• Rafael Zamarripa

    Dance:
    Rafael Zamarripa

  • When Worlds Collide Documentary

    Films:
    When Worlds Collide Documentary

  • Richard Gonzales

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Richard Gonzales

  • Stop The Hate March

    Special Events:
    A Community Conversation

  • Mariachi Day at Children's Discovery Museum

    Special Events:
    ¡A Moverse Todos! Mariachi Family Day

  • Cesar Rosas

    Music:
    Cesar Rosas

  • Student Showcase Concert

    Concerts:
    Student Showcase Concert

  • Mariachi Cobre

    Music:
    Mariachi Cobre

  • Danza Folklórica Escénica: El Sello Artístico de Rafael Zamarripa

    Films:
    Danza Folklórica Escénica

  • Latina On The Loose

    Concerts:
    Latina on the Loose

  • Mariachi Azteca

    Music:
    Mariachi Azteca

  • Ruben Martinez

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Rubén Martínez

  • Gil Sperry

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Gil Sperry

  • Thomas A. Saenz

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Thomas A. Saenz

  • MEXICO (An IMAX Film)

    Films:
    MEXICO (An IMAX Film)

  • Mariachi Reyna

    Music:
    Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles

  • Mariachi Sol

    Music:
    Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez

  • The Storm That Swept Mexico

    Films:
    The Storm That Swept Mexico

  • Music & Dance Workshops

    Festival Workshops:
    Music & Dance Workshops

  • Vikki Carr

    Music:
    Vikki Carr

  • Outdoor Feria del Mariachi

    Concerts:
    Outdoor Feria del Mariachi (FREE!)

  • Spanish Harlem Orchestra

    Music:
    Spanish Harlem Orchestra

  • Once Upon A Time... A Mariachi Musical

    Concerts:
    Once Upon A Time… A Mariachi Musical

  • Tito Puente Jr.

    Music:
    Tito Puente Jr.

  • Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitllan

    Music:
    Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán

  • Folklórico Dance Workshops

    Festival Workshops:
    Folklórico Dance Workshops

  • Dionisio Ceballos

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Dionisio Ceballos

  • Mariachi 101

    Festival Workshops:
    Mariachi 101

  • Olga Briseño

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Olga Briseño

  • Los Lupeños

    Dance:
    Los Lupeños

  • Albie Hect

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Albie Hecht

  • Russell Rodriguez

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Russell Rodríguez, Ph.D

  • Mariachi Veritas

    Music:
    Mariachi Véritas de Harvard

  • The Harvest

    Films:
    The Harvest

  • 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

  • UTPA Mariachi Aztlán

    Music:
    UTPA Mariachi Aztlán

  • At The End of The Day

    Films:
    At the End of the Day

  • Olga Nájera-Ramírez

    Film & Community Conversations:
    Olga Nájera-Ramírez

  • Dan Guerrero

    Music:
    Dan Guerrero – Creative Director

  • Calpulli Tonalehqueh

    Dance:
    Calpulli Tonalehqueh

  • Los Lobos

    Music:
    Los Lobos

  • Mariachi Mass

    Special Events:
    Mariachi Mass

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 →