Let The Good Times Roll! Millbrae Celebrates 46th Annual Labor Day Weekend Festival, The “Last Blast of Summer”

The festive spirit and flavor of the “Big Easy” is coming to the Bay Area...let the good times roll! For some sun-splashed, Mardi Gras-style fun this Labor Day weekend, head to lively, pulsating downtown Millbrae for the city’s annual big bash –– the Art & Wine Festival, September 3-4. Every year, the last unofficial weekend of summer brings massive crowds to this peninsula city, that could easily serve as a typical small town movie set, for the Bay Area’s biggest Labor Day weekend bash, transforming its charming downtown streets into a resplendent sea of people and colorful tents.

Presented by the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce, the festival is the “Last Blast of Summer” with two days of sensational live music, beautiful handcrafted work by 250 of America’s top artists and craftmakers, fabulous food and drink, premium wine, seasonal craft beer, signature cocktails and margaritas, “Hops Haven” microbrew tasting tent, the “Classically Cool Car Show”, an organic and green products showcase, artisan specialty foods, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays, and tons of fun for kids. The festival takes place 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.

The dynamite music lineup features ten bodacious big name bands playing a wide-ranging mix of 70’s disco, hip-hop, 80’s pop classics, 90’s party music, R&B, soulful Motown, groovy funk, rock and roll, spicy Cuban, zydeco, swing and jazz –– sure to be a real treat for music lovers. The blockbuster lineup includes Zepparella, The Houserockers, Pacific Soul Band, Neon Velvet, Stompy Jones, Sol Peligro, Loudin’ Cleer, John Clarke, Bob Culbertson and HeartStrings Music.

Buyers and browsers will find thousands of handcrafted items in well-stocked booths covering several city blocks. Meet 250 exceptional artists and craftmakers –– offering great variety and price points to satisfy every budget –– on hand with their latest creations. Featuring original work in sculpture, paintings, photography, glass, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, leather, wood, metal and mixed media, the festival is considered among the top art 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 one-of-a-kind items available.

Festival eateries will be dishing up hearty servings of half-pound, “Bad Ass” smoked pork and beef sausages slathered with grilled onions and sauerkraut, curly fries, fried zucchini, tri-tip sandwiches and turkey legs, Portobello mushroom sandwiches, sublime garlic fries, lamb and chicken in a pita or atop fluffy rice with yogurt-garlic tzatziki sauce, handmade falafel sandwiches, fried calamari marinated in Key lime wiith lime-watercress pesto, fries with crabmeat or freshly chopped garlic, teriyaki chicken-on-a-stick, vegetarian chow mein, lumpia, gyros, tri-tip tacos, quesadillas, garlic fries, sweet/sour/garlicky chicken grilled on a stick and served over noodles, atop rice, or tucked into a wrap, crab stacks, Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes with fresh fruit and whipped cream, grilled Colby jack cheese sandwiches on double-thick Texas toast, old-fashioned corn dogs, crispy-sweet onion rings, roasted fresh corn and baked potatoes, kettle corn, fruit smoothies, bubble teas and the hot new dessert craze—mangonada, mango sorbet with chopped fresh mango and a generous sprinkling of chili salt, Dippin’ Dots mini ice cream orbs in flavors from cookie dough to banana split, ice cream made on the spot with liquid nitrogen ranging from cookies-and-cream to salted caramel ice cream, fluffy, custom-flavored shaved ice, icy Italian fruit sorbetto in popsicle form jazzed up with nutty and chocolaty dipping and topping options, espressos, lattes, iced chai tea, fruit-, coffee- and chocolate-based smoothies.

Complementing the food will be a selection of premium wine, exceptional craft beer, and for the first time, a signature festival cocktail – refreshing Honeycrisp Apple Mules (Skyy Honeycrisp Apple vodka, fresh squeezed lime juice and ginger beer) plus margaritas made from fresh fruit purees – mango, strawberry, cucumber jalapeno and traditional lime. All from the talented mixologists at Pacifica’s own Longboard Bar tent. Beer lovers will be in hops heaven with the assortment of world-class brews –– Sam Adams Octoberfest, Angel City IPA, Blue Moon Belgian White and Coors Light. For aficionados of fine wine and bubbly, there will be a premium selection of easy-drinking varietals from California: Mondavi Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and White Zinfandel plus Cupcake Kenwood Brut. For Italian wine lovers, there’s delicate and refreshing Leonessa Pinot Grigio along with lovely, well-balanced Rocca Sangiovese. Cool off with some refreshing Honest Tea or Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water, 100% natural and bottled at the source. Sip your favorite beverage in a beautiful, collector-item wine or beer glass adorned with the stylish festival logo.

The popular “Hops Haven”, a shaded oasis to sit down, kick back and take a break, returns to host a Microbrew Tasting Tent featuring delicious seasonal beer from assorted small craft brewers, and the “Classically Cool Car Show” featuring vintage touring cars, custom hot rods, sleek sports cars, and super cool low riders along with live music by local rockers Loudin’ Cleer. Sample from an array of delicious seasonal craft brews in the Hops Haven tasting tent: Anderson Valley Summer Solstice, Karl Strauss Aurora Hoppyalis IPA, Pyramid Hefeweizen, Alpine Duet IPA, Calicraft Coast, Drake’s 1500, Heretic Evil Cousin, Anchor Steam Mango Wheat, Full Sail Session Lager and Crispin Original Cider.

The Kids’ Stage features the return of the smash hit Streets Filled With Talent Music and Dance Showcase starring sensational young performers on stage strutting their showstoping stuff in this Millbrae’s Got Talent-style showcase.

Action-packed Kids’ Playland will fascinate kids with an abundance of amazing amusements. Among the exciting attractions are an awesome 200’ zip-line that flies zippers over the crowd on Broadway, wild and wacky roll-on-water Waterballerz, Mobile Rock’s gripping 24-foot climbing wall and super fun bungee jump, ultra thrilling carnival rides, a 100-foot Super Slide, face painting and temporary tattoos –– a lineup of activities sure to keep youngsters mesermerized!

Makers of artisan specialty foods will be on-hand with custom infused balsamic vinaigrettes, balsamics, maple syrup and oils, gourmet Brownies, award winning Organic ice cream, gourmet toffees, brittles, caramels, apples, giant marshmallows, cookies, fudge, and the world’s best chocolate dipped caramel apples, locally-grown, hand-packed nuts, dried fruit, seeds, trail mixes and candy along with nut and fruit gift sampler trays, flavorful licorice ropes imported from SPAIN and ITALY “stuffed” with a soft candy filling along licorice bites, belts and straws, fancy lollilops, twisteroos, flavored almonds, cashews, pistachios, and pecans, … family recipe dips, spices, sauces, garlic mushrooms, stuffed olives, mustards, pickled garlic, green beans and asparagus, fruit butters and marinades, the world’s finest beef jerky plus tender roasted corn nuts, authentic, traditional Chinese herbal teas, the world’s finest beef jerky, tender roasted corn nuts, California grown pomegranate fruit spread, molasses, syrup, marinade, grilling sauce, grenadine, balsamic vinegar among the mouth-watering offerings to sample and buy.

The festival runs September 3-4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on Broadway (one block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Festival admission is free.

WHEN: September 3-4, 2016. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
WHERE: On Broadway (one block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria and Meadow Glen in Millbrae CA.

INFO-LINE: 650-697-7324
WEBSITE: http://millbrae.miramarevents.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/MillbraeArtWineFestival

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/miramarcrew

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/miramarevents

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