• Gil Sperry

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Gil Sperry

  • MEXICO (An IMAX Film)

    Films:
    MEXICO (An IMAX Film)

  • Russell Rodriguez

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Russell Rodríguez, Ph.D

  • Mariachi Day at Children's Discovery Museum

    Special Events:
    ¡A Moverse Todos! Mariachi Family Day

  • Thomas A. Saenz

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Thomas A. Saenz

  • The Storm That Swept Mexico

    Films:
    The Storm That Swept Mexico

  • Vikki Carr

    Music:
    Vikki Carr

  • Outdoor Feria del Mariachi

    Concerts:
    Outdoor Feria del Mariachi (FREE!)

  • Once Upon A Time... A Mariachi Musical

    Concerts:
    Once Upon A Time… A Mariachi Musical

  • Calpulli Tonalehqueh

    Dance:
    Calpulli Tonalehqueh

  • Richard Gonzales

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Richard Gonzales

  • Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitllan

    Music:
    Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán

  • Los Lupeños

    Dance:
    Los Lupeños

  • Olga Briseño

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Olga Briseño

  • Stop The Hate March

    Special Events:
    A Community Conversation

  • Ruben Martinez

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Rubén Martínez

  • Dan Guerrero

    Music:
    Dan Guerrero – Creative Director

  • Mariachi Veritas

    Music:
    Mariachi Véritas de Harvard

  • Mariachi Azteca

    Music:
    Mariachi Azteca

  • Mariachi Cobre

    Music:
    Mariachi Cobre

  • When Worlds Collide Documentary

    Films:
    When Worlds Collide Documentary

  • Music & Dance Workshops

    Festival Workshops:
    Music & Dance Workshops

  • Albie Hect

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Albie Hecht

  • Mariachi Sol

    Music:
    Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez

  • Mariachi Reyna

    Music:
    Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles

  • Folklórico Dance Workshops

    Festival Workshops:
    Folklórico Dance Workshops

  • U. Roberto Romano

    Film & Community Conversations:
    U. Roberto Romano

  • The Sound of East LA Meets the Kings of Latin Swing

    Concerts:
    The Sound of East LA Meets the Kings of Latin Swing

  • Los Lobos

    Music:
    Los Lobos

  • Rafael Zamarripa

    Dance:
    Rafael Zamarripa

  • Mariachi 101

    Festival Workshops:
    Mariachi 101

  • Dionisio Ceballos

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Dionisio Ceballos

  • The Harvest

    Films:
    The Harvest

  • UTPA Mariachi Aztlán

    Music:
    UTPA Mariachi Aztlán

  • Spanish Harlem Orchestra

    Music:
    Spanish Harlem Orchestra

  • Tito Puente Jr.

    Music:
    Tito Puente Jr.

  • At The End of The Day

    Films:
    At the End of the Day

  • Cesar Rosas

    Music:
    Cesar Rosas

  • Latina On The Loose

    Concerts:
    Latina on the Loose

  • Danza Folklórica Escénica: El Sello Artístico de Rafael Zamarripa

    Films:
    Danza Folklórica Escénica

  • Olga Nájera-Ramírez

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Olga Nájera-Ramírez

  • Mariachi Mass

    Special Events:
    Mariachi Mass

  • Student Showcase Concert

    Concerts:
    Student Showcase Concert

Welcome - Bienvenidos to ¡VivaFest!

San Jose’s annual fiesta celebrating “la vida Latino” – the heritage, music, cuisine, arts and beauty of Mexico. For ten days experience the best in Mexico’s heritage arts – from mariachi to rock and roll, salsa to sones, and spanning pre-Columbian to modern times there’s something for everyone to discover. Find your inner mariachi at our mariachi educational music and dance workshops, try the best locally produced Mexican food in the Bay Area at our free outdoor event or be transported at our annual musical spectacular featuring (literally) a cast of hundreds!

There is nothing like San Jose’s Mexican Heritage Festival – entonces, pásale – come in!

Welcome to our house – the Bay Area’s hometown fiesta of living.

Festival Updates

Screening of the film The Harvest (La Cosecha)

Among the non-musical offerings of VivaFest was the screening of the film The Harvest (La Cosecha) – an extraordinarily moving documentary on child labor among the migrant workforce in America. The film followed three children and their families – 12 year old Zulema Lopez, 14-year-old Perla Sanchez and 16-year-old Victor Huapilla – as they picked crops across the U.S.A. Continue reading →