Fall Festival is Back, Bigger than Before

Over 35,000 people are expected to attend this year's Fall Festival on September 9 and 10. Presented by the Castro Valley and Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, this year will again provide arts, crafts, food, and fun for all ages.

Autumn is just around the corner, and the community is again gathering this September to celebrate good food, artwork, music, and fun for all ages.

This year’s Fall Festival will occur on Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10, on Castro Valley Boulevard between Redwood Road and San Miguel Avenue. Presented by the Castro Valley and Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, more than 125 vendors and attractions will again line the streets and the center of the downtown district.

First held in the Castro Village Shopping Center, the Chamber voted to provide a showcase for Castro Valley businesses and artisans while showing off Castro Valley as the “Heart of Good Living.” The event offered attendees a wine-tasting, fashion show, and art exhibit. The success of that first year prompted a second event in 1973, which the Chamber officially named the Fall Festival. 

Now some 51 years later, more than 35,000 people are expected to enjoy the two-day event. Musical performances on the Redwood Stage will include the award-winning Castro Valley High School Madrigals acapella choir and live music from bands like the Take Cover Band. Jim Bedford of Bedford Studios will again book acts for the “Bedford” community stage.

“The Fall Festival brings the community together. It introduces people to our community from outside the area, and it introduces people to our businesses and the downtown district,” Chamber Executive Director Gary Slate told the Forum.

New this year will be booths from non-profit pet rescue Nobody’s Perfekt and woman-owned LeveeRoad, which sells handmade jewelry and other products. 

“We’re always looking for local craftspeople, artists, and organizations that make us unique to be a part of the Fall Festival,” Slate said. “Handmade crafts are often crowd favorites, and we keep a few extra spots open for them.” 

Food and beverages will be in abundance. Vendors for the Fall Festival were picked that offer styles and flavors that are not the same as those restaurants on the Boulevard in order to support those businesses. Two interesting additions this year include Castro Valley's AJ's Kitchen, which makes pupusas, shrimp tacos, and shrimp Po Boys, and Aki Takoyaki, which specializes in a ball-shaped Japanese snack filled with octopus. 

This year’s national beer sponsor will be Kona Brewing, which produces “Big Wave,” but local beers such as Drakes will also be on tap. Castro Valley winemakers Brad and Svetlana Kitson will be serving up three different wines from their Kitson Wines collection.

As an incentive, Slate said the Chamber is sponsoring a promotion to win a bottle of Kitson Wines varietals starting this week until August 22. Simply post a picture of a previous Fall Festival tagged #CVFallFest and whether you are team “Red Wine” or “White Wine.”

Visit the Chamber website for more details (Edenareachamber.com).