September 2, 2004

Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival gears up for a new venue

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Almaden Lake, located at Almaden Expressway and Coleman Avenue, will be the new home of the annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival, held this year on Sept. 26.

After 27 years at Parma Park, the Almaden Valley Women’s Club is now eagerly anticipating this year’s Art & Wine Festival on Sunday, Sept. 26 at the site of their new home—Almaden Lake Park.

Due to construction of the Almaden Library and Community Center, the new venue, centrally located and easily accessible by VTA light rail, bus, and the Los Alamitos Creek Trail, will offer a day filled with live entertainment, children’s activities, Santa Clara County wines and beers, food booths, and the works of talented artists and craftspeople.

The annual event, voted one of the best in San Jose, is organized entirely by Women’s Club members who have been committed to raising over $600,000 for the Almaden community and the greater San Jose area since 1965. Each year, 100 percent of the festival proceeds are dispersed in an effort to help provide financial assistance for nonprofit community and children’s foundations, teen programs, and educational facilities.

Now in the homestretch, festival Chair Cindy Griffeth and club President Linda Bronson say that the park will offer a more beautiful setting, although the change in venue has not been without its challenges.

Bronson contends that the new venture has been a shot in the arm—complete with a renewed enthusiasm—that the club hasn’t seen in years.

“Before now, it was too much on auto pilot and we were just running out of ideas, she admits. “When we had our first task force meeting at the park with the city, it was amazing. All of a sudden, this creativity started bouncing out of everybody—the place was charged with electricity.”

“Parks and Recreation and the city are very happy that we’re going to be there,” adds Griffeth. “Plus, it’s much more visible and I think we’re going to have a nice crowd.”

Admittedly, the biggest challenge has involved structuring the festival layout around the completely open and narrow setting that wraps around the lake—minus the luxury of the Almaden Community Center, which formerly housed the VIP and corporate sponsor area. This year, tents and temporary gazebos will replace walls and patios, while artists, along with local wineries and breweries set up along the perimeter of the lake.

“It’s a great setting,” says Bronson. “Especially the children’s area. Although no swimming will be allowed in the lake that day, there’s a marvelous playground with ropes and swings, and climbing structures. We’ll be incorporating our children’s area around that and it will be fabulous for the kids. They’re going to have a ball.”

Back by popular demand will be performances throughout the day by Lisa Torres, The Dave Osborn Band, Wishbox, and Silicon Valley Houserockers.

Although the logistics of the park will make it prohibitive to have a dedicated beer garden as in the past, plans to serve wine and beer together this year should prove more convenient for patrons perusing the new festival grounds. Beer and wine booths will now be located on either side of every glass and ticket booth throughout the park, featuring the latest samplings from Bargetto, David Bruce, Thomas Fogarty, Byington, Pelican Ranch, Cinnabar, Guglielmo, La Rochelle, Clos LaChance, J. Lohr, and Solis wineries, along with Cooper-Garrod Vineyards, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery, El Toro Brewing Company, and Stoddard’s Brewhouse and Eatery.

The new venue also eliminates the source of probably the biggest complaint in festival history, as alcohol will be allowed throughout the park—including the children’s area—a luxury never afforded at Parma Park due to restrictions banning alcohol on San Jose Unified School property.

“You’ll be allowed to take your alcohol everywhere now,” exclaims Griffeth.

Because of the smaller venue, artist selection was scaled down this year, but boasts many new entries not seen before, including stained glass, door crowns, fabric art, gift baskets, hand-blown glass, leather, handmade soaps, and pottery, along with popular jewelry, clothing, photography, and fine art.

For the first time in festival history, artist vendors selling child-specific items will be located throughout the children’s area so parents can shop while their kids enjoy the inflatable exhibits, crafts and games.

“When the other side opens next year after construction is completed, we’ll have the whole lake to work with,” says Bronson. “We’ll have a chance to build upon what happens this year.”

Although the main lot inside the park will be closed to patrons to allow for corporate sponsor and vendor parking, 4,000-5,000 spaces will be available to festivalgoers at the Water District on Almaden Expressway, with free shuttle service to and from the festival. Two thousand additional parking spaces can be found within walking distance of the park at the VTA Light Rail station on Coleman Avenue and on Winfield, across from the lake. However, people with special needs will be allowed drop-off privileges at the main gate.

“That’s one of our main focuses this year,” admits Griffeth. “I truly believe that parking will be better than it’s ever been. It will be more convenient because you can just go in and park, without having to drive down side streets to find a spot.”

Arrangements have also been made for bicyclists who prefer to ride into the park on the Los Alamitos Creek Trail and check their bikes with a no-cash sponsor at the festival.

“We encourage people to take the trail and bring their bikes,” adds Griffeth. “They can park on Winfield at Almaden Expressway and ride right into the park, where their bikes will be kept in a safe location.”

Bronson credits ongoing relationships with the Parks and Recreation department, the Office of Cultural Affairs, and Vice Mayor Pat Dando with past festival successes.

“We’ve always had a great rapport with the city and can’t say enough about the office of Cultural Affairs,” says Bronson. “They’re always there when we need them. And I have to say that Pat Dando has moved many a mountain for us when we needed them moved. She’s our ace in the hole—and a really good friend of the festival.”

Although hiccups are to be expected with the new digs, Bronson remains assured that after 27 years of experience, the Women’s Club stands ready to handle anything.

“We aren’t novices at this,” she says. “Whatever happens, we’ll handle it professionally, patiently, and with a great sense of humor.”

“I think the setting at the lake is beautiful,” adds Griffeth. “This is a great location and once we get a year under our belt, I think it will be perfect—because we can never go back to Parma.”

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 26. Almaden Lake Park is centrally located at the intersection of Almaden Expressway and Coleman Avenue in San Jose (near Highways 85 and 87). It is easily accessible by VTA light rail and bus service. Ample free parking is available for cars and bicycles. Parking lot options close to the festival include the Santa Clara Valley Water District on Almaden Expressway and the VTA Almaden Light Rail Station on Coleman Avenue. Festival attendees may also park at the VTA Ohlone-Chynoweth Light Rail Station, near the intersection of Highways 85 and 87, and take a short light rail ride to the festival.

Admission to the festival is free. For more information, log on to www.almadenartwinefestival.com.

Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival seeks event day student volunteers

Student volunteers are still needed to assist with the Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival, held this year at Almaden Lake Park on Sunday, Sept. 26.

Community service hours will be awarded to qualifying youth volunteers ages 14 and up. A minimum two-hour shift will be required and students will be eligible to work the full day in exchange for 10 community service hours.
Volunteer assignments will be available throughout the day of the festival and will include setup, supply deliveries, cleanup, and staffing the children’s area (games, crafts, and attractions).

The annual festival relies on the support of volunteers to make this popular community event a continued success. Last year, more than 185 student volunteers participated in event-day activities. Interested students should contact the festival’s volunteer chairwoman, Linda Nollette, at volunteers@almadenartwinefestival.com or by telephone at (408) 997-8981. Those with Internet access may complete an online application on the festival Web site at www.almadenartwinefestival.com.