Join Silicon Valley Pride for San Jose’s largest LGBT pride event, indulge in nachos of all flavors in Sacramento, commemorate the year of the Rooster in Oakland, and celebrate Pakistan Independence Day in San Francisco. The fun never ends along the Capitol Corridor!
Silicon Valley Pride: 8/27, San Jose
Head over to San Jose this weekend for the Silicon Valley Pride Festival, the largest LGBT event in the South Bay. On Saturday, August 26, from 6pm to 11pm, there will be a “Heroes vs. Villains” party at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park. Then on Sunday, August 27, at 10am, the parade will begin at St. John St., proceeding down Market St. to Park Ave., and ending at the festival’s main entrance. You’ll enjoy live entertainment, hard alcohol and a craft beer area, an array of vendors, and delicious food trucks after the parade, from noon to 6pm. There will also be a family garden, a health pavilion, and area for non-profit organizations and businesses, local and national entertainers, and more. The weekend events will celebrate the diverse South Bay community while promoting outreach and awareness. Tickets are $5 cash at the door, $6 with a credit card, and children 12 and under free. To get there, take the Capitol Corridor to the San Jose/Diridon Station. The Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park is accessible by the VTA, with a free Transit Transfer from the Capitol Corridor conductor. Public transit options can be found on Google Maps.
Nachos Festival: 8/26, Sacramento
Who doesn’t love nachos? Bring your appetite and head over to Downtown Sacramento’s Cesar Chavez Plaza for the biggest event focused around the delicious hispanic dish, NACHOS, at Sactown Nachos Festival. From 2pm to 6:30pm, you’ll enjoy live music, games, street performers, and of course, an enormous variety of nachos! Dip into vegan nachos, try out German-inspired Das Nachos, and save a little room for dessert nachos made of oreos dipped in vanilla pudding. Celebrate with magaritas and cerveza at beer gardens. This family-friendly festival happens every August, and most of the proceeds will be donated to the non-profit, Project Optimism, benefiting children, homeless, and individuals diagnosed with cancer. General Admission tickets are $10, and $25 for VIP tickets, which includes 10 free nachos samples. Early entry to the event can be purchased online. To get there, take the train to the Sacramento Station, which is less than half a mile from the plaza. You can walk there, or hop on the SacRT Gold Line with a free Transit Transfer from the Capitol Corridor.
Chinatown StreetFest: 8/26 – 8/27, Oakland
Commemorating this year’s Zodiac animal, the Rooster, Oakland will be holding the 30th annual Chinatown StreetFest this weekend along 10 city blocks. From 10am to 5:30pm on Saturday, August 26, and continuing Sunday, August 27, the festival will feature more than 200 booths, featuring delicious authentic Chinese cuisine, arts and crafts, traditional music, and dance. Enjoy cultural performances — such as Chinese lion dances, Japanese taiko drumming, Tahitian dances, and live music from some of the Bay Area’s finest bands on two stages. This event will attract tens of thousands of attendees over a two-day period and showcase the historic significance and commercial and cultural vitality of Oakland’s Chinatown. To get there, take the Capitol Corridor to the Oakland Jack London Square Station, which is just a 10-minute walk to Oakland Chinatown.
Pakistan Festival: 8/27, San Francisco
Come out for the Pakistan Festival on Sunday, August 27 to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day in the SoMa district in San Francisco. From 3pm to 10pm, the Pakistan community will join for the annual festival featuring traditional live music performances, a basketball tournament and bubble-ball soccer game, face painting, balloon twisting, poetry, speeches by local figures, a best-dressed contest, and more. General admission tickets are $5 at the door, and the event will be held at SoMa StrEat Food Park, featuring food trucks, beer, wine, carnival games, wifi, TV screens, and even heat lamps when the sun goes down. To get there, take the Capitol Corridor to the Richmond Station or Oakland Coliseum Station, connect to BART to downtown San Francisco, and get off at the 16th St. Mission Station, which is about half a mile from the festivities. Discount BART tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car of the Capitol Corridor.
Written by Sylvia Sheehan
Photo courtesy of HLMCCROREY HLM MEDIA.net