First Wednesday Street Parties Return to Downtown Pleasanton

By Hacienda Pulse Staff Writer

CarrAmerica Realty Corporation kicked off the season by sponsoring May's First Wednesday Street Party. Proceeds from their booth were donated to Shepherd's Gate. (Photo courtesy Lucas Heller, CarrAmerica.)

May 5 marked the return of the Pleasanton Downtown Association's First Wednesday Street Parties to historic Main Street.

The events feature food, beer and wine gardens, entertainment, and booths run by various businesses and community organizations.

"We just want people to have fun," says Craig Scharton, executive director of the Pleasanton Downtown Association. "It's pretty easy."

It's particularly easy when the event is written up in Sunset Magazine, as it was in their May issue, and when the first event of the year draws 8,000 people, two to three times more than the previous high.

Hacienda's CarrAmerica Realty Corporation was the sponsor of May's record-setting fiesta, while PeopleSoft and Documentum have signed on again for the August party.

Scharton is hoping for big crowds in the coming months as well.

"In June, the main focus will be a street dance with a few dance bands, mostly 50's and 60's music," he says. June also marks the return of the popular Pooch Parade, where people dress up their dogs and parade them down Main Street.

July's party will have a blues music theme, with three hours of music from blues musicians.

"The guy who does our booking for that right now is in France for a European blues festival, and he's working on our lineup," says Scharton.

September will focus on the 150th anniversary of the "First Crush," the first crop of grapes used in Livermore Valley wines. An Oktoberfest celebration will provide the theme for the final party of the year.

Booth space is still available for upcoming events. For more information, contact Scharton at the Pleasanton Downtown Association, (925) 484-2199, or access their web site.

Also in this issue ...

May First Wednesday Parties Downtown

First Wednesday Street Parties Return to Downtown Pleasanton