NEWS RELEASE: Viva CalleSJ Celebrates 10 Years with Longest Route in Program History
Post Date:09/03/2025 3:00 PMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Amanda Rodriguez, Public Information Manager, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department
408-460-4468; Amanda.Rodriguez@sanjoseca.gov
Viva CalleSJ Celebrates 10 Years with Longest Route in Program History
SAN JOSE, Calif. (September 3, 2025) - Mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as Viva CalleSJ celebrates a major milestone: 10 years of open streets in San José.
This year’s anniversary event, called “Las Calles,” will feature the longest route in the program’s history with nearly 10 miles of car-free streets spanning Willow Glen, West San Carlos’ Antique Row, The Alameda, the Municipal Rose Garden, Little Italy, Japantown, and, for the first time, Watson Park in Northside San José.
“Viva CalleSJ strengthens our community, supports local businesses, and encourages healthier lifestyles,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “After 10 years, Viva CalleSJ continues to remind us that our streets are not just for getting around — they are places where neighbors can connect and unite and where cultures are celebrated.”
“Viva CalleSJ brings San José together in a way that celebrates our neighborhoods, our diversity, and our shared public spaces,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “It’s a day to explore and enjoy the city from a whole new perspective and, hopefully, come away feeling better connected to the place we call home.”
Together, eventgoers have spent the past decade biking, walking, skating, running, and rolling through San José, making Viva CalleSJ a tradition that brings neighborhoods to life. To celebrate this milestone, the team behind the scenes created a special 10-year retrospective video that highlights the visionaries and key supporters who helped launch San José’s open streets program and have continued to champion it over the years.
A San José State University Mineta Transportation Institute study of last fall's event found that 78% of participants planned to support local businesses during the event, with 80% discovering new places to eat and shop along the route. Additionally, 76% of participants reported feeling more connected to their community as a result of the event. Another iteration of the study will take place at the event on Sept. 7, 2025.
Start anywhere on the route and explore at your own pace, there’s no beginning or end. You can enjoy activity hubs filled with food trucks, live performances, local artists, free bike repair, wellness resources, and more. Hubs will be located at Downtown Willow Glen, Municipal Rose Garden, and Watson Park, with the popular Youth Empowerment Zone returning to West San Carlos Avenue. Join the special mid-day anniversary celebration with remarks that will take place from 12 to 12:20 p.m. at Downtown Willow Glen (Lincoln Avenue near Minnesota Avenue).
Visit vivacallesj.org for a map of the route, activity details, and sponsorship opportunities for future Viva CalleSJ events.
About the City of San José With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California’s largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
About Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services The City of San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS) oversees ten regional parks, over 200 neighborhood parks, more than 40 community centers, and 65 miles of trail. It has one of the most diverse service models of any agency of its type. For more information, please visit sanjoseca.gov/prns.
