Save The Dates: Mountain View To Celebrate 43rd Annual Art & Wine Festival

Festival insiders 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 43rd annual festival, September 6-7 promises to be a “festival like no other.”

The Mountain View Art & Wine Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Castro Street between El Camino Real and Evelyn Avenue in Mountain View, California. Admission is free.

For festival information, call 650-968-8378 or visit http://mountainview.miramarevents.com

An authentic and moveable feast for the senses, and on tap:.

Widely considered one of America’s top art festivals, huge throngs of art lovers are expected to pour onto Castro Street in Silicon Valley’s epicenter for this “Cultural Community Celebration” presented by the Chamber of Commerce Mountain View.

New this year is “Wine Haven, Taste of the Mountains Passport Days” presented by the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association.

Wine lovers will bask in the glow of a cool tent tasting wine from premier Santa Cruz Mountain Vintners including Domenico, Cinnabar, Savannah-Chanelle, Loma Prieta and The Mountain Winery.

“These five great names in wine are flagship wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains,” says Megan Metz, executive director of the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association.

“Taste of the Mountains attendees will experience some of their premium Cabernets, Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays—the signature varietals of our region.”

Complementing the world-class wine, Mountain View’s Milk Pail Market will be sampling a delectable selection of international cheeses in the tent.

The Wine Haven tent will be open 12:00–5:00 pm both days, and all of the sampled wines and cheeses will be available for sale (to take home) as well.

Attendees can take advantage of outdoor seating to sip, savor, take in the sights and enjoy the romantic Italian string ensemble music of the gifted duo Heartstrings Music.

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!

Thirteen dynamic bands will play a wide-ranging musical mix on the Civic Center Plaza Music Stage 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 ”Salsa Sunday” with Orquesta Borinquen and Ruckatan plus The Megatones, Urgent, The Garage Band, Pacific Soul, Emerson & The Growiser Band, Bob Culbertson, Aryeh Frankfurter, HeartStrings Music, Oscar Reynolds, John Clarke, and Ancient Winds.

The Kids’ Park Community Stage is back!

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

Action-packed Kids’ Park will keep youngsters plenty enthralled with ultra thrilling bungee jumping, wild and wacky waterballerz, hands-on art booths,

Mobile Rock’s gripping 24-foot climbing wall, super cool temporary tattoos, face painting and body art, hula hooping, feather hair extensions, exotic French hair braiding and incredible assortment of spine-tingling carnival rides and one-of-a-kind themed inflatibles.

Festival eateries will be serving up a world of flavorful fare –– fresh corn-on-the-cob, paella, patatos brava, croquetas, tri-tip, beef brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, Teriyaki chicken and vegetables, barbecue chicken and pork skewers, chicken wraps, gourmet sausages, chicken wings, pizza, garlic chicken sandwiches, Parmesan-sprinkled garlic fries, smoked turkey legs, zesty fried calamari, baked potatoes, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, made-to-order crepes, chocolate-dipped fruit kabobs, ice cream, fresh fruit smoothies, root beer floats, fresh-squeezed lemonade, kettle corn and more.

Complementing the fabulous food will be premium wines, seasonal microbrews, refreshing margaritas, mimosas and sangria.

The brewmasters at Tied House will be offering their flagship Cascade Amber plus a batch of a refreshing California Common as this year’s special festival brew. Shock Top Belgian White, Stella Artois, Rebel IPA, and Goose Island Honkerswill also be served. Wine lovers will be tempted by luscious vintages from from several outstanding winemakers.

The wine list includes Cortenova Pinot Grigio, Beringer Merlot, Beringer Chardonnay, Columbia Crest Amitage Red, Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc, Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon, San Elias Sauvignon Blanc, Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Ste Michelle and Seaglass Pinot Noir. Or enjoy a cold Bud Light Lime-A-Rita or Straw-Ber-Rita, sangria or mimosa for a deliciously refreshing beverage alternative.

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.

Festivalgoers can enjoy free product samples and demos while experiencing first-hand how these products can help you live a healthier and “greener” lifestyle and be a positive catalyst for change.

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 recycling and composting 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 Mountain View Art & Wine Festival will be held on September 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Castro Street between El Camino Real and Evelyn Avenue in Mountain View, California. Admission is free.

For festival information, call 650-968-8378 or visit http://mountainview.miramarevents.com