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Palo Alto does not have one big cultural center. It has a cluster of them, each built by a community and open in different ways to everyone else. A Jewish community campus on Fabian Way books concerts, author talks and Hebrew-language lectures. An Indian American community center in Milpitas serves families from toddlers to seniors. San Jose keeps heritage museums for its Japanese American, Chinese American and Mexican American communities. On campus, Stanford runs a set of community centers for its students, some with events open to the public.
This guide covers what each center offers a visitor or a newcomer, with programs listed on their own sites as of November 1, 2026. For the city's own community centers, which rent rooms and host classes, see our guide to community centers in Palo Alto.
Oshman Family JCC
The Oshman Family JCC sits at 3921 Fabian Way in south Palo Alto, on the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life. The campus opened in 2009 on the former Sun Microsystems headquarters site. It combines a large fitness center and pool, a preschool, teen and family programs and a cultural arts season that the JCC says is meant for a multicultural and multigenerational audience.
Arts and culture
The season mixes live music, theater, lectures, art and film. Upcoming listings include:
| Date | Program |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 1 p.m. | Tango and Beyond, with Orquesta Típica Tarareando |
| Thursday, December 3, 7 p.m. | Pretend You Believe, a Hanukkah conversation with Rabbi Noa Kushner about her new book |
| Sunday, December 13, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. | The Maccabeats, two shows |
| Tuesday, December 15, 1 p.m. | Klezmer and Friends, with clarinetist Asaf Ophir |
| Sunday, January 24, 2027, 7 p.m. | Different Ships, Same Boat, jazz and poetry with Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson |
| Tuesday, February 9, 2027, 1 p.m. | Fire and Grace and Ash, guitar, violin and mandolin |
| Saturday, March 13, 2027, 6 p.m. | The Annual: Celebrations of Belonging |
The Tuesday afternoon concerts belong to the Music in the Afternoon series, part of the JCC's daytime and senior programs. The JCC also runs group trips, including a San Francisco Symphony matinee group that sold out for 2026 to 2027. Past guests listed on its arts page include pianist Yefim Bronfman, International Guitar Night and Mandy Patinkin.
Israeli Cultural Connection and film
The Israeli Cultural Connection, known as ICC@JCC, presents Israeli music, theater, film and literature, plus programs in Hebrew. Its Tzavta Club lectures in late 2026 include a talk on the Druze community on November 18 and a look at the archaeology of Jerusalem with an Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist on December 16. The campus also hosted opening night of the 35th Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival on October 10, 2026. Our film festivals guide has the rest of the festival calendar.
India Community Center
The India Community Center has served the South Bay for more than 23 years under the motto Unite, Serve, Celebrate. Its main center is at 525 Los Coches Street in Milpitas, with the Malavalli Auditorium and Conference Center for performances and events. The center says it runs programs for ages 18 months to 100 years. It counts more than 500 annual events, more than 650 senior members and more than 13,500 meals served to seniors.
- Table tennis center: 1507 North Milpitas Boulevard, a separate site with a strong competitive program.
- West Valley: programs at Union Church of Cupertino, 20900 Stevens Creek Boulevard.
- Mid-Peninsula and Tri-Valley: programs spread across several rented venues rather than one building.
- Summer camps: the center reports more than 2,500 camp registrations a year, with STEM and robotics among the options.
For a quieter window into Indian art, the nonprofit SACHI has run talks for 29 years. In summer 2026 it held two in the Palo Alto Art Center auditorium, including an artist conversation that closed Ashwini Bhat's year-long exhibition there. Our Diwali guide covers the biggest Indian festival season locally.
Heritage centers in San Jose
San Jose, 25 to 35 minutes south, keeps three heritage institutions that fill gaps Palo Alto's own history leaves.
Japanese American Museum of San Jose
JAMsj, at 535 North Fifth Street in Japantown, tells the story of Japanese Americans in the Santa Clara Valley, including incarceration during World War II. It opens Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Its newest exhibition, Judi Oyama: To Be Seen / Not Heard, opened October 31, 2026 and follows the pioneering skateboarder and graphic artist through her family history. Our San Jose Japantown guide covers parking and food. For the Palo Alto side of the story, read our history of the Japanese American community. Closer to home, the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple on Louis Road holds its Obon festival on the first weekend of August.
Chinese American Historical Museum
The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project runs the Chinese American Historical Museum inside the Ng Shing Gung building at History Park, 635 Phelan Avenue. The building recalls the temple that stood in San Jose's Heinlenville Chinatown. The museum marked its 35th anniversary in 2026. Check the project's site for open hours, since it closes for holidays such as Thanksgiving. History Park also hosts the Portuguese Historical Museum, the Viet Museum and the African American Heritage House, so one visit can take in several communities.
Mexican Heritage Plaza
The Mexican Heritage Plaza at 1700 Alum Rock Avenue in East San Jose describes its mission as championing community heritage and resilience through arts and culture. It hosts performances, classes, festivals and private events. Its free Avenida de Altares celebration for Día de los Muertos marked its 10th year on October 31, 2026. Our Día de los Muertos guide lists other local events.
Stanford's community centers
Stanford groups several student centers under its Centers for Equity, Community and Leadership. Their main job is supporting students, but they hold lectures, celebrations and exhibits through the year. Some of those events welcome the wider community. Check each listing to see whether it is open to the public.
| Center | Address |
|---|---|
| Asian American Activities Center (A³C) | Old Union Clubhouse, second floor, 524 Lasuen Mall |
| Black Community Services Center | 418 Santa Teresa Street |
| El Centro Chicano y Latino (founded 1978) | Old Union, Building 590, 514 Lasuen Mall |
| Native American Cultural Center | Old Union Clubhouse, ground floor, 524 Lasuen Mall |
| The Markaz | The Nitery, Rooms 210 to 212, 514 Lasuen Mall |
| Queer Student Resources | Fire Truck House, second floor, 433 Santa Teresa Street |
The Native American Cultural Center notes that Stanford stands on land originally inhabited by the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. The student-run Stanford Powwow, whose 56th edition is May 7 to 9, 2027, is the largest public event connected to these communities. Visitor parking on campus is paid through ParkMobile in most lots.
The city's community centers
For everyday community life, Palo Alto's own centers matter as much as any cultural institution. Mitchell Park Community Center, rebuilt in 2014, hosts the United Nations Association Film Festival each October. The Lucie Stern Community Center is home to the city's theater companies. Cubberley rents rooms by the hour. The Bryant Street Community Center opened downtown in 2026.
Good to know
- Most JCC listings carry a Register button, so sign up ahead through the event calendar on its site.
- The India Community Center's main programs are in Milpitas. Check its West Valley site in Cupertino for anything closer.
- JAMsj and History Park are open only part of the week, so plan a Saturday or Sunday trip.
Planning a visit
A good heritage day starts at JAMsj when it opens at noon, continues with lunch in Japantown and ends at History Park for the Chinese American Historical Museum and the other restored buildings. Without a car, VTA light rail reaches Japantown, but History Park is easier by car, so you may want to compare car rentals for the day. In Palo Alto, check the JCC calendar for an afternoon concert or an evening talk.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to be Jewish to attend events at the Oshman Family JCC?
No. The JCC describes its arts season as aimed at a multicultural and multigenerational audience and welcomes visitors to its campus. Most events need a ticket or registration through its online calendar. The fitness center is a separate membership.
Where is the India Community Center?
Its main center is at 525 Los Coches Street in Milpitas, about 25 to 30 minutes from Palo Alto by car. It also runs a table tennis center in Milpitas, a West Valley site at Union Church of Cupertino and programs at several venues on the Mid-Peninsula and in the Tri-Valley.
Can the public visit Stanford's community centers?
The centers mainly serve Stanford students, but their calendars include some events open to the wider community. Check each listing before you go. The Stanford Powwow, run by students each spring, is the biggest public event tied to them.
Is there a Japanese American museum near Palo Alto?
Yes. The Japanese American Museum of San Jose is at 535 North Fifth Street in San Jose's Japantown, about 25 to 35 minutes away. It opens Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Its new exhibition on skateboarder and artist Judi Oyama opened October 31, 2026.