SoFA’s First Friday of September Puts Art in the Street From 5-10

South First Fridays returns Friday, September 4, from 5 to 10 p.m. across the SoFA District and a few rooms beyond it. Galleries stay open late with free entry. Street Mrkt sets up on South First Street in front of Anno Domini and KALEID, which is the outdoor spine of the night: painters, glass, ceramics, zines, henna, a music bus, and three food trucks. 3 Brothers Kitchen, 3 Hermanos Mexican Grill, and Me Oi Vietnamese Kitchen will feed the block. Street parking is free after 6. City garages at South Third and San Carlos still offer the usual 90-minute window.

Anno Domini at 366 South First will hang Brandan Styles’s “Blissful Rituals for a Mad World.” KALEID at 320 South First opens Judy Rookstool’s “Bring It” with a reception from 5 to 9. MACLA shows Viviana Paredes. Phantom Galleries at the Pierce apartments gives Force129 a solo called “Reimagined.” The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles has Samantha Saldaña in “A Mi Manera / My Own Way.” Chopsticks Alley Gallery pairs Charlene Tan’s “Pearls Remember” with a 7 p.m. ekphrastic poetry set. Works/San José opens “Overtime: the Work of Living,” a 38-artist look at what people do when nobody is clocking them. Art Ark on South Sixth and Machu Picchu Gallery at the Citadel extend the walk into Martha Gardens.

For live music, San Jose Jazz runs the SJZ Break Room from 6 p.m., with the Michael Webster Quartet at 6:15 and an open jam from 7 to 9 for anyone who brought an instrument. Opera San José will put Nicole Koh, Courtney Miller, Micah Perry, and Ethan Chu on First Street in two short sets, plus lemonade, popcorn, and a scavenger hunt that can turn into free Don Giovanni tickets. A few blocks north, the San José Museum of Art’s own First Friday, “Rhinestone Skies,” runs 6 to 9 with drag, poetry, and kids’ tables if the walk needs a second destination.

CURATUS still produces the night as a spend-it-with-the-artists event, not a ticketed festival. Buy a print. Tip the trucks. Sit through the jam. September 4 is the first First Friday of the fall season, which means the weather usually cooperates and the sidewalks fill early. Start at First and San Carlos and walk south until the galleries thin out.

Full lineup and map: https://www.southfirstfridays.com/2026/09/september-4-2026-south-first-fridays-artwalksj-street-mrkt-indie-urban-art-faire/

SJMA First Fridays that same night: https://sjmusart.org/event/first-fridays-rhinestone-skies

Street Mrkt Turns South First Street into an Open-Air Gallery This Friday

South First Fridays returns tomorrow with its companion STREET MRKT indie urban art faire, transforming a stretch of South First Street in the SoFA District into a free outdoor showcase of local creativity. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 7, galleries and museums across Downtown San Jose will stay open late with free admission while dozens of hyper-local artists set up along the street in front of Anno Domini and KALEID Gallery.

Visitors will find original paintings, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, and light projections available for purchase, giving direct support to the makers who keep San Jose’s independent art scene alive. Food trucks including 3 Brothers Kitchen, 3 Hermanos Mexican Grill, Kabobi Persian Grill, and Me Oi Vietnamese Kitchen will line the route, making it easy to linger and explore between stops.

Participating spaces will feature new exhibitions ranging from mixed-media storytelling at Anno Domini to textile explorations of identity at MACLA and immersive installations at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. The combination of indoor shows and the outdoor market creates a single evening that rewards both casual walkers and dedicated collectors.

Free street parking kicks in after 6 p.m., and short-term garage options sit nearby at South Third and San Carlos or South Second and San Carlos. The event remains fully family-friendly and open to everyone who wants a low-pressure way to experience the creative energy that defines the SoFA District.

Anyone looking for an easy Downtown plan this Friday can head straight to South First Street and let the mix of art, food, and open galleries set the pace for the night.

Participating Artists: 

Art Boutiki / Dan Vado

Bad Art by Nice

BAGI / Bay Area Glass Institute

Purl Bailey  aka Marilyn Roaf

BX Edits

Bryan Corbin 

Craft Haus 

Crochetforloves

Crossroads

Curent Tattooing

Mario Dimas

Mahsa Emoventeur 

FUSE Presents

Leysar Garcia

Katie Green

Ground Up Music Bus 

Hand in Hand Henna

Harvest Empire

Higher Fire Ceramics 

La Raiz Magazine 

Lazy Daisy Designs

Yasushi Matsui

Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo 

Nuanez Artglass Studio 408

Petite Galleria 

Phin & ernxde

Quỳnh Vy art & zine workshop

Steven Reece

Ruin to Ruin

Starbunny & Rue

TWC / Together We Create

VoidKnightArt

YMCA Camp Campbell

Food Trucks: 

3 Brothers Kitchen

3 Hermanos Mexican Grill 

Kabobi Persian Grill

Me Oi Vietnamese Kitchen

South First Fridays Lights Up Downtown San Jose with Art and Community

Every first Friday of the month (including today), Downtown San Jose transforms into a hub of creativity during South First Fridays, an evening dedicated to arts and culture in the SoFA district and surrounding areas. This free, all-ages event invites everyone to explore galleries, museums, and creative spaces from 5 to 9 PM, fostering connections among artists, locals, and visitors. With its roots in the vibrant SoFA neighborhood, the gathering extends to spots like the Historic District and Martha Gardens, offering a chance to wander through diverse venues and discover the city's artistic pulse.

Today, South First Fridays kicks off the holiday season with special exhibitions and live performances. Attendees can meet artists, participate in zine-making sessions, enjoy jazz jams, and view works ranging from international zine collections to quilts and contemporary installations. Highlights include curator-led tours, youth photography displays, and cultural storytelling, all designed to spark inspiration and holiday cheer.

Participating spots such as ANNO DOMINI, KALEID Gallery, MACLA, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, and San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles showcase a mix of solo shows, group exhibitions, and interactive activities. Other venues like San Jose Jazz for live music sets, Art Ark Gallery with its array of artists and tunes, and MACHU PICCHU Gallery of the Americas for handmade gifts from Indigenous artisans add layers of excitement. These locations, scattered along streets like South First and South Sixth, make it easy to hop from one discovery to the next.

This monthly tradition strengthens San Jose's reputation as a creative destination, drawing people to support local talent and explore unique offerings. Whether seeking affordable artworks starting at $15 or simply soaking in the community atmosphere, South First Fridays provides an accessible way to experience the city's cultural depth.

Discover South First Fridays: San Jose's Vibrant Art Walk in the SoFA District

San Jose comes alive on the first Friday of each month with South First Fridays, a celebration of creativity that draws locals and visitors into the heart of the SoFA District. Galleries and museums open their doors wide, showcasing fresh exhibitions from talented artists who capture the essence of innovation and culture. From paintings that explore human connections to immersive installations reflecting diverse heritages, the event offers a chance to engage directly with the works and their creators. This gathering highlights the city's commitment to fostering artistic expression, turning ordinary evenings into memorable explorations of visual storytelling.

The STREET MRKT adds an energetic layer to the experience, transforming South First Street into an open-air marketplace where independent artists display and sell their unique pieces. Food trucks serve up local flavors, while live DJ sets keep the atmosphere lively into the night. Venues like the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art and MACLA feature standout shows, including explorations of cultural roots through folk-inspired art and textile innovations. These elements combine to create a family-friendly space that encourages everyone to support the creative community and discover new favorites.

Beyond the core area, the event extends to the Historic District and Martha Gardens District, with additional spots hosting photography tributes and poetry performances. San Jose's art scene thrives through such initiatives, building connections among residents and reinforcing the city's role as a hub for cultural growth. Attending South First Fridays not only provides entertainment but also contributes to the ongoing vitality of Downtown San Jose, where every visit helps nurture a brighter future for the arts.

The next South First Friday is... today! Come on down from 5-9pm. The Street Market runs from 5pm-10pm. Admission is free and it is family friendly.

Source: South FIRST FRIDAYS