2008 Arts and Wine Festival
Saturday and Sunday,
July 12th and 13th
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Special Concert Saturday, 6 - 8 PM featuring the Heartbeats!
Overview
The quaint village atmosphere of Downtown Los Altos transforms into a bustling festival second weekend in July each year. The festival is in the midst of the downtown triangle, filling up State and Main Streets, the Central Plaza and 2nd and 3rd Streets.
The first festival was 29 years ago in one small parking plaza with just 150 artists and food booths. Since these humble beginnings, the festival has grown into one of the premier summer Bay Area celebrations and is now one of the largest arts and wine festivals in the Bay Area. Each year over 100,000 people attend the two day event! Over the years, the festival has received accolades for being one of the best festivals around. Comments in the past have included:
“A resounding success!” said Channel 5 News
“A must see and must do festival!” Channel 11
“A classic that continues to please year after year.” San Francisco Chronicle
“Best mid-summer festival for art and wine lovers that offers enjoyment for the entire family.” San Jose Mercury News
Bay Area Parent Magazine has rated the festival one of the Best Family Fair & Festival
The Festival has also been ranked in the top 75 of festivals nationwide by the Harris List.
This year, 360 fine art, jewelry and craft booths will line Main and State Streets. The variety of art this year will be the best ever and includes wearable items, kid’s toys and accessories, leather and floral items, glass and jewelry plus personal care items. There will also be sculptures, photography booths and original paintings in watercolor, oils and mixed media.
The KidZone will again offer family friendly entertainment all day long on both Saturday and Sunday and Classic Amusements, a new vendor for the Arts and Wine Festival will provide new games and rides along with the always popular bouncy houses. The trackless train will be back driving by Engineer Rudy.
There are two stages providing day long music. The Community Stage at the corner of State and Main Streets and the Main Stage, sponsored by Walgreen’s, at Central Plaza and 2nd Street offer a variety of music sure to please everyone. From acoustical guitar and folks songs, to rip roaring music of the 80’s and 90’s there is something for every music lover. The Main Stage offers a dance area and both stage areas have seating and shade.
The Food Courts, sponsored by Renewal by Anderson and Kitchen Works offer a variety of foods from around the globe. There will be everything from all-American hotdogs, roasted corn and sausages to Chinese chicken salad, Pad Thai noodles, Gryos, Chow Mein, Teriyaki Beef and chicken and more.
The Los Altos Village Association partners with six winemakers from the Santa Cruz Mountain Winemakers Association to sell wine by the glass at the event. This year’s vintners are Naumann Vineyards, Leal Winery, Roudon-Smith Winery, Page Mill Winery, Fernwood Cellards and Thomas Fogarty Winery. Sodas, water and other beverages are for sale at all intersections throughout the festival.
Parking for the festival can be found at Los Altos High School at 301 Almond Avenue, Los Altos. There is a free shuttle bus attendees can take from the high school to the festival.
A free bike valet can be found on 3rd Street at South Plaza. Strollers are also welcome!
Please, leave your pets at home! Thank you.
Handicapped parking is located behind the Wells Fargo Bank Building at State and 4th Streets. The entrance to the parking area is off of 4th Street. Please enter 4th Street from Edith Avenue.
