 | | | Photo Jeff Heyman | | | | | | With an estimated 80,000 festival-goers literally flooding the streets of downtown Lafayette, this year's "Art & Wine," as longtime aficionados call it, was an overwhelming success. Moreover, it was overwhelmingly fun. The 2024 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival was held last weekend, Saturday, Sept. 21, and Sunday, Sept. 22 - and with the temps in the mid-80s, the weather could not have been more perfect.
With more than 20 bands, including some of the best Bay Area cover bands and local acts including The Ripplers, Other People's Money, The Big Jangle, and Lonesome Eddie and the Saddle Sores, performing on four stages, street dancing and sing-alongs were not a rare sight in Lafayette this past weekend. So were kids' dance performances on the main stage, including an extremely popular set by the New You Dance Center.
What about the 400 vendor booths? Few would be disappointed with the 30 local artisans and craftspeople who lined Local Artists Alley. And the dozens of food vendors, including many of Lafayette's wildly popular restaurants, added a delicious twist and a wide sampling of California wine and craft beers. In addition, there were scores of commercial vendors and information booths set up by public agencies with plenty of useful giveaways. Of course there were great activities for the youngins: four kid's zones featured miniature gold, a train ride and, of course, jumpy houses and more activities. Face-painting is a perennial favorite.
Put on by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, the City of Lafayette, and a host of sponsors, Art & Wine always attracts throngs of folks from near and far. And this year's festival, by all accounts, was the best, the biggest, and possibly the most fun in the 27 years it has been going strong. There are many reasons we are lucky to be living in Lamorinda - and Art & Wine is one of them. |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA