Spring Into Festival Season This Weekend!

It’s time to spring into festival season! The San Francisco Bay Area’s popular outdoor festival season officially kicks-off on May 2-3 in Mountain View where cool, vibrant Castro Street morphs into a moveable feast of people and colorful tents for the 19th Annual A La Carte & Art. Throngs of visitors are expected to gather in Silicon Valley’s epicenter for this beloved springtime festival of the arts with 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, artisan specialty food purveyors, health and wellness displays, an organic and green products showcase, home and garden exhibits, festive food and drink with premium wine, microbrews, and sangria, a farmers’ market with fresh seasonal produce, a multitude of kids’ amusements in the Tons of Fun Zone, and “A La Car & Art” –– a classic car show. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

Festivalgoers will find thousands of beautiful, handcrafted items by the west coast’s top artists and craftmakers showing original work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art. “We have many emerging new artists this year joining longtime event favorites,” said Dana Hale-Mounier, Director of Pacific Fine Arts. “Festivalgoers will find unique, original art and fine crafts with a variety of price points for personal purchases, gifts or additions to private collections. It’s a great opportunity to meet the artists showing their work,” she said. 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.

A smashing lineup of twelve big name bands play two lively, fun-filled days of Latin, classic rock ‘n roll, rhythm and blues, jazz, dance and party music on stage and street. The lineup includes sensational live music performed by The Hitmen, The Megatones, The Element, The Jesse Charles Band, Fog City Swampers, Old School, Bob Culbertson, John Clarke, Oscar Reynolds, Ancient Winds, Mike Fair and Emerson & The Growiser Band.

Festival eateries will be serving up a fabulous array of tasty fare –– fresh gazpacho, mango/strawberry fruit bowls, spiced chicken, beef and veggie kebabs, chicken sandwiches with bacon, jalapeño jam and pickled slaw; grilled corn-on-the cob, fresh artichokes, garlic fries, cheeesesteaks, tacos, tamales, burritos, quesadillas, tri-tip, pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches, Cajun hot links, teriyaki chicken wraps, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, corn dogs, beef, salmon and veggie burgers, baked potatoes, made-to-order crepes, kettle corn, shaved ice, root beer floats and funnel cakes with fresh berries. Complementing the food will be premium wines, microbrewed beers, and refreshing sangria.

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, preserves, marinades, honey products, pepper, spices, nuts, Kona coffee will be among the mouth-watering offerings to sample and buy.

Growers from the Mountain View Certified Farmers’ Market will be on hand with California’s delectable, farm-fresh strawberries, cherries, apricots, organic produce, asparagus, flavored almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and honey.

The action-packed Kids’ Tons of Fun Zone will captivate kids with an abundance of amusements. Ultra thrilling bungee jumping, hula hooping, a 24’ climbing wall, wild and wacky Waterballerz, Zorbs “The Human Hamster Balls”, dancing party animal puppets, exotic French hair braiding, one-of-a-kind caricature art plus face painting and super cool henna tattoos are among the exciting attractions sure to keep youngsters mesermerized!

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.

WHEN: May 2-3, 2015. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.

WHERE: On Castro Street, Mountain View, California; between Church Street and Evelyn Avenue.

INFO-LINE: 650-964-3395

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

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

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

YOU TUBE: https://youtu.be/FZ58PkJ6ZvM