31st Annual Menlo Summerfest
A community celebration of summer for over 30 years, the Menlo Summerfest takes over Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park for two days of art, entertainment, food, fun and frivolity for the entire family. The theme for this year’s 31st annual free festival is “Hot Fun in the Summertime.”
Summerfest’s main attractions include:
Artsplash
Comprised of more than 200 world-class artists from around the world, Artsplash is the fine arts element of Summerfest. “Festivalgoers will find handcrafted treasures in all price-points by many of their favorite artists and discover one-of-a-kind items by emerging, talented newcomers,” said Director of Pacific Fine Arts Festivals Dana Hale-Mounier. Each artist will also be able to enter the Summer Vibe Art Contest using their unique artistic medium and flair to convey what Summer Vibe means to them.
Entertainment
According to the festival website, “Eleven top-shelf bands, two big stages and multiple street locations of sensational live music plus a warm, sun-splashed weekend transform Menlo Park into the Bay Area’s entertainment mecca for the city’s big, mid-summer shindig.” The main stage will now be location on El Camino Real to create a lively, energetic hub of “music, food, drink, excitement and energy.“ The Mod Mix Millennial Stage is set in Summerland in Fremont Park and a multitude of street musicians and performers will wander throughout the festival.
Food
Summerfest has two food feature areas where festivalgoers can grab a bite, the Mobile Eats Food Truck and Savory City. Mobile Eats offers an array of fresh food with a summer twist including Texas BBQ, oysters, crab rolls, shaved ice and so much more. Savory City is the festival’s gourmet food extravaganza, a delicious conglomeration of specialty food purveyors offering their edibles for sample and sale.
Drink
Signature craft cocktails with a tropical twist, an assortment of microbrews and ales along with exceptional wines from Domenico Winery are all available at the Summefest Deelish Drink section.
Fun
The Super Duper Kidz Funzone offers an action-packed amusement area with thrill rides and attractions including the Spider Jump, Super Slide, Tea Cups, Wild Raft, Wrecking Ball and more. The entire family will enjoy the 24-foot rock climbing wall and getting their likeness captured in caricature. Face painting, craft booths and even a touch of education in the Stone Room where kids will learn about geology.
Run
The Summefest Fun Run & Walk starts at 9am right before Summerfest kicks off their second day. Sponsored by Menlo Park Fleet Feet, the event is great for all ages, offering a 1 or 3.1-mile course and ending with popsicles, lots of fun swag, and a family photo in an ice cream truck.
Menlo Summerfest also is doing their part to promote and encourage a zero waste event by offering recycling and composting receptacles as well as requiring food vendors to use compostable foodware. The event will also offer demos and samples of a variety of organic, healthy, eco-friendly products to encourage festivalgoers to adopt a ‘greener’ lifestyle.
Menlo Summerfest “Hot Fun in the Summertime”
Saturday & Sunday, July 15 and 16, 2017
10am-6pm
Santa Cruz Avenue between El Camino Real & Johnson Street
Menlo Park, CA
