TWAIN HARTE — The 34th annual Twain Harte Summer Arts and Wine Festival July 23 and 24 promises to be a colorful, creative, food- and fun-filled extravaganza for all ages.

What started in 1976 as a simple craft fair along one Twain Harte side street involving about 20 artists has evolved into a two-day gala throughout the town that thousands  return to enjoy year after year. While still highlighting an impressive range of respected artists and their works, the festival now includes continuous music and entertainment, wine tasting, vaudeville-style comedy, a custom car show and foods for just about every taste.

And as it has from the start, the festivities help benefit the Twain Harte Volunteer Fire Department and other community groups in the area. 

Twain Harte’s signature downtown arch over Joaquin Gulley Road is where festival goers will find about 100 booths displaying the talents of acclaimed artisans from throughout the West Coast. Pottery, watercolor, photography, hand-crafted clothes, fine jewelry, beadwork, woodworking, garden art soaps and lotions and gourmet food products are a sampling of the creations for sale. 

Among entertainers lined up for this year’s Twain Harte Summer Arts and Wine

Festival  will be Tom Rigney & Flambeau performing Cajun, Zydeco, blues and

rock. And Catch It Quick Jugglers – a team hugely popular in the Mother Lode thanks to  many past performances here – will return to show off awesome juggling routines while simultaneously keeping audiences laughing with assorted antics.   

The Twain Harte Chamber of Commerce’s popular summertime Concerts in the

Pines series will also present a show featuring the band Homegrown, a trio popular throughout the region for acoustic instruments and tight harmonies, 6 to 8 p.m. at Twain Harte’s Eproson Park.

The Chamber’s annual Wine in the Pines fundraiser, held in conjunction with the festival, has traditionally been a one-afternoon gathering but this year will take place noon to 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday at Twain Harte’s Meadow Plaza. Among wineries and wine retailers already lined up to participate are Barefoot Cellars, Bodega del Sur Winery, Chatom Vineyards, Gianelli Vineyards, Irish Vineyards, Mt. Brow Winery, Quady Winery, Terra d’Oro, Grocery Outlet, Gallo, Idle Hour Winery, and Morse Vineyards.

The festival includes a custom car show throughout the weekend at Twain Harte Center. A wide assortment of meticulously rebuilt and custom painted cars will be on display.

More information is available at www.fireonthemountian.com and www.twainhartecc.com, or by calling 209-533-3473.