Friend Fest is back? Let's gooooooo!!!!
Happening on Feb. 21-22, 2026, our 7th annual Friend Fest event will feature 250+ if some of your very favorite makers, artists, artisans, designers, illustrators, crafters & creative small businesses all celebrating best friends, new friends, old friends, "we're just friends", "wanna be more than friends" or whatever!
In addition to our large-scale friendship-inspired vendor marketplace, Friend Fest 2026 will feature lots and lots of special Friend Fest programming and activities, special Friend Fest door giveaways and most importantly, lots and lots of friendship vibes!!!
Follow San José Made on Instagram for event updates, vendor previews and special promotions
Event Details
Event Dates & Times
- Saturday, February 21, 2026 (open 11 am to 6 pm) and Sunday, February 22, 2026 (open 11 am to 6 pm)
Location:
- South Hall, 435 S. Market Street, San José, CA 95110 (view on Google Maps)
Event Details:
- This event is indoors and free admission to attend.
- No outside food & beverage will be allowed into the event EXCEPT for unopened bottles of water and empty canteens. The venue will have its concessions areas open. They will offer sandwiches, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Per the venue's rules, strictly only service animals are allowed inside the venue. The venue's security team will ask any non-service animals to be removed from the venue if they encounter any.
Accessibility
- Accessibility parking is available within the on-site parking lot surrounding South Hall as well as in the San José Convention Center Parking Garage located next to South Hall.
- Drop-offs should enter the South Hall Parking Lot which surrounds the event venue. This makes for the most convenient drop-off option.
- Attendees with accessibility needs should proceed directly to the front entrance of the event, even if there is a line to get into the event.
Parking
For those driving to the event, we highly recommend using the ParkSJ website to find a nearby parking lot or parking garage. The nearest lots are:
- San Jose Convention Center Parking Garage (view). The entrance is located at 408 S Almaden Blvd, San Jose, CA 95113.
- 2nd & San Carlos Parking Garage (view). The entrance is located at 280 S. Second Street, San Jose, CA 95113.
- Almaden & Woz Parking Lot (view). The entrance is located at 253 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110.
On Sunday, most street parking in downtown San José is free all day. Please check the parking signs in the area in which you are parking before leaving your vehicle. There are some nearby streets with permit-only parking, even on Sundays.
There is accessibility parking available at all of the ParkSJ parking garages & lots.
There is also a VTA Light Rail Stations near the venue in downtown San José. Plan your light rail trip to the event here: https://www.vta.org/trip-planner
Vendor Application
- All vendor spaces have been sold out for this event and the waitlist is currently full. Any other vendor related questions should be directed to events@sanjosemade.com.
- Please only use sanjosemade.com to apply for SJMADE events.
- We do not use any other means to sell booth space and we will not be able to accommodate any vendors who purchased booth spaces through illegitimate channels.
Event Map & Vendor Lineup
Click the event map below or click here to view a larger version of the event map
Vendor Lineup (Alternate Link)
Door Giveaway
Featured Activity: Kitten Lounge by Mini Cat Town
Location: Near the back of the event
Price: $15 for 15 minutes of kitten playtime
Reserve your spot in advance (Limited walk-ins available)
Description: One ticket will secure 15 mins of kitten playtime at your designated time slot. There will be 30 adoptable kittens on site looking for pets and cuddles. There will be a few walk-in tickets reserved for each time slot, but we highly recommend making your reservation in advance.
Your order confirmation is your ticket entry. Tickets will not be shipped out. Tickets are non-refundable. Any child under 12 must enter with an adult (two tickets will be required in this case). All visitors will be required to wear shoe covers and sign our liability waiver.
Mini Cat Town is a nonprofit 501(c)-3. All donations are welcomed and go back into saving more kittens. Since 2019, Mini Cat Town has rescued and adopted out over 1,500 kittens. Adoption lounges are located in Eastridge Shopping Center, Stoneridge Shopping Center and Santa Rosa Plaza. For more information, please visit https://minicattown.org.
Follow @minicattown on Instagram
Featured Activity: Y2K Glam Shotz High-Angle Photo Booth
Location: Near the back of the event
Price: $7 per photo session. First come first serve. 2 poses per photo booth session for you and your besties. Due to space restrictions, there will be a strict limit of 4 people max per session. You will receive 2 wallet size prints of each pose per session, a total of 4 prints. $5 for extra prints.
- Turn your photo strip into a keychain with the photo keychain add-on for $5.
Pick up a fridge magnet photo sleeve to display your prints for $3.
Description: SJMADE favorite Y2K Glam Shotz returns with a special new high-angle photo booth experience. We're so excited about this as these types of photo booths directly inspired last year's Friend Fest 2025 event poster illustrations! Preview photos coming soon though if you search online for "high angle photo booth" you should be able to get a sense of what the experience will be like!
Follow Y2K Glam Shotz on Instagram
Featured Activity: Live Drawing Photo Booth by @joiecreative [SUNDAY ONLY]
Location: Near the back of the event
Price: $15 per person / $20 for two people
+ $5 per additional person or pet
Description: Available ONLY ON SUNDAY, FEB. 22.
Get yourself a jumbo, hand-drawn polaroid by @joiecreative! Comes as special Friend Fest exclusive 4" x 5" polaroid.
Follow @joiecreative on Instagram
Featured Activity: Free Friendship Bracelet Making Station
Location: Near the back of the event
Price: Free
As we do every year, San José Made will be offering its free Friend Fest Friendship Bracelet Making Station! More details coming soon!
Featured Activity: Friendship Themed Activations
Location: Near the back of the event
Price: Free
More details coming soon!
Stamp Rallies
@faithcaoculator C301
@canofdanchan G205
@daesignstudio F406
@sendoodz H302