Welcome to the 408

SJSU Loves SJ: Welcome to the 408 is a celebration connecting San José State students to the heart of the city we call home. From August 20 to September 20, discover free and discounted events hosted by local businesses, artists, and community partners across downtown San José. Whether you're new to campus or a returning Spartan, Welcome to the 408 is your invitation to explore the culture, food, and creativity that make San José special.

Spartan Discounts is your passport to exploring San José with your student ID! From August 20 to September 27, show your Tower Card at participating local businesses and unlock exclusive deals just for SJSU students. Whether you're grabbing coffee, shopping local, or planning a night out, these discounts are our community’s way of saying: Welcome to the 408!

AUGUST

 Downtown Farmer’s Market
🗓 Date & Time: Wednesday, August 20, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Regional Farmer’s Market Association
📍 Location: 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113
📄 Description: Come and get fresh produce, packaged goods, and hot meals made by local food producers!

 
Career Panel
🗓 Date & Time: Wednesday, August 20, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Open San Jose – Anchor Partners
📍 Location: 38 S Second Street, San Jose, CA
📄 Description: Latina Coalition alongside anchor partners like Mosaic, Nor Cal Media, SJ Works, CreaTV, and Chopsticks Alley at Open San Jose will have a career panel, art showcase, and program information booths. Giveaways, memberships, and merchandise discounts (15%-25%) will be available onsite.

 
Open Mic @ Nirvana Soul
🗓 Date & Time: Friday, August 22, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Nirvana Soul
📍 Location: 315 S 1st St, San Jose, CA
📄 Description: We host mixed open mic nights (music, poetry, comedy) every Friday from 6-9PM. 10% student discount available!

 
IMB Clean-Up in Japantown
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, August 23, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Japanese American Citizens League – San Jose Chapter
📍 Location: 565 N 5th St, San Jose, CA
📄 Description: We will clean windows, railings, trim trees and bushes, sweep ramps, porches, and decks, and clean bathrooms, the kitchen, and the conference room. Cleaning supplies will be provided. If you have tools for outdoor use, please bring them. Lunch provided!

 
SJSU Flag Raising at City Hall
🗓 Date & Time: August 25, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
🤝 Community Partner: Office of San Jose City Council District 3
📍 Location: San Jose City Hall
📄 Description:  This annual tradition celebrates the strong and growing partnership between the City of San José and our university community. Your presence would be a testament to the partnership that SJSU holds with the City of San Jose and local communities. We hope you’ll be able to join us in uplifting this milestone together.

 
Local Color SoFA Mural Tour 1
🗓 Date & Time: Tuesday, August 26, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
🤝 Community Partner: Local Color
📍 Location: 300 S 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113
📄 Description: The Color Walk is designed to share a new perspective of the creative environment in San José. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the artistic vibrancy of our city and the diverse stories behind each mural facilitated by Local Color in SoFA and Downtown. Includes light exercise.

 
Local Color SoFA Mural Tour 2
🗓 Date & Time: Tuesday, August 26, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Local Color
📍 Location: 300 S 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113
📄 Description: A second tour option for those who missed the first. Enjoy mural storytelling and artistic engagement through the SoFA district.

 
Local Color Downtown Mural Tour
🗓 Date & Time: Tuesday, August 26, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Local Color
📍 Location: Back Lot of Hotel De Anza, 233 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
📄 Description: Explore murals behind Hotel De Anza and discover the hidden artistic gems in downtown San José. Great for art lovers and walkers!

 
Downtown Farmer’s Market
🗓 Date & Time: Wednesday, August 27, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Regional Farmer’s Market Association
📍 Location: Hammer Theatre Plaza
📄 Description: Fresh produce, local goods, and artisan items—support San Jose's local food ecosystem!

 
Urban Putt Student Night
🗓 Date & Time: Wednesday, August 27
🤝 Community Partner: Urban Putt
📍 Location: 201 S 2nd St., Suite 150, San Jose, CA 95113
📄 Description: 25% off mini-golf for students, 10% off for alumni. Student night packages available. Must enter before 8 PM to stay past curfew. Fully accessible facility.

Welcome Black
🗓 Date & Time: Thursday, August 28
🤝 Community Partner: AACSA, SJSU Black Alumni Network, BLOC, BSU
📍 Location: 304 N 6th St, San Jose, CA 95112
📄 Description: This event ensures incoming and current Black students are equipped with resources, scholarships, internships, job opportunities, and volunteer experiences while connecting with AACSA, the SJSU Black Alumni Network, and BLOC. As part of the SJSU 408 Event Series, this event also helps students engage with local nonprofits, small businesses, and cultural institutions to deepen their connection to San José through art, history, civic engagement, and culture.

 
Open Mic @ Nirvana Soul
🗓 Date & Time: Friday, August 29, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Nirvana Soul
📍 Location: 315 S 1st St
📄 Description: We host mixed open mic nights (music, poetry, comedy) every Friday from 6-9PM if any students would like to visit!

 
Experience Jaws 50th Anniversary in IMAX
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, August 30 – Monday, September 1
🤝 Community Partner: The Tech Interactive
📍 Location: 201 S Market St
📄 Description: $18 Student ticket! First 20 students to arrive get free popcorn with student ID.

 
Alebrijes en San Jose
🗓 Date & Time: August – September 28
🤝 Community Partner: San Jose Jazz
📍 Location: Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park
📄 Description: Just in time for the 35th Summer Fest, San Jose Jazz and a host of community partners bring to the region a spectacular exhibition of monumental, magical alebrijes, part of a tour of major US cities spotlighting Oaxaca as representative of Mexico’s artistic traditions and cultural richness. The eight extraordinary sculptures, ranging in height from 20 to 22 feet, will be placed all over the Fest grounds and will be on view through September 28. As night falls, these fantastical creatures come alive, glowing with colored light emphasizing their intricate painted motifs.

 
SJSU Together with Spartans: Latino Family Roundtable
🗓 Date & Time: Tuesday, September 2, 5:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: SJSU Latino Advisory Council
📍 Location: MLK 225
📄 Description: Join us for a culturally affirming event that connects families, shares student voices, and supports a smooth transition into the Spartan Family!

 
Downtown Farmer’s Market
🗓 Date & Time: Wednesday, September 3, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Regional Farmer’s Market Association
📍 Location: Hammer Theatre Plaza
📄 Description: Weekly market with produce, meals, and local vendors.

 First Fridays & Food in the Garden
🗓 Date & Time: Friday, September 5, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: We Start Gardens
📍 Location: SoFA Pocket Park Garden, 540 S. First Street
📄 Description: The Garden is open to tour, ask questions, harvest and eat at a food truck that uses farm fresh ingredients. It's a great place to chill.

 
Open Mic @ Nirvana Soul
🗓 Date & Time: Friday, September 5, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Nirvana Soul
📍 Location: 315 S 1st St
📄 Description: We host mixed open mic nights (music, poetry, comedy) every Friday from 6-9PM if any students would like to visit! 10% off student discount.

 
Delano Grape Strike Anniversary
🗓 Date & Time: Monday, September 8 (Time TBD)
🤝 Community Partner: LEAD Filipino
📍 Location: Gimelli Way, San Jose, CA 95133
📄 Description: Community Mixer and Local Park Activation with Free Food and Networking Opportunities! This event will honor the legacy of the United Farm Workers and the history of Filipino Americans in California.

 
Open Garden Tour & Tea
🗓 Date & Time: Tuesday, September 9, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: We Start Gardens
📍 Location: SoFA Pocket Park Garden, 540 S. First Street
📄 Description: Try some herbal teas grown and harvested from the garden. Get down with a little gardening if interested.

 
Downtown Farmer’s Market
🗓 Date & Time: Wednesday, September 10, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Regional Farmer’s Market Association
📍 Location: Hammer Theatre Plaza
📄 Description: Weekly market featuring San José’s best local vendors.

 
San Jose Earthquakes vs LAFC
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, September 13, 4:30 PM
🤝 Community Partner: San Jose Earthquakes
📍 Location: Levi’s Stadium
📄 Description: Discounted single game tickets for our remaining home games for college students only. Ticket link

 Sonic Flow: Movement & Sound Healing Journey
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, September 13, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Mind Body Soul LLC & Bay Love Soul LLC
📍 Location: SoFA Pocket Park Garden, 540 S. First Street
📄 Description: Join us for Sonic Flow, a soul-nourishing outdoor wellness experience where mindful Pilates-inspired movement meets the healing vibrations of sound. $35 Experience.

 
Welcome Luncheon
🗓 Date & Time: Sunday, September 14, 1:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: First A.M.E. Zion Church
📍 Location: 95 South Twentieth Street, San Jose, CA 95112
📄 Description: First A.M.E. Zion Church is the oldest Black church in San Jose with 160 years of service towards community spiritual development. Students are encouraged to attend the 11AM worship service before the September Welcome Luncheon at 1:00PM.

 
SJSU Votes Festival
🗓 Date & Time: Tuesday, September 16
🤝 Community Partner: SJSU Votes & IPACE
📍 Location: Smith Carlos Lawn
📄 Description: Celebrate civic engagement and register to vote on campus!

 
Downtown Farmer’s Market
🗓 Date & Time: Wednesday, September 17, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
🤝 Community Partner: Regional Farmer’s Market Association
📍 Location: Hammer Theatre Plaza
📄 Description: The weekly Wednesday tradition continues with fresh food and local vibes.

 
East VillageSJ Block Party
🗓 Date & Time: Thursday, September 18
🤝 Community Partner: East Village SJ
📍 Location: Between 7th and 9th Street on E Santa Clara St
📄 Description: The Annual East Village Block Party Activation event is to encourage community unity while enhancing the district’s vibrancy.

 
Guadalupe River Walk Beautification
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, September 20, 9:00 AM
🤝 Community Partner: Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
📍 Location: TBD
📄 Description: Join SJSU College Corps for a clean-up collaboration with the City of San Jose!

 City of San Jose & Education Football Night
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, September 20, 2:00 PM
🤝 Community Partner: City of San Jose
📍 Location: CEFCU Stadium
📄 Description: SJSU Students FREE. Celebrate education and local pride at the SJSU home football game.

 
San Jose Earthquakes vs St. Louis
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, September 20, 7:30 PM
🤝 Community Partner: San Jose Earthquakes
📍 Location: PayPal Stadium
📄 Description: Discounted single game tickets for college students only. 

 
American Indian Heritage Celebration at SJSU
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday–Sunday, September 20–21
🤝 Community Partner: Indian Health Center & SJSU
📍 Location: SJSU Events Center
📄 Description: A multi-day celebration honoring Native American culture, traditions, and history. Cultural activities, speakers, and community engagement throughout the weekend.