Though celebrations in Germany have wound down, Silicon Valley continues to celebrate the Bavarian tradition of Oktoberfest, with three big events still ahead. And for those who prefer tricks and treats, fear not. Halloween events are making an appearance this week as well. But first, raise a stein in San Jose, Mountain View and Campbell.
Oktoberfest Tech at Night: Techtoberfest—The Tech Interactive invites guests to an Oktoberfest celebration of the science of beer and brews. Enjoy the museum after hours with a full bar, DJs, and pop-up experiences, plus full access to all Tech Interactive exhibits—including an EDM laser show in the IMAX Dome Theater curated by Universal Grammar, featuring Chale Brown, Zuri Alexa, and a guest DJ. Beer tastings will be led by Hapa’s Brewing Company, Fox Tale Fermentation Project and Clandestine Brewery. Other activities include live pumpkin carving by Halloween Wars competitor Paulina Stovall and an Innovator Vendor Market showcasing local businesses. Proceeds from Tech at Nite events support hands-on STEAM education, equity-focused programming, and low-cost field trips for local schools.21+; valid ID required. $35. Oct 9, 7-11pm. The Tech Interactive, 201 S Market St, San Jose. thetech.org
Mountain View Oktoberfest—Presented by the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, this popular two-day Bavarian-inspired festival takes over an even larger footprint in downtown MV. Attendees can relax under the 200-foot Festzelt tent, sip from glass steins and boots, sample German beers and wines and enjoy live music from Deutscher MusikVerein and BlowMusik. Too young to drink? There’s also a Bavarian costume contest, dancing and games, and well as a robust selection of sausages, schnitzel, pretzels, strudel, and more. Free. Oct. 11–12, 11am–7pm. Castro Street (between Church and Mercy), downtown Mountain View. mvoktoberfest.com
Campbell Oktoberfest—Now in its 30th year, 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 Kinderplatz, for the youngest guests. At the heart is the Biersch Garden, featuring Gordon Biersch beers and ales, Bavarian pretzels, German food vendors, and a stage with live German music from the Zicke Zacke band. Free. Oct 18, 10am-6pm; Oct 19, 10am-5pm. campbelloktoberfest.com
Thu, Oct 9
GennaRose Nethercott—The Center for Literary Arts opens its season with an evening featuring a Vermont-based writer and folklorist who tours nationally and internationally performing strange tales. GennaRose Nethercott will perform shadow puppetry and read from her debut novel, Thistlefoot, about the Yaga siblings, who receive a strange inheritance: a sentient house on chicken legs. Free. Oct 9, 7pm. Hammer4 Studio, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. hammertheatre.com or clasanjose.org.
Marshall Tucker Band—Lead vocalist and bandleader Doug Gray, who’s been fronting the Marshall Tucker Bang since it first hit the road, continues the legacy with his four current bandmates: drummer B.B. Borden, bassist/vocalist Tony Black, multi-instrumentalist Marcus James Henderson and guitarist/vocalists Chris Hicks and Rick Willis. singer-songwriter Jackie Greene opens. $54-$151. Oct 9, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.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. Opens Oct 9, 8pm; 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.
Fri, Oct 10
Ashni & Ambrose Getz—These NYC-based musicians, frequent collaborators in their solo careers, blend jazz and pop influences as they tour California together for the first time. $21.80. Oct 10, 8pm. SJZ Break Room, 310 S 1st St, San Jose. sanjosejazz.org
Sat, Oct 11
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. North County: Oct 11-12, 11am-5pm. South County: Oct 18-19, 11am-5pm. santacruzopenstudios.com
The Legendary Wailers—After touring with many incarnations of The Wailers since Bob Marley’s passing, Julian Junior Marvin has stepped out to front his own version of the Wailers, playing and singing Bob Marley and the Wailers’ hit songs with authentic rastaman vibrations. $81.50. Oct 11, 8pm. Heritage Theatre 1 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell. campbellca.gov
Pumpkins in the Park—Thousands of visitors will congregate for a family-friendly celebration in San Jose’s unique urban playground in Guadalupe River Park. Community groups, artists, makers and other vendors will fill up a wide assortment of booths, and there will be live entertainment presented by Ballet Folkorico Los Colibri, Uzumaru, Los Mesitos de San Jose Folkorico Group. Granny Nix and Melinda Kausek. Plus, there’s a 1pm costume parade and food trucks offering tacos, tortas, shave ice, root beer floats, pizza and sushi. Free. Oct 11, 10am-4pm. Discovery Meadow, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. grpg.org/pumpkins-in-the-park
Los Ángeles Azules—Hailing from Iztapalapa, Los Ángeles Azules have taken their music to many stages and festivals, and recently received a Latin Grammy nomination for the album Cumbia del Corazón. $123-$940. Oct 11, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com
Sun, Oct 12
Artemis: Arboresque—Named for the Greek goddess of hunting, Artemis is composed of five jazz virtuosos: pianist and composer Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller. $16-$81. Oct 12, 4pm. Bing Concert Hall, Stanford University. live.stanford.edu
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 12 & 19, 2pm; Oct 18, 7pm. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. wbopera.org
Spooky Lights Live—City Lights gets in the Halloween spirit with an evening of eerie plays, sweet treats and a costume contest. Directed by Dave Leon, the evening features staged readings of six new plays by playwright and San Jose State graduate Lauren Doyle, featuring City Lights regulars Alycia Adame, Gwynnevere Cristobal, along with Kyle Smith, Vanessa Alvarez and Arturo Montes. In past years, Spooky Lights was a series of radio plays; this year it will be live on stage, and a lively experience for the audience as well, with complimentary snacks, drinks and festive party favors, along with a costume contest and prizes. $30-$50. Oct 12, 7pm. City Lights Theater, 529 S 2nd St, San Jose. cltc.org/spooky-lights-live.
Wed, Oct 15
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. Opens Oct 15 at the Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Dr, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu
Continuing
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
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
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.
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
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
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
