Bay Area Labor Day Weekend Food Festivals
Many free regional food festivals around the bay are scheduled during this Labor Day weekend.
More than 65,000 people are expected to attend each day of the 42nd Annual Millbrae Art and Wine Festival, on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
The Bay Area’s largest Labor Day Weekend festival boast a great cast of live music groups, as well as a wide variety of festival foods and drinks, including premium wines, microbrews, and cocktails. More than 250 art and craft vendors, organic and green products for sale, home and garden exhibits, and amusement rides in the Kids’ Playland. And don’t miss the special events: “Classically Cool Car Show” display of classic, custom and exotic cars, and the “Streets Filled With Talent Community Stage” music and dance showcase.
Note that pets are not allowed at the festival. There will be free round trip shuttle service, available every twenty minutes from the Millbrae BART Caltrain station.
The 20th Annual King Tut Festival at St. Antonius Coptic Church, 2500 Hansen Road, in Hayward, starts this evening Friday, August 31 (5 pm to 10 pm), and then all day on Saturday, September 1 (10am to 9pm), and Sunday, September 2 (12pm to 8pm).
Sample traditional Egyptian cuisine like shawarmas (seasoned stack of grilled meats, sliced and served on a flatbread), kofta (meatballs in skewers), dolmas (rice and beef wrapped in grape leaves), kebabs, sweet pastries, baklava, kunafeh, and many other tasty food items. Arts and crafts vendors will have traditional Egyptian clothing, replica artifacts and ornate jewelry for sale.
The church’s festival features entertainment for the entire family, live music, dress like a Pharaoh and take souvenir photos, historical and cultural information, documentary movies to learn about Egypt, and a kids activities playground. All proceeds from the festival will help fund the building of a community center for area residents. Free parking is available at Hayward High School, 1633 East Avenue, Hayward, with free shuttle service to the festival grounds.
Further south, a similar but smaller charity festival on Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm, also features lively musical performances, delicious grilled meats, and a kids playground. The Second Annual SF Bay Area Lebanese Festival in downtown Redwood City (2200 Broadway Street), is organized by Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church. Festival proceeds fund the church’s youth education programs, about Lebanese traditions and customs for the Bay Area Lebanese community. Free parking is available at the County Garage, 400 Middlefield Road, Redwood City.
Top Photo Credit: Millbrae Art and Wine Festival. Video links from each respective festival organizer’s websites.
