San Jose Spotlight: Cortese: Join me for a picnic by the lake

I’m thrilled to extend a warm invitation to my inaugural Picnic by the Lake Multicultural Festival and Resource Fair. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the beautiful Hellyer County Park.

This free event is a celebration of our vibrant community, and everyone is welcome. You’ll be greeted by a line of county firefighters generously grilling up beef and veggie burgers—and yes, it’s all on the house. You’ll get to explore a pumpkin patch filled with free pumpkins, while supplies last, and a chance to win some exciting raffle prizes.

For the little ones, the Kid’s Zone will be a world of enchantment and fun, complete with inflatables, whimsical face painting and even a rock climbing wall for all adventurers. And the excitement doesn’t stop there—brace yourselves for mesmerizing multicultural performances by incredible artists from Folklorico Nacional Mexicano, dancers from Viet Steps and more groups that reflect the rich tapestry of Silicon Valley. We’re also committed to offering valuable public resources. Attendees can benefit from free COVID vaccines and flu shots, along with a treasure trove of up to 100 resource booths.

For more than 20 years, through numerous multicultural festivals, I’ve had the honor of bringing together diverse groups of residents on a radiant autumn day and providing them with access to vital resources, local entertainment and engaging attractions. I host these events to celebrate the spirit of our multicultural community—a community that speaks more than 100 languages—as we unite in one of our gorgeous parks.

Hellyer County Park serves as a testament to our celebration of multiculturalism. For millennia, the Tamien and Matalan tribes of the Ohlone Indians called this area home, finding solace in the temperate climate, abundant wildlife and bountiful plant food sources. This land has been a gathering place since ancient times, where different cultures intersected.

We will keep that rich tradition alive on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Picnic by the Lake Multicultural Festival and Resource Fair.

Join me, alongside our partners, the County of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department and the San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary Club, in celebrating the tapestry of cultures that make Santa Clara County truly unique and special. This is our chance to gather, eat and listen to music we may have never heard before. We’ll learn about state, regional and local resources, and experience the joy of watching our children play and explore with kids from different backgrounds and neighborhoods.

We invite you to come out, connect with your community and leave with a smile—and a free pumpkin.

State. Sen. Dave Cortese represents Senate District 15, which encompasses San Jose and much of Santa Clara County.

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