier with proof of appropriate vaccinations.
You will be required to sign a pet waiver at the entrance or you may fill your pet waiver form out in advance here (pdf).
The Expo features pet-friendly exhibitors, pet care tips, grooming, pet behavior & training, along with free nail trims, discounted vaccinations.
Don’t have a pet? Pets are available for adoption.
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
344 Tully Rd
San Jose, 95111
Admission: Free
Parking is $8
Saturday, March 11 — 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday, March 12 — 11:00am to 4:00pm
