08/20/2021
The Novato Festival of Art, Wine & Music is BACK!
By Shelley Shepherd
The Novato Festival of Art, Wine & Music has been a mainstay of the North Bay community for 37 years. We had a blip last year, but with your safety in mind, as well as a safe outdoor event to see your friends and neighbors, the event will return on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21 and 22.
Presented by the Novato Chamber of Commerce and produced by Eckerstrom Productions, the free festival includes music, vendor booths, food, craft beer and premium wines. The fun begins both days at 11 a.m., culminating on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.
There will be one stage this year at the entrance of the festival, sponsored by Hennessy Funds, on Grant Avenue and Redwood Boulevard. Headliners include: Wonder Bread 5, the Illegals (Eagles tribute), Zebop! (Santana tribute) and Soul Section. Other bands include: the Kerry Dale Blues Band, The Soul Shake, Low Levee, Swampers (Credence Clearwater tribute). Times can be found on the event’s page.
New this year are an array of street musicians that will be on corners throughout the festival. They include: James Patrick Regan of the Deadlies, Douglas Cross, Chaz Gunter, Restless Natives Duo, Lowered Expectations, Pamela Joyce and Bob McBain Duo, and the Jai Josefs Quartet.
Of course there is a wide selection of wine and microbrews, as well as a large array of festival food from the popular teriyaki chicken kebobs, crab fries, and corn dogs to snow cones. Beer is provided by Moylans Brewery, with commemorative glasses for $6, sponsored by Moylan’s and Coldwell realtor Michael Jackson.
Due to safety concerns, the popular kids zone will not be offered this year, but there will be a bungee jump, and many cute items for the children in the arts and crafts booths.
Besides a variety of fun options for the wee ones, find home decor, sculptures, clothing, sun hats, purses and leather goods, art posters and photography. Toe rings, earrings and other jewelry are also high on the priority list for shoppers. New this year is artist Peter Keresztury, sculptor and photographer.
Other major sponsors include: City of Novato, Farm Fresh to You, Novato Sanitary District, Recology Marin - Sonoma, SMART, Marin Independent Journal, Novato Advance, Umpqua Bank, Wells Fargo, and Cameron, Coffey & Kaye,
For more information, call 415-897-1164. Also find the festival on Facebook.