By Khalida Sarwari
Live music, vintage cars and a petting zoo with baby animals will all be part of the fun at the 2016 Blossom Festival.
Produced by the Saratoga Historical Foundation, this year’s event takes place on March 19 and features entertainment, gourmet food trucks, art and crafts, and tons of history at the Heritage Orchard and Civic Center. The idea is to take residents back to the region’s agricultural beginnings.
“The valley was once the leading producer of prunes, and agriculture was an important industry,” said Annette Stransky, Saratoga Historical Foundation president, Blossom Festival organizer and Saratoga’s new Citizen of the Year. “With this event we want to commemorate and preserve the memory of the Blossom Festival and its historic celebration of Saratoga’s agricultural and community-focused life.”
Mayor Manny Cappello will kick of the entertainment portion of the event, led by the Saratoga Taiko drum group. Dolce Musica will provide a mix of Motown and pop, Dixieland jazz band Toot Sweet will attempt to evoke the sounds of New Orleans, and Cayuga Station will perform bluegrass music. A variety of bands, including the Celtic Harmony Band and Lee Ann Welch, are expected to perform throughout the day.
Inside the Warner Hutton House, historian Darlene Thorne will give a presentation at noon, and the Fruit Cocktail Club will show old films of Santa Clara Valley, including some of the Saratoga Blossom Festival, at 1:30 p.m. At 3 p.m., historian Jean Libby will talk about Mary Brown, the wife of abolitionist John Brown who lived in Saratoga and is buried in Madronia Cemetery.
Former poet laureates Parthenia Hicks, Dave Denny and Nils Peterson and Saratoga poet Mary Lou Taylor will read their work and sell some of their books from 11 a.m. to noon at the Warner Hutton House.
Along with independent antique car owners, the local chapters of the Model A Ford Club and the Model T Ford Club will bring their cars to showcase while the Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association will display a variety of old-time engines and farm equipment.
More than 20 costumed historical characters will be dressed as Charles and Bella Blaney, Sarah Brown, Sunshine Williams and other artists, writers and community leaders. All will be roaming around to tell their stories to anyone interested. Guests are encouraged to bring a camera and have their pictures taken or come with a question or two for the characters.
When not taking in sights and sounds, attendees are invited to take a docent-led history walk through the Heritage Orchard, buy a local history book and view aerial photos of Saratoga’s past. There will be a special display on the history of Saratoga’s incorporation and 60th birthday celebration. The San Lorenzo Valley Museum, California Pioneers of Santa Clara County and Cupertino Historical Society and Museum will also have displays.
More than 20 artisans will be selling their wares, which include lavender sachet, handcrafted pillows and straw art items, pottery, bags, silk scarves, jewelry, vintage button jewelry and aprons. Attendees can also find handcrafted olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Artists from four local art organizations will display and sell paintings and cards among other items. The participating organizations include the Saratoga Community of Painters, Saratoga Contemporary Artists, Los Gatos Art Association and Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society.
Author Tim Stanley will discuss his book, “The Last Of The Prune Pickers.” Other authors expected to make an appearance include Jean Libby, author of “John Brown”; Krista Van Laan, author of “Frank Delos Wolfe: California Prairie Architecture”; and Janet Schwind, author of “The South Skyline Story.” The Saratoga Library will also have a special story hour every hour in the Warner Hutton House.
A range of activities will be offered to those who want to be more actively engaged, including gardening, straw art, face-painting, origami, straw figure-making, beehive-creating and flower plate-making.
Many organizations will have informative displays including the Santa Clara Valley Beekeeper Guild, Master Gardeners, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Japanese American Museum of San Jose, Science and Nature, West Valley Clean Water Program, Community Emergency Response Teams, Hakone Gardens and Youth Science Institute. Representatives from local organizations include the Saratoga Rotary, American Association of University Women, West Valley Kiwanis, Saratoga Lions, Book-Go-Round, Saratoga Sister City, America in Bloom committee, Boys Team Charity, Peninsula Youth Theatre, Silicon Valley Shakespeare, Saratoga Amateur Radio Association, parks and recreation commission, scout troops and city staff.
The event drew about 3,500 people last year, according to Stransky.
The festival is free and runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 13777 Fruitvale Ave. For more information, visit saratogahistory.com.
Link: Blossom Festival will soon be blooming again in Heritage Orchard
