Join us for a free, family-friendly celebration of Puerto Rican and Caribbean music, culture, and food. This unforgettable festival highlights top-notch music performances grounded in Puerto Rican culture, including salsa, bomba, and plena. Taking place at Parque de los Pobladores, in front of MACLA, it is presented in partnership with San José Jazz.

Friday, June 12 5-10PM

FREE RSVP HERE!

🎤 Hosted by Summer Fest emcee Santos Lopez

🎶 Featuring LIVE performances by:
✨ Jeri y El Kombo Klasiko
✨ Los Calderones
✨ Headliners Orquesta Bembé closing out the night with high-energy salsa heat 💥🔥

PLUS 👀
🎧 DJ Leydis
💃🏽 Salsa dance instruction with Alyssa Aguilar
🥁 Special performance by Aguacero Bomba
🍹 Food & drinks
🛍️ Local vendors

Brought to you by MACLA & San Jose Jazz with support from San José District 1 Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, the City of San José Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs’ Festivals, Parades, and Celebrations grant, and Celebrations grant, and CityDance. Help us keep ¡WEPA! FEST a FREE event. Donate Today!

Tickets on Sale Now!

Tickets on Sale Now!

Tickets on Sale Now!

Inebria me is a bold reimagining of Los Angeles-based composer, musician, and performance artist San Cha’s acclaimed 2019 album, La Luz de la Esperanza.  

At its heart is Dolores, a woman of humble means trapped in a toxic marriage with wealthy Salvador. In her darkest moment, she is visited by Esperanza, a luminous, genderless being who awakens her courage to escape and reclaim her worth. Through this narrative, Inebria me queers and dismantles the cis-heteronormative archetypes that shaped San Cha’s youth, rewriting the stories of love, power, and resilience. 

Blending ranchera, cumbia, mariachi, punk, classical, and electro into a live music score, enriched by innovative visual design, Inebria me is as musically daring as it is emotionally stirring. Drawing from San Cha’s lived experiences, rural Mexican immigrant life, Catholic choir traditions, Bay Area drag performance, and cross-border identity—the work is a celebration of chosen family, self-discovery, and the liberating power of hope. 

Co-commissioned by MACLA / Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, National Performance Network (NPN), Performance Space New York, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), and REDCAT / Roy & Edna Disney CalArts Theatre; this genre-defying work transforms telenovela melodrama into a transcendent tale of liberation. 

• September 25, Thursday – Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM  
• September 26, Friday – Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM  
• September 27, Saturday – Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM   

Tickets:

• $75 Reserved Seating – Paying at this level helps sustain MACLA’s mission.
• $50 Reserved Seating – Paying at this level helps sustain MACLA’s mission.
• $30 General Admission – A community rate that keeps our program accessible.
• $10 Student Tickets – The next generation should always have a seat in this theater.

Run Time: 90 minutes
Language: English with Spanish supertitles

Tickets on Sale Now!

MACLA is teaming up with Levitt San Jose to bring an unforgettable celebration of FREE live music to St. James Park.

Kicking it off is El Pecado de Juana, delivering passionate, genre-blending rock with raw emotion and powerful vocals. Followed by the wild and electrifying Flaco El Jandro y Sus Perros Callejeros, mixing punk, cumbia, and street soul into. Headlining this show is Bululú, bringing the heat with their infectious blend of Afro-Caribbean Latin rhythms.

Grab your friends, your picnic blankets, and your dancing shoes — and let’s show up and show out for Levitt’s last show of 2025 and enjoy a night of cultura, comunidad, and música under the sunny skies.

TRAFFIC & PARKING INFORMATION

FRIDAY · March 21: We anticipate a considerable increase in traffic due to the NVIDIA convention happening Downtown. Please allow extra time to find parking and plan to arrive early to secure a spot.

SATURDAY · March 22: Please note that there will be street closure on Saturday, on S 1ST Street between Reed & William Street, which may further impact parking options and traffic. We encourage you to arrive well in advance to navigate these changes.

ACCESSIBLE PICK-UP/ DROP-OFF
Accessible pick-up/drop-off is located on the corner of S 1ST Street & William Street. Please email us if you require additional assistance.

SUNDAY · March 23: 1ST Street & I-280 lot is FREE all day on weekends. This is a great opportunity to explore the area after the show!

PARKING
There is limited metered ($2/hour) street parking adjacent to MACLA. 1ST Street & I-280 lot is FREE on weekdays after 6 p.m. and all day on weekends and holidays. Visit ParkSJ.org for real time parking information, maps and more.   

Moderated by journalist José Antonio Vargas

Join us at San Jose’s City Hall Rotunda for an evening of poignant conversation with Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, National Book Award finalist and one of the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard. Karla’s new novel, Catalina, is a powerful coming-of-age story inspired by her experiences navigating life as an undocumented immigrant. She’ll be joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist José Antonio Vargas, author of Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen. Together, they’ll dive into stories of resilience, identity, and the realities of living undocumented in America.

This is more than a book talk—it’s a space for us to connect, share, and celebrate the power of our stories. Karla will sign books after the discussion. Whether you’re undocumented yourself, come from a mixed-status family, or are an ally, this event is for you.

Event is currently sold out!

Join the Waitlist

Press Release

About the Author: 

Karla Cornejo Villavicencio is an Ecuadorian writer and the author of the National Book Award finalist The Undocumented Americans. Her work, which focuses on race, culture, and immigration, has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vogue, Elle, n+1, The New Inquiry, Interview, and on NPR.

About Catalina: 

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A year in the life of the unforgettable Catalina Ituralde, a wickedly wry and heartbreakingly vulnerable student at an elite college, forced to navigate an opaque past, an uncertain future, tragedies on two continents, and the tantalizing possibilities of love and freedom
 “Diabolically charming and magnetic. I enjoyed the hell out of this little exploding geyser of a book.”—Ira Glass 
When Catalina is admitted to Harvard, it feels like the fulfillment of destiny: a miracle child escapes death in Latin America, moves to Queens to be raised by her undocumented grandparents, and becomes one of the chosen. But nothing is simple for Catalina, least of all her own complicated, contradictory, ruthlessly probing mind. Now a senior, she faces graduation to a world that has no place for the undocumented; her sense of doom intensifies her curiosities and desires. She infiltrates the school’s elite subcultures—internships and literary journals, posh parties and secret societies—which she observes with the eye of an anthropologist and an interloper’s skepticism: she is both fascinated and repulsed. Craving a great romance, Catalina finds herself drawn to a fellow student, an actual budding anthropologist eager to teach her about the Latin American world she was born into but never knew, even as her life back in Queens begins to unravel. And every day, the clock ticks closer to the abyss of life after graduation. Can she save her family? Can she save herself? What does it mean to be saved?
Brash and daring, part campus novel, part hagiography, part pop song, Catalina is unlike any coming-of-age novel you’ve ever read—and Catalina, bright and tragic, circled by a nimbus of chaotic energy, driven by a wild heart, is a character you will never forget.

About the Moderator: 

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated theatrical producer. A leading voice for the human rights of immigrants, he founded the non-profit narrative change organization Define American, named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. His best-selling memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, was published by HarperCollins in 2018. His second book, White Is Not a Country, will be published by Knopf in 2025.

In 2019, he co-produced Heidi Schreck’s acclaimed Broadway play What the Constitution Means to Me, which was nominated for a Tony Award for “Best Play” and is streamable on Amazon Prime Video. His second Broadway production, a staging of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s musical Here Lies Love, opened at the Broadway Theatre in July 2023.

In 2011, the New York Times Magazine published a groundbreaking essay he wrote in which he revealed and chronicled his life in America as an undocumented immigrant. A year later, he appeared on the cover of TIME worldwide with fellow undocumented immigrants as part of a follow-up cover story he wrote. He then produced and directed Documented, a documentary feature film on his undocumented experience.

Broadcast on CNN and streamed on Netflix, it received a 2015 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Documentary. Also in 2015, MTV aired White People, an Emmy-nominated television special he produced and directed on what it means to be young and white in a demographically-changing America

In 2020, Fortune named him one of its “40 under 40” most influential people in government and politics. Among other accolades he has received are the Freedom to Write Award from PEN Center USA and honorary degrees from Emerson College, Colby College, and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Passionate about promoting equity in education for all students, he serves on the advisory board of TheDream.US, a scholarship fund for undocumented immigrant students; and, in 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed him to the Board of Trustees of California State University, the largest four-year public university system in the United States.

A product of the San Francisco Bay Area, he is a proud graduate of San Francisco State University (’04), where he was named Alumnus of the Year in 2012, and Mountain View High School (’00). An elementary school named after Vargas opened in his hometown of Mountain View, California in August 2019.

MACLA presents Riding the Currents of the Wilding Wind, stories and songs from the epic novel Their Dogs Came with Them by Helena María Viramontes. Performance created by Martha Gonzalez and Virginia Grise. Directed by Kendra Ware.   

Join us for the San José premiere of Riding the Currents of the Wilding Wind, created by musical director Martha Gonzalez of the GRAMMY Award winning band Quetzal, in collaboration with Alpert Award winning interdisciplinary artist Virginia Grise and directed by Kendra Ware.  

Riding the Currents of the Wilding Wind delves into themes of gentrification, identity, and the quest to find one’s place in the world. This immersive theatrical concert blends storytelling and live music, drawing directly from the epic novel Their Dogs Came with Them by Helena María Viramontes. Expect captivating narratives about sharpshooters and earthmovers, helicopters in the sky, and women that fly. 

The performance features an eclectic mix of Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, funk, rock, and gospel, brought to life by MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Martha Gonzalez, Tylana Renga Enomoto and Juan Perez from the GRAMMY Award winning band Quetzal, alongside actor Lulu Matute. 

Don’t miss this chance to witness a fusion of literature and music! 

Tickets on sale now!

Friday, September 27, 2024 – Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM

Saturday, September 28, 2024– Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM

Sunday, September 29, 2024 (Matinée) – Doors: 1:30 PM | Show: 2:00 PM

Tickets:

$45 Reserved Seating
$30 General Admission
$10 Students

Run Time: approximately 60 minutes

MACLA and San Jose Jazz Present: Día de San Juan Salsa Fest
Celebrating Puerto Rican Culture 

Get ready to dance the night away as MACLA and San Jose Jazz team up to bring a vibrant celebration of Puerto Rican culture. Join us on June 21, 2024 from 5-10 PM for an unforgettable fiesta at Parque de Los Pobladores (in front of MACLA) in downtown San José. 

Día de San Juan: Salsa Fest promises a night filled with exhilarating performances and family-friendly activities, all while celebrating the rich heritage of Puerto Rican culture. The evening will feature renowned Salsa bands: Latin Rhythm Boys, Orquesta Taino, and La Mixta Criolla, with additional beats provided by the talented DJ Leydis. 

Outside at Parque de los Pobladores, in front of MACLA in downtown San José’s South First Area (SoFA) District, Día de San Juan: Salsa Fest  will run from 5 to 10:00 pm. This will be a free, family-friendly event. The Día de San Juan: Salsa Fest  will highlight top-notch music performances grounded in Puerto Rican culture, including Salsa and Latin sounds, complemented by hands-on art activities for families, Caribbean food, and drinks.

Featured Performers 

Orquesta Taino: Formed in 2010, Orquesta Taino brings the elegant sophistication of a big orchestra with the power and energy of Salsa and Latin Jazz. Led by percussionist and vocalist Aaron Routtenberg, the band delivers unforgettable performances inspired by legends like Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, and Eddie Palmieri. 

 Latin Rhythm Boys: Founded by brothers Earl and Henry Miranda Jr., this band is a powerhouse of high-energy Puerto Rican music, blending Salsa and Jibaro sounds. They have captivated audiences with their unique style and stage presence, featuring guest artists such as Grammy winner Willy Torres. 

 La Mixta Criolla: This dynamic Bay Area ensemble blends diverse Afro-Latin traditions, captivating audiences with soulful performances of Afro-Caribbean grooves. Founded by percussionist and songwriter Héctor Lugo, La Mixta Criolla invites you to dance to their rich repertoire of originals and classic tunes. 

 DJ Leydis: Born in Cuba, DJ Leydis infuses contemporary hits with Latin, R&B, and reggae flavors. A pioneer in the Cuban hip-hop movement, she has worked with artists like Erykah Badu and Quest Love, bringing a unique spirit to her performances. 

 Event Details: 

• Date and Time: June 21,2024 2024, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM 
• Location: Parque de Los Pobladores (in front of MACLA), 510 South First Street, San José, CA 95113 
• Admission: FREE 

Don’t miss out on this free event celebrating the richness of Puerto Rican culture. Put on your dancing shoes and join us for a night of music, culture, and community!

Día de San Juan Salsa Fest  is made possible in part by Amazon, Bloom Energy, City of San José, Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Kamei, Councilmember Candelas, Councilmember Jimenez, Councilmember Ortiz, Councilmember Torres, PG&E, SJ Water and Valley Water. 

It’s easy to find parking in Downtown San Jose. Go to ParkSJ.org
There is limited metered ($2/hour) street parking adjacent to MACLA. First Street & I-280 lot is FREE on weekdays after 6 p.m. and all day on weekends and holidays.
Visit ParkSJ.org for real time parking information, maps and more.

Ghostly Labor, by Vanessa Sanchez and La Mezcla delves into the rich history of labor in the US-Mexico borderlands, combining the art forms of Tap Dance, Mexican Zapateado, Son Jarocho and AfroCaribbean movement. Through a captivating fusion of polyrhythmic movement and an original score, the production examines the legacy of systemic labor exploitation and celebrates the resilience and unity found in collective resistance.

Ghostly Labor’s San Jose Premiere
at SJSU’s Hammer Theatre Center
March 21-22, 2024
Tickets on sale now!

Join our Ghostly Labor Producers Circle today!
Your support makes it possible for us to bring bold, new work to our community.

About Vanessa Sanchez & La Mezcla:
Vanessa Sanchez is a Chicana-Native dancer, choreographer and educator who emphasizes the voices and experiences of Latina, Chicana and Indigenous women and youth through contemporary performance, community arts and traditional dance forms. Her dance and choreographic expression explores movement and rhythm to tell stories of historical oppression and collective resistance. Sanchez’s artistic practice is influenced by her cultural and ancestral lineage, the experiences of her community and the expression of Afro-Latinx percussion and dance to challenge cultural and gender role stereotypes. As a dedicated and experienced arts educator in the Latino community, she works to ensure accessibility to quality arts training and performances. She independently produces the community grant outreach program “Connecting Communities to Funders,” a free, 3-part series that connects BIPOC, culturally-based dancers and artists with grant organizations.
La Mezcla is a polyrhythmic, San Francisco-based dance and music ensemble rooted in Chicana, Latina and Indigenous traditions and social justice. Founded in 2015 by Dance/USA fellow Vanessa Sanchez, their work brings together Tap dance, Son Jarocho and Afro-Caribbean rhythms to bring the often unseen histories and experiences of communities of color to stages, streets and fields.

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We Have Iré is a multidisciplinary theater production by Paul S. Flores. Through a captivating blend of live Cuban jazz, traditional Yoruba songs, modern dance, Latinx hip-hop, and spoken word, We Have Iré explores the challenges faced by immigrant artists but also celebrates their triumphant journey of finding their unique voice in a new country. Developed with jazz composer Yosvany Terry, DJ Leydis, choreographer Ramón Alayó, and director Rosalba Rolón, We Have Iré is a play about blessing, good fortune, balance, and destiny