The Castro Valley Rotary Club, with the help of local East Bay merchants and service organizations, will once again be staging the Valley Blues Festival.
This year the event takes place on Saturday, Sept. 17, from noon to 7 pm.
The festival highlights local blues musicians in a fun, relaxed atmosphere, and combines it with other outdoor activities to make it a great afternoon outing for blues fans of all ages.
The Festival will take place at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Grounds, halfway between Castro Valley and the Dublin/Pleasanton area.
“We had a great time last year even with the morning rain, and look forward to providing folks an even better event this year!” said Festival coordinator and Rotary Club member Cliff Sherwood.
“Rowell Ranch provides the perfect place to take in a blues concert, with its intimate setting and rural feel, yet is just minutes from the Tri-Valley and Castro Valley, Hayward and San Leandro. And, it gives us all a chance to enjoy the talents of local area musicians!”
Blues fans should note that no outside food or drink is allowed. It is for sale on site. And no pets by HARD park policy. However, folding chairs and blankets are highly recommended!
Featured performers include:
As this is a fund-raiser, a number of local businesses have stepped up to help make the event a success.
The Smith Center, a traditional supporter of the event, returns again, and the Hayward Area Recreation District (HARD) has donated a lot of their services in making Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park available for the Festival, and the Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) is making an equally generous contribution to cover expenses. KO-Websites contributed all their web development skills.
“Lots of local businesses stepping in to make a real difference,” said Dwight Perry, the Rotarian who is coordinating sponsorships, “not only with their donations, but in making it a community-wide event. We cannot thank all of them enough.”
We are repeating a successful addition from last year’s event: Local charities that support schools and athletics will all have their own mini-fundraisers at the event. Each will be running their own food booths and keeping the proceeds from whatever they sell:
- Save Our Schools Castro Valley! Will have Mexican Food from Don Jose’s.
- The Castro Valley Sports Foundation will serve BBQ.
- The Rotary Club will serve beer, wine, sodas and water.
The Valley Blues Festival is a fund-raiser for the Castro Valley Rotary’s charitable contribution program.
“We were seeking new ways to engage our community culturally, and at the same time make it easy to contribute to our local grant program,” said fellow organizer and Rotarian Randy Vanderbilt.
“We look at the Blues Festival as a popular, easy-to-enjoy way to make a contribution to helping local charities such as the local Arts, Sports and Educational Foundations while enjoying a great afternoon of music. This sort of community support is especially critical in a time of tight budgets, so we are very happy to do our part, and also provide such fun entertainment.”
The Festival will take place from noon to 7 p.m. at Rowell Ranch, 9711 Dublin Canyon Road, Castro Valley.
Tickets are $15 at the door ($10 in advance through the website). You may get more information and purchase advance tickets online at www.valleybluesfestival.com.
