Saratoga’s Blossom Festival will feature family-friendly activities
The annual Blossom Festival is set for Saturday in Saratoga, with a long list of free family-friendly activities planned at the Civic Center and adjacent Heritage Garden.
The festival attracts about 4,000 people, who come to celebrate spring and Saratoga’s rich agricultural history.
The city-sponsored event is produced by the Saratoga Historical Foundation and includes apricot and prune tasting and orchard tours.
“It’s pretty cool because it’s a piece of history we’ve brought back that people really seem to enjoy,” Foundation president Annette Stransky said. “It’s also a community event; Saratoga doesn’t have anything else like this.”
There will be gourmet food trucks to satisfy hungry appetites, a 1926 fire truck for kids to ogle, and a vintage car show.
“We usually have about 40 vehicles in the civic center parking lot,” Stransky said. “The Santa Clara Valley Model A and Model T Ford clubs are coming, but my favorite is the San Jose Chevy Car Club.”
There are lots of kids’ activities, too, including story times.
“The petting zoo is always a big hit, the Girl Scouts have three activity tables and Hakone Gardens will teach kids how to make origami,” Stransky said. “We’ll also have face painting and flower plate making; you take a paper plate and decorate it with flowers and ribbons. It keeps the kids busy.”
Also look for local artisans selling handmade soaps, sachets, pillows, blankets, jewelry and original art.
“We’ll have about 80 organizations, crafts people and live music in the orchard,” Stransky said.
Performers include the Skillet Likkers, Old School Rock ‘n Roll Band, Toot Sweet, Celtic Harmony and the Spirit of Sunnyvale Community Jazz Band. The festival has an educational component, with Indian Canyon Tribal Chairwoman AnneMarie Sayers speaking about Ohlone culture and Saratoga author Tim Stanley signing copies of his book, “The Peopling of Silicon Valley.” It covers the dramatic changes that occurred during the area’s transformation from the Valley of Heart’s Delight to Silicon Valley.
The Blossom Festival is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 at 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga. Free parking is available at West Valley College parking lot 4, 14000 Fruitvale Ave. Visit saratogahistory.com for more details.