THIS WEEKEND: Millbrae Celebrates 49th Labor Day Weekend Festival

Let the good times roll as we celebrate #49! The festive spirit and flavor of the “Big Easy” is coming to the Bay Area! For some sun-splashed, Mardi Gras-style fun this Labor Day weekend, head to lively, pulsating downtown Millbrae for the city’s annual big bash –– the 49thMillbrae Art & Wine Festival, August 31-September 1.Every year, the last unofficial weekend of summer brings massive crowds to this peninsula city, that could easily serve as a typical small town movie set, for the Bay Area’s biggest Labor Day weekend bash, transforming its charming downtown streets into a resplendent sea of people and colorful tents.

Presented by the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce, the festival is the “Last Blast of Summer” with two days of sensational live music, beautiful handcrafted work by 250 of America’s top artists and craftmakers, fabulous food and drink, premium wine, refreshing sangria, seasonal craft beer, signature cocktails and margaritas, Cornhole game area, Stay Cool Misting Tent, “Hops Haven” microbrew tasting tent, the “Classically Cool Car Show”, an organic and green products showcase, artisan specialty foods, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays, tons of fun for kids in Playland, the T-Mobile Showroom and Recharging Station, awesome sponsor swag giveaways and free samples ofWhite Claw Hard Seltzer,. The festival takes place on Broadway (1 block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

STATEMENT FROM THE SAN MATEO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

"The Millbrae Police Bureau of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office wants to assure the public that we have prepared a robust plan to make this year’s Millbrae Art & Wine Festival safe and family-friendly," said Captain Paul Kunkel. "There will be high visibility with deputies from various Sheriff’s Office units participating. We are taking a balanced approach that we believe will ensure safety and maintains the friendly atmosphere of this always well-attended, historic annual event. We hope to see you there," said Captain Kunkel.

STELLAR LIVE MUSIC EVERYWHERE

Millbrae totally rocks! Two full days of live music on stage and street turn downtown Millbrae into the Bay Area’s entertainment hotspot for the weekend. The dynamite lineup on the Kona Brewing/Michelob Ultra Millbrae Totally Rocks Concert Stageincludes Chicago the Tribute, Big Bang Beat, The Flaming O’s, Busta-Groove, Erica Sunshine Lee, Sol Peligro, Millbrae Pep Squad, Loudin’ Cleer, plus amazing street musicians Bob Culbertson, Stephen Dreyfuss and EllaHarp.

ART EXPLOSION – ORIGINAL FINE ART, COOL CRAFTS

Team Pro Event brings its world-class stable of professional artists and fine craftmakers to showcase their extraordinary work. Festivalgoers will find thousands of beautiful handcrafted items in well-stocked booths covering several city blocks. Meet 250 exceptional artists and craftmakers –– offering outstanding quality and variety and price points to satisfy every budget –– on hand with their latest creations. Featuring original work in sculpture, paintings, photography, glass, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, leather, wood, metal and mixed media, the festival is considered among the top art shows in the Bay Area. 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 are among the one-of-a-kind items available.

FABULOUSLY FESTIVE FOOD

Bring your appetite! Festival eateries will be serving up a world of flavorful fare –– roasted fresh corn on the cob and baked potatoes with all the trimmings, Chicken and the Farm honey-walnut, sweet ginger-garlic, mango-habanero, and blue cheese with green onions and buffalo drizzlewings, boneless chicken bites and cauliflower bites, garlicky yogurt tzatziki-topped Greek herb-marinated lamb and chicken, crispy falafel, teriyaki chicken-on-a-stick, Chinese vegetarian chow mein, Filipino lumpias, tri-tip tacos, quesadillas and deep-fried zucchini, grilled teriyaki-marinated chicken and fry garlic-tossed tofu, half-pound smoked pork and beef sausages smothered with grilled onions and sauerkraut, corn dogs, curly fries, onion rings, fried zucchini, tri-tip sandwiches, turkey legs, hamburgers, hot dogs, fried calamari, Portobello mushroom sandwiches, crispy fried zucchini and artichokes, zesty Key lime fried calamari with lime-watercress pesto, crab rolls, crab fries, smoked ribs, smoked chicken, shrimp noodles, shrimp salad, yummy spring rolls, egg rolls, Vietnamese subs, pad thai, baked potatoes with all the trimmings, Mexican-inspired fresh-fruit hand-cut fruit cups, blended fruit drinks, snow cones with captivating flavors like wild cherry, blue raspberry, tiger's blood and watermelon, shaved ice, slushies on tap, such as their Arnold Palmer Freeze and Red Hibiscus Frost, as well other thirst-quenching drinks like fresh watermelon juice and limeade, freshly popped kettle corn, pineapple soft serve ice cream, mini donuts right nice and warm with a dusting of cinnamon sugar.

DELECTABLY DELICIOUS DRINK

Thirsty my friend? Festivalgoers can enjoy signature festival cocktails – deelish Summer Breeze Mules (vodka, fresh squeezed lime juice and ginger beer) plus classic Bloody Mary’s and refreshing, handmade margaritas made from fresh fruit purees – mango, strawberry, cucumber jalapeno and traditional lime. Beer lovers will be in hops heaven with the assortment of world-class brews – from Kona Brewing Company – their crisp, easy-going, pale-gold Longboard Lager, hoppy, easy-drinking Hanalei Island IPA, and tropically refreshing Big Wave Golden Ale, plus low-carb, easy drinkingMichelob Ultra.For aficionados of fine wine and bubbly, there will be a premium selection of easy-drinking varietals from California: Mondavi Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and White Zinfandel, Kenwood Chardonnay, Concannon Pinot Noir, plus Beso del Sol Sangria and Cupcake Prosecco. For Italian wine lovers, there’s delicate and refreshing Leonessa Pinot Grigio along with lovely, well-balanced Rocca Sangiovese. For a refreshing alternative, festivalgoers can enjoy delightful, low-carb, gluten-free White Claw Hard Seltzer in assorted flavors including Black Cherry, Raspberry, Natural Lime and Ruby Grapefruit.Cool off, replenish and hydrate with a bottle of PathWater, 100% responsibly and locally sourced water in an aluminum reusable bottle. Water provider Oollee will have a re-filling station for festivalgoers to replenish their reusable bottles with clean, fresh water. Sip your favorite beverage in a beautiful, collector-item wine or beer glass adorned with the stylish festival logo.

“HOPS HAVEN” MICROBREW TASTING TENT PRESENTED BY MATAGRANO

Sample from an array of delicious seasonal craft brews in the Hops Haven tasting tent: Revision Citra Revenge, Stone Tropic of Thunder, Magnolia Station 12 Red Ale, Modern Times Fruitlands Rose, Speakeasy Helles to the Chief, Fremont Brother Imperial IPA, Lagunitas Phase Change IPA, Deschutes Da Shootz Lager. Hops Haven is located in the city parking lot near the Victoria (south) end of the festival.

THE “CLASSICALLY COOL CAR SHOW”

Kick back and take a break in “Hops Haven”, a shaded oasis where car buffs gather and hang out for the festival-fave “Classically Cool Car Show”. Fans of classic, custom and exotic cars will be thrilled to hear that an incredible display of vintage touring cars, custom hot rods, powerful muscle cars, and sleek sports cars will be among the dozens of world-class cars expected to be on display each day. A different set of cars will be displayed each day, so it’s worth coming out both days to see the lineup. The car show is located in the parking lot near the Victoria (south) end of the festival.

STREETS FILLED WITH TALENT STAGE, SPONSORED BY SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO SCAVENGER

Now entrenched as a beloved and signature attraction at the Millbrae's Art and Wine Festival, the "Streets Filled With Talent Community Stage", under the direction of local impresario Ken Kelly, returns for a highly-anticipated encore performance. "It has been enormously gratifying to see our Streets Filled With Talent Stage become such a festival hit,” said producing director, Kelly, owner of Ken Kelly Productions. “It’s all about giving emerging and outstanding young talent from around the Bay Area a chance to do what all performers love to do: perform in front of a live audience. We’ll have some of our favorite acts back again along with some new talent that we've discovered over the past year.” The "Streets Filled With Talent Community Stage" is located on Broadway near Meadow Glen.

KIDS’ PLAYLAND

Action-packed Kids’ Playland will fascinate kids with an abundance of amazing amusements. Among the exciting attractions are an awesome 200’ zip-line that flies zippers over the crowd on Broadway, wild and wacky roll-on-water Waterballerz, ultra thrilling carnival rides and games, a huge ferris wheel and monster 100’ foot Super Slide, face painting, sand art creations, exotic hair braiding and glitter tattoos –– a lineup of activities sure to keep youngsters gleeful and mesmerized!

ARTISAN SPECIALTY FOOD

A fantastic array of artisan-produced specialty food sprinkled throughout the event provides the perfect opportunity to sample and purchase small-batch, handcrafted edibles to take home and enjoy.Award-winning gourmet jerky, best locally-grown, hand-packed nuts, dried fruit, seeds, trail mixes and candy, premium flavored vinaigrettes, balsamics, maple syrups, oils, flavored almonds, cashews, pistachios, and pecans, dips, spices, sauces, garlic mushrooms, stuffed olives, mustards, pickled garlic, green beans and asparagus, fruit butters and marinades, world-class, handmade almond toffee, gourmet dips, soups, desserts, and dry rubs, French-style piesmade from seasonally available, locally grown, organic or natural fruits, the world’s finest Kona coffee, made-from-scratch brownies and blondies in three dietary options: Regular (Made with Dairy & Flour), Vegan or Gluten Free, California-grown gourmet pomegranate products –– fresh-squeezed juice, balsamic vinegar, marinade, balsamic grill sauce, fruit spread, syrup, grenadine, small batches of all natural, hand-made fruit preserves.

T-MOBILE SHOWROOM AND RECHARGING STATION

Stop by this fully wrapped interactive T-Mobile experience on wheels complete with a mobile store, brand ambassadors to engage with festivalgoers, a free recharging station and great giveaways!

SPECTACULAR SPONSORS

Win great prizes, enjoy free samples, meet the personalities and experience the latest products from festival sponsors: Living Spaces, Matagrano Distributing, Kona Brewing Company, Michelob Ultra, T-Mobile, Safeway, Longboard Bar, Stewart Automotive Group, GEICO, Stanford Health Care, Provident Credit Union, Arthur Murray Dance Studios, White Claw Hard Seltzer, Welk Resorts, Cutco, Renewal by Andersen, BathFitter, Pella Windows, Leaf Filter, Gutter Dome, The Pawington, Armstrong Installation, Getaround, Craftsmens' Guild, Wittwer Chiropractic, BathPlanet, Gold Rush Getaways, Farm Fresh To You, Clear View Retractable Screens, Gutter Dome, Bay Home & Window, System Pavers, Photos Movies & More, San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Winning Ways, PathWater, The Dylan Hotel, KPIX 5, KBCW 44 Cable 12, South San Francisco Scavenger, BART, Caltrain, SamTrans, The San Mateo Daily Journal, Comcast, Xfinity, Alice 97.3 FM, KCBS 740 AM/106.9 FM, 94.5 Bay FM FM, Mix 106, KRTY 95.3 FM, Metro, MCTV/Millbrae Community Television, the San Mateo County Health Services Agency, the San Mateo County Sheriffs Department, Central County Fire and the great City of Millbrae!

PAY FOR DRINK TOKENS AND GLASSES WITH CREDIT CARDS!

Pay for drink tokens and glasses using any major credit card at the Token/Glass booths spread throughout the festival.

REDUCE, RE-USE, RECYCLE

The Millbrae Chamber of Commerce will once again partner with South San Francisco Scavenger, Boy Scout Troop 355 and the City of Millbrae to promote and encourage recycling and composting and mimimizing waste. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags. Beer and wine are served in reusable (and collectable!) glassware. Food vendors are required to use recyclable or compostable serviceware. Specially marked waste stations are positioned throughout the festival for the collection of recyclable bottles and cans as well as compostable items like meat and bones, chopsticks, skewers, paper plates, cups and napkins. Larger bins and debris boxes for these materials as well as cardboard and mixed paper are positioned behind the scenes for use by vendors and event staff. Organizers are also encouraging the use of public transit, bicycles and carpools to cut down carbon emissions and vehicular traffic. For the first time, the festival will be partnering with PathWater, selling its 100% responsibly and locally sourced water in an aluminum reusable bottle. Water provider Oollee will have a re-filling station for festivalgoers to replenish their reusable bottles with clean, fresh water.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Public transit systems BART, Caltrain and SamTrans will be running their holiday weekend service both days of the festival. For Caltrain and SamTrans schedule information, call 800-660-4287 or visit www.caltrain.comor www.samtrans.com. For BART information, visit www.bart.gov. The BART/Caltrain intermodal station is a short 3-block walk to/from the festival.

STREET CLOSURES

Broadway will be closed to traffic beginning at 9 pm on Friday, August 30 from Victoria to Meadow Glen for the festival and re-opened at approximately 9 pm on Sunday, September 1. Broadway cross streets La Cruz, Hillcrest and Taylor will be closed to traffic from Magnolia to El Camino Real beginning at 9 pm on Friday, August 30 for the festival and re-opened at approximately 9 pm on Sunday, September 1.

NO PETS, PLEASE

Pets are not encouraged at the festival with warm weather, food and large crowds making it uncomfortable for pets. For the safety, comfort, and courtesy of your pets and festival-goers, please leave your pets at home.

FESTIVAL DATES/HOURS/LOCATION

The festival will be held on August 31-September 1 (Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Broadway (1 block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria Avenue and Meadow Glen. Admission is free.

INFO-LINE/WEB

For festival information, call the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce at 650-697-7324, visithttp://millbrae.miramarevents.com,“like” the festival Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/MillbraeArtWineFestivaland follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/miramareventsand Instagram https://www.instagram.com/miramarcrew/