Art, wine add festive flair to already fun family park

By Karen Aiello
kaiello@modbee.com

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WALNUT CREEK -- As spring slides into summer, every weekend seems to offer some chance to visit a festival, fiesta or street fair. Some invite guests along the waterfront, some are held on downtown streets and some beckon visitors to enjoy the outdoors. One of those festivals -- nestled among 102 acres of trees, grass and lakeside strolls -- is the Walnut Creek Art & Wine 2009 at Heather Farm Park. The festival, celebrating its 28th year, is a summer kickoff event hosted by the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce and features music and entertainment on two stages, along with distinctive handmade crafts and art pieces from more than 200 artisans.

Two of the favorite attractions to the festival -- the Art & Wine Festival Train and the messy but exciting Grape Stomp Competition -- will draw thousands for relaxing rail rides and vigorous and enthusiastic cheering.

Celebrating the melding of art and wine, the festival offers award-winning local and regional wines and microbrews, and will host The Wine Experience, a series of educational and interactive seminars conducted by wine experts to educate all amateur and aspiring viticulturists. Also to educate and inspire visitors will be the Going Green Eco-Village, where demonstrations and activities in conservation and sustaining the environment will be held.

If You Go

WHERE: Heather Farm Park, San Carlos Drive at Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek

WHEN: Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Heather Farm Park nonfestival hours are weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. or sunset; and weekends, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or sunset.

ADMISSION: Free

GETTING THERE: Take Interstate 580 west over the Altamont Pass. In Dublin, take Highway 680 north toward Sacramento. Take the Ygnacio Valley Road exit and turn right onto Ygnacio Valley Road. Follow Ygnacio Valley Road to San Carlos Drive and turn left on San Carlos to enter the park. For the festival, paid parking is available on site and a free continuous shuttle is available at park-and-ride locations originating at nearby Shadelands Business Park. (Note: Shadelands Business Park is located on Ygnacio Valley Road, about a mile east of the entrance to the park.)

DRIVE TIME: 1 hour, 21 minutes (MapQuest)

MORE INFO: Art & Wine 2009, 925-934-2007 or online at www.walnut-creek.com. Heather Farm Park, city of Walnut Creek, 925-943-5854 or online at Heather Farm Park.

While the Art & Wine Festival brings an added dimension to the park, regular activities also are a draw for visitors. The park offers a children's playground, located adjacent to a picnic area that comes complete with a small climbing wall; a community swimming pool, which is open most weekends throughout the summer; a 1-acre off-leash dog park, where our four-legged furry friends may frolic about; and bicycle paths through the park.

So grab your sunscreen, sunglasses, pack a lunch and perhaps even pack your dog or your bicycles and head to Heather Farm Park for an afternoon of art, wine, duck feeding, picnicking, lying in the grass and generally relaxing.

Bee assistant librarian Karen Aiello can be reached at kaiello@modbee.com or 578-2392.