Arts & Entertainment

What To Do This Labor Day Weekend in The Bay Area

Art and wine festivals and fairs being organized in various cities, including Millbrae, Belmont, San Jose, Monterey, Sausalito and Pleasanton.

Written by Sheila Sanchez

A three-day weekend is always a good opportunity to visit the many popular end-of-summer festivals and fairs around the places we live!

And there's plenty to do this Labor Day weekend, from Millbrae's popular art and wine festival to San Jose's Bacon Festival! Here are our top picks! If you know of any other large celebration, please add it to the comments. Thank you and enjoy! 

43rd Annual Millbrae Art & Wine Festival: 

Downtown Millbrae will become the “Big Easy” with a Mardi Gras-style celebration 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1 on Broadway Avenue in Millbrae. The event features two sun-splashed days of live music with headliners The Unauthorized Rolling Stones, Petty Theft, The Houserockers, The Kevin Russell Band, Fito Reinoso and The Reed Fromer Band. It also includes a juried show with 250 professional artists and craftmakers showing their latest handcrafted wares, festive food and drink, an organic and green product showcase, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays, the “Classically Cool Car Show” and tons of fun for kids. There will also be an ultra thrilling zip-line, bungee jump and an abundance of amazing amusements in Playland. All for free.

Belmont Greek Festival 

Fabulous Greek food, magical Mediterranean music, and colorful costumes will take center stage as the 43rd annual Belmont Greek Festival noon to 10 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1 and noon-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2 at Church of the Holy Cross,900 Alameda at Ralston Ave. Some 20,000 visitors are expected to flock to the three-day event to sample homemade Greek meals, luscious desserts, nonstop music, dancing, theater, and a children’s amusement area. Tours of the award-winning Byzantine-style church, including the recently-installed mosaic iconography, will be given throughout the weekend, and the Holy Cross Choir will sing during the first church tour on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for seniors and youth ages 13-17. Children 12 and under are admitted free, accompanied by an adult. 

Kings Mountain Art Fair

The 50th annual Kings Mountain Art Fair features 130 fine artists, food and beverages, children’s activities 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at 13889 Skyline Blvd. in Woodside. Details: 650-851-2710.  

Monterey County Fair

With horse shows and races, carnival rides, entertainment, the fair returns to Monterey County Aug. 28-Sept. 2 at Fairground Road and Casa Verde Way in Monterey. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children ages 6-12. Details: 831-372-5863. 

Sausalito Art Festival

The 61st annual Sausalito Art Festival takes place 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at the Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model Visitor Center and Marinship Park. Tickets are $25 for the general public, $15 for seniors and $5 for children ages 6-12. Details: 415-332-3555. 

Scottish Highland Gathering & Games

The 148th annual Scottish Highland Gathering and Games takes place 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave. The event includes entertainment, 30 pipe bands, dancers, Celtic music, food and beverages and children’s activities. Details: George McCombe at brawlad@sbcglobal.net.

San Jose Bacon Festival 

What’s more All-American than a Bacon Festival on Labor Day weekend? The festival takes place 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 at the SJ Flea Market, 1411 Mabury Rd. There will be more than 25 food trucks, all offering special bacon dishes for $5 or less. There will also be a Bacon Cooking competition, a Bacon Beauty Pageant, a Bacon Parade, a Bacon Square Dance, bacon games and more! The festival runs side by side with the SJ Flea Market and Night Market. Details: sanjosemade.steph@gmail.com.  


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