Downtown Pleasanton Offers Loads of Activities Geared to Create Summer Fun

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

It might be vacation time, but the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) has not slowed the pace of crowd-pleasing events that showcase the city's twinkling, tree-lined Main Street on balmy summer nights. This season's schedule is guaranteed to chase away the summertime blues. In addition to the perennial Concert in the Park series, 13 Friday evenings of great outdoor music and family fun, the PDA will host two street parties and a wine stroll during July and August.

Over the past 10 years, the monthly First Wednesday street parties have made downtown a regular destination for as many as 20,000 people, who come to shop, eat, meander among close to 200 vendor booths, and mingle in the beer garden from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. A large swath of Main Street closes to auto traffic during the party. "Plenty of off-Main Street parking is available," assures PDA Events Coordinator Nickie Hoppe. A community event and special entertainment are typically part of the repertoire, but Hoppe is constantly adapting the formula so "there's always something new. We have a good, established footprint, but we constantly look for fresh opportunities to keep it fun for the people attending," she relates.

Warming up for Independence Day, the July 2 First Wednesday is themed "Red White and Blues." Members of the VFW Post 6298 will be leading tours of the beautifully renovated Veterans Memorial Building during the evening. Georgi & the Rough Week provide music in the beer and wine garden, which will offer beers from Anheuser-Busch, Trumer Pils, and the Main Street Brewery, as well as Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association member wines. The 91st Division Band from Camp Park, under the leadership of 1SG Keith Barlow, will make a special appearance.

Highlighting the "Dog Days of Summer" First Wednesday on August 6 is the annual Pooch Parade, presented by the Tri-Valley Guide Dog Puppy Raisers. The public is invited to pretty up the family pups, large or small, and bring them to Wayside Park, at the corner of First and Neal Streets, to register at 6:00 pm. The 11-piece band Houserockers will be reviving rock and soul classics in the beer and wine garden on Main Street. For a change of pace, visitors can stroll over to the corner of Main and St. John and listen to Jeff Reed and his mellow guitar.

The two street parties bookend the 8th annual Pleasanton Downtown Wine Stroll, slated for Thursday, July 17. With attendance limited to just 1,000 ticket holders, this popular event has a unique format that helps it stand out from the crowd. Instead of booths, vintners station themselves and their offerings inside individual downtown businesses. Echoing the tasting room environment, this type of setting encourages visitors to chat with winery representatives as they sample products of the Livermore Valley and nibble on hors d'oeuvres chosen to complement the wines being served.

For Wine Stroll tickets, the concert schedule, and other details, call the PDA at (925) 484-2199 or visit www.pleasantondowntown.net.

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