San Mateo Harvest Festival® Returns with Entertainment, Celebrities and Thousands of Handmade Gifts

July 12, 2011 - PRLog -- The San Mateo Harvest Festival®, happening November 11-13, is returning to the San Mateo Event Center to offer a thrilling shopping experience, exciting live entertainment, delicious foods and celebrity guest appearances.

On Saturday, November 12th, film critic and celebrity broadcaster Jan Wahl will host several lectures about film, and afterwards she’ll host a meet and greet for Harvest Festival attendees. At 11:30, Jan will discuss “Fabulous Females of Film”, chronicling some of the most notorious actresses of the silver screen. At 12:30, Jan’s topic will focus on “Holiday Highlights of Film”.

The interactive KidZone, allowing children to participate in hands on arts and crafts, will feature a gingerbread decorating station hosted by Gingerbread on the Go and jewelry making activities from Dragonfly Designs.  

The Barbary Coast Cloggers, founded in San Francisco, will kick up their heels and bring the rowdiness and unique spirit of North America’s indigenous dance form, clogging, to the San Mateo Harvest Festival® . Performing since 1981, the group's innovative performance style is an exciting synergy of traditional American dance imbued with originality, flare, and a certain creativity that is characteristically Californian.

Tom Rigney and Flambeau, also based out of San Francisco, will grace the stage showcasing their fiery fiddling, electrifying energy and tight ensemble playing. Tom Rigney and Flambeau have forged a unique musical genre that blends American Roots styles into something completely original--a sound that mixes irresistibly infectious grooves with deep musicality and spectacular solos.

On hand Friday only to awe audiences of all ages are comedic juggling duo Scotty and Trink. The outrageous pair has appeared in venues across the United States and their shows include everything from juggling knives to tossing flaming torches while balancing on their unicycles.

The San Mateo Harvest Festival® has selected a new charity for its 2011 show and is excited to help support the Peninsula Humane Society/SPCA by donating half of the shopping bag proceeds and all of the parcel check proceeds to the renowned non-profit. The PHS/SPCA will also be hosting a mobile adoption center on Friday and Saturday, encouraging anyone who wants to add a new furry friend to their family to stop by and meet their new potential pet.  

The San Francisco Firefighters will also be onsite holding a holiday toy drive and handing out $2 off admission coupons to anyone who brings a toy donation to the show.  

The Harvest Festivals are the largest indoor arts and crafts show on the West Coast, bringing together top artisans from around the country exhibiting all types of items, including jewelry, clothing, original art, specialty foods, pottery, toys, home décor and more. All the products offered are made by hand in the United States, and the vendors go through an extensive jury process to be accepted into the festival.


What:   The San Mateo Harvest Festival® Original Art and Craft Show
When:        November 11-13, 2011 at the San Mateo County Event Center
Hours:   Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 6pm, Sunday: 10 am – 5pm
Tickets:   Adults: $9, Seniors (62+): $7, Youth (13-17): $4, Kids 12 and Under: Free
Info:   For tickets and info, call 415-447-3205 or visit www.harvestfestival.com