27th annual food, music event promises fun for all

By Staff Report
Visitors to the 27th Annual Taste of Morgan Hill held in historic downtown Morgan Hill Sept. 24 and 25 will see some exciting changes.
First and foremost, the main stage at this year’s event will be moved from West Third Street to East Third Street to use the new Third Street Plaza in front of the newly opened downtown garage. This will provide more room for festival-goers listening to music, dancing and enjoying some of the best cuisine offered at the Taste.
There will be plenty of room for visitors to dance to the live music and hang out and relax with friends by sitting at tables surrounding the venue. The Third Street Plaza location will allow patrons to dine and enjoy the various family-friendly shows off the main part of the Taste. (See Mark Fenichel’s Music in the Air column on page 13 for an entertainment schedule).
This year will also see some new arts and crafts vendors show their wares along Monterey Road, as well as some of the festival regulars who have grown popular with patrons over the years coming to the Taste of Morgan Hill.
“We are always working to upgrade the quality of fine art and crafts vendors while including some of the longtime vendors who make a point of joining us each and every year,” said Janis McDonald, director of operations for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, the nonprofit business organization which puts on the annual festival. “We promise a fun, hometown festival that attracts more than 50,000 people.”
Also new this year is the partnership the chamber has formed with the Santa Clara County Farm Bureau and is looking forward to the displays they’ll bring in. Also, at the main wine and beer tent chamber volunteers will be pouring mimosas, a drink newly added to the menu of beverages, for those who like a morning cocktail while strolling
through the festival.
For the first time, the Taste of Morgan Hill will include live theatrical performances from the South Valley Civic Theatre. Children from the theater group will perform 10-minute live song and dance selections from “The Little Mermaid Jr.” at 6 p.m. Saturday as well as at 4 p.m. Sunday.
A new and expanded Kids Zone with more rides and games will be featured in the same parking lot location next to downtown’s Wells Fargo Bank. Returning will be the pony rides and petting zoo, annual popular attractions.
While the chamber is adding a few new wrinkles to an otherwise successful festival, many popular attractions are returning, such as the Locavores. This group of locally grown and sourced foods proved popular with crowds when it debuted two years ago.
The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, a longtime staple at the festival and a favorite of children, will return to its usual spot on the west side of Monterey Road between Second and Third streets.
Also returning will be several locations set up throughout the festival for acoustic musical acts that will feature solo or duet musicians performing both days. The Taste’s Classic and Custom Car Show will be held on Monterey Road from Dunne Avenue to Fourth Street. The annual Harvest Quilt & Fiber Arts Show will take place inside the Community and Cultural Center.
The Taste will have something for every age group, McDonald promised.
“We hope to see you all downtown the last weekend of September,” she added. “Come enjoy the Taste of Morgan Hill, a favorite way to close out the summer season.”
Parking is available at the new downtown parking garage (enter on Fourth Street) as well as at the Valley Transportation Authority parking lot and the lot on Depot Street.

TASTE OF MORGAN HILL

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday Sept. 24 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Sept. 25
Where: Historic downtown Morgan Hill