Kicking off last week and continuing through the month, creative cinematic offerings will flicker across screens, from the Peninsula down to San Jose, this weekend and beyond. But those who seek open-air family entertainment are also in luck, with events such as the Campbell Oktoberfest, Palo Alto’s Code:ART festival, the venerable Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival, a witchy good time in downtown Los Altos, and events celebrating Diwali, California’s newest official holiday.
Thu, Oct 16
Code:ART 2025—An interactive media art festival will transform downtown Palo Alto site-specific installations on view for three days: a centerpiece at Lytton Plaza and four hands-on art experiences; plus, on view through Oct 25, there will be artworks projected on the Palo Alto City Hall façade. Free. Oct 16-18, 6-10pm. Multiple locations | paloalto.gov
United Nations Association Film Festival—Documentary films from around the world screen in multiple cities, including South Bay locations. Oct 16-26. unaff.org
Frankenstein—Experience screenings of National Theatre Live’s production of the Mary Shelley classic, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. Cumberbatch’s Creature on Oct 16, 7pm, and Oct 18, 7pm; Miller’s Creature screens Oct 18, 2pm, and Oct 23, 7pm. Hammer Theatre, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. hammertheatre.com
Fri, Oct 17
Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest—Asian American cinema takes center screen for three days of live screenings at AMC Sunnyvale plus an additional seven days of online events. Feature films, documentaries and shorts are screened at this festival that seeks to celebrate culture, creativity and connection. Oct 17-26. AMC Sunnyvale and online. svapfilmfest.org
San Jose International Short Film Festival—Four days of screenings will feature 150 short films covering every possible flavor on the entertainment spectrum. Opening night is Thursday, Oct. 16, with a red carpet ceremony at 6pm followed by the screening at 7:30pm at CineArts Theater Santana Row. Screenings continue starting at noon on Oct. 17 and 11am on Oct. 18-19. sjsff.com
Witches and Warlock Wine Stroll—Enjoy spooky fun and delicious wine. Costumes encouraged. $60. Oct. 17, 6-9pm. 75 Main St, Downtown Los Altos. eventbrite.com
Daria Mochly-Rosen and Emanuel Rosen—Life Machines, a groundbreaking book by Stanford University School of Medicine scientist Daria Mochly-Rosen and husband Emanuel Rosen, a bestselling author, provides a comprehensive, accessible look at mitochondria and their role in human health. $21.99-$45.09. Oct 17, 6pm. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. keplers.org
Diwali Game Night—A night of trivia, charades and games. Food available for purchase. $10 (may sell out). Oct 17, 6:30-10pm. Next Level Board Game Cafe, 888 Villa St, Mountain View. eventbrite.com
ektor garcia: loose ends—Occupying the Davies Gallery at San Jose Museum of Art, ektor garcia’s installation will mix existing and new sculptures into a new installation. Opening celebration Oct 17, 7-9pm (members are invited at 6pm). San Jose Museum of Art, 110 Market St, San Jose. sjmusart.org
Silicon Valley Twelfth Night—Set in a future where artificial intelligence thrives, Silicon Valley Twelfth Night weaves modern narrative threads into Shakespeare’s classic comedy. The story unfolds in Silicon Valley, where AI replaces not only human labor but also human emotions. $57-$127. Oct 17, 7:30pm; Oct 18, 3 & 7:30pm. Mainstage, Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. mvcpa.com
Bray & the Dens Album Release Party—After six world tours and more than 6 million music video views, Bray and the Dens will debut The Last Romantic and capture the performance for a live album release. The audience is invited to be a part of this cinematic experience. $34.93. Oct 17, 9pm. Club Fox, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City. clubfoxrwc.com.
Sat, Oct 18
Songs on Saturday—A musical showcase featuring hip hop artist Steven Cong, songwriter and creative community organizer Hannah Bowers, singer Sam Castro and local performers Paloma Tahn and Mardi Morillo. Free. Oct 18, 11am. Voyager Craft Coffee 111 W St John, San Jose. instagram.com
Campbell Oktoberfest—This two-day German-themed event will be packed with more than a hundred artisan booths, five stages of live entertainment—rock, R&B, blues, country, dance teams, martial arts displays—and the Biersch Garden, featuring Gordon Biersch beers and ales, food vendors, and German music from the Zicke Zacke band. Free. Oct 18, 10am-6pm; Oct 19, 10am-5pm. campbelloktoberfest.com
Heart Matter—Catch this band known for dynamic original songs and unique instrumentation of vibraphone, voice, bass, and drums at its favorite venue, Art Boutiki, which will be closing at the end of the year. Get a preview of the material on the band’s first full-length album, coming in 2026. $25-$30. Oct 18, 8-11pm. The Art Boutiki Music Hall, 44 Race St, San Jose. artboutiki.com
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival—Aside from gargantuan gourds, Half Moon Bay’s best-known event includes fine arts & crafts booths, live entertainment, a parade, the Pumpkin Run and more. Free. Oct 18-19, 9am-5pm. Main Street, Half Moon Bay. hmbpumpkinfest.com
Brahms First Symphony—In addition to Brahms’ opus, Palo Alto Philharmonic will perform Augusta Read Thomas’ Of Paradise and Light and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Suite for Viola and Small Orchestra, with violist Jenny Douglass. Oct 18, 7:30pm. Cubberley Theatre, 4120 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. paphil.org
Rhythm Spirit 2025—San Jose Taiko rolls out its thunderous beats for two shows. $30-$40. Oct 18, 2 & 7pm. Campbell Heritage Theatre, 1 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell. taiko.org
Dances and Dreams—Concert pianist Pavel Kolesnikov returns to the Steinway Society stage to perform a program of works by Chopin, Rameau and Duphly. Oct 18, 7:30pm | Visual and Performing Arts Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino | steinwaysociety.com
Sun, Oct 19
The Screwtape Letters—This theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ novel about spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view comes to town for two performances. $78.50- $116.50. Oct. 19, 3 and 7pm. California Theatre, 345 S 1st St, San Jose. 408.792,4111. fpatheatre.com
Fury and Heartbreak—Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale welcome soprano Maya Kherani, who will sing cantatas by Handel and Marcello. The program also includes works by Galuppi, Durante and Vivaldi. $20-$125. Oct 19, 2:30pm. MainStage, Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. mvcpa.com
The Many Colors of Her—A premiere by San Jose Chamber Orchestra’s very own Emily Onderdonk, conducted by Barbara Day Turner. $20-$85. Oct 19, 7pm. St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1205 Pine Ave, San Jose. sjco.org
40th Anniversary Celebration of The Last Dragon—At a screening of the 1985 film The Last Dragon, the West Coast World Martial Arts Association will celebrate founder Ernie Reyes Sr.—a 10th-degree black belt and Bay Area martial arts pioneer. Also in attendance: Ernie Reyes Jr., who debuted in the film when he was 13 years old. $20. Oct 19, noon, Mercado AMC Theaters, 3111 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara.
Diwali Brunch—Celebrate the South Asian holiday at Cal-Indian restaurant Ettan. $75-$85 ($45 for kids ages 5-10). Oct. 18-19, 11am-2pm. Ettan, 518 Bryant St, Palo Alto. Make reservations on OpenTable.com.
Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival—A hybrid schedule of 30 screenings that includes some in-person events and other virtual watch parties. Opening night, Oct 19, begins with a 7pm screening at the Oshman Family JCC (3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto) of the film Tatami, co-directed by an Israeli director and an Iranian filmmaker. Continues through Nov 2. svjff.org
Wed, Oct 22
Santiago Cañón Valencia—The Colombian cellist makes his Bay Area debut, performing French sonatas and unusual transcriptions, capped by Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne, from the ballet Pulcinella. $16-$64.80. Oct 22, 7:30pm. Bing Concert Hall, Stanford University. live.stanford.edu
Continuing
The Art of Murder—The Pear Theatre opens its 24th season—dubbed Hidden Truths—with a play by Joe DiPietro. Artist Jack Brooks invites his art dealer to his secluded home for a business discussion, but revelations of ambition and revenge push the meeting into much darker territory. $45. Through Oct 19. The Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida, Suite A, Mountain View. thepear.org
Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit—Local artists display their Day of the Dead ofrendas beginning Oct 6, with a reception Oct 9, 5:30-8pm, featuring live performances, artist presentations, hot chocolate and tamales. On view through Nov 4. AAACNA Studies Center, 5th Floor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, San Jose State University. library.sjsu.edu
Cunning Folk: Witchcraft, Magic, and Occult Knowledge—A curated collection of work that considers magical practice, practitioners and their persecution in early modern European artwork and material culture (c.1500-1750). Free. Through Feb. 22 at the Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Dr, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors—City Lights is firing up its 2025-26 season with a gender-bending comedy featuring six actors playing more than a dozen roles. Caitlin Lawrence Papp directs the play, which Forbes magazine describes as “sexy and campy with non-stop hilarity.” $40-$68. Thu-Sun, through Oct 19. City Lights Theater, 529 S Second St, San Jose. cltc.org
Festival Fright Nights—In honor of the spooky season, Winchester Mystery House debuts three haunted attractions, themed food and beverage offerings, and access to never-before-used spaces. $54.99+. Through Nov 1. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose. festivalfrightnights.com
La Muerte Baila—In this play presented by the Milagro Ensemble, a recently departed soul named Alejandro arrives in the land of the dead on the eve of el Día de los Muertos. But because he can’t remember anything about his past, Alejandro is preventing los muertitos from visiting their loved ones in the land of the living. To cross in time for the holiday, they have to help Alejandro in this heartwarming story about forgiveness and remembrance. La Muerte Baila is presented in Spanish with supertitles in English and Spanish. $10-$40. Performances Thu-Sat 8pm and Sun 2pm through Oct 19. Mexican Heritage Plaza Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose. 408.294.6621. teatrovision.org.
McNeal—San Jose Stage presents the West Coast premiere of this play by Ayad Akhtar. The drama explores artificial intelligence, artistic integrity, and the line between genius and fraud. Directed by Randall King. $34–$84. Thu-Sun, through Oct 19. The Stage, 490 S 1st St, San Jose. 408.283.7142. thestage.org
Samson et Dalila—West Bay Opera presents a new production of the Camille Saint-Saëns opera with a full chorus and orchestra, sung in French with projected English titles. Directed by José Luis Moscovich, unabridged with ballet scenes created by Brazilian choreographer Daiane Lopes da Silva. $54-$140. Oct 19, 2pm; Oct 18, 7pm. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. wbopera.org
Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour—Now in tis 40th year, this event allows art lovers to discover studios from Watsonville to Davenport. More than 340 artists will open their doors; some have participated for decades, and others are new to the tour. Free. All County: Oct 18-19, 11am-5pm. santacruzopenstudios.com
The Sound of Music—South Bay Musical Theatre presents the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Fri-Sun, through Oct 18. Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga. southbaymt.com
