Asian and multicultural events around the Bay Area

Carnaval San Francisco brought Latino, Caribbean, and African diasporic traditions to the Mission District through live music, dance, international food, vendors, family entertainment, and a large street parade. The free 2026 festival ran May 23 and 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the parade starting May 24 at 9:30 a.m.

• Festival
• Parade
• Performance
• Food Event
• Market
• All Ages
• Outdoor

The 52nd Nihonmachi Street Fair returns to San Francisco Japantown on August 1 and 2, 2026. Its AANHPI-focused program includes artisan and food vendors, two performance stages, hands-on cultural arts, and Children’s World, where young visitors can take part in cultural activities and games.

• Festival
• AANHPI
• Japanese American
• Market
• Food Event
• Performance
• Children

Japantown Children’s Day Festival celebrated the Japanese holiday with games, prizes, crafts, a bounce house, and cultural and live stage performances at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California. The 2026 festival ran May 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission for all ages.

• Festival
• Japanese
• Children
• Family Day
• Workshop
• Performance
• Indoor

Redwood City’s Fiestas Patrias celebrates Mexican Independence and multiple Latin American communities with a flag ceremony led by the Mexican consulate, ballet folklórico, mariachi, live music, Mexican food, arts and crafts vendors, and a children’s area. The free 2026 celebration is September 13 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Courthouse Square.

• Festival
• Mexican
• Latin American
• Performance
• Market
• Food Event
• Children

Redwood City’s 15th Lunar New Year Celebration welcomed the Year of the Horse with lion dance, martial arts, taiko, Korean dance, Mandarin immersion students, and children’s arts and crafts. The free event ran February 28, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Courthouse Square, with free museum admission that day.

• Festival
• Lunar New Year
• Chinese
• Korean
• Japanese
• Performance
• Children

Daly City’s annual Philippine Flag Raising Ceremony marked the 128th anniversary of Philippine independence with community leaders’ remarks, the Philippine national anthem, the raising of the flag, and a luncheon reception hosted by the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center. The all-welcome 2026 observance ran June 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall.

• Cultural celebration
• Filipino
• Performance
• All Ages
• Indoor
• Annual
• Free

The South Bay AANHPI Festival filled History Park with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander performances, food, crafts, games, community booths, and a panel organized with local cultural institutions. The free 2026 festival ran May 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; area parking cost $10 per vehicle.

• Festival
• AANHPI
• Performance
• Workshop
• Market
• Food Event
• All Ages

Italian Family Festa returns to History Park for a free weekend celebrating Italian American community and culture. History San José lists the 2026 event for July 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and July 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; only service animals are allowed on site.

• Festival
• Italian American
• Family Day
• Outdoor
• Annual
• Free
• July

Sunnyvale Public Library’s Nowruz Celebration welcomed all ages to celebrate Persian New Year through dance, crafts, and music. Performers included Baharestan Persian Immersion School, Beshkan Dance Academy, and Afsaneh Arts. The 2026 program ran March 15 from 2 to 5 p.m.; registration was not required, though space and supplies were limited.

• Cultural celebration
• Nowruz
• Persian
• Performance
• Workshop
• All Ages
• Indoor

Mountain View’s Multicultural Festival brought residents together for international dance, music, and vocal performances, cultural and community booths, and a City Hall display of art, traditional clothing, and artifacts. The 2026 festival ran May 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza and welcomed the public.

• Festival
• Multicultural
• Performance
• Exhibition
• All Ages
• Outdoor
• Indoor

Union City’s youth-led Culture Fest celebrated the city’s diversity through cultural showcases, live entertainment, food, art, and booths from community organizations and high school clubs. The fourth annual event ran March 21, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m. at Kennedy Community Park, with programming described for attendees from young to mature.

• Festival
• Multicultural
• Youth Led
• Performance
• Market
• Food Event
• All Ages

The Federation of Indo-Americans of Northern California presents the Festival of India Mela and Parade as a major Bay Area Indian cultural festival. Fremont’s official calendar confirms the 2026 event for August 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the organizer providing the detailed mela and parade program.

• Festival
• Parade
• Indian
• South Asian
• Market
• Performance
• Outdoor

San Leandro’s Cherry Festival pairs a community parade with live music, more than 150 vendor booths, local food, a fresh cherry market, car show, and family fun zone. The 2026 parade ran June 6 from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by the downtown festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Festival
• Parade
• Market
• Food Event
• Performance
• Children
• Outdoor

Richmond’s third annual Holi Celebration invited families and friends to Nicholl Park for color play, energetic dance, and Zumba. The free 2026 event ran April 4 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Colors were available while supplies lasted, and outside powder was allowed only when environmentally friendly.

• Cultural celebration
• Holi
• South Asian
• Dance
• Family Day
• Outdoor
• Annual

Livermore Public Library and the Korean American Parent Association presented a Korean Culture Festival with a youth orchestra, hanbok fashion show, crafts, games, exhibitions, and traditional food and drinks. The 2026 event ran April 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Civic Center Library’s front plaza and in its storytime room.

• Festival
• Korean
• Performance
• Workshop
• Food Event
• All Ages
• Mixed

Dublin’s Splatter is a free multicultural end-of-summer festival with live cultural and child-friendly performances, interactive art, a World Craft Bazaar, food, and carnival rides and games. The 2026 event is September 12 from noon to 8:30 p.m. at Emerald Glen Park, ending with a drone show; carnival attractions require tickets.

• Festival
• Multicultural
• Market
• Performance
• Workshop
• Food Event
• Children

San Rafael’s 37th annual Día de los Muertos Celebration is scheduled for November 1, 2026, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Albert J. Boro Community Center. The city’s current event notice lists family art activities, music, face painting, and cultural performances as part of the community observance.

• Festival
• Día de los Muertos
• Mexican
• Latino
• Performance
• Workshop
• Family Day

The Napa Lighted Art Festival transformed downtown Napa into a free, walkable display of 15 illuminated artworks for five weeks, with projection art during the first nine nights. The 2026 festival ran January 17 through February 15, with evening hours and family extras that included a children’s story hour and an Oxbow District gnome hunt.

• Festival
• Light art
• Exhibition
• Family Day
• Outdoor
• Annual
• Free

Café Puente’s Cultural Mercaditos celebrate the creativity and entrepreneurship of Petaluma’s Latino community through Latino vendors and artists, performances, and children’s activities. Petaluma’s official community update confirms the 2026 series for the second Saturday of each month through August, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 610 East Washington Street.

• Market
• Latino
• Performance
• Children
• Family Day
• Outdoor
• Monthly

Festival Día del Niño is a Santa Rosa community celebration centered on children and Hispanic families. The City of Santa Rosa’s official calendar confirms the 2026 event for April 26 from noon to 7 p.m. at Old Courthouse Square, providing a current occurrence-level record for this long-running children’s cultural festival.

• Festival
• Día del Niño
• Latino
• Children
• Family Day
• Outdoor
• April

Fairfield’s 35th Tomato & Vine Festival returns downtown August 15 and 16, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The free family festival includes tomato sampling and sales, live music and performances, food vendors, a canning demonstration, children’s activities, and a classic car show on both days.

• Festival
• Food Event
• Market
• Performance
• Children
• Outdoor
• Annual