the 52nd Annual Fall Festival
You don’t want to miss September 7th and 8th in downtown Castro Valley when the Fall Festival returns for fun and excitement for everyone! The Fall Festival Food features great music, plenty of food, and lots of fun. It all begins at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 7 and ends at 5:00 pm on Sunday, September 8. And the place is Castro Valley Boulevard. The event is sponsored by the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Castro Valley / Eden Area Chamber of Commerce hosts this event for many reasons. It highlights Castro Valley’s vibrant downtown and the businesses contained to both local residents and those who travel into the event. It also reminds everyone to shop & dine local including many of the vendors who are present at the event. The weekend opens on Saturday morning with a performance
by the Madrigals. This premier acapella singing group from Castro Valley High School has performed all around the US, including Carnegie Hall, and they have won many awards. Members are chosen after a rigorous audition process. Only seniors, juniors, and a very few sophomores are selected. They will be followed by lots of other excellent musical groups on two stages at opposite ends of the street.
Again, this year the Castro Valley Sanitary District and Alameda County Industries will help us to keep everyone safe by parking their trucks to block trafc on the street. In addition, they will handle all of the waste from the event. CV San is a member of the Chamber and an outstanding partner of us and many other community organizations. We greatly appreciate their assistance.
“We in the Chamber are really looking forward to this weekend,” said Gary Slate. “But we could not do this by ourselves. We want to thank all of the many people who will make it a huge success. This includes all the vendors, performers, sponsors, and guests. Let’s have a great time!”
Please note that the Boulevard will be closed to vehicle trafc from Redwood Road to Santa Maria beginning at 9:00 pm on Friday, September 6, until midnight, Sunday, September 8. Jamieson is available as an alternative route. Please also see all our amazing sponsors that make this event possible
on the cover, and visit edenareachamber.com to check out our amazing members.
–Board of Directors Castro Valley/ Eden Area Chamber of Commerce
Gather the entire family (and friends too) for two days of food, music and entertainment!
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY BRESLOW
FAMILY FUN
Schedule of Performances
Saturday, September 7, 2024
10:00 - 11:00 11:15 - 12:15
12:30 - 1:30
1:30 - 2:30
2:30 - 3:15
3:15 - 4:00 4:00 - 5:00 5:00 - 6:00
BEDFORD STAGE
PHARAOHS DREAM (BELLY DANCER)
CASTRO VALLEY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
PHIL SANTOS VIOLINS
NEWARK WADAIKO JAPANESE DRUMMING
BEDAZZLED DANCE STUDIO
BEDFORD STUDIOS PRESENTS
DANCE LIVE DREAM CENTER
FLEET STREET (ROCK AND POP SOUNDS)
REDWOOD BANDSTAND STAGE
10:00 - 10:30 10:30 - 12:00 12:00 - 1:30
1:30 - 3:00 3:00 - 4:30 4:30 - 6:00
MADRIGALS (CVHS)
MANCHILD AND THE CIRCUIT (ROCK)
PHANTOM POWER (HEAVY ROCK N’ ROLL)
THE RIDE (VARIETY)
TAKE COVER (POP VARIETY)
DOOR JAMZ (TRIBUTE TO THE DOORS)
Sunday, September 8, 2024
10:00 - 11:00 11:00 - 12:00 12:15 - 1:00 1:00 - 1:45
2:00 - 3:30
3:45 - 4:15
4:15 - 5:00
BEDFORD STAGE
TROUPE JOURNEY (BELLY DANCING)
JOAN BASCOM SINGERS
JULIE COURTNEY & ERIC MOEHLE
BEDFORD STUDIOS
CASTROVALLEY PERFORMING ARTS
PALLEN MARTIAL ARTS
JOAN BASCOM PRESENTS
REDWOOD BANDSTAND STAGE
10:00 - 11:30 11:30 - 1:00
1:00 - 2:30 2:30 - 4:00 4:00 - 5:00
IN SWING (JAZZ ORCHESTRA)
THE REVERBIVORES (SURF ROCK)
HEARTLESS BENATAR (70s ROCK)
SOUNDs OF SKYNYRD (TRIBUTE)
LOS DADDIOS
From 80’s & 90’s hits to dinosaur-inspired instrumental surf rock, there’s guaranteed to be tunes to make everyone get the urge to dance.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY BRESLOW
ANNUAL
PhilIP Santos Violins
Philip Santos began teaching violin and viola at CSUEB in 1999. He has directed the String Ensemble, coordinated programs and musicians, and performed for the annual Glenn Glasow Memorial Concert. Concertmaster of the Fremont Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Santos is also Assistant Concertmaster of the Marin Symphony and Principal Second Violin of the California Symphony. He has been a member of the Berkeley Sympho
ny, Oakland Symphony, Monterey Symphony, and San Francisco Sym-
phony and has played with San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras, as well as the Chicago Symphony. Mr. Santos has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Berkeley Symphony with conductor Kent Nagano. He played Concertmaster for Frank Sinatra and Chuck Mangione and has appeared with other legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Itzhak Perlman, YoYo Ma, Andre Watts, continued on page 7
SUNDAY 2:30 - 4
Sounds of Skynard
Sounds of Skynard is a Castro Valley-based band with two guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, and lead vocals. The group has been working on the Lynyrd Skynyrd material for about a year—a labor of love for sure. The band says it’s ready to deliver some rockin ‘tunes… and when someone calls out Freebird… the band will actually play it.
SATURDAY 4:30 - 6
Door Jamz: TRIBUTE BAND TO THE DOORS
Blain Deaton leads the musicians in Door Jamz… a tribute band to The Doors and other 60s psychedelic artists. Deaton was born at the old Eden Hospital in the 60s, grew up in Castro Valley, and graduated from Castro Valley High School.
An old friend of Jim Bedford, Deaton took vocal lessons from Jim beginning in the late 80s until 1994. “Jim was one of my biggest inspirations musically and personally,” Deaton said. “He is a fantastic teacher as well as a performer. He intro-
duced me to a band of young musicians that he was working with called “Seduction” in 1988. They were very talented young players with great vocals. Jim was a mentor to all of us with his many years of experience in the business.
ANNUAL
CVHS Madrigals
Madrigals is the premier auditioned ensemble at the CVHS, selected from juniors, seniors, and a few select sophomores through a rigorous audition process. These students study and perform advanced levels of choral literature composed specifcally for small ensembles. Each year, they compete in high-stakes choral competitions, including Northern California’s prestigious Golden State Choral Competition, and routinely earn Superior ratings. In 2018, Madrigals earned the honor of First Place Chamber Choir in California. Madrigals combine with A Cappella S/A and A Cappella T/B to form the advanced large ensemble at the school: A Cappella. Madrigals are the leaders and the public face of their choral music program and serve as the “Musical Ambassadors” of CVHS.
SATURDAY 10 - 10:30
1:30 - 2:30
Wadaiko Japanese Drumming
Be on the lookout for the Newark Wadaiko Japanese Drumming performers. Wadaiko is the Japanese term for the traditional style of drumming known in the Western world as Taiko. Wadaiko is more than simply playing rhythms; it’s striving to become one with these great drums, your fellow drummers and the tradition of Taiko. The Taiko Drum was used to celebrate the harvest, bring on the rain, to frighten away evil spirits. This group really gets the crowd going.
SUNDAY 2 - 3:30
Castro Valley Performing Arts DANCERS
Castro Valley Performing Arts is a familyoriented school that provides quality dance training in a positive, nurturing, and enthusiastic environment. Through classes, performances, and unique experiences, our dancers learn essential life skills such as teamwork, responsibility, respect, and time management. Students study the arts for many reasons. Many students study to have fun, enrich themselves, and keep physically ft…others would like
to pursue a career in the arts. Students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and explore their creativity in a healthy, nurturing classroom setting. We pride ourselves on always being age-appropriate with our curriculum, costuming, and music choices. Castro Valley Performing Arts dedicates itself to providing a rewarding dance experience for those who are just learning to dance as well as for those who have been dancing for years.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY BRESLOW
ANNUAL
Fall Festival: 52 Years of Chamber Success
By Michael Singer
The Castro Valley Fall Festival is a time for the community to gather and explore its diverse music, food, and art communities. For the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, it also marks another year of growth and change.
This year’s 52nd Fall Festival will occur on Saturday and Sunday, September 7-8, on Castro Valley Boulevard between Redwood Road and San Miguel Avenue. Presented by the Chamber and its event sponsors, more than 125 vendors and attractions will again line the streets and the center of the downtown district.
Attendance is expected to be even higher than last year, and the Chamber is sponsoring a few incentives for
residents and business owners to spread the word about the Fall Festival. For example, Fall Festival banners and fyers are posted all over town. Taking a photo of the fyer, posting it on social media, and using the tag @EdenAreaChamber, automatically enters you into a grand prize to be announced this weekend.
Last month, the Chamber encouraged people to choose whether to bring back decorative glassware to celebrate the festival’s long history. Currently, beverages are provided in disposable cups because of concerns over broken glass at the festival. However, the Chamber is considering traditional wine glasses embossed with exclusive designs, potentially for milestone years such as the 55th in 2027 or the 60th in 2032.
The Fall Festival is just one way the Chamber has changed over the past year. In the past 12 months, the group has increased membership to nearly 370, expanded its Ashland offce, offered even more business-related assistance programs, and added regular Lunch and Learn sessions on topics for small businesses such as insurance, marketing, and employee safety.
“Really being able to connect with shop owners and help small businesses succeed is one of the main reasons I wanted to be a part of the Chamber,” Chamber CEO Gary Slate told the Forum.
Fifty-two years ago, a band of dedicated Castro Valley business owners joined together as the Chamber of Commerce to host its frst-ever Fall Festival. First held in the Cas-
tro Village Shopping Center, the Chamber voted to provide a showcase for Castro Valley businesses and artisans while showing off Castro Valley as the “Heart of Good Living.”
The event offered attendees a wine-tasting, fashion show, and art exhibit. The success
of that frst year prompted a second event in 1973, which the Chamber offcially named the Fall Festival.
At the time, Wayne Starkweather, president of the Fall Festival, managed the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant on Redwood Road. He called
the Fall Festival “The Community and Cultural Event in Castro Valley.”
In his note to attendees and the Chamber, Starkweather expressed his gratitude to the community and predicted good things for the future of the event. “With resounding public and civic approval and cooperation, it is the founders’ deepest design to make it a total community involvement and that the Fall Festival becomes an annual Castro Valley cultural experience.”
That prediction has come true. To date, the Chamber has expanded its large-venue events, including the Spring Festival in Ashland, the return of the Light Parade along the Boulevard in November, and this weekend’s Fall Festival. Visit the Chamber website at www.edenareachamber.com.
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY BRESLOW