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The 1st Wednesday street parties kick off their summer run starting at 6 p.m. tonight in downtown Pleasanton, celebrating the start of the popular event with a Cinco de Mayo theme.

The Beer Garden is gone, replaced by a new alcohol-free, family-focused “Entertainment Garden” with the same large sitting area and music for dancing and listening. PDA Director Laura Olson said the street party is expected to bring renewed interest from parents who stopped attending the event because of the drinking crowd.

A cordoned-off area for families had been provided at the Beer Garden, but that space was far from the bandstand, adding more criticism from those objecting to the sometimes rowdy crowds in the area reserved for alcoholic beverages.

Besides the new Entertainment Garden, the PDA also is expanding its Farmers Market this year, moving it closer to the heart of the event and giving shoppers an additional summer day to buy fresh produce in downtown Pleasanton. The same certified Farmers Market that is on Angela Street on Saturdays will be open from 6-9 p.m. on 1st Wednesdays on St. Mary Street.

Also this year, 1st Wednesdays will continue to host artists and artisans at “ArtBlock,” located on Angela Street. The block allows strollers to visit with painters, sculptors, jewelers and more.

Plus, there will be live music each month in addition to the featured band in the Entertainment Garden. Musicians including local bands, youth groups and others will be featured in various locations during the 1st Wednesday season.

In addition to the start of the 1st Wednesday street parties, the PDA’s Concerts in the Park will start Friday evening, June 6, with classic soul music by the West Grand Boulevard band. The concerts, which start at 7 p.m. in Lions Wayside Park at the corner of First and Neal streets in Pleasanton, will feature:

The James Nagel Band on June 13;

Ruckatan Latin Tribe, June 20;

The Crisis, June 27;

Cooltones, July 11;

OTR, July 18;

Plastic Paddy , July 25;

Finding Stella, Aug. 1;

Tommy and the 4 Speeds, Aug. 8;

Burton & Co, Aug. 15;

Magic Moments, Aug. 22;

and Public Eye, Aug. 29, which will be the final concert of the season on Labor Day weekend.

For more information about the PDA and its events, sign on to the organization’s website at http:www.pleasantondowntown.net/

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1 Comment

  1. “family oriented and pet-friendly “Entertainment Garden””

    Can someone please explain to me why EVERY Pleasanton event has to encourage dogs? There is a place for dogs and it absolutely is not downtown among thousands of people on the hot streets. When the first person is bitten by a dog how does the PDA and the City of Pleasanton plan to pay for the lawsuit?

    There will be food vendors there as well as a farmer’s market. Dogs are forbidden from farmer’s markets and required to be 20 feet away from any food vendor. This is CA law and the Alameda county health department will be happy to enforce it. Does the PDA really want the health department to shut down their event because the dog owners of Pleasanton cannot go anywhere without their dogs?

    I plan to be at every event taking photos of any dogs where they do not belong. I will send the pictures to the health department. If the PDA does not enforce the health rules then the event can just be shut down. Enough is enough, leave your dogs at home!

  2. At “leave your dogs at home!”….
    GET A LIFE ALREADY! What loser roams events taking pictures of all misbehaving dogs??? You are a very sad human being my friend. I truly feel sorry for you.

  3. To the “I love dogs”,

    It sounds sad to me that you have to call people names to make yourself feel better. I feel sorry for you. Not everyone loves your dogs. Keep them on the leach and follow the laws, or suffer the consequences. I also encourage people to take out their phones and photograph or take video.

  4. Everyone who I know that frequents the booths each year also participates in the beer/wine drinking in the beer garden. I wonder how much profits will drop because of this decision, and how long until they decide to back pedal their decision.

  5. We are soooo sick and tired of listening to such PICKY and self Centered people in our community. For od’s sake Live and Let live…this world has enough problems with out being so petty. Thank God you have a place to get some fresh air and enjoy the freedom you have in this country.

    If it’s not dogs, it’s the loud music, if it’s not the loud music then it’s the booze people partake..it could be worse and you would have the prostitutes out hustling your husbands or the druggies trying to get your children hooked. Grow up and enjoy the privileges we all deserve.

  6. Okay so I left the “G ” out of God..I’m sure someone out there will correct
    or complain…at least I’m human and admit when I make an error.

  7. WOW…. taking photo’s of every dog at the event. I personally bring my dog to the event, and enjoy others. I think sometimes the dogs are better behaved than the adults. First Wednesday is a wonderful event for all to enjoy, if you do not like the dogs well then just STAY HOME!

  8. Since we live so close to Oakland, I always roam the grounds and take cell phone pictures of anyone who I think looks suspicious. Then if, say, a 7-11 is robbed nearby, I’m able to provide police with a list a likely suspects based upon their appearance and where they appear to be from.

    Most of the time the police don’t welcome my efforts. It may seem dillusional but I think without question their trying to stretch out the time it takes to find the criminals because of union rules that allow for more overtime pay footed by the taxpayer.

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