San Jose’s Raging Waters gets a new name ahead of opening
The popular attraction at Lake Cunningham Park in East San Jose should be open for visitors in June.
Goodbye, Raging Waters and hello, CaliBunga. That’s the decidedly more laidback new name of the water park at Lake Cunningham Park in San Jose, which is expected to reopen next month.
The new moniker — a take on “cowabunga” — puts the 40-year-old attraction in more of the “surfer dude” scene than the wild river rapids image evoked by its original name.
Signs with the new name went up last week, and work has continued at the park with water slides being refurbished and repainted in brighter colors and artificial turf being installed in some areas. There are seasonal jobs to be had, too, as CaliBunga Water Park is hiring for lifeguards and other positions.
The name change isn’t too surprising as CaliBunga is the same name the operator — California Dreamin’ Entertainment — called the former Raging Waters in Sacramento that it took over last year. But it may be a while before kids stop calling it Raging Waters, and it’ll probably take even longer for their parents.
MACLA’S BIG NIGHT: Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez, executive director of MACLA in downtown San Jose, says Saturday night’s annual Latinx Art Now! auction should be a sensational night for both art collectors and for those looking for a creative evening out.
“It’s an amazing event for people to come to because you’re supporting local Latinx artists, and you’re celebrating the great work that MACLA does — and really that our artists do — to bring vibrancy to downtown,” Helstrup-Alvarez said.
Some of the artists featured include Pilar Agüero-Esparza, Ruben Dario Villa, Abby Aceves, Pancho Jimenez and many more. The auction party, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., will spill out from the gallery at 510 S. First St. into the Parque de los Pobladores across the street, with food provided by Mezcal, wine from Ceja Vineyards, beer from Gordon Biersch and music.
The exhibition is still open to the public this week from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $100 online and available at maclaarte.org and eventbrite.com or $125 at the door.
PARTY AROUND THE BLOCK: The Urban Vibrancy Institute’s series of block parties for 2024 kicks off Thursday with the first in downtown San Jose’s Historic District around the Bank of Italy building, Fountain Alley and Post Street. Future block parties will take place in Little Italy, SoFA, City Hall, San Pedro Square and Paseo de San Antonio/SJSU — each on the third Thursday of the month through October.
The festivities starting at 5 p.m. will include live music by the Good Time Collective. Dozens of eateries, businesses and art venues in the area also will have their doors open.
ARIA HAVING A GOOD TIME?: Opera San Jose celebrated the close of its 40th season last Saturday with Magic Made Real, a fundraising gala at the James Grain Warehouse in midtown San Jose that borrowed its theme from the last show of the season, “Florecia y las Amazonias,” and infused with performances by the company’s resident artists and a few alums. One nice touch was The Irene Dalis, a cocktail made with vodka, grapefruit juice, elderflower liqueur and a rosemary garnish.
The rousing auction — the fundraising part of the fundraiser — included a lot of one-of-a-kind items. Opera San Jose Board Member Larry Kern spent $1,500 to win a supernumerary role in next season’s production of “La Boheme,” a version of Puccini’s opera that’s set in post-World War I Paris. And Matt and Maria Bornski took home another unusual live auction item, a beautiful painting of a butterfly amid flora by Local Color founder Erin Salazar — who is the season artist for Opera San Jose’s 2024-25 season — that includes crystals that change color in different temperatures.