Millbrae Celebrates 39th Annual Labor Day Weekend Festival, The "Last Blast of Summer" Stellar Lineup of Music, Art, Food and Fun Offers A Great Entertainment Value

MILLBRAE, CALIFORNIA -- Summer may be winding down but festival season is just starting to hit its stride with many of the San Francisco Bay Area's biggest and best events ahead. With people looking for more affordable, local leisure options, the Bay Area's always popular free-admission festival circuit is more appealing than ever. For some sun-splashed, Mardi Gras-style fun and a great entertainment value this Labor Day weekend, head over to lively downtown Millbrae for the big, really big Art & Wine Festival, coming up September 5-6.

Dragon Dance

Every year, the last unofficial weekend of summer brings massive crowds to Millbrae for one of the Bay Area's biggest Labor Day weekend events, transforming its delightful downtown streets into a resplendent sea of people and colorful tents. Stroll, browse, relax and enjoy a friendly and vibrant street fair with two days of stellar live music, gorgeous handcrafted work by 250 talented artists, fabulous food and wine, an organic and green products showcase, artisan specialty foods, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays, and a host of amusements for kids. The festival takes place on Broadway (1 block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

ceramics

handmade clothing

This year's music lineup will feature eight big name cover bands playing everything from classic rock 'n roll, rhythm and blues, and Motown to jazz, reggae, pop and party music -- sure to be a real treat for music lovers. The lineup includes Tainted Love, Big Bang Beat, Delta Wires, James Moseley Band, The Pulsators, Crunchy Frog, Michel Saga and The Emerson Growiser Band. The festival will also feature performances by the Mills High School Dragon Team doing a traditional Dragon Dance to open the festival and the Shinnyo Temple Taiko Drum Group.

Big Bang Beat

Emerson Growiser Band

Festivalgoers will find thousands of handcrafted items by California's top artists and craftmakers on display at this juried show. Chat with and buy from 250 exhibitors showing their latest original work. Featuring ceramics, glass, fine art, jewelry, leather, textiles, and wood the festival is considered among the top arts and crafts shows in the Bay Area. 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 are among the thousands of one-of-a-kind items available.

Laura Mitchell handpainted glass ornaments

The Kids' Stage features the all-new Rising Star Music and Dance Showcase starring talented, up and coming performers, maybe the next American Idol, from the Bay Area. Action-packed Kids' Playland will fascinate kids with endless amusements. Among the exciting attractions are a full-size Ferris Wheel, Boomer's Magic Circus, the 120' tall Super Slide, face painting, temporary tattoos, Mobile Rock's challenging 24-foot climbing wall, kiddie train rides, the Great Crab Grab, Helicopter and Berry-Go-Round amusement rides and several themed inflatables including a Dr. Seuss-inspired Cat-In-The Hat bounce house, Tsunami Tidal Wave slide and Escape From Alcatraz obstacle course -- a boundless lineup of activities to entertain kids.

Makers of artisan specialty foods will be on-hand with spices, herbs, beef jerky, olive oil, dessert sauces, spices, dips, salad dressings, balsamic vinegars, flavored almonds, tea, scone mixes, fruit butter, chutney, fudge sauces, fruit jams, honey, flavored mustard, salsas, marinades, and barbecue sauce among the mouth-watering offerings to sample and buy.

Steven Albaranes Butterfly Gallery

Festival eateries will be dishing up hearty servings of garlic fries, teriyaki chicken skewers, made-to-order crepes, fresh corn-on-the-cob, Philly cheesesteaks, quesadillas, jumbo hot dogs, gourmet sausages, calamari with cilantro lime sauce, zesty gyros, fried zucchini and artichokes, veggies over rice, wraps, smoked turkey legs, and tri-tip sandwiches. There's plenty of kid-friendly fare like kettlecorn, frozen yogurt, giant Brooklyn style hot pretzels, spanish pastry churros, fresh fruit smoothies, cotton candy and ice cream bars. Complementing the food will be a selection of exceptional wines, refreshing margaritas, and tasty brews -- Sam Adams Summer Ale and Boston Lager, Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, Coors Light and Corona. The popular Margarita King Cantina returns to host a classic car show featuring some of the world's coolest collector cars. Festivalgoers will find a shaded oasis to sit down, take a shopping break, relax and enjoy their favorite adult beverage.

Kimberly Sau Wai Miller Chinese Brush Painting

The festival runs September 5-6, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on Broadway (one block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Free round trip shuttle service will be available from the Millbrae BART/Caltrain station every 20 minutes. Admission is free.

For information, call 650-697-7324 or visit miramarevents.com

All photos courtesy and copyright of Miramar Events.