Magazine

R. Alan Hwang/Special to the Town Crier
The Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend.

The Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

What began in 1979 as a much smaller version of the current event, the festival has now grown to include more than 300 craft and arts booths, two food courts, three stages featuring live music and entertainment, and a free dance concert, which this year features Take 2 performing 6-8 p.m. Saturday on the Main Stage in Central Plaza.

R. Alan Hwang/Special to the Town Crier
Barbecue – from chicken to sausage – is a staple at the festival.

Special to the Town Crier

Food and drink choices abound at the Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival, where new gourmet items and craft beers have been added this year.

R. Alan Hwang/Special to the Town Crier
Representatives from seven Bay Area wineries will pour their offerings at this weekend’s festival.

Special to the Town Crier

For many years, the Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival has been one of the few Bay Area events featuring wines from local wineries - and this year is no different.

The seven vintners at this year’s festival are all returning favorites, including downtown Los Altos’ own Byington Vineyard & Winery.

R. Alan Hwang/Special to the Town Crier
Kids and parents alike often enjoy painting at the festival.

Special to the Town Crier

The Kidzone is the centerpiece of this year’s Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival, as it moves from the outside portion to the middle of the annual event. It is situated in Parking Plaza 6, near the Third Street food vendors, State Street artists, Sponsors Row and the Community Stage.

The Kidzone features hands-on art activities, face painting, henna tattoos and games for the young and young at heart. There is also an Art Wall for young artists to display their work for the festival crowd.

Town Crier file photo
Guo Feng, shown in her Los Altos shop, was inspired to open the business after seeing an empty storefront at last year’s festival.

Clothing designer Guo Feng, owner of 3 Potato in downtown Los Altos, showcases her first original patterns at this year’s Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival.

This marks Feng’s third year at the festival, a place where she essentially launched her storefront business a year ago. She spotted an empty storefront at 358 State St. while working the festival and a month later signed a lease for the space.

Courtesy of Take 2
Take 2 takes the festival’s Main Stage at 6 p.m. Saturday. The band performs regularly throughout the Bay Area, covering songs from a wide array of genres and artists.

Town Crier Staff Report

Performing classic rock to dance music, a range of Bay Area artists and bands are scheduled to perform on the two stages at the 40th annual Los Altos Arts & Wine festival. Below is a rundown of who’s performing, where and when.