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Indian summer is right around the corner bringing gorgeous weather with plentiful options for outdoor enjoyment and pleasure. It’s the perfect time of year to take in the many world-class festivals that make it such a special season in the Bay Area. For some sun-splashed fun this Labor Day weekend, head over to hip, walkable downtown Millbrae for the big, really big Art & Wine Festival. Every year, the last unofficial weekend of summer brings throngs of festival lovers to Millbrae for one of the Bay Area’s biggest Labor Day weekend events, transforming the delightful downtown streets into a moveable feast of people and colorful tents. Stroll, browse, relax and enjoy a friendly and vibrant street fair with two days of live music, cool arts and crafts, tasty food and wine, and the best family entertainment value around. Presented by the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce, this year’s 37th annual festival runs August 30-31 (Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend) on Broadway (1 block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free.
LET’S “GREEN” THIS FESTIVAL
Chaired by community volunteer and businesswoman Lisa Fitzgibbons Charney, this year’s festival will feature an expanded “greening” initiative. The Chamber of Commerce, City of Millbrae and South San Francisco Scavenger will join forces to promote recycling and composting. “We’re committed to making the festival as eco-friendly as possible – we’ve stepped up our efforts and it’s a big priority for us,” 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 expanded shuttle service will be available from the Millbrae BART/Caltrain station to the south end of the festival, dropping off and picking up riders every twenty minutes.
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Music has quickly become a major festival attraction and this year’s lineup will not disappoint with a spectacular lineup of bands paying tribute to some of the most famous rock-n’-roll bands of the past three decades. Topping the bill are “tribute bands” Zoo Station (U2), Who Too (The Who), Evolution (Journey), The Gator Alley Band (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Replica (80’s rock bands), along with talented teenage sensations Lane Four, fan favorites in the KFOX Last Band Standing Competition. String ensemble HeartStrings Music, jazzy r&b trio Emerson & The Growiser Band, and woodwind/keyboard duo Dreamroad round out the stellar lineup of music. It promises to be a real treat for music lovers. By special arrangement, the festival will also feature performances by the Chinese Folk Dance Association, the Mills High School Dragon Team, and the Shinnyo Temple Taiko Drum Group.
FINE ART, ONE-OF-A-KIND CRAFTS
Festivalgoers will find thousands of handcrafted items by California’s top artists and craftmakers on display at this juried show. Chat with and buy from 250 exhibitors showing their latest original work. Featuring ceramics, glass, fine art, jewelry, leather, textiles, and wood the festival is considered among the top arts and crafts 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 thousands of one-of-a-kind items available.
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, hot-off-the-grill gourmet sausages, calamari with cilantro lime sauce, zesty gyros, fried zucchini and artichokes, pita sandwiches, barbecued ribs, steak, and chicken. 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 Winery and Beringer Founders Estate, refreshing margaritas, and tasty brews – Sam Adams Summer Ale, Pyramid Hefeweizen, Coors Light and Corona.
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 by extreme hula hoop stunts and tricks by world-renown hula-hooping wizard “Dizzy Hips”, amazing juggling, mime, magic, fire-eating, balancing tricks, laugh-out-loud comedy by goofball guru Owen Baker-Flynn, and Desert Dave’s traveling reptile show, an unforgettable critter classroom.
KIDS’ PLAYLAND
Action-packed Kids’ Playland will fascinate kids with endless amusements. Among the exciting attractions are Mobile Rock’s 24-foot climbing wall, kiddie train rides, mini-Ferris wheel, the Safari Train and Spin-The-Apple amusement rides, Water Gun Races, and themed inflatables including Dr. Seuss-inspired Cat-In-The Hat bounce house, Tsunami Tidal Wave slide and the Jurassic Adventure T-Rex Dinosaur obstacle course, Boomer’s Magic Circus, a 120’ Super Slide, face painting, and temporary tattoos – a boundless lineup of activities to entertain kids.
MARGARITA KING CANTINA
The popular Margarita King Cantina, located in the parking lot on Broadway between Victoria and La Cruz, returns with a new look – live steel drum and samba music and a classic car show. Festivalgoers will find a shaded oasis to sit down, take a shopping break, relax and enjoy their favorite adult beverage. Corona Beer and The Margarita King – The World’s Best Margarita – will be among the libations, offering festivalgoers another refreshing beverage alternative. Margaritas will come in many variations: there’s the “King Cocktail” (margarita), the “Miami Vice” (margarita with a splash of pineapple juice), and the “Girlfriend” (margarita with a splash of pomegranate juice).
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 proud 2007 festival sponsors: Renewal by Anderson, Kitchen Works, Guaranty Bank, HSBC Bank, Wells Fargo, Maita Distributing, Sam Adams Summer Ale, Pyramid Hefeweizen, Coors Light, Corona, First National Bank, Provident Credit Union, Trendwest Resorts, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Brown Cow Yogurt, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Platon Chiropractic, Hallmark Travel, New York Times, Byers Leaf Guard, Shell Vacations Club, Alliance Chiropractic, Cutco Cutlery, Prudential Financial, Lifemark Group @ Skylawn, Timber Lodge, El Dorado Ranch, John Robert Powers, Marriott Vacation Club, Worldwide Chiropractic, Danmer Custom Shutters, South San Francisco Scavenger, Margarita King, American Laser Centers, Gutter Shutter, GoKart Racer, Comfort Inn, San Francisco Chronicle, Fiji Natural Artesian Water, Brassfield Estate Winery, BART, CBS 5 – Channel 5, The CW – Channel 44, Comcast Cable, The Examiner, San Mateo Daily Journal, The Pennysaver, Alice 97.3 FM, Star 101.3 FM, Movin’ 99.7 FM, KFOX 98.5 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 shuttle service will be available from the Millbrae BART/Caltrain station to the south end of the festival, dropping off and picking up riders every twenty minutes. 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 is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 30-31 (Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend). It is held on 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.
