We came here for Viva CalleSJ this past Sunday. It's a lovely plaza with plenty of outdoor space and a large parking lot which was used for vendor booths during the recent event I attended. We enjoyed our time here, entertained by cultural dance performances (mexican folk dance), live music including spanish reggae tunes and mariachi, fun pro wrestling matches, and more. Food and drink vendors were available on site, selling mexican cuisine, korean fried chicken, and kona ice (flavored shaved ice). We were able to grab a variety of items for lunch including iced tea and coffee beverages from Travelin' Tom's Coffee of Mountain View, a yummy quesadilla from El Viejon, and a tasty sandwich from Chick N Bros food truck. If there's anything I think could make this place better, it's grass. But I understand, not every park or plaza can offer this. It's a beautiful venue nonetheless, for community events and the arts. read more

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I've seen two plays well events, at the Mexican heritage theater maybe four years ago I saw San Jose Taiko play for their 50th year anniversary! No acoustic sound needed in that great auditorium especially with Japanese Taiko ("drum" in Japanese) involved! For that show, we were actually sitting in the front middle row, and it really felt as if during the swing performance they were going to swing into our laps! A couple of the numbers I actually jumped back in my seat it seemed like they got too close! But amazing performance by San Jose Taiko!! This particular evening, I saw a friend performing in "shaking the mess out of misery! "They had great acoustics in this particular performance, but not too much singing in the actual show itself so more of a play and a great story for young women to see how things were different from the 1940s or 50s until now! I love how this particular play had the proper lingo and accents of the era and that southern hospitality sound!! I had to look up a couple of the words, but the play, and the overall meaning itself was great!! As we left at the performance, and actually started raining and they're beautiful open area outside/the front of the Mexican heritage. Plaza glistened and gleamed with lights! It looked very pretty and I really enjoyed the theater! Hee read more

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This is a very nice venue. They host many events as well as rent it out for weddings & special events. I attended Viva Casa Azul on 7.12.24. Again, the venue itself is beautiful. The company that pit it on (not sure of the name) was poorly organized. They had VIP tix at $135 for early access...they opened close to 6pm. The lines for food were crazy long and you got an appetizer size plate. There were no tables & chairs to sit. But, this was really the organizers & nit the venue. I made the best of it. read more

Mexican Heritage Plaza - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

I was very interested in the venue. I scheduled a appointment to view the venue. It was canceled the day before I rescheduled with them after the first time I rescheduled again they broke the second appointment rescheduled again and they broke the third appointment therefore, I just gave up and opened up my search for another venue! And I was actually really interested in this venue, but if they're breaking three appointments, I am not sure what else they would break!! read more

Lovely place for cultural events and a reminder of things San Jose has to offer that aren't available in, say, Council Bluffs Iowa. Went for a sunrise ceremony with fantastic performances and great ambience of community. I'm going to be a regular from now on. read more

We recently attended an event at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. The venue was excellent, with a pleasant atmosphere and very helpful staff.

This review is mostly for the theatre productions held here and produced by Teatro Vision. I have seen 3 plays/musical performances here and have always left wanting more. I wish more cities in CA had more of this! You get to see community member involvement and top notch productions in culturally relevant and empowering messages. In addition, they have several programs that promote art and culture to youth. In an area that is often tagged up by gangs, this is a beaming light in a community that deserves it all. MHP also rents rooms that look like classrooms. They offer free parking and it is well organized should you need a meeting space. Once covid is over, check out a play and their large festivals! read more

The San Jose Metropolitan Band celebrated their 50th anniversary at this venue by giving a latin-themed concert called La Fiesta in the theatre which was the perfect size for this event. The theatre has great acoustics and seats 500 according to the website, but I only counted around high 300s. As other reviewers have mentioned, there isn't enough parking in the lot. In which case, there should be clearly marked signs to indicate where other parking can be had. I heard there was a lot on King, but that was after I found street parking not too far away. On MHP's website, they should indicate nearby lots where people can at least plan ahead on where to park. read more

Mexican Heritage Plaza - San Jose Metropolitan Band - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

So the "Mexican Heritage Plaza" is what I have always known this place as growing up. I was invited for an invite to "School of Culture and Arts" and when I arrived, found that it was the same place, renamed! From the outside, it doesn't look like much, but once you step inside, it really is a great venue that easily transforms into a magical garden oasis. I can definitely see weddings and other private events happening here. Oh and its a plus that the bathrooms are easily accessible and the parking is plenty here! I was attending an event hosted by Content Magazine and I was really impressed with the place. It's cool to realize that San Jose has this little space you didn't expect to be awesome. There are different areas such as the actual building where classes take place, another building that could be used for a reception, theres an open space in the middle of it all that can be used as a stage/big area for dancing, etc. The area I had the pleasure of being a part of was the garden area with the fountain and it was beautifully decorated with lights to set the mood. It's definitely a place I will look to in the future if I have any events to hold. read more

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I've lived in the Alum Rock area since 1993, so I've pretty much overseen the evolution of what is now the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Construction began when I was in 2nd grade, and the venue was finished when I reached about 4th grade. Why am I talking about grade school? Because the venue was right behind it. During the mixing periods, my teacher Mr. Lynn would take us to the Plaza's Computer Labs, and teach us some very basic computer skills. He was more of a Mac user, so he didn't know about Windows 95 (which was the killer app at the time). But let's fast-forward to 2008. Never did I know that the place was much more than a computer lab. It had a nice garden, some wonderful Mexican-American murals, and best of all--an incredible theatrical space. My Fil-Am group, Akbayan, used this the theatre for its annual Pilipino Cultural Night this year and last year, and now I imagine it being a mainstay with Akbayan for quite a while. With a huge stage, an impressive repertoire of more than 500 seats, and professional lighting, curtains, and other stage equipment, the Mexican Heritage Plaza remains a grand venue, and it's definitely a diamond in the rough when you compare the interior to the greater area around the Plaza. Whether you're Mexican or not, this is a place worth taking a child to. I only wish San Jose had something like this for Filipinos. read more

I go here whenever Akbayann holds their Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN here. I definitely recommend bringing a sweater or cardigan when you watch a show. Even though it's hot outside, the air conditioning, depending on where you are sitting can make you cold and uncomfortable. I give this place a 3 because of the location. There is a crosswalk that definitely needs a stoplight. This street has been notorious for pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians have the right of way ALWAYS, especially at a crosswalk. My big brother was crossing the street and a car sped up and hit him making him fly more than 3 yards. I think the city needs to do something about this crosswalk. Drivers are always honking at people for crossing the street. ITS A CROSSWALK! read more

The Mexican Heritage Plaza is such a great location for our non-profit's events. They have a variety of room sizes, which makes it very convenient for us as we have different requirements depending on the program. There's plenty of free parking, which is so important for attendees at any event. Thank you to the MHP staff for helping to make our programs such positive experiences. read more

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they make events for schools and they don't let you in only if you are sing up you can go in and see them never again

We were invited to attend a preview of Antique Roadshow filmed in Santa Clara and to be telecast on KQED next week. Forewarned that there's limited premise parking, we arrived around 6pm for the event which began at 6:30pm. It was still daylight so no problem. At the conclusion of the event at 9pm, we followed people out to the lot. Oops, wrong lot. Apparently there's a major lot and a smaller lot. Lesson here - look around while it's still daylight to avoid mistakes. As for the venue, we were led upstairs to the second floor for a reception. There's an outdoor patio overlooking the plaza. Later we were led into the theater from the second floor. Nice comfy seats. We viewed the show and later Q&A session with the producer of Antique Roadshow. At the conclusion of the event, we exited from ground level back to our car. Easy access back to Hwy 101. read more

This is a nice little auditorium. We went there to watch a world dance event which was great and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The area is a little iffy but this place is great. read more

Very nice theater. Seating is good. The place is neat and the plants and trees within the plaza are beautiful.

Mexican Heritage Plaza is a popular venue for weddings! But my review goes out to their main stage as I've participated in one production at this location and have watched 2. The stage is deep, making it easy for many performers to be on stage at one time. The "behind the scenes" area has ample dressing rooms and enough space to fit a cast of close to 200. The only issue I might have with MHP is there is never enough parking! For cast members and audience members. Performances will be going on at the same time the banquet room is being rented out for a party. So good luck! read more

The facility has limited parking and is not well run. I attended a school activity with over 500 parents and a few hundred students. The theater filled up and they put a lot of parents in a side room with a badly setup camera and projector. read more

We love working with MHP for our Building Peaceful Families events. We recently hosted our Phenomenal Women Awards Luncheon at their facility and the onsite gentleman who helped us get the event ready was AWESOME! Highly recommend! read more

I love this location for my events. It is in the area I need to be in. Always so helpful and gets us the things we need to have a very successful event. They have different rooms for different group sizes and the staff I have worked with have been outstanding. Thank you read more

Dont tell, I have been steppin out on Santa Cruz. If I keep it on the DL and only do it sometimes she wont need to find out. MHP From the moment you step through the beautiful art they call a gate, to the swishing of the grasses in the plaza, and the bumpin venue....aye que rico! Shows from Ozomatli to upcoming stuff like dancers from India and important social events...gotta chek it! read more

Whether it's a wedding or a Quince then you know you have experienced the awesomeness of the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Most recently, I went for a beer festival event which was really cool. I love the versatility of the venue. It can transform from a community event to attend wedding with the help of the events coordinator. The scenery itself is really pretty too.This is definitely a staple in the ESSJ community that displays beautiful influences of the Mexican-American culture. read more

This would be a perfect wedding venue for the couple who wants and indoor wedding, but would like to see a little bit of the outdoors. However when I say outdoors, I mean views of a few little gardens and the rest of the Mexican Heritage Plaza. While the reception area I was interested in looks like a big glass box, they do have other large options onsite. The glass box seems too small to accomodate a larger wedding but perfect for a more intimate affair. The floor is very decent and you are allowed to have a cocktail hour inside the lobby of the movie theatre there - for an additional charge. So while this place isn't for me, I do agree with Hello T how the outdoor area is pretty nice and has water-filled mosaics for some pretty unique photos. It seems a little overpriced for what you get but since they're a true non-profit, it's going to a great cause. read more

This was my first time at the Mexican heritage plaza for a play. Love that they have a big parking lot. The inside courtyard area is very big and beautiful! As we entered the theatre they had booth set up in the lobby selling stuff which was really neat. I can't wait to come back here for other events (hopefully outside so I can enjoy the environment more). We sat in the first row on the left side(if looking at the stage) of the theatre. Great view of everything! But unfortunately the seating/stairs was very bad designed and the middle of the stair did not line up with the row walkway. I ended up falling while trying to exit the row, I luckily didn't hurt myself badly but I did end up with many big bruises on my backside and legs. Be careful and watch your step as someone could get hurt worse than I did. read more

I held an event here in Fall 2010, it's a lovely, private venue and very conveniently located. Due to the change in management, we found it a bit difficult in the beginning to figure out policies, etc. but Melina was extremely helpful and it wasn't long before we had everything squared away. I recommend visiting the facility and speaking with Melina in person, to ensure you're on the same page. Melina is very friendly, can help answer questions, and if not- will direct you to the right person. I highly recommend this facility, it's definitely a "home away from home" and/or "urban oasis" feel - our guests were very complimentary. The pricing seems reasonable. Thanks Melina and MHP! read more

My daughter attended classes here for many years.The teachers are great and the prices are very reasonable.

Was here saturday for a beautiful wedding.It has plenty of parking,The landscape and ponds are clean and very pretty. Restrooms were BIG and clean. and plenty of room for reception.I AM A FAN :) read more

My daughter dance here with Los Lupenos, a Mexican folk dancing group. And my son dances with Spidey, hip-hop/break dancing. It's a bit of a drive from my place, only because classes are around traffic time, so it takes about 30 minutes to get there in lame traffic. But my kids enjoy it and in the end that's all that matters. My daughter danced for another group before, and felt completely lost (she looked very lost during the shows) Maestro Rudy is great with the kids. He teaches them about sounds and rhythms and where the dance originated from before he even teaches the dance. He gives the children drum sticks and they bang the sound they're shoes should make during that particular dance on the floor. He makes the classes fun and educational, and the kids always laugh at his jokes :) My son dances with teacher Spidey, and he thinks he's the coolest. He also likes that Spideys friends go to class sometimes and show them different breakdancing moves. Spidey works well with the kids and they all seem to have a great time. He also makes his classes educational by discussing the different sounds, instruments, beats, and rhythms. My son can't wait for the next session to begin! The classes here are affordable and the kids get to have a recital at the end of each session in the theatre. read more

This venue is awesome to work with. It's very spacious with a great loading area and company power conveniently located right next to the stage. Lots of seating and great access all around the theater. The booth is nice and tidy with updated equipment. Rob, the TD, does a great job to keep this place pristine. Would love to work with again. read more

A very nice historic area chock-full of interesting Latino culture in East San Jose. If you are interested in Mexican-American culture, this is a place you must visit while in San Jose. They also have a lot of cultural events, such as an annual mariachi festival. The outdoor area is absolutely stunning, with greenery and water-filled mosaics around every corner. The inside is full of preserved artifacts and educational materials. The staff I've dealt with have always been enthusiastic and even managed to herd around a group of 30 or so unruly 1st and 2nd graders on a tour of the place. Well done! read more

To begin with, my wedding was great, the venue looked great and was beautiful , we had a splendid time there, but this isn't to be credited to the staff working at the Plaza. The staff is extremely unreliable, they never answer their phones, they don't make time to answer your questions, and they don't tell you every detail you need to know upfront at the beginning of contract. I'm extremely dissapointed in the ettiquette the staff chooses to operate upon. They talk back, they don't work with you, they charge you for the smallest of details, and don't notify you on any "changes" to your contract. Before even considering getting this venue for your wedding ceremony/reception, if I had to do the wedding again I wouldn't do it here. Multiple times I called their office to confirm details about the contract over and over again, and everytime They would change the contract details. When you notify them of such things , it's just as if all of them know and back each other up and say "no you didn't I was right here when you spoke to....." Remember this , they work for YOU not you for THEM. You would think you being the customer renting out the space they would do everything to make sure you are a satisfied customer but they don't Again the venue looked beautiful but thats thanks to the other vendors not any support from the staff. I know they'll probably deny their responsability because that seems to be their custom. I just know that as a bride/groom you need all the support you can get, these people should be your last resort. read more

I was amazed at the design of this place. Fairly non-descript from the outside, but you walk in and wham! there's an enormous open plaza in the center! Very nice theater and beautiful furniture and antiques displayed inside. There's a side parking lot which is attended by a security guard. read more

I was here for dance event, Parking was difficult, the place inside was clean, not too much to say about this square shaped building wiith a very large coutyard in the middle. sorry for the short review.. just when you come here for an event, the parking is free but come early!! read more

Great place for Latino cultural events. Watch their calendar. Many worthy cultural gems make MHP their Bay Area stop.

I am planning a wedding and I have been trying to get in contact with someone over 2 weeks already!! I tried emailing them but the email they have on their website in incorrect so I called and left 2 voicemails, and then I called 2 other times and they said I would get a call back from Arturo and never did! I figured if they don't have time to return my call then they don't deserve my business. VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE! read more