Noe Valley Voice October 2011
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Harvest in the ’Hood

Noe Valley’s Fall Festival Rolls In Oct. 15

By Heather World

 

Hitch a Ride. Because of the expected crowds, it would be good horse sense to hop the stagecoach at Walgreen’s to this year’s Harvest Festival on 24th Street.    Photo by Sally Smith 

Sow the seeds of neighborhood pride at the seventh annual Noe Valley Harvest Festival Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and enjoy music, hayrides, and costume contests along 24th Street from Church to Sanchez.

This year’s fair features two music stages. Maestro Richard Hildreth has lined up seven bands for the main stage at Church Street, including Sippy Cups star Alison Faith Levy at 10 a.m., Gretchen Garnett & Dancers at 11:30 a.m., Erin Brazill and the Brazillionaires at 2 p.m., and local teen rockers The SHE’s at 4 p.m. Noe Valley cartoonist and comedian Michael Capozzola will emcee the show.

The second stage will be in the farmer’s market, which will stay open for the duration of the festival. Another seven bands will play, starting with guitarist Tom Huber at 9:30 a.m., 12-year-old Kif at 11:30 a.m., and ending with the Tumbleweed Wanderers at 3:30 p.m.

There will also be more child-centered crafts, says event planner Sylvia Buettner. “One piece of feedback we got last year is that the lines were too long for face-painting and that sort of thing,” she says. “So this year, there will be more hands-on kids stuff,” some of it happening in the parklet in front of Martha & Bros.

The popular dunking booth will return, as will the pumpkin patch. Street entertainment will be provided by performers from the multi-talented Circus Finelli.

Local volunteer Marianne Hampton will be managing the costume contests—for both kids and pets—which kick off at the main stage at 1:30 p.m. A pie-eating contest will follow at 2:30 p.m.

“The contests culminate in a parade,” says Hampton. “That sounds like so much fun.” Prizes will include toys from Small Frys children’s store as well as from Apple Park, an all-organic toy company run by a neighborhood resident, Hampton says.

Hayride lovers can hop on the covered wagon in front of Walgreen’s on Castro Street, or at Sanchez and 24th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In between, shoppers can browse more than 60 booths, offering art, jewelry, clothing, gifts, prints, and ceramics. Neighborhood nonprofits, including the James Lick PTA, will have space, too.

Tickets to a raffle, whose grand prize is a Hawaiian vacation, will cost $2 each, or three for $5. Proceeds benefit the Noe Valley Association, which pays for 24th Street’s flower baskets, planters, and street cleaning.

The festival is an all-volunteer effort by Noe Valley residents and business people, as well as members of Friends of Noe Valley, the Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals Association, Church Street Professionals, St. Philip’s Church, and the Noe Valley Association. This year’s sponsors include Hill & Company Real Estate, Patxi’s Pizza, Pet Camp, Droubi Team, Whole Foods, Wells Fargo, Sterling, and First Republic banks, and the Noe Valley Farmers’ Market.

“It takes a village to pull this together,” Hampton says.

Parking will be available in the schoolyard at James Lick Middle School, at Noe and 25th streets. The parking is a PTA fundraiser for the school, and the suggested donation is between $5 and $10.

For further information go to www.noevalleyassociation.org.