Millbrae Art, Wine Festival Comes to Bay Area

From Millbrae Art and Wine Festival:

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 on Labor Day weekend, head to lively, pulsating downtown Millbrae for the city’s annual big bash – the Art and Wine Festival, Sept. 3-4.

Every year, the last unofficial weekend of summer brings massive crowds to this peninsula city, which 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, gorgeous handcrafted work by 250 of America’s top artists and craftmakers, fabulous food and drink, “Hops Haven” micro brew 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 (one block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Admission is free.

The dynamite music lineup features ten big name bands playing a wide-ranging mix of 70s disco, hip-hop, 80s pop classics, 90s 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, wind chimes and waterfalls are among the one-of-a-kind items available.

Festival eateries will be dishing up hearty servings of half-pound, “Kick 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 and tri-tip tacos. There will also be 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 and funnel cakes with fresh fruit and whipped cream. Additional eats include 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 and Dippin’ Dots mini ice cream orbs in flavors from cookie dough to banana split. There will be 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 as well as 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 – the refreshing Honeycrisp Apple Mule (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. 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.

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 mesmerized.

Makers of artisan specialty foods will be on-hand with custom infused balsamic vinaigrette, balsamic, maple syrup and oils, gourmet Brownies, award winning Organic ice cream, gourmet toffees, brittle, caramels, apples, giant marshmallows, cookies, fudge and the world’s best chocolate dipped caramel apples. There will also be 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 Italty stuffed with a soft, candy filling. Additional treats include licorice bites, belts and straws, fancy lollipops, twisteroos, flavored almonds, cashews, pistachios, and pecans. There will be family recipe dips, spices, sauces, garlic mushrooms, stuffed olives, mustards, pickled garlic, green beans and asparagus, fruit butters and marinades as well as the world’s finest beef jerky plus tender roasted corn nuts, authentic, traditional Chinese herbal teas and the world’s finest beef jerky and tender roasted corn nuts. Additional eats include California-grown pomegranate fruit spread, molasses, syrup, marinade, grilling sauce, grenadine and balsamic vinegar among the mouth-watering offerings to sample and buy.

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