2 weeks Ago By Annalise Freimarck
The West Valley is known for its flagship festivals that bring multicultural food, live music and dancing to the streets. Those festivals come with a lofty price tag, and organizers are asking their cities for help keeping these beloved events afloat.The Campbell City Council voted 4-1 April 15 to cover 30% of the fee costs for qualifying downtown events, a 5% increase.
Councilmembers also eliminated a revenue limit which prevented Oktoberfest, one of the city’s largest events, from receiving waivers because it rakes in more than $100,000 a year. Councilmember Terry Hines voted no, citing a desire to assess the policy in detail to best support event organizers.The move is in response to the Campbell Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing request for the council to review its fee waiver policy.
The outdated policy was last revised in 2011 and doesn’t reflect today’s skyrocketing costs.Ken Johnson, the chamber’s executive director, said without city help, the events could be at risk. The chamber hosts Oktoberfest and Boogie Music Festival, which is expected to draw 30,000 to 40,000 people to Campbell this May.
Johnson said the festival has been cutting it close financially with rising expenses, adding all the chamber’s events are still recovering from the pandemic.He’s grateful the city approved the change — which will cost Campbell an estimated $30,000 a year — especially when the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2025-26 is uncertain.“Our expenses, as with everybody else’s for a festival, are increasing and I think that the city appreciates the fact that we bring strong economic benefit to (it),” Johnson told San José Spotlight.
Related Stories March 15, 2025 San Jose film festival is a five-star economic boost January 4, 2025 Campbell business district is a hidden gem for eccentric wares February 6, 2024 San Jose Tet festival brings together community and politics Campbell’s struggles reflect the financial difficulties of sustaining these festivals across the West Valley.Jennifer Lin, CEO of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, asked the Town Council for more support for Taste of Los Gatos this month. The sold out, inaugural food festival packed North Santa Cruz Avenue last September with 29 local restaurant vendors and participants munching on samples of the town’s cuisine.
Los Gatos gives the chamber discounted rates rather than waiving fees.Lin understands it’s a hard ask with the town anticipating a $5.6 million deficit next fiscal year.
But she pointed out the festival could become the town’s signature event. To make it happen, the chamber needs the town’s help due to costly necessities, such as security.“This is a taste of who we are as a community and all that we have to offer,” she told San José Spotlight.
In Cupertino, nonprofit organizations can subsidize their events through fee waivers or up to $20,000 in community grants, both of which the City Council must approve. Events include Holi, Diwali and the popular Cherry Blossom Festival complete with Japanese food and cultural exhibits.Cupertino Chamber of Commerce CEO Deborah Feng said the events couldn’t happen without city funding because the chamber is “a festival or an event away from not doing well.
” She said the events are essential for small businesses as they bounce back from the pandemic.“It helps solidify or support ..
. the longevity of their business, for growth and resilience, and just to be connected to the community,” Feng told San José Spotlight.Campbell resident Carol Hoffman, who’s lived in the city for 40 years, often attends Oktoberfest and the Boogie Music Festival.
“It brings in people to downtown Campbell that may or may not have known we were here and appreciate, like myself, having something fun to do that’s right there,” Hoffman told San José Spotlight. “It kind of ties (people) together.”Contact Annalise Freimarck at annalise@sanjosespotlight.
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