Let the good times roll! The San Francisco Bay Area’s popular outdoor festival season officially springs into action on May 2-3 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. The big 24th annual celebration honoring Cinco de Mayo is on tap with large crowds 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 Chamber of Commerce, the popular open-air festival will feature two days of stellar live music on stage and street throughout downtown, a juried arts and crafts show with 200 of the west coast’s top artists showing their latest handcrafted wares, fabulous food and drink with premium fine wine, world-class craft beer and refreshing low-carb hard seltzer, artisan specialty food makers, 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, the uniquely groovy What’s Up Photo Booth trailer “Dolores”, Cornhole Tossing Corner, Stay Cool Misting Tent, plus a super thrilling bungee jump, rock climbing wall, wild and wacky waterballs, caricature art, sand art creative cards, face painting, body art, glitter tattoos, kids clothing and toys and a host of captivating kids’ amusements in the Super Duper Funzone. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is free.
Get ready for two lively, fun-filled days of world-class entertainment on stage and street throughout downtown. Enjoy a smashing array of big name bands playing classic rock ‘n roll, rhythm and blues, contemporary country, folksy Americana, jazz, dance and party music on stage and street throughout downtown.
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 dishing up a fabulous array of tasty fare – pita filled with grilled chicken, lamb or falafel, crispy lettuce, juicy tomatoes and tzatziki; fresh roasted corn-on-the cob, baked potatoes; cheese, spinach, mushroom, ham, bacon and fresh fruit made-to-order crepes; skewers of teriyaki chicken with rice or noodles; tri-tip sandwiches, giant turkey legs, jumbo hot dogs, Portobello mushroom sandwiches, crispy artichokes and zucchini; tender calamari or crab fries, corndogs, garlic fries; chicken and pork kebabs with jasmine rice; fish and chips, calamari, shrimp, oysters, fried chicken, and funnel cakes; fresh gazpacho-inspired mango and strawberry-on-a-stick sprinkled with chili powder, lime juice and salt; Kona shave ice in 12 flavors, savory soft serve ice cream, root beer floats and freshly-popped kettlecorn. Complementing the food will be premium wines, world-class craft beer and refreshing low-carb hard seltzer.
Thirsty my friend? Enjoy from a variety of premium fine wine and seasonal craft beer. Beer lovers will be in hops heaven with the assortment of world-class brews – Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Firestone 805, Ballast Point Longfin Lager and Fathom IPA plus festivalgoers canenjoy refreshing, low-carb, gluten-free White Claw Hard Seltzer. Cool off, replenish and hydrate with a bottle of PathWater, 100% responsibly and locally sourced water in an aluminum reusable bottle. Sip your favorite beverage in a beautiful, collector-item wine or beer glass adorned with the stylish festival logo.
An array of specialty food purveyors will be sampling and selling their incredible edibles. Small batches of all natural, hand-made fruit preserves, handmade almond toffee, artisan caramel candies, olive oil, barrel-aged vinegars, salad dressings, mustard blends, curds and scone mixes, marinades and finishing sauces, exotic jams and jellies, flavored and raw almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans, walnuts, dried peaches, pears and apricots, baklava rolls, cakes, specialty desserts, California-grown gourmet pomegranate products, 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, wild and wacky waterballerz, a 24’ rock climbing wall, caricature art, sand art creative cards, super cool face painting, henna body art, glitter tattoos, kids clothing and toys 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.
