More than 30 live performances will fill B Street in downtown San Mateo on Saturday, Sept. 26. The September Arts & Culture Fest returns as a free, all-day celebration of music, art, dance and poetry.
The fest runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along B Street between 1st and 3rd avenues, according to the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture and the Downtown San Mateo Association are presenting the event together.
Admission is free.
Five bands take the Main Stage starting at 11:30 a.m.: The Birds (jazz), The Mirage Band (party rock and dance hits), Soul Essence (Latin soul, jazz and funk), The Wood (classic and alternative rock) and Rebel the Bay (retro rock and pop). A separate stage at Cinema Plaza will host cultural showcases, theater and dance performances throughout the day.
Mural Madness and open mic
The second annual Mural Madness competition puts local artists to work on blank canvases at Baldwin Avenue and B Street from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to the county's event page. The theme is "Community: Resilience," and attendees vote for their favorite.
Poets get the mic at Fogbird, 144 South B St., from 1 to 3 p.m. Each poet has up to five minutes, with preference given to those who live or perform in San Mateo County.
More than 30 local artists and makers, including photographer Aaron Alvarez Mendoza, ceramicist Ming-Ching Chu of Chu Chu Pottery and painter Sara Valderrama of S. Valdy Art, will sell original work along the route.
Kids, food and a blood drive
A Kid Zone offers games from Mobile Parks & Rec, hands-on art activities and books from the San Mateo Public Library. Mateo the Fox, the fest mascot, returns.
Food vendors will serve kettle corn, mochi donuts, pretzels, ice cream, churros and more. A Chamber Bar will pour local wine, beer and SuperSonics. Each beverage purchase enters buyers for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Porter House.
Stanford Blood Center will park its bloodmobile on the 1st Avenue side of Jeffrey's Hamburgers, 42 S. B St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each registered donor earns $20 in points for the Donor Loyalty Store. Appointments can be made through Stanford Blood Center's website.
Getting there
B Street between 1st and 3rd avenues and Baldwin Avenue will be closed to traffic Saturday. Parking is free all day in city-owned lots and on surrounding streets. Caltrain runs every 30 minutes on weekends, and San Mateo Station sits in the heart of the festival area. SamTrans routes ECR, 250 and 292 also serve the area. Sports Basement is providing free bicycle valet service near Jeffrey's Hamburgers at B Street and 1st Avenue. California Water Service will have a water truck on site, so bring a refillable bottle.
Notre Dame de Namur University, based in Belmont, said on X that its admissions team will staff a community booth at the fest.
The Dine and Discover Downtown San Mateo promotion runs through Wednesday, Sept. 30, offering points and prizes for visiting downtown eateries.
