The Bay's Popular Festival Season Kicks-Off This Weekend

Let the good times roll! The San Francisco Bay Area’s popular outdoor festival season officially springs into action on April 30-May 1 in downtown Mountain View where cool, bustling, stroll-friendly Castro Street is transformed into a resplendent sea of people and colorful tents for A La Carte & Art. A big bash 20th anniversary celebration is on tap with a large crowd expected to gather in Silicon Valley’s epicenter for this beloved springtime festival of the arts. Expect two days of world-class fun in the sun.

Presented by the Mountain View Central Business Association, the popular open-air festival will feature two days of stellar live music, a fine arts and crafts show with 200 of the west coast’s top artists showing their latest handcrafted wares, fabulous food and drink with fine wine and craft beer, a farmers’ market with fresh seasonal produce, artisan specialty food purveyors, health and wellness displays, an organic and green products showcase, home and garden exhibits, A La Car & Art – the big classic car show sponsored by Hot San Jose Nights, plus awesome, action-packed amusements for kids in the Super Duper Funzone. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

Two full days of fantastic live music on stage and street turn downtown Mountain View into the Bay Area’s entertainment hotspot for the weekend. A splendid array of big name bands play an eclectic mix of classic rock ‘n roll, rhythm and blues, jazz, dance and party music on stage and street throughout downtown. The lineup includes The Megatones, Phil ‘n The Blanks, Old School Rock & Roll, Rodeo House featuring Torree McGee, California Groove, The Blackouts, Bob Culbertson, John Clarke, Ancient Winds, Emerson & The Growiser Band, and Mike Fair’s Drumming Circle.

Festivalgoers will find thousands of beautiful, handcrafted items by the west coast’s top artists and craftmakers while browsing among 200 well-stocked booths featuring original work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art. Exquisite 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 will be among the one-of-a-kind items available.

Festival eateries will be serving up a fabulous array of tasty fare – picanha steak skewers with classic chimichurri sauce; grilled corn-on-the cob; baked potatoes; spicy linguiça, crispy chicken and pork kebabs; cheese, spinach, mushrooms, ham, bacon and fresh fruit made-to-order crepes; jumbo hot dogs, foot-long corn dogs, beef, salmon and veggie burgers; zesty garlic fries; succulent skewers of teriyaki chicken; chicken and lamb pita sandwiches; falafels with homemade tahini sauce, lettuce and tomato; tamales, quesadillas, tacos and burritos; fresh gazpacho-inspired mango and strawberry-on-a-stick sprinkled with chili powder, lime juice and salt, Funnel cake with whipped cream and berries; Kona shave-ice in 12 flavors; Cookies & Cream, Banana Split to Rainbow Ice and Thai Ice Tea flavored Cool Beads ice cream; and freshly-popped kettlecorn. Complementing the food will be premium wines and refreshing craft beer.

More than a dozen artisan specialty food purveyors will be sampling and selling their incredible edibles. The world’s finest olive oil, barrel-aged vinegars, salad dressings, mustard blends, dips, soups, dry rubs, pure spices, spice blends, salts, peppers, teas, sugars, dried fruits and nuts, preserves, marinades, honey products, fruit spreads, syrups, peppers, spices, freshy-baked pies, cakes, cupcakes and desserts, handmade toffee, flavored and raw almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans, walnuts, dried peaches, pears and apricots and more.

Kids of all ages will be enthralled by the non-stop action and excitement in the action-packed Super Duper Funzone. Ultra thrilling bungee jump, “Human Hamster Balls”, wild and wacky waterballerz, hula hooping, a 24’ rock climbing wall, dancing party animal puppets, caricature art, exotic French hair braiding, hands-on leather crafts, super cool face painting and temporary tattoos are among the awesome attractions sure to keep youngsters captivated.

Classically cool car buffs will love A La Car & Art, a classic and custom car show, sponsored by Hot San Jose Nights, featuring world-class hot rods, macho muscle cars, sleek sports cars and tricked out low riders –– just a sampling of the dazzling cars expected to be on display.

The festival will be held on Castro Street between Church Street and Evelyn Avenue in Mountain View, California. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission and parking are free. For festival information, call 650-964-3395 or visit http://alacarte.miramarevents.com/

INFO-LINE: 650-964-3395

WEBSITE: http://alacarte.miramarevents.com/

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/mountainviewalacarteartfestival

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/miramarevents

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

YOU TUBE: https://youtu.be/fATi94smZIo