LAMORINDA WEEKLY | 25th Art & Wine Festival brings Lafayette to life


Food, wine, art, and music were enjoyed by throngs of festival goers Sept. 17 and 18. Peter Pan Foundation singers Jordyn Foley, Leticia Bennett and William Foon (pictured middle left) performed Sept. 17 at the Festival. Photos Jeff Heyman

For the past 25 years, give or take a few years off for a pandemic, the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival has drawn up to 85,000 people to the downtown core for two days of music, food, art booths and fun. This year was no different and seemed exceptionally striking following the years of small crowd sizes amid COVID restrictions.

Folks arrived pushing kids in strollers, walking dogs on leashes, gathering in large groups at the four large music stages, or meandering through the sea of artisan tents, and food and beverage stations along Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Lafayette Circle. Music and laughter filled the air - a wonderful respite from the quiet of the streets just two years ago. Some sprinkles and a couple of downpours Sept. 18 didn't douse the enthusiasm of festival goers.

Planning for the festival, which is produced by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Lafayette and Eckerstrom Productions, begins a year in advance, with an army of volunteers involved in the event's execution.

One Lafayette resident, Marilyn Finn, who lives on Lafayette Circle put it best: "It was great to see Lafayette come to life."