San Jose City Hall goes psychedelic to honor Grateful Dead concert

San Jose City Hall went all out to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead's first concert under its iconic name, playing a psychedelic light show and featuring music by the legendary band in the courtyard. The festivities marked a pivotal moment in the city's history, as it was where Jerry Garcia and his friends played an LSD-fueled "acid test" at a house on South Fifth Street back in 1965.

The event was attended by local rock enthusiasts, who got to witness the unveiling of a new plaque commemorating this milestone. The ceremony included remarks from Dan Orloff, founder of nonprofit San Jose Rocks, and Mark Purdy, former Mercury News sports columnist, who spearheaded the effort to get the plaque installed.

Guest speakers Trixie Garcia, Jerry's daughter, and Ira Meltzer, a San Jose State student at the time, shared their insights about the significance of this moment. They noted that what started in San Jose would go on to shape the world and influence progressive thought and mindful living.

In another display of community spirit, visitors were treated to a collection of Grateful Dead posters owned by collector Bill Guardino, including an original hand-drawn poster promoting the acid test, which recently sold at auction for $37,500. Orloff and Purdy's research into the historic house revealed that it had been repaired and moved just blocks away from its original location.

The festivities also included a visit to the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda, where visitors could view the collection of posters and get up-close looks at other artifacts related to the Grateful Dead. To cap off the celebration, a special Christmas tree made out of Lego bricks was unveiled, accompanied by holiday scenes in Miniland.

In addition to celebrating this iconic moment in music history, the event also highlighted the value of community engagement and building holiday spirit. Local residents had the opportunity to participate in a Big Bike Build event, where volunteers built bicycles for kids in need, with over 1,000 bikes already assembled and ready for distribution. The event will take place at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds on December 13th.

Just got back from that Grateful Dead anniversary celebration in San Jose and it was straight fire ! I mean, who wouldn't want to see a psychedelic light show and music by one of their favorite bands ? But what really caught my attention was the whole community vibe - everyone came together to celebrate this iconic moment in history. And let's be real, having that original hand-drawn poster up for grabs at auction for $37,500? That's some serious deadhead cred .

I also loved how they incorporated all these fun holiday elements into the event, like the Lego Christmas tree and Miniland scenes . It was such a cool way to bring people together and get them in the holiday spirit. And on top of that, supporting local kids in need by building bikes for them? That's just amazing .

But what really stuck with me was Trixie Garcia talking about how her dad Jerry's music has this power to shape the world and inspire progressive thought . It made me realize that there's still so much good stuff out there, even after all these years. Anyway, gotta say, I'm already counting down until next year's event

just saw that San Jose is celebrating the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary and I'm totally stoked! the light show in the courtyard was lit (no pun intended) and it's so cool to see how the city came together for this event . trixie garcia sharing her dad jerry's story was really powerful, you know? and can we talk about those Grateful Dead posters? bill guardino has some amazing collection and i'm obsessed with that original hand-drawn poster . anyway, it's awesome to see the city promoting community engagement and giving back through the big bike build event - let's keep spreading love and kindness this holiday season !

OMG what a vibe ! San Jose totally killed it celebrating the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary . I mean, can you even imagine Jerry Garcia and his crew playing that acid-fueled "acid test" in '65 ? Mind blown ! And to think they started it all right there in the heart of the city . The community coming together is what really gets me - from the plaque unveiling to the Lego Christmas tree , and let's not forget about those adorable posters . But seriously, the Big Bike Build event is giving me all the feels ! It's amazing to see people rally around a cause that brings joy & wheels to kids in need #GratefulDead #SanJoseRocks #CommunitySpirit #HolidayCheer

I'm telling you, this San Jose City Hall celebration was low-key epic! They went all out to honor Jerry Garcia's legacy and it showed in every detail. But what really got me excited is that they were able to bring the community together for more than just a music fest – it was about building connections and giving back. I mean, who wouldn't want to support local volunteers building bikes for underprivileged kids? The Lego Christmas tree in Miniland was also a sweet touch! What's even cooler is that they were able to incorporate some of the original poster art into the event – it's like they're keeping a piece of history alive. The fact that Trixie Garcia and Ira Meltzer shared their stories about Jerry's impact on music history added a layer of authenticity to the whole thing. All in all, this was a masterclass in how to celebrate a legacy while fostering community spirit

Jerry Garcia's ghost is still jamming! When the Grateful Dead started spinning their psychedelic vibes in San Jose, little did they know it would set off a chain reaction of love and peace in the world... And now, we get to enjoy this epic celebration with a Christmas tree made out of Lego bricks! That's what I call a far-out way to spread holiday cheer!

omg u wont bliev wat just happnd @ san jose city hall!! they had a psychedelic light show & played music by grateful dead in the courtyard!!! trixie garcia n ira meltzer spoke about how jerry garcia n friends played an acid test at that house back in 1965 lol what a wild time i'm literally dyin to see those posters u talked bout, $37k is insane cant w8 til the big bike build event on dec 13th

I'm still blown away by how much San Jose is embracing its Grateful Dead heritage! Who would've thought that a psychedelic light show in the City Hall courtyard would be the perfect way to celebrate their 60th anniversary? The fact that Jerry Garcia's friends played an "acid test" back in '65 at a house on South Fifth Street just shows how far that music has come and how it's still influencing people today. I mean, trixie garcia was talking about her dad's legacy and how it's all about community and mindful living... I'm like, totally here for that vibe! And can we talk about the Lego Christmas tree? That's some next-level holiday spirit right there.

OMG, I'm still hyped about this Grateful Dead anniversary celebration ! It's amazing how San Jose City Hall came together to honor Jerry Garcia & co.'s legacy and connect it to their own community history . The light show and special Christmas tree made out of Lego bricks? Genius, right?! And I love that they included the Big Bike Build event – what a wonderful way to spread some holiday cheer (and build some wheels for kids in need )!

As someone who's all about productivity hacks, I think this event is a perfect reminder of how our community spirit and creativity can come together to achieve something truly special . So, if you're in the area, make sure to check out the Big Bike Build event on Dec 13th – it's going to be epic!

omg i'm so stoked that San Jose is giving it up for the Grateful Dead! they're celebrating such an iconic moment in music history and I think it's awesome that they're bringing in local rock enthusiasts and even getting Trixie Garcia to share her insights. I love how the city is embracing community spirit with events like the Big Bike Build - it's so heartwarming to see people coming together for a good cause! did you know that the original house where Jerry and his friends played that infamous "acid test" is actually been moved just blocks away? it's crazy to think about how much history there is in one city.

Wow! I'm so down with this celebration in San Jose City Hall, it's like, they're really embracing the vibe of the Grateful Dead's legacy and making it a part of the city's history. I love how they got to show off that original hand-drawn poster for the acid test, that's some crazy cool stuff! The Lego Christmas tree in Miniland is so mind-blowing too, it's like something out of a dream. And on top of all that, they're doing good in the community with those Big Bike Build events. That's what I call awesome! Interesting!

I'm loving how San Jose is embracing its rockstar history while also spreading some serious festive cheer! That psychedelic light show was straight fire , and I'm obsessed with the idea of a Lego Christmas tree made out of bricks - who knew holiday spirit could be so geeky?! But what really got me is how they're using this celebration to bring people together and support some amazing community causes. The Big Bike Build event is such a wonderful way to spread joy (and wheels!) to kids in need, and it's awesome that the city is investing in initiatives like that. As a culture vulture , I'm all about exploring the intersections between art, music, and social impact - this event has got me feeling all the feels !

I love how San Jose City Hall put together this epic 60th anniversary celebration for the Grateful Dead ! The psychedelic light show was straight fire , and I'm all about that nostalgia vibe . I mean, can you imagine witnessing Jerry Garcia's acid test back in 1965? Mind-blowing, right?! It's amazing how this moment in music history has shaped the world and influenced progressive thought and mindful living. The fact that they unveiled a new plaque commemorating it is a no-brainer – we need to acknowledge our heroes! I'm also super stoked about the Lego Christmas tree , because who doesn't love a good Miniland scene? And kudos to Dan Orloff and Mark Purdy for their tireless efforts in preserving this piece of history. It's clear that community spirit is alive and well in San Jose!

This Grateful Dead anniversary celebration is giving me LIFE ! I mean, can you imagine witnessing Jerry Garcia's "acid test" in 1965? It's mind-blowing to think that this pivotal moment sparked a movement that's still influencing progressive thought and mindful living . The way the city of San Jose came together to honor their history is truly heartwarming . And let's not forget about the awesome Lego Christmas tree in Miniland – it's like a mini masterpiece ! Plus, the Big Bike Build event is such an amazing community initiative . It's always inspiring to see how music and art can bring people together .

This is so cool ! I mean, who wouldn't want to celebrate a piece of music history like that? The way they incorporated the community into it by hosting a Big Bike Build event is just amazing . It's all about bringing people together and spreading some holiday cheer. And can you believe those posters from Bill Guardino went for $37,500?! Crazy, right?! But seriously, it's awesome that they were able to find a new home for them after the auction. The whole thing just feels really heartwarming . I'm definitely going to have to check out this Big Bike Build event on Dec 13th!

Man, can you think about how music has this crazy power to transport us back in time? Like, I was there when my parents told me about Jerry Garcia's acid tests, and now it feels like we're living in a dream . The way San Jose celebrated the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary is so cool – it's not just about the music, but about the community coming together to share this experience . And what's wild is how that moment in 1965 would go on to shape the world and influence progressive thought . It's like, we're all connected through our shared experiences and memories .

But you know what's even more amazing? The fact that local residents got to participate in building bicycles for kids in need . That's what I call community spirit ! It's not just about the Grateful Dead, it's about how we can come together to make a difference and spread some holiday cheer . And who would've thought that a Lego Christmas tree made out of bricks would be the perfect way to cap off the celebration ? I mean, what does it say about us as a society that we'd want to celebrate with something so whimsical and fun?

️ 60 years of Grateful Dead vibes in San Jose and I'm feeling the love ! Who else is ready to get weird with Jerry Garcia's legacy? The acid test, huh? Let's just say it was a trip ...and still is! Those Lego Christmas trees are straight fire #GratefulDeadForever

just heard about the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary party at San Jose City Hall... sounds like a blast but gotta say, all that nostalgia is giving me flashbacks of what's going wrong in the world climate change is still a huge issue, ocean pollution is getting outta control and those iconic posters just remind me that some stuff is super valuable but honestly who can afford $37,500? meanwhile 1k bikes for kids? that's awesome but we need more of that in the world right now

I'm just saying, why do they have to make a big deal about every single anniversary? It's like they're trying to outdo each other in some kinda weird way . And those psychedelic lights were so bright they almost gave me a headache . But for real though, it was cool that the event was all about community engagement and stuff, especially with the Big Bike Build event . I mean, who doesn't love giving back to the community? Just wish they didn't make a big deal out of everything...