Celebrate Good Times! Menlo Summerfest, “Hot Fun In The Summertime” is this weekend, July 15-16!

The long, laid-back, lovely days of summer are upon us and the Bay Area’s popular outdoor festival season is in full swing. For a sun-splashed weekend featuring two days of stellar live music, world-class art by 250 of America’s top artists, fabulous food and drink, artisan specialty food purveyors, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays, an organic and green products showcase, and tons of fun for kids, head to bustling downtown Menlo Park for Menlo Summerfest, “Hot Fun In The Summertime”, coming up July 15-16.

Presented by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, Menlo Summerfest will transform charming, tree-lined Santa Cruz Avenue into a pulsating feast of people and colorful tents for two days of world-class fun in the sun. Take a pleasant stroll and experience downtown Menlo Park like never before – a world-class sampler for the senses. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Festival admission is free.

The big change festival organizers have made for 2017 is moving the main music stage from Fremont Park to El Camino Real – the Soundwaves Stage Presented by Lagunitas Brewing Company – to create a major hub of music, food, drink, excitement and energy. Additionally, the Fremont Park area has been re-branded as Summerland and will feature the Mod Mix Millennial Stage, the new Hopsland Craft Beer Tent, Mobile Eats food trucks, What’s Up Photo Booth, Bubblefest Blowout, and non-stop Cornhole tossing action.

Summer Grooves…Stellar Live Music and Entertainment Everywhere
Get ready – the greatest two days of live music Menlo Park has ever experienced is coming with twelve top-shelf bands, two big stages and multiple street locations of sensational music, plus DJs, hip hop dance, comedy and circus arts on the bill. The entertainment lineup includes Zepparella, Jambalaya, Boombox, Andre Thierry Accordion Soul Music, Sol Peligro, Sang Matiz, and The Reikestra (on the Soundwaves Stage at El Camino Real), and The Jack Mosbacher Band, MDC – Max Dance Company, comedienne Sarah Cooper, world-famous DJ Jeffrey, Summer Grooves by Stevie B, and aerial acrobat Moni Dragonfly (on the Mod Mix Millennial Stage in Summerland, Fremont Park) plus talented street musicians John Clarke, Chaz & Co. and HeartStrings Music.

Artsplash
Pacific Fine Arts brings its world-class stable of professional artists and fine craftmakers to showcase their extraordinary work. Festivalgoers will find thousands of beautiful, handcrafted items by the west coast’s top artists and craftmakers while browsing among 200 well-stocked booths featuring original work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art. Exquisite 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 will be among the one-of-a-kind items available. Plus the "Summer Vibes” art contest among festival artists and the kid-friendly “Express Your Summerself Color Spot”.

Mobile Eats
Festival eateries, food trucks and food booths will be serving up deliciously, delectable fare. Coffee-rubbed beef brisket, pork spareribs, herb-rubbed smoked and grilled chicken, Louisiana hot links, hand-pulled pork, sandwiches and classic BBQ accompaniments including corn muffins, slaws and baked beans; the classic Vietnamese street-food sandwich—vegetable-laden banh mi—an airy French baguette filled with pickled carrots and daikon, cucumbers, pickled red onions and jalapeños; garlic noodles with green onion oil, kicky kimchi and crumbled peanuts; salads with a base of vegetable-flecked jasmine rice or rice vermicelli topped with nine-spice grilled chicken, lemongrass-roasted pork, shaken Wagyu beef, tamarind tofu or seasonal vegetables; grilled Colby jack cheese sandwiches on thick Texas toast; juicy Portobello mushroom and succulent tri-tip sandwiches, giant turkey legs, barbecued oysters, sweet corn-on-the-cob, steaming baked potatoes with all the trimmings, decadent crab rolls and crab fries, garlic fries, scrumptious corn dogs, chicken tenders, Teriyaki chicken and veggie chow mein, rice bowls, crispy zucchini, Non-alcoholic Pina Coladas served in all-natural coconut and pineapple cups, Shave ice – grape, strawberry, watermelon, pineapple and mango flavors with an added infusion of vitamins C and D, and fresh-popped Kettle Corn.

Deelish Drink
Enjoy signature Summerfest cocktails – deelish Honeycrisp Apple Mules (Skyy Honeycrisp Apple vodka, fresh squeezed lime juice and ginger beer) plus classic Bloody Mary’s and refreshing, handmade margaritas made from fresh fruit purees – mango, strawberry, cucumber jalapeno and traditional lime. Craft beer lovers will be in Hops Heaven with the world-class draft brews from Lagunitas Brewing Company – their ruthlessly delicious IPA and tropically hoppy, citrusy 12th of Never. For aficionados of fine wine and bubbly, there will be a super premium selection of truly luscious vintages from award-winning Santa Cruz Mountains producers and around the world. Creekview Vineyards, a small estate winery near San Martin, will be serving their melodious and harmonious Chardonnay and Merlot. Roudon-Smith Winery, dedicated to the production of exceptional wines from selected vineyards of the Santa Cruz Mountains, will be pouring a crisp and delicious Chardonnay and velvety Rhone-style, fruit forward Syrah. Festivalgoers can taste their way around the world, sipping elegant, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s acclaimed Steve Bird Wines, fabulous, berry-scented Nabari Rioja from Spain, a hugely popular blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo, and easy-drinking Villa Santi Prosecco with soft citrus flavors that dance through bubbles. Cool off with refreshing Honey Green Tea, Half Lemonade/Half Tea and Pomegranate Blueberry Herbal Tea from Honest Tea, enjoy a bottle of Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water, 100% natural and bottled at the source or savor an iced illy espresso-style coffee drink – your choice of Cappuccino, Caffe Latte or Caffe Vanilla Affogato. Sip your favorite beverage in a beautiful, collector-item wine or beer glass adorned with the stylish festival logo.

Hopsland
Hopsland, the big new craft beer tent debuts in Fremont Park, with delectably delicious beer from several of the top craft brewers in the world: Golden Road Hefeweisen, Elysian Immortal IPA, Deschutes Passionfruit IPA, Firestone DBA (Double Barrel Ale), Trumer Pils, Lagunitas Lagunator Lager, Stone Stochasticity Project Hifi + Lofi Mixtape and Coffee Milk Stout, and Speakeasy Scarlet Red Ale.

Summerland
Festive, lively Summerland debuts in Fremont Park and promises to be buzzing with action including the Mod Mix Millennial Stage, Mobile Eats food trucks, Hopsland Craft Beer Tent, What’s Up Photo Booth and Cornhole Corner with non-stop Cornhole tossing action with our friends from Zog Sports.

What’s Up Photo Booth
Inventor/mad scientist Paul Supp spent countless hours of design and collaboration with world-class engineers to bring you the ultimate photo booth experience. “Dolores” is a work of art on wheels; she is a fully automated mobile photo booth that allows you the unique opportunity to take a step back in time while enjoying technological advances of today. Complete with a fully functional smoke stack and custom designed interior, Dolores takes professional quality photos that are printed instantly for you to hold as keepsake for years to come. Digital photos are also available.

Super Duper Kidz Funzone
There’s tons of action-packed fun for kids: an ultra-thrilling bungee jump, wild and wacky waterballerz, a rock climbing wall, dancing party animal puppets, caricature artists, super cool face painting, henna art and glitter tattoos, sand art creative cards, wands, crowns, colorful sand art sculptures, the Stone Room’s amazing collection of crystals, rocks, minerals and fossils, exotic French hair braiding, and our big Summer Fun Kiddieland with an amazing array of the latest, exciting carnival style rides ­– Super Slide, Tea Cups, Wrecking Ball, Frog Hopper, Wild Raft, Loop-O-Plane, and Astro Liner.

Savory City
An array of artisan-produced specialty food sprinkled throughout the event provides the perfect opportunity to sample and purchase small-batch, handcrafted edibles as well as meet and chat with the actual producers. Custom infused balsamic vinaigrettes, balsamics, maple syrup and oils; mustard blends, curds and scone mixes, marinades and finishing sauces, exotic jams and jellies, honey and honey products, butters and chutneys, vinaigrettes and dressings; California-grown gourmet pomegranate products – fresh-squeezed juice, balsamic vinegar, marinade, balsamic grill sauce, fruit spread, syrup, grenadine; artisan cakes, cupcakes and desserts; delicious and healthy flavored and raw almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans, walnuts, dried peaches, pears and apricots; world-class, handmade almond toffee, delicious French-style pies, handmade granola, loose leaf teas, sugars, dried fruits and nuts, spice blends, salts, and peppers.

Summerfest Run Happy 5K Fun Run & Walk
Fleet Feet Menlo Park is sponsoring the free Summerfest Run Happy 5K Fun Run & Walk starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 16 in Fremont Park. Pre-register here to reserve your finisher visor – a Brooks Run Happy visor. Finishers will also receive snow cones and other treats, and will have the opportunity to become an officially sponsored Brooks athlete with certificate and photo op at the post-run cool down in Fremont Park! Pre-register early to reserve your spot
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summeriest-run-happy-5k-fun-run-and-walk-tickets-35388023531

Menlo Summerfest runs July 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue from El Camino Real to Johnson Street in Menlo Park. Admission and parking are free. The festival is presented by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. For festival information, call 650-325-2818 or visit our website at www.miramarevents.com

WHEN: July 15-16, 2017. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
WHERE: On Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA; between El Camino Real and Johnson Street.
INFO-LINE: 650-325-2818
WEBSITE: http://summerfest.miramarevents.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MenloSummerfest/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/miramarcrew/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/miramarevents
YOU TUBE: https://youtu.be/OLdCGhg47C0