You’ve been working hard to pay the bills and put some money away and could use a nice relaxing weekend that makes you feel rejuventated. Better yet, with gas prices, how ‘bout something close to home. If a sun-splashed festival featuring world-class art by 650 of America’s top artists, two days of great music, fabulous food and drink, tons of fun for kids and a new organic and green products showcase sounds good to you, head to downtown Mountain View for the 37^th Annual Art & Wine Festival, September 12-13. One of America’s finest art shows, the festival has a well-earned reputation as a nationally-renowned event. Stroll down hip, friendly, walkable Castro Street and experience a vibrant, multicultural scene, an authentic feast for the senses. One of California’s largest two-day festivals, throngs of art lovers are expected to pour onto Castro Street in Silicon Valley’s epicenter for this “Cultural Community Celebration” presented by the Chamber of Commerce Mountain View. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

This year’s festival will feature a new component –– the latest and greatest exhibits featuring Organic, Natural, Healthy and Eco-Friendly products. Festivalgoers can enjoy free product samples and demos while experiencing first-hand how these products can help you live a better, healthier and “greener” lifestyle and be a positive catalyst for change. Sponsors include The Organic and Natural Experience “ONE”, Back to Nature, Horizon Organics, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, R.W. Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic, SO Delicious Organics, Stonyfield Farm Organic Dairy, Solar City, Renewal by Anderson, Kitchen Works, Cascadian Farm, Earthbound Farm, Clif Bar, Planet Organics, Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water and Function Drinks.

Through its longstanding affiliation with California Artists, the festival’s primary attraction remains the exceptional quality of artists it attracts. Festivalgoers will find thousands of handcrafted items by America’s very best artists and craftmakers while browsing among 650 booths featuring original work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art. Beautiful vases, 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, and waterfalls will be among the thousands of one-of-a-kind items available.

Twelve big-name bands play a wide-ranging musical mix on stage and street … Motown, rhythm and blues, swing, rock ‘n roll, jazz, soul, world-beat, Celtic folk, funk, disco, Latin jazz, rumba flamenco and party music. Performing are The Cool Jerks, The Megatones, Livewire, MamaLuke, Jersey Foreman, The Cover Grrlz, Emerson & The Growiser Band, Kaweh, Dreamroad, Aryeh Frankfurter, HeartStrings Music and Ancient Winds. 

Action-packed Kids’ Park, located in the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot, will feature a host of family-style entertainment and amusements. The Microsoft Community Stage will feature original rap, hip-hop and bluegrass music, hip-hop and jazz dance, juggling, magic, comedy, belly dancing, Kung Fu and Taekwondo demo teams, virtuoso violinists, Hula and Tahitian dancing and drumming, and puppet shows. Neighboring Tishman Speyer Properties Kids’ Park will feature hands-on art booths, Mobile Rock’s 24-foot climbing wall, temporary tattoos, the tummy-tickling Froghopper and Berry-Go-Round rides, Cat-In-The Hat bounce house, Tsunami Tidal Wave slide, create-your-own colorful wax hands art, whimsical sand sculptures, and thrilling virtual reality motion theater.

Festival eateries will be serving up a world of flavorful fare, perfect for strolling –– fresh corn-on-the-cob, baked potatoes with the trimmings, strawberry, mango-orange or pineapple-coconut smoothies, nachos, lamb/beef/chicken kebabs, smoked bratwurst, spicy beef sausages, made-to-order crepes, garlic and Cajun-spiced chicken sandwiches, teriyaki pork/chicken/shrimp skewers, garlic fries, Chinese chicken salad, key lime calamari, clam chowder, kettle corn and more. Complementing the fabulous food will be premium wines, refreshing margaritas, microbrews, and non-alcoholic beverages. This year’s special festival brew from Tied House is a Honey Wheat Ale, a refreshing brew fashioned from the tradition of a fine American Wheat Ale, perfect for a warm summer outing. The Honey Wheat Ale is brewed with a 50/50 blend of barley and wheat malt to create that perfect light beverage to enhance your enjoyment of the outdoors. Tied House’s Cascade Amber Ale, Stella Artois, Bass Ale, Shock Top Belgian White and Bud Light will also be served. Lovely varietals from eight exceptional winemakers –– Forestville, Crane Lake, Salmon Creek, Laurier, Bad Dog, Hacienda, Fat Cat and Mont Pellier –– will also be served. Sip your favorite beverage in a beautiful wine or beer glass adorned with the stylish festival logo.

This year’s festival will continue its “greening” efforts with the Chamber of Commerce, Foothill Disposal Company, Inc. and City of Mountain View joining forces to promote and emphasize recycling. Free-standing containers will be positioned throughout the festival route for recycling glass, plastic and aluminum. Additionally, there will be large recycling containers for cardboard and mixed paper as well as glass, plastic and aluminum in a central area for event staff, vendors and sponsors. “We’re certainly committed to making the festival as eco-friendly and green as possible –– it’s a big priority for us and something we hope to improve upon each year,” said Allison Nelson, President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.

Stop by for a visit, win great prizes, enjoy tasty samples, meet the personalities, and check out the latest products from this year’s festival sponsors: Microsoft, “ONE” Organic & Natural Experience, El Camino Hospital, The Swig Company/Mountain Bay Plaza, Renewal By Anderson, KitchenWorks, Smiles Dental, Wells Fargo, Nob Hill Foods, Technology Credit Union, Tishman Speyer Properties, Stella Artois/Shock Top Belgian White/Bass Ale/Bud Light, Camino Medical Group, Provident Credit Union, San Francisco 49ers, Comcast, Shell Vacations Club, California State Automobile Association, Trendwest Resorts, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Cascadian Farm Granola, Downey Savings, Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley, The Sunroom Company, Solar City, Earthbound Farm, Clif Bar, Planet Organics, Donato Chiropractic, Peninsula Laser, Spinal Health, Marriott Vacations, El Dorado Ranch, Worldmark by Wyndham, University Chiropractic, Cutco Cutlery, Danmer Custom Shutters, Marriott’s Timber Lodge, Sunnyvale Chiropractic, AT&T “The Real Yellow Pages”, Genesis Stoneworks, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Guide Services, American Laser Centers, The Margarita King, Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water, Function Drinks, Hotel Avante, The Little Gym of Mountain View, Duarte Design, Tied House Café & Brewery, San Jose Mercury News, CBS 5, The “CW”, Channel 44, Alice 97.3 FM, KBAY 94.5 FM, KEZR Mix 106.5 FM, KFOX 98.5 FM, Channel 104.9 FM, Movin’ 99.7 FM, KCBS 740 AM, KSJO La Preciosa 92.3 FM, KFRC 106.9 FM, Wave Magazine and The Mountain View Voice.

Castro Street will be closed to traffic from El Camino Real to Evelyn Avenue for the two-day festival.

Avoid the traffic congestion and ride your bike. Bicycle valet parking will be offered by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition at the corner of Castro and Church Streets.