Annual San Ramon Art & Wind Festival Returns With Packed Schedule

SAN RAMON, CA — The annual San Ramon Art & Wind Festival is scheduled Memorial Weekend, and will feature fine arts, crafts and specialty food vendors, as well as four stages of entertainment with a variety of musical performers and dancers. The free pet-friendly event runs Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and is located at the city's Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd.

ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP
Featured on the Alcosta Stage and Bishop Ranch Amphitheater Stage, there will be community drumming, belly dance, ballet, jazz dance, as well as Indian dance. Sunday’s diverse musical lineup starts at 11 a.m. with Native Elements performing reggae and island soul; the 925 Band will perform favorite hits of the decades beginning at 1:30 p.m.; the Stealin’ Chicago tribute band will be closing the day with Chicago’s best known songs. Monday will begin at 11 a.m. with the musical sounds of Eden Aoba Taiko, a Japanese Taiko drumming group; Crawdad Republic will perform folk & Americana from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Then the Memorial Day Program will take the stage at 3 p.m. honoring those who have served our country. Lastly, a festival highlight of late Monday afternoon will be Caravanserai, a Carlos Santana tribute band playing Latin and world music. The stage is located on the grassy field adjacent to the tennis courts, so bring lawn chairs and blankets.

FESTIVAL FOOD
The event will feature two food courts and over 24 food vendors who have partnered with a local non-profit organizations. For more information on the selection of food and beverages at the festival, visit www.artandwind.com.

PROFESSIONAL KITE FLYING DEMONSTRATiONS
Make sure to check out the awe-inspiring choreographed professional kite flying demonstrations that will take place throughout Sunday and Monday.

FEATURED PUPPET SHOW
On Sunday and Monday, at 1:30 p.m. the Luce Puppet Company will present Circus Fantastico!; Zomo the Trickster Rabbit will perform at 2:30 p.m.; and The Reluctant Dragon at 3:30 p.m. Under the artistic direction of award winning puppeteer Elizabeth Luce, Luce Puppet Company has put on hundreds of live performances for family audiences. The shows tour theaters, festivals, and public events all over California. Luce The Puppet Shows will be presented in the Rose Garden area adjacent to the community center. Find out more about their shows at www.lucepuppetco.com.

INTERACTIVE KIDS ZONE

A free kite making workshop, face painting and free crafts, as well as family friendly music and performances will return this year to entertain children and adults alike. The Art and Wind Festival features two Kids Zones, with rides and amusements. Plus, the Mobile Visitors Center from East Bay Regional Park District will feature hands-on displays and activities. Make sure to check out the San Ramon Police and San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District as they demonstrate the Jaws of Life, Hands-only CPR and K-9 demonstration during the festival. For a little more excitement also stop by the tethered balloon demonstration, professional skateboard and scooter demonstrations, and stay for the Sunday helicopter landing.

ARTISTS GET CREATIVE
This year's event highlights 100 artists from California and beyond exhibiting and selling their work over the festival weekend. Hand-crafted items including paintings, photographs, jewelry, clothing, pottery, toys, kites and more. Each year, the San Ramon Art and Wind Festival commissions an artist to create the festival artwork. The 2019 design is by local artist Susan Deming, who will also have her artwork on display in the Lindsay Dirkx Brown Gallery (located inside the San Ramon Community Center). Deming will be hosting a Festival Poster Signing & Meet the Artist in the gallery during the festival on Monday from 1-3 p.m. where visitors can pick up a free signed festival commemorative poster featuring Deming’s artwork.

FREE BIKE VALET SERVICE

Sports Basement of San Ramon will provide free valet bike parking both days of the festival. Cyclists who use the service will receive a 20 percent off coupon for store merchandise. Just follow the signs to the location adjacent to the Iron Horse Trail. The public is encouraged to ride their bikes to the festival and take advantage of this free service that will be located next to the Iron Horse Trail, an accessible bike path that runs from Concord to Pleasanton. Another great reason to ride your bike is the free helmet fitting for children. Street Smarts is providing bike helmet inspections and fittings inside City Hall from 12-2 p.m.