Fall Festival Marks Year of Chamber Transformation

The Castro Valley Fall Festival is a time for the community to gather and explore our diverse music, food, and art communities, but for the Castro Valley and Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, it also marks a year of growth and change.

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 Chamber and its event sponsors, more than 125 vendors and attractions will again line the streets and the center of the downtown district.

And while attendance is expected to be more than last year, the Chamber is sponsoring a few incentives for residents and business owners to spread the word about the Fall Festival. For example, last week, people were encouraged to post a picture of a previous Fall Festival tagged #CVFallFest and indicate if they were on “Team Red Wine” or “Team White Wine” to be eligible to win a bottle of one of Kitson Wines varietals.

 Chamber Executive Director Gary Slate told the Forum the August 23-29 promotion for a $25 gift card, which will be good for any Chamber business, is just as exciting.

“All you have to do is post a photo from a past Castro Valley Fall Fest or take a video of what you are looking forward to at this year's Fall Fest,” Slate said. “Then tag the Chamber Castro Valley-Eden Area Chamber of Commerce in a Facebook or Instagram post and use #CVFallFest to get entered into the drawing.” 

For the last promotion between August 30 and September 6, residents are encouraged to post a picture or a mention of what they will wear to the Fall Festival and use #CVFallFest on social media for a chance at a $25 gift card.

The Fall Festival and promotions are just one way the Chamber has changed over the past year. In the past 12 months, the group has opened an official headquarters in the Ashland neighborhood on East 14th Street near 160th Avenue, hired Spanish-speaking staff, offered business-related assistance programs, and added regular Lunch and Learn sessions on topics for small businesses such as insurance, marketing, and employee safety.

Regular chamber mixers are now held at exciting venues, including Twining Vines, Pinoys, JP’s Restaurant, and tomorrow's mixer at Genghix Asian Fusion restaurant.

The Chamber has also made a special effort to celebrate member businesses opening, such as Pinoys, Pampas, and the recent Beard Papa's in the Marketplace. 

“Really being able to connect with shop owners and help small businesses succeed is one of the main reasons I wanted to be a part of the Chamber,” Slate told the Forum. “Seeing new businesses come to town has been exciting, and it's exciting to see the community support these new openings.”

And, of course, the Chamber has expanded its large-venue events, including the Spring Festival in Ashland in May, the return of the Light Parade along Castro Valley Boulevard in November, and next month’s Fall Festival.

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