Summer may be winding down but festival season is just starting to hit its stride with many of the best events ahead. For some sun-splashed, Mardi Gras-style fun this Labor Day weekend, head over to lively downtown Millbrae for the big Art & Wine Festival coming up September 5-6. Every year, the last unofficial weekend of summer brings large crowds to Millbrae for one of the Bay Area’s biggest Labor Day weekend events, transforming its delightful downtown streets into a resplendent sea of people and colorful tents. Stroll, browse, relax and enjoy a friendly and vibrant street fair with two days of stellar live music, gorgeous handcrafted work by 250 talented artists, fabulous food and wine, and the best family entertainment value around. The festival takes place along Broadway (1 block west of El Camino Real) covering several blocks between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free.
“GREEN” EFFORTS
Chaired by community volunteer and businesswoman Lisa Fitzgibbons Charney, this year’s festival will continue its “greening” efforts. The Chamber of Commerce, City of Millbrae and South San Francisco Scavenger will join forces to promote recycling and composting. “We’re taking steps to making the festival as eco-friendly as possible –– it’s something we hope to improve upon each year,” said John Ford, President/CEO of the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce. Festival organizers are also encouraging the use of public transit and bicycles to cut down carbon emissions and vehicular traffic. Free round-trip shuttle service will be available from the Millbrae BART/Caltrain station every twenty minutes, dropping off and picking up riders at two festival locations –– Victoria/Broadway and Taylor/Broadway. The shuttle service is sponsored by the Best Western El Rancho Inn & Suites.
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
This year’s music lineup is top notch once again with nine fantastic cover bands playing everything from rock ‘n roll, rhythm and blues, and Motown to jazz, soul, and pop music –– sure to be a real treat for music lovers. The lineup includes Rick Lenzi & Roustabout (Elvis), Zepparella (Led Zeppelin), The Best Intentions (Motown classics), Brother Buzz, San Franz, The Reed Fromer Band, Dreamroad, The Emerson Growiser Band and HeartStrings Music. By special arrangement, the festival will also feature performances by the Mills High School Dragon Team doing a traditional Dragon Dance to open the festival and the Shinnyo Temple Taiko Drum Group.
FINE ART, ONE-OF-A-KIND CRAFTS
Festivalgoers will find thousands of handcrafted items in well-stocked booths covering several city blocks. Chat with and buy from 250 artists on hand with their latest creations. Featuring original work in sculpture, paintings, photography, glass, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, leather, wood, metal and mixed media, the festival is considered among the top art shows in the Bay Area. Vases, flatware, clocks, dishes, wall and table decorations, paperweights, stained and beveled glass, etchings, sculptures, photography, oil and watercolor paintings, beadwork, gold and silver jewelry, vests, handbags, hats, wallets, footwear, windchimes, and waterfalls are among the one-of-a-kind items available.
CRAFT SPECIALTY FOOD
Gourmets and gourmands take note: makers of craft specialty foods will be on-hand to sample and sell their incredible edibles. Olive oils, dessert sauces, spices, dips, salad dressings, balsamic vinegars and blends, flavored almonds, pistachios and cashews, dipping oils, relishes, tea, scone mixes, fruit butter, salsa, hot fudge sauces, fruit jams, jellies and spreads, honey, mustard, marinades, and barbecue sauce will be among the mouth-watering offerings to sample and buy.
FESTIVE FOOD & DRINK
Festival eateries will be dishing up hearty servings of garlic fries, teriyaki chicken skewers, made-to-order crepes, fresh corn-on-the-cob, Philly cheesesteaks, quesadillas, jumbo hot dogs, gourmet sausages, calamari with cilantro lime sauce, zesty gyros, fried zucchini and artichokes, veggies over rice, wraps, smoked turkey legs, and tri-tip sandwiches. There’s plenty of kid-friendly fare like kettlecorn, frozen yogurt, giant Brooklyn style hot pretzels, spanish pastry churros, fresh fruit smoothies, cotton candy and ice cream bars. Complementing the food will be a selection of exceptional wines from Brassfield Estate and Beringer Founders Estate, refreshing margaritas, and tasty brews –– Sam Adams Summer Ale and Boston Lager, Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, Coors Light and Corona. The popular Margarita King Cantina, located in the parking lot on Broadway between Victoria and La Cruz, returns to host a classic car show with some of the world’s coolest collector cars. Festivalgoers will find a shaded oasis to sit down, take a shopping break, relax and enjoy their favorite adult beverage.
KIDS’ STAGE
The Kids’ Stage, presented by South San Francisco Scavenger and First National Bank, features hilarious, mesmerizing, audience-participation entertainment for families. Kids and adults of all ages will be entertained to the hilt with incredible juggling, mime, magic, fire-eating, balancing tricks, laugh-out-loud comedy by goofball guru Owen Baker-Flynn, Desert Dave’s traveling reptile show –– an unforgettable critter classroom, and wondrous magician Dick Newton. Also performing on the Kids’ Stage will be Six Skills Cultural & Language School, Sing A Song With Passion and the Taylor Middle School Cheerleading Squad.
KIDS’ PLAYLAND
Action-packed Kids’ Playland will fascinate kids with endless amusements. Among the exciting attractions are a full-size Ferris Wheel, Boomer’s Magic Circus, the 120’ tall Super Slide, face painting, temporary tattoos, Mobile Rock’s challenging 24-foot climbing wall, kiddie train rides, the Great Crab Grab, Helicopter and Berry-Go-Round amusement rides and several themed inflatables including a Dr. Seuss-inspired Cat-In-The Hat bounce house, Tsunami Tidal Wave slide and Escape From Alcatraz obstacle course –– a boundless lineup of activities to entertain kids.
SPECTACULAR SPONSORS
Stop by for a visit, win great prizes, enjoy tasty samples, meet the personalities, and check out the latest and greatest products from the festival’s sponsors: Renewal by Anderson, Kitchen Works, Maita Distributing –– Sam Adams Summer Ale, Boston Lager, Blue Moon Belgian White, Coors Light, Corona, Wells Fargo, First National Bank, Starbucks, Provident Credit Union, Heavenly Greens, Iyemon Cha Tea, Green Hills Country Club, Armstrong Painting, Shell Vacations, Solar City, Genesis Stoneworks, Craftsmen’s Guild, Earthbound Farm, Cascadian Farm, The Sunroom Company, Alliance Chiropractic, Cutco Cutlery, Lifemark Group @ Skylawn, Timber Lodge, El Dorado Ranch, Marriott Vacation Club, Worldwide Chiropractic, Danmer Custom Shutters, Innovative Mechanical, SSF Scavenger, Margarita King, AT&T Yellow Pages, American Laser Centers, GoKart Racer, Comfort Inn, Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water, Function Drinks, BART, CBS 5 –– Channel 5, The CW –– Channel 44, Comcast Cable, San Mateo Daily Journal, San Mateo County Times, The Daily News Group., Alice 97.3 FM, KFOX 98.5 FM, Channel 104.9 FM, KSJO “La Preciosa” 92.3 FM, Star 101.3 FM, Movin’ 99.7 FM, KCBS 740 AM.
BLOOD DRIVE
The Millbrae Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) to host a blood drive during the festival with the goal of helping to boost the critically low blood supply in the Bay Area. The festival will host the BCP Bloodmobile where festivalgoers can give blood after going through a screening process. Typically, summer is when blood shortages occur due to vacations and fewer blood drives at venues such as high schools and colleges. Shortages result in rationing of blood to hospitals and serious concern over a region's ability to respond to large scale emergencies. The Bloodmobile will be in the parking lot next to Office Depot on Broadway.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION/SHUTTLE
Public transit systems BART, Caltrain and Samtrans will be running their holiday weekend service both days of the festival. For Caltrain and SamTrans schedule information, call 800-660-4287 or vist www.caltrain.com or www.samtrans.com. For BART information, visit www.bart.gov. Free round-trip shuttle service will be available from the Millbrae BART/Caltrain station every twenty minutes, dropping off and picking up riders at two festival locations –– Victoria/Broadway and Taylor/Broadway. The shuttle service is sponsored by the Best Western El Rancho Inn & Suites.
NO PETS, PLEASE
Pets are not allowed at the festival. For the safety, comfort, and courtesy of your pets and festival-goers, please leave your pets at home.
FESTIVAL DATES/HOURS/LOCATION/INFO-LINE
The festival will be held on September 5-6 (Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Broadway (1 block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria Avenue and Meadow Glen. Admission is free. Broadway will be closed to traffic from Victoria Avenue to Meadow Glen for the two-day festival. During the festival, vehicles may cross Broadway at Hillcrest and Taylor under the supervision of the Millbrae Police Department. For festival information, call the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce at 650-697-7324.
