Celebrations

Halloween/Fall Fests

Photo is of the GoMilpitas Haunted Yard at the east end of Grand Teton Dr. Haunted again in 2023!

If you have a community-wide October Halloween or Fall Fest Drive-Trough Celebration that you’d like to publicize here, please email your Go Milpitas guide, Ann Zeise. Please leave the Milpitas address of your “haunted” yard or driveway or parking lot. Since such displays may be going up early, if you wish visitors over a range of dates, include those dates. If you have a time range when the display will be on, include that. Leave me your phone number or email address just incase I need to contact you with questions regarding your post.

This page will be linked in the Events Calendar in October, so people will be able to read and use this page and Google maps to locate your haunt. I will only show your address and not your name, unless you specifically write that you want me to spell it out.

Milpitas Halloween and Fall Fests in 2023

1st Annual Halloween Party
Friday, October 20, 2023. 6-10PM.
Costume Contest, DJ, Eat, Drink, And Be Scary, $50 entry fee
Sponsored by the Joseph Bettencourt Foundation
Milpitas Community Center

Brick-or-Treat: Monster Party
Thursday, October 05, 2023 , 11:00am-5:00pm at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area
870 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas, CA.
Price: $29.99 to $43.99—Kids 2 years & under are free.
Scary fun awaits as the LEGO® Monsters take over LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Bay Area and throw a Monster Party you don’t want to miss! Get into the Halloween spirit and join us from September 28th -October 31st for some monsterrific activities and an exclusive 4D Halloween movie – The Great Monster Chase! And another party only for adults 18+. Experience a BOO-tastic Adult Night on Friday, October 13th, 6-9PM in this Halloween-themed attraction filled with tricks and treats galore! Enjoy the 4D Monster Party movie, ride and explore the attraction kid free!

Weller School Trunk or Treat
Weller back parking lot off Dixon Road. Costume Contest, music, games. A food truck will be available for you to purchase food. Every child goes home with a pumpkin, too.

Pumpkins in the Park
Saturday, October 28, 2023. 10AM-2PM. At Cardoza Park, Kennedy and Park Victoria Dr. Treat your family to a frightfully fun lunch break. Break in your costumes as you enjoy the ghoulishly good time we have planned for you. Choose your pumpkin from our pumpkin patch. $15/child. Paid admission require for some activities. Purchase your tickets at cityofmilpitas.simpletix.com. No charge for accompanying adults and non-participating children.

Family Fall Festival 2023
Saturday, October 28, 2023. 5-7PM.
Leaves are turning and fall is in the air! Join us for a fabulous Family Fall Festival. Enjoy classic fall activities like contests, arts & crafts, carnival games, music, prizes, yummy autumn treats, and more! Make special memories with the whole family this autumn. Invite your friends and family to this free, community celebration full of fall flavors, fun, and laughter. See you at Christ Community Church of Milpitas to celebrate the season together! Sign Up Here


Annual Screening of The Milpitas Monster Movie

Monday, October 30, 2023. 7-9:30PM.
Join us for the highly anticipated Annual Screening of The Milpitas Monster Movie! This exciting event will take place at the Cinemark Century Great Mall 20 XD and ScreenX located on Great Mall Drive, Milpitas, CA, USA. Get ready to experience the thrills and chills of this classic monster movie in person. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to watch the film on the big screen with fellow fans. Grab your popcorn and get ready for a night of nostalgia and entertainment. Mark your calendars and secure your tickets for this must-attend event! Optional Dinner preceding the movie, at 4pm at the Outback across from the theater.

Halloween Events in Other Places Nearby

Pirates of Emerson
September 29, 2023 – October 31, 2023. New for 2023 we will again present a WALK THRU thru event, with online only, Timed Entry tickets. Capacity limitations will be in place and that will mean tickets will probably again sell out early. Do not miss out – buy early! Also new are age limitations. Anyone under 16 years old MUST be accompanied by an Individual 21 or over. Thank you for understanding. Located at Alameda County Fairgrounds (Corner of Bernal & Valley Ave) Pleasanton, CA 94566

Dead Time Dreams Haunted Attractions
October 6-31, 2023, and other dates, too. Hours vary. Returns for the 2023 season. This year we’ll feature our open air immersive haunted attraction, NIGHTMARES. Take a stroll with us as we take you through the ultimate scare zone. Also returning is a bigger and better Midway of Terror to entertain before and after the main attractions. We’re again located at the corner of Tully Road and Capital Expwy next to the ABC Pumpkin Patch and Wells Fargo at Eastridge Mall, with plenty of FREE parking.

Haunted Train
Oct 20 – 29, 2023, at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont CA. Climb aboard the HAUNTED TRAIN for a spooky (not scary) ride through the haunted forest at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. This ride is designed especially for families with children under 12. Live actors supply the fun and you will encounter the famous Witch of Ardenwood and other characters. There are colorful Halloween displays in between the scenes. For 30 years we have been supplying Halloween fun for all ages, and nothing will jump out or frighten young children. The Haunted Train will operate the two weekends before Halloween: October 20, 21, 22; and October 27, 28, 29. Trains will run every 30 minutes between 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm on Friday and Saturday nights; and between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm on Sunday nights. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Because the ride is at night, for safety reasons every child under the age of 4 must sit on an adult’s lap (which will also give them a better view). The ticket price is $18 for all ages 3 and up (ages 2 and under are free).
Tickets go on sale SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 at 8 AM.

Celebrations

Halloween/Fall Fests
Updated each year for Halloween. Lots of new fall fests, haunted houses, pumpkin patches and more for fun in October in and near Milpitas, CA.
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Fireworks 2008 Photos
Whether you attended the 4th of July Fireworks or not, you’ll probably enjoy these photos I captured.
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Fireworks Set-Up Photo Album
Photos of the crew of Pyro Spectaculars setting up the fireworks display in Milpitas, July 3-4, 2000.
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Light Rail Opening 2004
2.6M Slide show movie of the opening of the light rail line at the Great Mall June 23, 2004. Viewable in Quicktime and other movie showing applications.
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Parade on Main Street, 4th of July 2002
Milpitas used to have a fairly long 4th of July parade on Main Street. This one was back in 2002. The parade featured our historic first fire engine, Leapin’ Lena.

Parade on Main Street, 4th of July 2005 Slideshow
Slide show of the Main Street Parade, Milpitas, CA, July 4, 2005.

Laws Regarding Fireworks in Milpitas

In general, ordinary citizens of Milpitas may not hold fireworks displays within city limits.
Please keep our neighborhoods safe and quiet by obeying laws regarding fireworks.

XI-10-15.04 – Definitions

C. The Director or designee may condition any permit issued pursuant to this Section with reasonable requirements concerning the time, place or manner of holding the Special Event as is necessary to coordinate multiple uses of public property, assure preservation of public property and public spaces; prevent dangerous, unlawful or prohibited uses, protect the safety of persons and property and to control vehicular and pedestrian traffic in and around the venue, provided that such requirements shall not be imposed in a manner that will unreasonably restrict expressive or other activity protected by the California or United States Constitutions. Conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
10. Use of fireworks, pyrotechnics, or equipment or materials that create substantial risk of damage to City property

23. “Special Event” means an outdoor event that consists of any of the following:
c) An activity or event on a public right-of-way, plaza, paseo, park or private property which involves:
ii. The use of live animals, fireworks, pyrotechnics, electrical power and/or cabling, or equipment or materials that can create a risk of damage to public or private property or injury to persons.

Section 5601.1.3 of the California Fire Code 2019 Edition, is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

5601.1.3 Fireworks. The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling, and use of fireworks, including those fireworks classified as Safe and Sane by the California State Fire Marshal, are prohibited.

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited.

Exceptions:

  1. Storage and handling of fireworks as allowed in Section 5604.
  2. Manufacture, assembly and testing of fireworks as allowed in Section 5605 and Health and Safety Code Division 11.
  3. The use of fireworks for fireworks displays pyrotechnics before a proximate audience and pyrotechnic special effects in motion pictures, television, theatrical or group entertainment productions as allowed in Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 6 Fireworks reprinted in Section 5608 and Health and Safety Code Division 11.
  4. The possession, storage, sale, handling and use of specific types of Division 1.4G fireworks where allowed by applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, provided that such fireworks and facilities comply with NFPA 1124, CPSC 16 CFR Parts 1500 and 1507, and DOTn 49 CFR Parts 100—185, as applicable for consumer fireworks and Health and Safety Code Division 11.

Exception: The use of fireworks for fireworks displays as allowed in Section 5608 Fireworks Display.

Outdoor fireworks displays, use of pyrotechnics before a proximate audience and pyrotechnic special effects in motion picture, television, theatrical and group entertainment productions shall comply with California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 6 Fireworks and this section.

4th of July in Milpitas

Chamber holds first in-person mixer at Outback since Covid Shutdown

Networking Mixer at Outback Steakhouse

July 15 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

We had to show proof of vaccination against COVID, but then we were free to mix and enjoy spare ribs and fries, and drinks of our choices.

Chamber Ambassadors
Chamber Ambassadors
?, Marcella Nichos, Henry Nichols, Tamara Overacker
?, Marcella Nichols, Henry Nichols, Tamara Overacker
Tamara Overacker
Tamara Overacker, Pampered Chef,
T.O. Bookkeeping
Henry Nichols, Oh Henry DJ Services
Henry Nichols, Oh Henry DJ Services
Jonna and Karen James
Jonna and Karen James
Frank J. De Smidt
Frank J. De Smidt
Kelly Yip-Chuan
Kelly Yip-Chuan
Platinum Realty & Finance Group
Evelyn Chua, City Council
Evelyn Chua, City Council
Warren Wettenstein and Rob Means
Warren Wettenstein and Rob Means
Anand Kuchibhotla. University of Silicon Andhra
Anand Kuchibhotla. University of Silicon Andhra
Sharon Dyson, St. Elizabeth Knight Sounds
Sharon Dyson, St. Elizabeth Knight Sounds
Darissa Acosta, Poppy Bank
Darissa Acosta, Poppy Bank

All the Black Lives Matter Protest Videos from Milpitas, June 7, 2020


Milpitas Beat: Protesters are beginning to descend on city hall after marching from Milpitas High School.


Milpitas Beat: The view from the Milpitas Civic Center about 3PM, June 7, 2020.


Milpitas Beat: A rally in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement has begun in front of the Milpitas Community Center.


Milpitas Beat: Black Lives Matter Milpitas March


Black Lives Matter Rally in Milpitas, by Kansen Chu, Assembly member


Walking in Solidarity, Assembly Member Kansen Chu

Sorry, but there were some more that weren’t embeddable here. Search Facebook videos for more, if you have an account there.

Here’s a link to one I couldn’t embed from Jhonathan Muñoz Angulo.

Did I miss a favorite one? You cannot use the chat bot to send me message quickly. Or the Contact me link above.

#BlackLivesMatter #Milpitas

Parade on Main Street, 4th of July 2002

Milpitas used to have a fairly long 4th of July parade on Main Street. This one was back in 2002. The parade featured our historic first fire engine, Leapin’ Lena, which is now housed at the Milpitas Community Library, horse riders from local stables, and of course, Mustang convertibles which were manufactured at the Ford Plant which is now the Great Mall.

For current 4th of July plans in Milpitas, check the Events Calendar.

Mayor Henry Manayan
Mayor Henry Manayan
Happy 4th of July
*** Happy 4th of July ***
From Me, Sparky, Elvis Presley, the Milpitas Fire Department, and the Milpitas Historical Society, with our 70 year old fire truck, Leapin’ Lena behind us.
My fantasy come true! Got to ride in the historic fire truck in the parade and ring the bell the whole way, met Elvis Presley (really Ron Short), and got a bunch of cute firemen and a big dog to get my photo taken with!
first fire truck
Sparky, the fire dog, and ‘ aboard Leapin’ Lena, the first fire truck of the Milpitas Fire Department, built in 1932.
Sparky and Leapin' Lena
Sparky and Leapin’ Lena
Leapin' Lena from the back
Leapin’ Lena from the back
Local equestrians
Local equestrians with decorated horses joined the parade behind Lena.
Ballet Folkérico
Did the Ballet Folkérico kids even know who Elvis was?
These kids learn and perform hispanic dances in the area.
Mustangs in the parade
Lots of Mustangs in the parade as these cars were once made at the Ford Factory in Milpitas.
City of Milpitas' float.
City of Milpitas’ float.

Fireworks July 4, 2008

Photos of the ground fireworks display at the Milpitas Sports Center, July 4, 2008. Photos are the property of Ann Zeise, who will often be kind enough to allow republishing, but please ask through the contact information above.

For current 4th of July plans in Milpitas, check the Events Calendar.

Palm tree ground fireworks

Orange and Purple ground fireworks

Tree Trunks Fireworks

Two Stars Ground Fireworks

Meteorite Fireworks

Plasticized Fireworks

Fireworks Set-Up for 4th of July 2002

A lot of work went into setting up the fireworks display on the 4th of July, 2002. Pyro Spectaculars is a very active company that hires professionally licensed “pyros” to manage the display set-up. They usually have a crew of friendly volunteers who turn out to help with various aspects of the two-day process.

The Zeise family has now helped out twice. Here are some photos of the whole gang working on the non-explosive part on July 3rd, which is why you’ll see some children.

For current 4th of July plans in Milpitas, check the Events Calendar.

sandboxes
First sandboxes are set up. These are held together with metal stakes and cotter pins for fast set-up and take down.
For the most part, the tubes are made of the PVC-type material used to make drains for your home plumbing, though a few were made of iron and were quite heavy. They had diameters of 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″.
These are set up in a specific order in each box, well away from the sides and each other. They are inspected for any debris left from a previous display.
The finale fireworks are in their own green containers in the background of this photo.
Jim Mcworter
Jim Mcworter figures out how to get the little cat off of its trailer: dive forward verrrrryyyy slooooowly and let it tip.
Covers are placed
Covers are placed over the tubes to keep sand from getting into them.
Sand Handling
After the first dump, it was decided to have a group of volunteers hold the tops on while the sand was carefully shoveled out by hand.
Ready to move the lids
Ready to move the lids over to the next box of tubes.
The building in the background is part of KLA Tencor, which makes semiconductor equipment. Both they and Quantum (now Maxtor) were nice about letting us and the evening crowd use their parking lots.
It is doubtful this field will be around for many more 4th fireworks display.
fireworks all wired up
July 4th, the fireworks all wired up and in their foil-covered tubes. Should a live one not go off, the foil would serve as a warning. The afternoon is wearing down and we take a break for dinner before the show will start. Note the white bee-hive boxes back against the levy. We were a little nervous about disturbing the bees.
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