ALAMEDA — The 33rd annual Art & Wine Faire returns to Park Street during the July 29-30 weekend with a new addition — a third stage of entertainment.
“The Downtown Alameda Business Association is thrilled to bring two days of music, food, drink and family fun to our Island community,” said Janet Magleby, executive director of the association.
In past years, the weekend event has featured a stage at Buena Vista and Park Street and at Encinal Avenue and Park.
“I saw a huge party going on during the Spring Festival on Park Street, held on Mother’s Day weekend, at the corner of Park Street and Webb at Habanas restaurant … with a DJ and salsa music,” Magleby explained. “I thought we should make it an official stage, and Habanas was thrilled with the idea.”
The restaurant, which serves Cuban cuisine, is funding the third stage. Beginning at 10 a.m., the salsa stage will have several DJs, a dance performance and live music (from 4 to 6 p.m.) on July 29 and July 30.
“It will be exciting to see how this plays out,” the business district executive said.
The stages at Buena Vista and Encinal will host bands performing music from the 1970s and ’80s, including the music of Stevie Wonder, the Doobie Brothers and Santana. There also will be jazz funk and bluegrass presentations.
“We are grateful to our downtown merchants for their hospitality as they share our beloved Park Street with tens of thousands of attendees,” explained Magleby, a longtime Alameda resident. “It’s the biggest event on the Island.”
The children’s area will be situated at Alameda Avenue and Park Street. It will include bounce houses, games, face painting and musical entertainment by the Dilly Dallies and Waterballerz. Children also can enjoy carnival rides set up at Lincoln Avenue and Park, like Classic Teacup Spinners and Frog Hoppers.
The Downtown Alameda Business Association will have an information booth at Central Avenue and Park. At the booth, it will be fundraising for its Clean, Green and Safe Fund, which supports the area’s tree-lined streets and related efforts to keep the district clean and green. This year, festivals on Park Street are being laid out with a 20-foot lane in the middle for pedestrians and booths lining the sides.
“As the rigs have gotten bigger and bumpouts have been added to Park Street … we didn’t have clear a fire lane” when the booths were in the middle of the street, according to Fire Chief Doug Long. “With the old configuration, we realistically could not protect people and businesses in the district as well as we should.”
For the Fire Department “to operate as efficiently as possible, we need at least 20 feet in the center of the street,” explained Long, who has met with members of the business association to discuss the matter.
The Fire Department will stage its yearly breakfast to raise funds for the Alisa Ann Rush Burn Foundation and other charities from 9 a.m. to noon July 30 at Station 1, 2401 Encinal Ave. at Park. The Downtown Alameda Business Association invites residents who are new to the Island and those who have lived here for years to visit the Art and Wine Faire over the weekend.
“There will be much to see on the sidewalk from all the businesses. We hope everyone will discover all that downtown has to offer,” Magleby said.
IF YOU GO
What: 33rd Annual Art & Wine Faire
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 29-30
Where: Park Street, between Encinal and Buena Vista avenues
Cost: Free
Information: downtownalameda.com or 510-523-1392
