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Bark In the Park

4.7 (40 reviews)

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Tater Tot styling with @KayKosDogShades, Bark in the Park, 2017
Cherylynn N.

4.5 STARS You know how after 7-10 shots in a dark club, e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e is cute? That Ron Jeremy look-a-like in the corner ain't looking too bad now after them patron shots... "Hey, look at that cutie over there!" "Where?" "There!" "Where?" "Dude, there's thousands of dogs here and they're all hella cute!" And, I didn't even need a drop of liquor. If you're a dog lover, Bark in the Park is a must go to event! It's the largest dog festival in America and is held annually at William Street Park in Man Jose: https://www.yelp.com/biz/william-street-park-san-jose-2. I had no idea that this festival has been going on since 1996 and just found out about it last year. Each year, it draws thousands of hoomans and their dogs. We drove here from SF (for the second year in a row) and it's totally worth the drive. There was even a vendor from Singapore! All dogs must register at the entrance and they receive a wristband to wear on their collar. There's a suggested donation of $5 per a dog that goes to the Humane Society of Silicon Valley and San Jose Animal Care Center. (+) Extremely well-organized event. Once you exit the freeway, there's signs leading you to the park. At the registration counter, you're given a map, schedule of demos, and vendor list with their contact info. They even have a human/pet aid and a lost & found area. (+) All the vendors are spread far apart in a large circle so it was easy to walk around without bumping into people. (+) Over 75 dog-related vendors including veterinary hospitals, dog trainers, pet insurance, dog rescue groups, pet photographer, dog clothing, dog hotels, dog toys, and dog treats. **One of the most popular vendors was KayKos Dog Shades. They sold out last year so we were super happy to have snagged a pair ($12) this year: http://bit.ly/2xjBMbY. (+) Lots of freebies: dog treats, reusable tote bags, samples. For a handful of vendors, you can spin a wheel for free to win a prize or a discount on items they're selling. (+) For the most part, dog owners were responsible and all the dogs were well behaved. No dog poop in site (they provide everyone with a poop bag at the entrance). No dog fights broke out that I saw. Dogs in rehabilitation were muzzled. (+) Live music and DJs. (+) Demos/Performances: Dog Agility, K-9 Unit, Sheep Herding, etc. (+) Low cost vaccines and $5 microchipping available by PAWS for San Jose Welfare Society. (+) Kid's entertainment center with face painting, bounce house, and agility course. (+) Handful of food trucks for hoomans. Beer and wine available. (+) Water mist tent!!! And, a hose to cool your dogs off. The large dogs ruuuuuuvvveed it! (+) Plenty of shady areas to rest. (+) Lots of fairly clean porta-potties with foot activated sinks (-) The biggest negative is the festival is held during Indian summer. Last year, it was in the high 90s. Many dogs were struggling with the heat and I saw one dog collapse after leaving (it looked really serious - poor thing!). Thankfully, it was a cooler 79 degrees this year but I hope they consider holding future festivals during the spring or late fall when it's not as hot. (-) Dog pools and water bowls were filthy and the water was brown with debris. Saw several dogs launch into the [kiddy] pools to cool off while the owners screamed, "Noooo!" Damn stubborn huskies - it was pretty hilarious. (-) It's a festival so some things are going to be overpriced BUT some vendors were just taking advantage of the event with insane markups. **Example #1: I bought a pair of doggy socks that were $24 to protect Tater Tot's feet in the heat. When I went home and looked online, the same socks were $8.99. Talk about feeling like a sucker. **Example #2: A vendor was selling doggy birthday hats made of cardboard for...$17! The same hat can be found at dog boutiques in SF for $4.99. (-) Skip the dog ice cream vendor (same vendor at the doggy birthday hats) - it was disgusting. It tasted like a warm ball of salty dough. Tater Tot wouldn't touch it and other people were trying to give theirs away because their dogs wouldn't eat it either. TIPS: (1) Bring your own doggy water bowl. Cold, bottled water was $2. (2) Wear flats or tennis shoes - there's lots of uneven ground and gopher holes. (3) If you have an elderly dog or one that easily overheats, you may want to consider bringing a stroller or dust off your radio flyer in the garage. (4) Come at opening (10 am) or later in the afternoon to snag closer street parking from earlier attendees leaving. Both years, I came at 3 pm and easily found parking less than a block away. Otherwise, there's a parking lot: $10 flat fee. I think I had more fun cooing over all the dogs than Tater Tot who had sensory overload. Usually, he sniffs one booty at a time but didn't even know where to start. First world problems... See y'all next year!

Ziggs checkin' out the other pooches in her Doggles.
Vivian A.

We love coming to this event. There are so many vendors and pooches to keep you and your fur baby entertained! We like to come early as parking can be a bit of a bear (street parking or paid parking in the school next door). $5 donation gets your puppy inside and goes to a good cause. There are so many vendors there: free food samples, discounted clothing, leashes, pet goodies, your dog needs it? They will have a booth for it! Such a fun place especially for kids (even if you don't have a puppy!). http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bark-in-the-park-san-jose?select=p86ZCNeDPpgaLGl8_Gtk7A#O_MBHXfsPM5upl6HnXlU_w http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bark-in-the-park-san-jose?select=p86ZCNeDPpgaLGl8_Gtk7A#fd2IYxSbM6eIlaGFxcz4wQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bark-in-the-park-san-jose?select=p86ZCNeDPpgaLGl8_Gtk7A#5gEzPVacndymyiB0tcPKvw

Will H.

Great event for dog and owners! There's a $5 donation per adult and a form you'll need to fill out before entering. We came a towards the end of the event so we didn't get as much free stuff because some vendors ran out. So come at 10am when they open if you want to maximize collecting free stuff! Parking is really hard to find even around 3:30 when the event ends at 5pm. I just kept driving till I found a spot on the street. There's a good amount of food trucks and food vendors for people. I highly recommend Feed N' Treat. Their crepes are really good! Overall fun for the entire family especially our doggos

Bark in the park 2014
Michelle M.

Parking was a challenge. Street parking in the residential it is. There's a registration they ask you to sign in and nicely ask for $5 donation, but I only had $3 cash but they take whatever they can get. Lots of tables from vet hospitals, boutiques, daycare, dog food, etc. Free tote bags and goodies from many tables. Free wheel spins for goodies but some charge you to spin. A few food trucks. Some shade but still a hot sunny day, too hot for most dogs. 80's temperature in late Sept. Stage with activities but I didn't watch it. Too busy walking around the tables and meeting new doggy friends. Overall a great event and fun. Nice park and nice neighborhood, not ghetto. Although the residential area there was a lot of poop not picked up so beware.

Krystal G.

I'm so glad my friend told me about this event.. I had the best time ever!! Maybe even possibly more than my dog, Karma. Lol. I've never seen so many cute dogs at once. And you know I tried to pet and talk to every single one that came close to me. I'm obsessed, obviously. Haha. There were plenty of booths, shows and free treats!! I will definitely go back next year. Paws up to the organizers of this event ;)

Hanna P.

The reviews speak for itself. This year was the first time I took Bosley to Bark in the Park and I must say, I cannot believe I didn't know about this event before. This is such a great place to bring you whole family and pets. It's basically like a festival for your dogs. There are tons of vendors where you can see different products and there are many events to spend time with your pet. The park itself is HUGEE and it can easily fit 100s of people and dogs. To get to the event, you must cross a bridge over a creek and get to the registration tent. You need to register your dog for the event just for precautions. (Just in case you lose your dog etc.) Also, a $5 donation is greatly appreciated. Once you're in, there are countless things to do. You can purchase merchandise for your dogs from accessories to clothing or you can even get a professional portrait of your dog. There are treats, agility courses, contests, even a couple of dog competitions to watch. Also, if you're hungry, there are a couple of food vendors. (Humans only) But there are plenty of vendors that have samples of dog food and treats if your dog is hungry. This event was so much fun. Bosley had such a great time meeting new friends and checking out all of the vendors. If you have a dog, you MUST come here next year!

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9 years ago

12/10 dogs. It was amazing. Also I got a really good leash and bowl for a great price from one of the booths.

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Review Highlights - Bark In the Park

What I didn't know prior to getting there was that you had to make a "donation" in order to get into the event.

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Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival

Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival

3.7
(47 reviews)
9.3 mi

The Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival celebrated its 50th year this past weekend, bringing good eats,…read morelive music, art and merchandise booths, and just a lovely atmosphere for individuals of all ages. The event was set up along East Washington, near Historic Murphy Avenue, and stretched to East McKinley (near Target), with the main food vendor and entertainment area taking over an entire parking lot and block. Seating was limited. But there were more than ten food trucks/stands offering pizza, bbq, vietnamese cuisine, ice cream from Mister Softee, and more. There were also drinks stands selling lemonade and alcoholic beverages (of course, wine). I snacked on some savory filipino empanadas from Tita Weewin's and a delicious sushi taco from Aki (a vendor based in SF). I also perused the amazing variety of merchandise tents and displays lining the streets, including some of the most beautiful collections of artwork I've ever seen, especially one of my faves, CatZooArt as well as as a vendor selling awesome vintage menu art. I enjoyed the live music taking place throughout the festival. On the main stage, Ryan Woodward & J Stewart played a variety of songs on the guitar and vocals, like Tom Petty and Dave Matthews Band covers, followed by the Sean Carscadden Trio entertaining the crowd on Saturday afternoon. Other tribute bands were scheduled to take the stage throughout the two-day event too, as well as street performers such as Bob Culbertson, a musician playing lovely tunes, including the Harry Potter theme song, on the chapman stick, a unique string instrument I was unfamiliar with until this day. In addition, the event offered art workshops and fun activities for kids, like a spider jump bungee trampoline and water ballerz (giant "hamster balls" for humans to climb inside and walk on water). No shortage of options for things to see, do, and appreciate. I certainly had a good time.

The festival is at the same place as the farmers market. So there is plenty of parking…read more The art just seemed ok. Nothing really stood out. Same with the food trucks. Nothing really looked good or smelled appealing. The line for soft serve was the longest..the high light was the many options for kids

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Art & merchandise vendors
Art & merchandise vendors
Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival
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Willow Glen Holiday Lights

Willow Glen Holiday Lights

4.8
(117 reviews)
3.0 mi

I've been coming to the Willow Glen Holiday lights for almost 10 years now, and it is pure…read moremagic...minus the crowds. It's amazing to see how all-out so many of the houses go, just about every single one has some sort of Christmas or Hanukkah display, light, or decoration. It's also amazing how much more crowded it gets every year. I used to drive it, but now I don't dare try. I'll typically park near one of the main streets and get out and walk. This is usually much more enjoyable since you aren't having to fight nonstop car and foot traffic. This year I went a little late in the season and even walking it wasn't all that enjoyable because of the groups of 15+ people together and the people running around doing a scavenger hunt, so lesson learned. This past year we parked a bit further and got to see some displays that I either haven't seen in the past or are newer, but it was nice to stroll the less crowded streets and still enjoy the holiday magic. Unlike in years past, there were even street dog vendors out this time around. Felt like I was leaving a concert or a sporting event!

We visited the Willow Glen Christmas lights after dinner to walk off our meal, and it quickly…read morebecame more than just a walk. What we thought would be a short stroll turned into a full holiday experience, one of those nights where Christmas feels alive. We have seen many decorated streets and cul de sacs before, but Willow Glen surprised us. Multiple neighborhoods followed shared themes, with streets labeled things like Candy Cane Lane and Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer. It felt like walking through a storybook, where each street had its own chapter. The decorations were beautiful and thoughtful. Some areas felt like a small festival, with trains, horse carriages, brews on bicycles, and families everywhere enjoying the moment. Vendors selling churros, hot chocolate, hot dogs, and light up toys added to the fun. These streets truly embody Christmas, warm, joyful, and full of wonder. The highlight of the night was meeting Mrs. Santa Claus of Willow Glen. She was kind, welcoming, and full of heart. She hosted the churro truck and clearly gives so much back to the community. She felt like the soul of the neighborhood, a reminder that Christmas magic often comes from people, not just lights. Bring your family and friends and take your time walking around, or enjoy it from your car. There is so much to see and feel here. This is the kind of place that turns a simple evening into a memory, and it will definitely be an annual Christmas tradition for us.

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Willow Glen Holiday Lights
Willow Glen Holiday Lights
Willow Glen Holiday Lights
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Imaginarium 360

Imaginarium 360

3.9
(46 reviews)
5.8 mi

Took my niece and nephew here and my nephew kept screaming "best day ever" while running around, so…read moreI'd say this place is a resounding success! We went at around 9 pm on July 4th and there was still a lot of people but not enough to dampen the experience thankfully. Tickets are easy to grab online and there is ample parking available because it's in the great mall. When we first walked in we were greeted with lots and lots of foam. Foam in the air like its snowing, and foam on the ground. My nephew was so excited and kept running through it excitedly which was cute. We were also told the last show of the day was about to start so we luckily caught it. Loved watching all 3 performers - aerial, juggling, and hoops. From there we just walked around and saw as much as we could. The little rooms they have with different decorations and aesthetics are great for pictures and selfies. There are so many good photo ops that I basically spent an hour being the munchkins personal photographer :) was a great time

Saw this event on my feed on Facebook and brought my daughters over. They both absolutely love it!…read more There is so much magic on this exhibit! It was just beautiful! It is so fun to see them laughing and skipping and jumping around. It really melts my heart. Yeah. Lots of photo ops for all of us. The exhibit also had a small acrobatic performance and a show that a transformer changed into the robot from the car. This was not communicated. We figured out when it was too late. Wish these timeline were either on their website for informed when people checked in. The flowers are beautiful to look at but it had the plastic smell. Also there are some rooms that we just can't breathe with so much chemicals..: hence one star off

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Water Lantern Festival

Water Lantern Festival

4.2
(32 reviews)
6.8 mi

Cute event and opportunity to launch water lanterns and reflect. Check in is smooth and there are a…read moregood number of food vendors for the event. Things that can be improved are: More guidance towards timing of when to decorate your lantern and a provided template. They bring people on stage to share, but maybe there should be an anonymous reading as well. I personally think the event is better in fall because the crowds in summer were too noisy for the performances and meditation. Bring your own picnic blanket and water!

This was my first year to attend. There were so many people that I must have been the only one…read morethat didn't know about this event before!! We got there later in the evening and the place was packed, couldn't find a place to park and had to walk a bit of a distance. We found the place to check in and got a small package with everything we needed to make our water lantern. All the grassy areas were full, so we found a place to sit and draw on the embankment in front of the fence that lines the water. We loved the games that were in the kit, my partner was called as he was a winner of the scavenger hunt! We joined everyone to put our lantern into the water. We were one of the first. When we returned to our vantage point, we could view a current of people and lights heading to the water, melodic music was playing in the background, and the beauty of the night sky created the perfect setting. It was a lovely event for couples, families, friends and groups to enjoy a delightful evening in a very large community. Things to note: ~Get there early for easy parking and a good seat on the grass ~Bring a blanket to sit on ~Bring extra markers as they only give you one color in your kit ~Meet your neighbors and enter the scavenger hunt! You may win a fun prize

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San Jose Greek Festival

San Jose Greek Festival

4.2
(125 reviews)
3.2 mi

The annual celebration at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a wonderful family friendly…read morefestival for all ages. Lots of good food like baklava, kataifi, ellinikos cafe, lamb chops, horiatiki salad. Free parking at the festival is available, with free shuttle service.

There was no parking at or near the festival, but it was a nice day for a walk (and my running day)…read moreanyway, so I was fine with this. They accepted both cash and credit cards for the $5 admission fee at the entrance. Taking place at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, there was plenty of outdoor space for food, drink, and merchandise vendor booths. So many delicious bites sold throughout, from grilled meats to classic greek desserts, I was overwhelmed with choices, but having too much good stuff to choose from is not a bad thing. I ended up grabbing a few delectable specialty dishes, including some to take home, like tiropita, spanakopita, pastitsio, and moussaka. That greek lasagna was especially yummy! Greek beer and wine, and cocktails, as well as frappes/coffee, were available on site too. Church tours were scheduled throughout the day, and of course live entertainment. Music and dance performances full of energy and smiles, embracing the culture, and keeping the crowd in good spirits with lovely sounds. This included live music by Mythos, with open public dancing. A unique song selection played, beyond just classic fast-paced greek tunes. Think a mashup of greek melodies and Wipe Out, yup those musicians definitely kept it interesting. I was captivated by the footwork as guests engaged in chain dancing in front of the stage. The mayor of San Jose joining in the fun as well, putting on his best moves on the dance floor. Also, a greek dance performance by Ethnos on Sunday afternoon (and multiple times throughout the 3-day event), a group of middle school kids dressed in costume showcasing their talents for the crowd. There were plenty of tables and seating throughout, including an air-conditioned indoor hall, and even the entire entertainment stage area outside was shaded for the comfort of guests. Wow, amazing! The festival was organized incredibly well, and a detailed event program and map was available online, which was ideal for attendees to plan ahead of time while learning a little bit of history about the food, traditions, and more. A joyful atmosphere and great sense of community, altogether.

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Live music/stage
Live music/stage
Vegan stuffed vegetables
Vegan stuffed vegetables
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Christmas In The Park

Christmas In The Park

4.0
(817 reviews)
1.2 mi

TLDR: Nice stroll for adults, good rides for kids. Overall worth checking out at least once…read more Good for an hour distraction, plus lots of restaurants nearby. Ambiance (4/5): * Lots of lit and decorated Xmas trees. * Heavier on the high schoolers than I expected, mostly around the churro vendor at the end. * Overall a pleasant setup. This is my second time going. I'll likely go back again in future seasons. Service (2/5): * Website and/or phone number given says you can text and get a reply with an answer to a question. I never received a reply. Offerings: * Lots of rides for kids 3 ft or taller. Four rides for kids under 3 ft. * Alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages available. Good looking churros for sale.

It was nice to get out and get some fresh air and hang out with family. Unfortunately, the…read moreambiance wasn't up to normal par. The big tree was a little disappointing and the trees on the outside weren't lit up, so they were difficult to see. My next opinion carries two thoughts. I was so happy to share Christmas in the Park with my 7-year-old nephew and my sister who lives in Southern CA. We were all super excited. Then at once we came upon a tree with a photo of the cutest child. Then I noticed wings on the tree. Actually, I noticed the wings first and then the child's photo. Initially I was like, oh, that's cool to put angel wings on the tree. Then I saw the photo and my heart sank. My niece who was closer was able to read that the child had passed away. It totally ruined my vibe. Was this appropriate for a festive park? That entire section had photos of people who had passed away. So, here's the other thought on my opinion. I saw a picture of an adult female and then I thought, "What a wonderful way to memorialize her for the season." I had missed emotions, but I would have preferred to overlook this section altogether. For years we would come and my small child would get this plastic Rudolph that would be on a stick. I probably got him that thing 3-years in a row. I was hoping to grab one for my nephew this year...ha ha, it's been over twenty years, and they didn't have any of the plastic blow ups for sale, but they did have hot chocolate. I'm not sure if the vendor now is the same as the one over twenty years ago, but this hot chocolate was clearly Swiss Miss or Nestle. It was basic, but the exciting part were the toppings... we had whipped cream, sprinkles, a candy cane and a little plastic snowman's head. We got the large, which was totally unnecessary and not just because of the $11 cost. Noticeably missing were the snow machines throughout the park, but my nephew was probably too young to enjoy it anyway. Also parking around the perimeter is impossible because they block all the parking. You can circle around to find a park or do what we did and just park in the lot next to the skating rink, which is across the street. I believe it was $2 per 20 minutes. Here's What I Think... If you've never been, check it out. It's nice to see the efforts the children and organizations put into decorating their trees. For me, it'll be another few years before I go back.

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Animatronics
Animatronics
Animatronics
Animatronics
Christmas In The Park

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Bark In the Park - festivals - Updated June 2026

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