This year we have a great lineup of Entertainment for you with some of your old favorites and some new exciting venues too!  We also have a variety of displays and events, something for everyone in the family.

Entertainment and Displays throughout the Festival Grounds

Here's a Peek at some of this years entertainment and a
Schedule of Events, Times and Map below.

Local Vocals

The Local Vocals group serves up vintage and contemporary tunes that are guaranteed to set your toe a tapping, place the words on your lips, and place a glow in your heart.  The local trio invites you to find your part in their three part harmonies and deep felt muse.  The Local Vocals accompany themselves with Kevin Mounts on guitar, Michael Nunez on bass and Jim Love on percussion.

 The Mudskippers

The Mudskippers are returning to the Village by popular demand and will delight the Friday night harvest Festival crowd with their special blend of Mardi Gras and Dixieland music.  This lively ensemble also features dance music of the 1940’s.  The group is comprised of several well know area instrumentalists and features the spirited vocals of Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judith Bean.

Coastal Dance & Music Academy's Performance Troupe

Coastal Dance & Music Academy's Performance Troupe for the Harvest Festival Program. Coastal Dance and Music Academy's Performance Troupe, under the direction of Kathy Schultz and Tara Behnke, consists of seven different groups, ranging in age from 6 years old to the Dancin' Divas, CDMA's senior age performers. Performance members study ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and hip hop as well as performance skills. The result is a non-stop high energy show with an array of colorful costumes and age appropriate music and movement. Performances this season have included the Mid-State Fair, Pier 39 in San Francisco, Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival, Avila Fish and Farmer's Market and the annual recital at the Clark Center. CDMA, located on Grand Avenue in Arroyo Grande, is pleased to be a part of this year's Harvest Festival.

Studio of Performing Arts

Farmers' Market

        Our local farmers will proudly being selling their fruits and vegetables along Olohan Alley.   Special presentations will be made on the farming industry, honey bees, honey and more.

More:  http://www.slocountyfarmers.org

Full Circle

     Full Circle Full Circle is a diverse band that offers a wide variety of music including: Blues, Rock & Roll, Disco, Jazz and Classic Rock. The band has been performing for three years and has become very tight in the past year. They consider their group as a "Dance Band" and choose songs that help their fans move with a groove. Their audiences always kick up their heels!

     Full Circle has performed at numerous Central Coast clubs, farmers markets, wineries, weddings and private parties.

     The band members are: Lead Vocalist Karen Alcazar; Rick Briley on Lead Guitar & Vocals; Chris Fitzgerald on Keyboards & Vocals; Vern Guerro on Drums & Vocals and Noah Briley on Bass Guitar. Band members have loads of fun onstage and are as passionate about their music as they are about pleasing their fans.

Train Display

        The San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association is dedicated to model railroading on the Central Coast.   Its activities include public and private exhibitions of model railroad layouts, operating sessions, tips and techniques workshops, educational and heritage programs, social events contests and awards supporting the National Model Railroad Association achievement program, and the general promotion of the hobby.  Members enjoy significant benefits including discounted purchases, resource and knowledge sharing, access to club assets and materials, participation in its many events, and privileges on some of the finest model railroads in the area. Membership is open to everyone.  The club meets at the Oceano Depot at 7:00pm on the third Monday of each month and visitors are welcome.

Caption: Pacific Coast Railway number 101 crosses Nipomo Creek on this model of bridge 70, located a few miles north of the Santa Maria River.  This model was built for the San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association (SLOMRA.org).  The Pacific Coast Rwy served the central coast from 1875 until 1942. Text: The Pacific Coast Railway was a narrow gauge (36 inches between the rails) line that ran from Harford's Pier at Port San Luis to San Luis Obispo, then south through Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Santa Maria, Orcutt, Los Alamos and Los Olivos.  Before there were paved roads the railroad hauled the lumber used to build SLO county, ag products, gravel, oil and passengers.   The Pacific Coast Rwy served the central coast from 1875 until 1942.  Engine 101 has a 2-6-0 wheel arrangement and was built in December 1893 by Baldwin.  The engine was scrapped in 1924.   This is a model of the Pacific Coast Railway bridge number 70 that crosses Nipomo Creek at milepost 38.5.  The tracks crossed this bridge just north of where Highway 101 crosses Nipomo Creek today.  The high tension power line is still there.  The tracks also cross Thompson Road just north of the bridge.  Thompson Road is the original El Camino Real used by the Spanish missionaries and the road Lt. Col. John C. Fremont's troops took on his way to take California from Mexico. This O-Scale (1:48) module was built as part of a larger layout for the San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association (SLOMRA.org).  The engine is a modified Bachmann On30 Mogul.  The Hereford cows are a common range breed of the period.  The model was researched and built by Dennis Pearson of Nipomo, California.

More:  http://www.slomra.org

Central Coast Celebration Chorus
     
       

Chameleon Productions
"Guys and Dolls"

Chameleon Productions has been entertaining the central coast with professional-quality musical theater since 1995 when director/producer team Dana and Jenny Shaheen staged Chameleon’s first production, Jesus Christ Superstar.  Since then, they have thrilled audiences with their productions of Broadway hits such as West Side Story, Cabaret, Oklahoma!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sweeney Todd, Evita and Jekyll & Hyde.

This fall, Chameleon Productions is proud to present one of America’s favorite and most famous musicals:  Guys and Dolls.   This family-friendly musical will be a treat for the eyes and ears.  Drawing from the central coast’s most talented performers, choreographers, and costume, lighting and set designers, Chameleon Productions has put together another top-notch show that you won’t want to miss!  Tickets are on sale now at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande, 805-489-9444, www.clarkcenter.org.  Performance dates:   October 31 – November 15.

Tony Vice

     Tony has been playing music all his life. He began as a gospel piano player and singer in his teens and took up guitar and banjo during the folk era. He became a professional musician in 1970 in New York and played everywhere from Gerde¹s Folk City to Carnegie Hall. In 1975 he put together a highly successful country band. For the next 5 years he toured from Nashville to Las Vegas. He opened for or played back up for Kitty Wells, Bill Anderson, Cal Smith, Ian Tyson and lots of other friends and heroes. In 1980 he moved to LA and put together a band. He played the Palomino, the Cowboy, the Crazy Horse Saloon, The Cowboy Palace and lots of other clubs. In the late 80s he met and married JoAnn, and bought a ranch near Tehachapi. He retired from teaching special education in the Spring of 2007 and spends his time doing carpentry, fishing, writing, recording and performing .

     Tony recently released a cd of original cowboy music called Music From Redwing Ranch. He recently wrote and recorded a song about the California wildfires, a thoughtful song about the future of the planet and a song about a little, lost dog for animal rescue organizations. Tony plays solo most of the time, and his performances are dynamic, funny and always entertaining. Tony has played at cowboy events at the Autry Western Heritage Museum, Elko, Monterey, Stagecoach Music Festival, the Lone Pine Film Festival and the Kern County Museum. He also played at the Bluebird in Nashville and as opening act to Chely Wright. He plays concerts, clubs, campfires, cowboy gatherings, parties and dances ­ for the love of the music.

Big Ditch Derby

Click Here for More Info

Ice Cream Olympics!

       Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab will host the 3rd annual Ice Cream Olympics at the Nelson Green at 3:30. Contestants ages 4-14 will compete in fun games that include the Scoop Catch, Waffle Throw, and Cone Building.

     The ever popular ice cream eating contest will be on the bandstand steps prior to the Kiddie Parade with Ballooney the Clown. The ice cream eating contest is limited to the first 100 kids age 4-14. You can enroll early at Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Parlor the week prior to the Harvest Festival.

   Agriculture Pavillion

HAIR!

performing on the Historic Bridge on Saturday at 2:00pm

Haunted House


Haunted Maze in the Village

The Boys & Girls Club’s “Keystone” teen leadership program will create a bone chilling maze at this year’s Harvest Festival in Kiwanis Park.  Come find your way out amongst roaming monsters and spooks around every corner!   The haunt begins Friday the 26^th, 4-9, and Saturday, 10-5.  The scares are appropriate for all brave ages and may get scarier when the night rises.

See you there... if you dare.

Arroyo Grande High School Robotics Team

The robot for 2008 is named "Hammertime."

http://www.eaglerobotics.com

Japanese History in the South County:
Farming, Friends and Baseball, 1900 - 1960
& Teppenyaki Stir Fry

Ballooney the Clown

       Always a favorite with the young and young at heart, Ballooney the Clown, aka, Mike Kilton, will perform for the Harvest Festival again this year.  Ballooney has been entertaining for more than 20 years throughout the United States, the Carribean and overseas, and has entertained in the Arroyo Grande area since 1994.

        He takes part in the morning Parade and then entertains the children in his "Kid Zone" on the Village Green all afternoon.  With hundreds of props and a wild imagination Ballooney keeps the kids in stitches all day!   Not only does he perform for the children but he
involves them in educational games and fun activities.

 Spelling Bee

      Calling all students from 3rd through 8th grade to enter the annual old fashioned spelling bee to be held at the Santa Manuela Schoolhouse on Saturday, Sept. 27th starting at 1:00p.m.   1st and 2nd prizes will be gift certificates for Doc Burnstein's ice cream and all participants will receive a gift just for entering. 

      Registration forms are at the local schools or you can register at the schoolhouse Saturday morning from 10 until 1 during the annual Harvest Festival.

Kids Parade

        Last year Ballooney initiated his afternoon closing "Kid Parade"  This was a big hit and proves to be bigger and better this year!  The kids should gather with Ballooney next to the Rotary Bandstand at 4:00pm to receive their costumes and instructions.  Once all are in costume the group will parade around the Village Green, across the Swinging Bridge and end up circling through the Olohan Alley.   Parents are encouraged to join their small children since Ballooney will have a costume for them too!
 

2008 Schedule of Events and Entertainment by Area

Schedule of Events listed by Time

Festival Grounds Map

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