San Mateo celebrates 3rd annual Boba Day with contest and activities

Unlike past events, this year’s gathering will include some friendly competition among the local shops with a boba contest held at 1 p.m., complete with a three-judge label. “There will be six boba shops from downtown, judged on the visual appeal, the tea taste and overall taste, so we’ve asked them to provide their best or their most popular one,” Jakoubek said.

The contest will take place on the cinema plaza, however, the event will extend throughout downtown and include special offers and discounts at a dozen boba shops. 

“It’s a great opportunity [for visitors] to support their favorite boba shop, or if they’ve been interested in trying it out, they can,” Jakoubek said. 

The focus is undoubtedly on the boba, but there are also activities available for when kids — and even adults — are sufficiently amped up on sugar, she added.

“We also have three retailers, one is Fanloli, and two new arcades are participating and doing specials at their locations,” Jakoubek said, adding bounce houses and other boba-themed activities to the list. 

The event will be between noon and 3 p.m., with the contest starting at 1 p.m.  

“It highlights a unique quality about downtown San Mateo which is that we have high-quality places, and it’s an opportunity for people from all over the Bay Area to come, enjoy and celebrate a fun drink,” she said.