October 22, 2026
Three times between now and mid-December, the Mountain View Farmers' Market will leave the Caltrain lot and set up a block away on Hope Street. The dates are November 8, November 29 and December 13. All three fall on Sundays when the San Francisco 49ers have home games. Most of downtown's holiday season happens within walking distance of the transit center at the north end of Castro Street, and on those Sundays the transit center's lot is also needed by fans heading to Levi's Stadium.
The market normally runs Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mountain View Caltrain Station lot, 600 W. Evelyn Ave., rain or shine. The California Farmers' Markets Association explains the moves in its alternate-location FAQ. The market relocates "on Sundays when the 49ers play early afternoon home games, as the CalTrain lot is used for access to Levi Stadium via the VTA Orange line." On those mornings the lot works as park-and-ride parking for a game in Santa Clara, so the produce stands make room.
The 2026 schedule already included moves on September 20, September 27 and October 4. That leaves three:
The alternate site is 190 Hope St., on Hope Street between Evelyn Avenue and Villa Street. The FAQ notes no entry before 9 a.m. at the Hope Street lots. CFMA also says the market may occasionally move for other events and points shoppers to its email list for notices.
On a move day, the market is one block closer to Castro Street. A Sunday shop on Hope Street sits right next to the pedestrian mall, and the season's other events take place on that mall.
Mountain View adopted a car-free pedestrian mall on the three Castro Street blocks between the east leg of West Evelyn Avenue and California Street in October 2022. On several of those blocks, restaurants have since moved outdoor dining into the street.
For its new Makers Market, the city chose the 300 block. The Mountain View Voice reported that the 300 block was chosen because it offered more room for programming than other parts of the mall, where restaurants had expanded outdoor dining into the street. Amanda Rotella, the city's economic vitality manager, told the Voice the goal was "a free, easily accessible, low-barrier opportunity for those 'micro-preneurs' and artists," with booth space offered at no cost.
Before launch, the Voice reported that the city was aiming for about 30 vendors. The city's Makers Market page now says it has curated more than fifty, and that more than half of them are new to the market scene. The vendor list includes South Bay Ceramics, Magic Yarn Garden, The Plotting Beaver, PrintCycle and Woodserendipity. The city isn't taking new vendors for the fall dates.
After the October 23 market, two Fridays remain in the pilot, November 20 and December 18, both from 3 to 8 p.m. on the 300 block. Rotella pitched the timing to the Voice as a happy-hour draw: "Come shop at the maker's fair, then grab a bite to eat at one of our great restaurants." The city page encourages visitors to arrive by transit from the Downtown Mountain View Transit Center, which connects to Caltrain, VTA Light Rail and local buses. The Voice reported that the city will judge the pilot by turnout, vendor feedback and whether nearby businesses see more foot traffic or sales.
The transit center anchors the north end of Castro. The south end of the walk is 500 Castro Street, where City Hall, Civic Center Plaza and the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts share an address. Most of December's free events are held there.
The city's Community Tree Lighting Celebration is Monday, December 7, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Civic Center Plaza. It's free, with music, crafts, sweet treats and the lighting of the community tree.
Five days later, the German International School of Silicon Valley holds its German Holiday Market on the City Hall Plaza. It runs Saturday, December 12, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., rain or shine, with free admission. The organizers' own directions start at the train: "a 10-minute walk from the Mountain View transit center, a lovely stroll along Castro Street."
The theater's holiday programming runs from early November through mid-December.
The three calendars are run by a farmers' market association, a city economic development office and a theater. On several dates they land on the same days.
| Date | On or near Castro Street |
|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Nutcracker in China, 7:30 p.m., MVCPA |
| Sun., Nov. 8 | Farmers' market at Hope Street lots, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; Nutcracker in China, 3 p.m., MVCPA |
| Fri., Nov. 20 | Makers Market, 300 block, 3–8 p.m. |
| Sun., Nov. 29 | Farmers' market at Hope Street lots, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; Pacific Ballet Academy Nutcracker matinee, 1 p.m. |
| Mon., Dec. 7 | Community Tree Lighting, Civic Center Plaza, 5:30–8 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | German Holiday Market, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; The Night Before Christmas, 11:30 a.m. |
| Sun., Dec. 13 | Farmers' market at Hope Street lots, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 18 | Makers Market, 300 block, 3–8 p.m.; South Bay Holiday Gospel Concert, 7:30 p.m. |
The weekend of December 12 and 13 is the busiest. The German market fills the plaza on Saturday, and the next morning the farmers' market sets up on Hope Street while the Caltrain lot handles game traffic. On December 18, the Makers Market closes at 8 p.m., half an hour after the gospel concert starts at 500 Castro.
Several businesses opened this year along the walk from the transit center to Civic Center Plaza. Listed in order heading south from Evelyn:
From there, it's a short walk to 500 Castro.
The street these events share has more work scheduled. In March, the City Council approved 21-foot central crosswalks with pedestrian signals and push buttons at Villa and Dana streets. The Voice reported a city estimate of $3.5 million, final design expected this fall and construction anticipated in early 2027. In February, the council approved a redesigned Caltrain crossing. Under that plan, Castro will dead-end at West Evelyn for cars, and pedestrians and cyclists will continue to cross the tracks. The February report put construction at spring 2027. Both timelines come from early 2026 reports and could shift. If they hold, the end of Castro nearest the station will see construction in 2027.
Changes at the station end of Castro, like the Evelyn crossing and the Villa and Dana crosswalks, tend to shape how a downtown block feels to live near. If you're curious how they're playing out for homes within walking distance of the transit center, Tony Ngai is glad to walk you through it in English, Cantonese or Mandarin. Request your free neighborhood market report and home valuation.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
Get in Touch to Schedule a Consultation