Mountain View Celebrates 45th Annual Art & Wine Festival This Weekend, Sept. 10-11!

The vibrant, magnificent city of Mountain View has evolved in a big way over the last 45 years. A population boom. The arrival of Shoreline Amphitheater as a major concert venue. The amazing growth of Silicon Valley and Mountain View’s emergence as its epicenter. The transformation of a vibrant downtown district with restaurants, shops, cafes, bookstores and performing arts center. And, last but not least, the Art & Wine Festival’s rise to become one of America’s premier art festivals. And it’s that time of year: it’s Mountain View’s time to get festive and this year we celebrate #45!

Yep, it's no secret. Festival fans know the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival is the crème de la crème on the Bay Area festival scene. Voted “Best Festival in the South Bay” multiple times by readers of Metro and still hitting on all cylinders better than ever, this year’s 45th annual festival, September 10-11 promises to be a “festival like no other”.

An authentic and moveable feast for the senses. The cool, vibrant, multicultural Castro Street vibe. Exceptional handcrafted work by 600 of America's top artists and craftmakers. Stellar live music on stage and street throughout downtown including the new Saturday Sunset Concert featuring the Bay’s best classic rock and roll band The Houserockers and the return of mega-hit Salsa Sunday with Orquesta Borinquen and Ruckatan. Fabulous food and festive drink with seasonal craft beer, premium wine, refreshing sangria, mimosas, fresh-fruit margaritas and signature cocktails. The Comcast Pigskin Party Lounge with giant screen TV. Artisan specialty food purveyors. Home and garden exhibits. Health and wellness displays. An organic and green products showcase. Tons of fun and games for kids. An affordable, sun-splashed, memorable, leisure-filled weekend.

Widely considered one of America's top art festivals, an enormous throng of art lovers is expected to pour onto Castro Street in Silicon Valley's epicenter for this “Cultural Community Celebration” presented by the Chamber of Commerce Mountain View. Hours are new – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.

The festival will feature an exceptional lineup of artists and craftmakers, many with fresh, new work and a variety of affordable price points. Buyers and browsers will find thousands of handcrafted items by America’s best artists while browsing among 600 well-stocked booths featuring original work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art. Beautiful vases, 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, and waterfalls will be among the thousands of one-of-a-kind items available.

Get your groove on! Fourteen sensational bands will play a wide-ranging musical mix on the Linked-In Headliner Stage in Civic Center Plaza and multiple street locations throughout downtown –– pulsating Salsa, Motown, rhythm and blues, contemporary country, classic rock ‘n roll, jazz, soul, world-beat, Americana, Latin rock, disco and party music. The lineup includes the new Saturday Sunset Concert (5-7 p.m.) featuring the Bay’s best classic rock and roll band The Houserockers, the return of smash-hit Salsa Sunday with Orquesta Borinquen and Ruckatan plus a stellar bill with Pacific Soul, The Hitmen, Blue House, The Blackouts, Emerson & The Growiser Band, Bob Culbertson, HeartStrings Music, John Clarke, Mike Fair’s Drumming Circle, Man In White and Ancient Winds.

Festival eateries will be serving up a world of flavorful fare –– Polish and chicken-Portobello sausages; homemade corn dogs, beer battered garlic, crab and truffle fries; succulent chicken and pork on-a-stick, teriyaki chicken rice bowls, chicken over noodles; spicy hot links, sweet chicken-apple sausages, all-beef organic hot dogs, deluxe garlic fries; barbecued chicken breast sandwiches flavored with Italian herbs and garlic, deep-fried chicken strips; smoked turkey legs, fried calamari; teriyaki chicken kabobs, traditional gyros with sliced tomatoes and refreshing yogurt-cucumber-garlic tzatzki sauce; fried chicken tender plate with fried mozzarella sticks, French fries and jalapeños; French crêpes made to order; sweet late-summer corn on the cob, hefty baked potatoes with all the trimmings; Chocolate Dipped Frozen Fruit Kabobs & Ice Cream Bars, Whole Fruit Smoothies, scooping jamoca almond fudge and rainbow sherbet, 20 flavors of authentic shaved ice, fresh-squeezed lemonade, kettle corn, roasted peanuts and more.

Complementing the fabulous food will be premium wines, seasonal microbrews, sangria and mimosas plus signature cocktails for the first time – Honeycrisp Apple Mules (Skyy Honeycrisp Apple vodka, fresh squeezed lime juice and ginger beer) and refreshing mango, strawberry, cucumber jalapeno and traditional lime margaritas made from fresh fruit purees at the Longboard Bar tent. The brewmasters at Tied House will be offering their flagship Cascade Amber and Kolsch, this year’s special festival brew. Lagunitas IPA, Pacifico, Modelo Especial, and Sam Adams Octoberfest will also be served. Wine lovers will be tempted by luscious vintages from from several outstanding winemakers. The wine list includes outstanding varietals from Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay, 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon, Two Vines Red Blend, Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, Chateau St. Michelle Riesling and Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir.

For foodies, it doesn’t get any better than the artisan-produced specialty food available at the festival. It’s a great opportunity to sample and purchase these incredible edibles as well as chat with the actual producers –– Custom infused balsamic vinaigrettes, balsamics, maple syrup and oils, gourmet toffees, brittles, caramels, apples, giant marshmallows, cookies, fudge, and the world’s best chocolate dipped caramel apples, 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, tender roasted corn nuts, gourmet dips, soups, desserts, dry rubs, California grown pomegranate fruit spread, molasses, syrup, marinade, grilling sauce, grenadine, 100% Grade A pure honey harvested from their own bees, beeswax candles, bee pollen, royal jelly and honey soap, all natural British teas, curds, shortbread, scone mix, traditional royal cream, cream tea packs, vinaigrette dressings and marinades, and curds with a kik, hot sauces, French artisan gourmet gift boxes, the world’s finest estate grown 100% Kona coffee and macadamia nuts from the Big Island will be among the mouth-watering offerings to take home and savor.

Action-packed Kids’ Park will keep youngsters plenty enthralled with ultra thrilling bungee jumping, wild and wacky waterballerz, Mobile Rock’s gripping 24-foot climbing wall, ultra fun obstacle course and bouncers, super cool temporary tattoos, face painting and body art, hula hooping, feather hair extensions, exotic French hair braiding, caricature art, party animal puppets, children’s books and toys.

The Mountain View’s Got Talent Community Stage is back! A dazzling array of gifted young performers will strut their showstopping stuff in front of a live audience in this “Mountain View’s Got Talent” style showcase.

Sports fans will have a place to watch NFL and NCAA football and MLB games on a giant LED screen in the Comcast Pigskin Party Lounge with plenty of seating, festive food and drink –– the perfect spot to kick back and take a break from the teeming crowds. Also on tap is the expanded Organic & Green Products Showcase –– see the latest and greatest exhibits featuring Organic, Natural, Healthy and Eco-Friendly products.

This year’s Zero Waste Initiative has been stepped up with the Chamber of Commerce, Recology Mountain View, and the City of Mountain View joining forces to maximize composting and recycling and minimize waste. Festival organizers are also encouraging the use of public transit, bicycles and car pools to cut down carbon emissions and vehicular traffic. Free secure bicycle parking will be available at Church and Castro.

The festival will be held on September 10-11 on Castro Street between El Camino Real and Evelyn Avenue in Mountain View, California. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. For festival information, call 650-968-8378 or visit www.miramarevents.com

WHEN: September 10-11, 2016. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday

WHERE: On Castro Street between El Camino Real and Evelyn Avenue in Mountain View CA.

INFO-LINE: 650-968-8378
WEBSITE: http://mountainview.miramarevents.com
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