San Benito County Art, Culture & Media Articles

The stars not only gathered in the clear night sky above Gilroy on April 8, but also under one roof downtown. The Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, back for the first time in-person since its 2019 iteration, celebrated its filmmakers, …

California has lost 25 percent of its newspapers and seen a circulation plummet over the past 15 years. A bill in the State Legislature, SB 911, could help.

Juliet Landau’s feature directorial debut, “A Place Among the Dead,” has been “striking an artery, not just a nerve,” she noted. Perhaps it’s the film’s focus on narcissism that’s been resonating with viewers. Described as a “genre-bending art film,” “‘A …

More than 60 dance organizations from across the Greater Bay Area will gather April 23-24 at Eastridge Center Mall, 2200 Eastridge Loop in San Jose, for the Spring Dance Festival. Flying Colors Dance & Fitness of Hollister will be presenting …

The San Juan Bautista Art & Craft Festival returned to the streets of the San Benito County town last weekend for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic started, bringing crowds of all ages and enthusiastic vendors. The festival, which …

Travel, food, true crime politics—there’s a show for everyone. Here are some top-rated podcasts that focus on some aspect of California culture.

The rising costs of hosting a massive event have forced Gilroy Garlic Festival organizers to rethink the city’s signature event in a way that substantially supports local nonprofits without breaking the bank. A difficult two years, with the shooting in …

It may have taken two years because of circumstances beyond its control, but South Valley Civic Theatre is at last ready to perform its dark musical, “Cabaret,” in front of a live audience.  Ten performances will run on select days …

The San Benito County Arts Council will hold a virtual workshop as part of a Community Arts Impact Project led by visual artist Venecia Prudencio, photographer Marisa Duran and El Teatro Campesino member Christy Sandoval. The Community Arts Impact Project …

The organizers of a new garlic festival in Fresno County say the event is not meant to rival Gilroy’s long-standing tradition, but rather, is a celebration of the California-grown bulb and the people behind it. The National Garlic Festival, put …

Plenty of East Coast comedians make California the butt of their jokes. Here are some locals who’ve earned the right to make fun of this place.

Organizers for the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival released the full lineup of films for the 2022 event, which will take place April 6-13. This year’s hybrid festival will feature both virtual and in-person screenings and events, says a press …

After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras will return to the city’s downtown for Memorial Day weekend in 2022, according to organizers. The two-day outdoor food, art and music festival will take …

A baker’s dozen of great and not-so-great ditties from all over California.

In an era of information overload, here’s how a rising form of journalism helps explain it all for you, and why California Local publishes ‘explanatory’ reporting.

At long last, the state has a world-class museum to commemorate one of its most essential industries.

In which we ponder human self organization.

Palo Alto Weekly interviews Matt Werner, whose play ‘Burning Man: The Musical’ is available on Broadway On Demand and Streaming Musicals.

Artists, photographers, and other creators draw inspiration from San Benito County’s natural beauty and share their work with the rest of us.

California has gone from one library to more than 1,100 in the last 171 years.