Frequently Asked Questions

The property is owned by Montalvo Association, a private not for profit public benefit corporation. Montalvo leases a portion of its property to Santa Clara County to operate and maintain as a public park.

Montalvo Arts Center used to be called Villa Montalvo, but updated the name in the early 2000s in order to reflect the full range of programs that we present. Our hiking trails maintained through the County have retained the name “Villa Montalvo County Park,” and many community members still call us “Villa Montalvo,” but our organization name is Montalvo Arts Center (or shortened to simply “Montalvo”).

Learn more about Montalvo’s history here.

There is no charge to visit, and parking is free. However, for certain special events, we may charge to park on site.

We do close on certain days for private or ticketed events. We will always post notices at the entrance to the property prior to any closing, and upcoming closure dates can be found on our website here.

Yes! We welcome every member of our community to visit our beautiful grounds (free of charge) and attend our events.

Montalvo does not have picnic tables. Visitors are welcome to enjoy a picnic on our Great Lawn. If you have a party of 8 or more and would like to reserve a space for any purpose, contact our rentals department at events@montalvoarts.org.

Yes. Engagement photos or any commercial/professional photography require a permit. To make arrangements and acquire a permit, contact permits@montalvoarts.org with your requested date (at least two weeks advanced notice required), time, and the location on the grounds you would like to take photographs. For more information about permits, click here.

AS OF 2026: Due to past incidents involving aggressive behavior toward staff and guests, prom photography is strictly prohibited on the grounds during weekends (Friday–Sunday). This policy will be enforced without exception to ensure the safety and comfort of all visitors.

Non-commercial photography by visitors to the grounds is welcome and encouraged. If you post your pictures on social media, be sure to tag @montalvoarts!

Montalvo’s outdoor park has a number of artworks on view for visitors. These works are a combination of historical and contemporary art; some are part of our permanent collection, while others are up temporarily. Our Project Space and historic Cottages occasionally offer art exhibitions that are on view during limited hours.

Click here to learn more about our arts programs and to see what is on view right now, what programs are being offered, and any upcoming events we are having.

Some events at Montalvo require a ticket. You can see our full calendar listing and purchase tickets through our website here. If you have questions about the ticketing process, email our Box Office at boxoffice@montalvoarts.org.

Montalvo’s beautiful outdoor Lilian Fontaine Garden Theatre stage has been the setting for hundreds of memorable summer concerts over the decades, but in recent years, we have reduced the number of shows significantly—some years, we do not present any outdoor concerts on the stage at all. This is due to a number of changes in the finances of hosting concerts, from insurance to artist fees to production costs. A full season of these events in the same manner we once had is simply not financially viable for us, so we have shifted our model to focus the summer season on community events and other types of artistic experiences.

We occasionally still present events on the Garden Theatre stage, and we still offer full seasons of world-class performances in our indoor Carriage House Theatre.

Parking for Carriage House Theatre performances is on-site, and we do charge a fee to park. Parking passes can be purchased in advance when you buy your concert ticket, or with cash only at the gate when you arrive.

Click here to visit our donation page, which lists all of the benefits of being a Montalvo member at various levels.

Please contact the Development department at give@montalvoarts.org to discuss any donations you would like to have Montalvo to consider.

Dogs are allowed on our trails and paths, as long as they are on leash. Please clean up after your dog (and yourself!); we do not provide doggie bags, so please bring your own.

For festivals and other ticketed events, we do not allow dogs (service animals are allowed).