San Jose 4th of July 2008 Fireworks & America Festival @ Discovery Meadow
All-Day Festival with two stages, 11 bands and fireworks
| Friday, July 4 | ||
| 12:00 pm | to | 10:30 pm |
The City of San Jose’s official fireworks show, sponsored by NBC11, attracts 45,000 attendees in Discovery Meadow for an all-day 2008 San Jose America Festival, and as many as 200,000 other people can see the fireworks from spots throughout the greater Downtown area. At the free all-day festival which starts at noon, enjoy multicultural crafts and a variety of ethnic and festival foods, plus a Kidland filled with fun and games and two stages of live music with grammy-winning pop stars, classic tributes, and Japanese drummers and an entire stage dedicated to local blues artists, straight from JJ’s Blues Club. National Anthem at 9:25pm, Fireworks at 9:30pm. Live music follows fireworks until 10:30pm [Directions & Public Transportation]
The festival site is always at Guadalupe River Park’s Discovery Meadow, easily the area’s favorite large-scale outdoor event venue, which is accessible via public transportation, Highways 280, 680, 101 and 87, or CalTrain.
Other SF Bay Area Fireworks and 4th of July Events for 2008:
SAN FRANCISCO: Waterfront Fireworks Show & Concert (Aquatic Park)
OAKLAND: Fireworks Festival & Live Music (Jack London Sq.)
BERKELEY: Family Celebration & Fireworks (Berkeley Marina)
SAN JOSE: All-day America Festival and Fireworks (Discovery Meadow)
MOUNTAIN VIEW: San Francisco Symphony Concert & Fireworks (Shoreline Amphitheater)
SAN RAFAEL: Marin County Fair Fireworks Show (Marin Cty Fairgrounds)
Complete list of 66 Fourth Of July 2008 Fireworks & Events in SF Bay Area
(8 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)
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I went to this festival last year, and I have nothing against multicultural, but there was barely any american culture and it was independence day! Even the music they played during the firework show was in spanish! I am not racist in any way, but this day is reserved for the independence of America!!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Jenny…that’s too funny. I understand where you are coming from, but keep in mind, California was taken from Mexico so Spanish music is appropriate for this state. HA HA HA.
As for the American culture part instead of multicultural, it’s like U.S. History class. Only White American history is really taught and focused on. What about what really makes America?
Happy Independence Day to you.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Jenny i think you may have gotten your days confused. The San Jose America festival is actually a three-day long festival. July 4th is the San Jose Independence Day Festival, day two (July 5th) is Dia de la Familia Preciosa, a full-day mexican music and cultural festival. Day three (july 6th) is the Kihncert in the park
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
jenny got owned.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Oh, come on you guy’s. I have been to this festival also. I totaly understand what Jenny is saying. You can consider what she is saying without being so defensive. I mean realy, she is only trying to make the point that after all it is an American holiday. Our kids should be able to at least be able to understand the language being amplified from the stage. I find your accusing Jenny of being confused offensive. I mean, I bet she didn’t show up for the fourth of july independence day fireworks celebration on July 5th. Maybe everybody else was confused, and thought the 4th was the Dia de la Familia Preciosa festival.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Here here. I and my family have also been to this 4th of july festival, and by the way we were there on the 4th of July not the 5th. This is and should be a celebration of American independence. I also have nothing against multi culturalism. But lets face it, this festival realy doesn’t have much to offer as far as America’s independence is concerned. It realy did seem more like a Spanish/Mexican celebration. It realy did seem to be a lot of people getting drunk while listening to, what is not considered to be “4th of July, American Independence Day” type of music. It Certainly was not in english.
My family had to tolerate several drunks tripping over and staggering through our chairs that we had set up for our young children to enjoy. My 11 year old son was even confronted by a non english speaking individual in a hostile manner while waiting in line to use the rest room. Come on, what happend to good ol’ America, Baseball and Apple pie?
July 4th, 2008 at 2:25 am
I agree with Sharon 100%, i was there last year with my sons five and two years old. There were too many drunk FOOLS walking around,the “F” and “A” words were being use too offten. These guy just sent out BAD impression to the rest of the non english speaking group.
hope the city will increase security this year.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Well, I understand where all of u guys are coming from but I don’t think anyone complains when your eating the cultural foods that’s sold there right? Plus if it was an all American cultured festival I can guarantee you people would get bored with it, on top of that San Jose is known to be a very diverse city so my only advise peop;e is that we all just start getting used to it because the history todd explained behind California is pretty self explanatory
Happy 4th of July people.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:55 am
So, where are the Quote “spots throughout the greater downtown area where other people can see the fireworks” Unquote?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:10 am
CA may have being taken from Mexico but that certainly does not provide any justification for spanish music being played on the 4th of July! Using that logic the rest of the country would be celebrating in Native American languages. Spanish music has no place at the 4th of July festival. People who come into this country and want to live here need to assimilate, and a key part of that is learning to speak English.
We’ll skip the SJ festival and find something traditional.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Does anyone know where my 2 children and I can view the fireworks without getting caught up in the festival crowd?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I would be happy to attend this festival without having to face some drunken people, or people who confront you with non-english language and an attitude. C’mon, this is the US Independence day. What happened with the word “E Pluribus Unum”?. It would be nice if I could also see the barbershop quartet, banjo and some ol’ apple pie stand.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:47 am
fuck every one!!!! fourth of july is a gay holiday its all about 5 de mayo putos!!! mexicans up gringos must die!
July 4th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Uh, Jenny, you do realize that America is really just a stew pot of multiple cultures from all over the world, right? That there is no real such thing as -american culture- as american culture is comprised of the cooking together of bits and pieces of everyone’s culture who lives here. So, Spanish music is completely appropriate, considering that the people who come here who speak spanish are people who are american too, as american as you and I, some of them. The fact that you would moan about this seems to be kind of bigoted and elitist, sorry. Please consider that if you look back in your own family tree, you’ll see there’s an imigrant there somewhere who came from somewhere else unless you’re 100% native american. We all live here together, which is why its multi-cultural, and the big stew pot is a bubbling stew of different people and their cultures that enhance the flavor of the whole US. (And that comes from my Multi-Cultural lectuerer via the PBS tapes on Diversity)
July 4th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Catherine, just what is ‘tradition’. Tradition is what you make of it, really. Apple pie, chicken and potato salad is just one ‘tradition’ that European whites came up with, sure. But you gotta remember, that America’s indpendance is for everyone, not just British descended people. And to be truthful, I think Fried chicken came from somewhere else entirely. Why do people blind themselves to the fact that America is more than just white european people from England?
July 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Wow, lots of conflict here. I like to think of America being big enough for everyone. In fact, that’s the best part, you can say what you want (in any language you want), eat any kind of food from anywhere in the world, and we can all have fun together, listening to different kinds of music. I’ll take that over lederhosen and yodling anyday. As for the security-first folks, I recall that in the good ol’ days, there were still lots of drunks (mostly white) shooting bottle-rockets at people and getting into fights…so things haven’t changed.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Very interesting train of blogs. At the core of American belief is our desire to be free people. Freedom to celebrate the priveleges, opportunity, and possibility that America offers. Any great historical moment in the history of mankind had a strong link to someone’s desire for freedom either obtaining it or protecting it. I don’t care what color, ethnic background, economic standing a person may be from if they are committed to America and the freedom this country offers the way they celebrate is not what is important. The key accountability is that each of us has a responsibility to each other and this country to respect each other, help each other, and contribute to the future of this nation and this world.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Life’s far too short. Just enjoy!!! Music, food, entertainment, art…what could be better?
July 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
People, People! You see, we are all just PEOPLE! We may be different on the outside, but we are ALL the SAME on the inside. This holiday is for ALL people of America. It’s about the independence of this great country. It’s about YOUR right to do what-ever the hell you want to, listen to what you want, go where you want, and be who you want to be. Without this great country, the world would be a sad place indeed. So be glad that the person beside you does NOT look just like you, and that you did NOT go to the same grade school. Because if that’s what you want, go back to Nebraska, the armpit of this nation! No, not really, but it is MUCH less multi-cultural there, and if you ever got out of the bay area, you might learn more about this country, and yourself.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
July 4th is about THE FOURTH OF JULY. That means English should be spoken by the announcers. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is. Or, both. But not just spanish. Believe it or not, there are English speaking Americans still left in America and in San Jose, who would like to enjoy THEIR CULTURE, not Spanish culture, on Independence Day. Everyone else can grow up. And no, a melting pot is where people actually all become the same by mixing together (having mixed heritages) and so eventually everyone becomes the same. America is not like that. We are a hodgepodge of different cultures and each deserves to be highlighted when the time is appropriate. Having Spanish music dominating the 4th is kind of odd. Compare to having German yodelers at a Japanese festival. Or native american. Themes need to stay themed. Enough melting pot crap.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Ive never seen so much argueing over a holiday about races. It doesnt matter where you go you will always have a diff way of celebrating. i grew up in the south and they had the old school white american way to celebrate. even though i agree that american is about celebrating our traditions like the old fashioned bbq type stuff…this is california and there are so many races and traditions that people celebrate.
i myself am a white american and i agree that if you are going to be in a english speaking country you should at least attempt to learn a little but america is based on freedom and rights so stop forcing your ways on anyone.
stop argueing and just enjoy this holiday with your family and watch the fireworks.
and as far as who was here first. america was taken so many times by people that our country is based on taking. if anyone was here first it was the native americans.
anwyay i had my say so enjoy your holiday everyone. hope you all get along.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Honestly, every single state is different. Seeing as there is nothing in the Declaration of Independence about bangoes, giblets, apple pie, or barbeques & Budweiser (for that matter), there really isn’t a “right” way to celebrate. You’re celebrating. We celebrate together. Every state does it different. Swallow your prejudice and enjoy the music, food, and fun.
Many cities in Arizona, for example, have Native American activities and Mexican activities as well. And no one complains because it’s a part of the state’s history.
If you want giblets, and apple pie, move to a state where that’s actually tradition. I’ve been in the States for almost 15 years now, on the West Coast, and it is extremely difficult to say that those things are tradition here. Seriously.
I enjoyed it last year, we all go for the fireworks anyway.
July 4th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
If this was Cinco de Mayo spanish music would be appropriate. I’m sure Latino’s would not appreciate having bluegrass music played at a Cinco de Mayo festival. Can Latinos celebrate this American holiday with us and take the opportunity to experience traditional American culture?
This is not about excluding anyone from celebrating - it’s about respecting American culture on this day of independance.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
The great thing about this country is that it does respect and allow all cultures and races to live and thrive, hence almost all known Holidays of different nationalities that make up this nation is given importance and significance. Each has its own day. Are we not allowed to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Or the Chinese and Vietnamese New Year? And remember that in each of these Holidays, the culture and tradition of the origin country is the theme of the celebration. And that my friend, is appropriate. Is it too much to ask that the classic American Tradition of Star Spangled Banner (Bar-B-Q and Apple Pie) be the theme of 4th of July? It certainly does not mean that we, immigrant descendants be left out. It simply is giving Uncle Sam his due commemoration. It’s understandable that Mexican Music and Foods and Themes does bring in the crowd because that’s the vast majority. Then again, is that what 4th of July Celebration is all about? Are we so full of our own traditions and cultures that we forgot to give due allegiance to our host country?
Friends, this is not to ignite inferiority or superiority. We are spectators who would love to enjoy the celebration. This is a challenge to the organizer of this event, to understand the supposedly theme of 4th of July. What’s next, dragon dance in Christmas at the Park? How about apple pie and Star Spangled Banner on Cinco de Mayo at the Fairgrounds, with announcements all in English? That is CONFUSION amigo! Happy 4th of July, everyone!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
You prejudiced people just amaze me. So filled with hate and misunderstanding. It honestly makes me sad. I live here in San Jose and have for a good while now and when I look around me I see that at least half the people are hispanic or from another country. Where I work, the people who were born in America are a minority — the others all come from an array of countries, they come here to be Americans — but where did this idea come from that to be American is to give up your culture and language and become some kind of different person? Because basically, that is what you are demanding, that they speak only english, that they eat apple pie and eat fried chicken — that they listen to pop music from Mariah Carey. Why should they have to do that? They have their own tastes — and maybe we don’t exactly share them, but that’s what is great about America, everyone is allowed to be individuals. SO, if a bunch of people who speak Spanish better than English want to celebrate the 4th because they’re happy to be American, i say: LET THEM DO IT. They’re happy to be here, they generally want to stay and live here and lead productive lives –and some of them work harder than your average white person. The 4th isn’t about speaking English and apple pie, its about being free and independant and celebrates the constitution of the united states and our bill of rights and the oh so important 1st amendment. Please look past how you celebrate it and JUST CELEBRATE IT!
IF you don’t like how they celebrate it, please do your own private celebration, you DO have that choice. America is all about the choices. IF you don’t like San Jose’s celebration, there’s a hundred other little cities all over the bay and they all do it differently. Why, last year I drove an SUV up a hill in San Ramon, put down a blanket, turned on the proper radio station and watched the fireworks. You gots options folks — choose the one that makes you happiest.
July 5th, 2008 at 9:34 am