Office of Dave Cortese
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 60th anniversary of Santa Clara County Parks. You can celebrate both by visiting Alviso Marina County Park during our 7th annual Day on the Bay Multicultural Festival.
The free event will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, at Alviso Marina County Park, 1195 Hope Street, Alviso.
The 18.9-acre bayside park is the gateway to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, with boardwalks and trails that offer fantastic views and an opportunity to meet the wildlife who call the refuge home. In, 2013, the park was designated as a site on the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail.
All of this provides a great backdrop to a festival that is jam-packed with fun activities, entertainment and a resource fair focused on health. We have many new features and attractions this year, starting with Bike to the Bay, a community bike ride along the Guadalupe River Park Trail from Guadalupe River Park on Coleman Avenue in San Jose to the festival. Organized by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, San Jose Bike Party and my office, the free family-friendly ride will be about 8.5 miles. A bike valet will be on duty at the park.
Also new this year is an Aquarium of the Bay Mobile Tank; First Tee, a children’s golf game; and docent-led nature hikes. Returning this year will be the San Jose Shark’s mascot Sharkie and the Slapshot Booth, and, of course, our traditional and popular kayak rides, pumpkin patch and zucchini car races. Free hamburgers will again be grilled by the Santa Clara County Firefighters.
Throughout the day, there will be giveaways, with such prizes as tickets to The A’s, the Giants, footballs from the San Francisco 49ers and gift cards to restaurants.
We have signed up 120 service providers for our Resource Fair, where you can receive free flu shots, massages and blood pressure screenings and information on vital area services. We’ve also enlisted local performers to provide multicultural entertainment on two stages.