Next Sunday, June 21, San José is set to turn into one giant stage. From 11 AM to 11 PM, free performances will pop up in parks, on sidewalks, inside venues and at transit stops across downtown and neighborhood pockets. Organizers are promising dozens of sites and hundreds of sets, plus giveaways and a selfie-based prize drawing for folks who hit multiple locations. If you are planning to go all in, think comfortable shoes and plenty of water, and be ready for crowds, since the celebration overlaps with Father’s Day and an influx of World Cup visitors.
Find the full schedule and map
The city’s live, interactive map is the go-to tool for choosing shows and plotting your route. According to Make Music San José, the website lists artists, venues and set times, and also offers a Spotify playlist you can queue up before heading out.
How big is it this year
Exact counts depend on who you ask. A June 5 media advisory from the City of San José put the event at about 140 artists across 40 participating venues and confirmed the 11 AM to 11 PM schedule, according to the City of San José.
Giveaways, selfies and prize details
A short reel from the San José Office of Cultural Affairs touts nearly 190 performances across 45 venues, free Make Music Day hats, harmonicas and San José swag, and tells visitors to look for printed programs and volunteers in orange hats on the day of the event. The post also breaks down the selfie contest: attend three or more venues, snap photos at Make Music Day signs, and email your shots to [email protected] for a chance to win (entries are due June 23, and terms and supplies apply), as posted by the San José Office of Cultural Affairs.
Where to catch the highlights
Major hubs include St. James Park and Levitt Pavilion, the San José Museum of Art and the busking corridor along Paseo de San Antonio, with special programming that ranges from a room full of pianos to community Fandangos. The San José Museum of Art features Make Music activity on its events calendar, and local roundups flag downtown and Willow Glen as strong neighborhoods to start your route, per the San José Museum of Art and neighborhood listings.
Practical tips from organizers
Organizers suggest cueing up the Make Music San José Spotify playlist before you leave, dressing in layers for cooler evening sets and using public transit for longer jumps between stages. Volunteers wearing orange hats, along with printed paper programs, will be available to help you navigate and to verify selfies for the prize drawing, the reel notes, per the San José Office of Cultural Affairs.
To enter the selfie giveaway, send your photos to [email protected] by next Tuesday, June 23, and keep an eye on the live map for last-minute additions. For the complete schedule, interactive map and other details, visit Make Music San José.
