Art! Wine! Food! Fun! Street Closures: Fremont Festival of the Arts This Weekend

FREMONT, CA — It's finally here! Fremont’s Festival of the Arts is back for its 34th year. This isn't your run-of-the-mill event — the Fremont Festival Of The Arts is the Largest Free Street Festival West Of The Mississippi, attracting nearly 400,000 people annually.

It will take place in Downtown Fremont this weekend, August 5-6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Check out the food booths. Many are run by non-profit groups and the proceeds are an important source of funding for the coming year. Grab some great American food, ethnic food and, just the weekend, say 'yes' to the junk food!

According to Festival organizers, "Nearly $11,000,000 has been raised over the festival’s 34-year history. Non-profits have used these monies to fund scholarships and medical research; support at-risk children and families in need; provide safe environments for high school children; fund after-school and sports activities."

Beverages? Everything from water and sodas to beer, wine and margaritas. Kids may enjoy slushies.

Speaking of kids, there will be two sections of rides and games in Kid City & Kid City West.

If you're coming for the art, you won't be disappointed. There will be more than 500 top-quality Art & Craft booths.

Music will be continuous on 2 stages. Plus, there will be street performers, face painters and more.

The Festival takes place on closed sections of Paseo Padre Parkway, Walnut Avenue and Liberty Street. Streets are already closed for set-up.

So, where do you park? Here:

• Pay Lots
  • Washington West
  • Fremont Officer Center
• Free Lots
  • Palo Alto Medical Foundation
• Street Parking
  • Sundale Ave east from Fremont to Liberty
  • State south from Mowry to Beacon
  • Mowry east of State before Hastings, down Mt Vernon
  • Parkside north of Mowry, down Mowry to Stivers, north of Mowry
  • Beacon Ave east from Fremont to Liberty
  • Kearney St east from Liberty to Paseo Padre
  • Liberty St north from Beacon to Capital

The City of Fremont encourages festival-goers to ride their bike to this year’s event and utilize the free bicycle valet, located on Paseo Padre Parkway near Capitol Avenue. The first 10 people to stop by the City of Fremont booth with their bike voucher from the bike valet will receive a free bicycle lock.

The festival is hosted by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. Thank a volunteer - there are 3,000 of them working to make this weekend perfect in every way.

-Photo via City of Fremont