Whet your appetites: Taste of Morgan Hill is just around the corner

Blues musician Shane Dwight highlights a list of local acts that are set to rock the Sept. 28-29 weekend in downtown Morgan Hill for the 24th annual Taste of Morgan Hill.
While Dwight will perform from 7 to 9:15 p.m. Saturday on the Third Street Stage to close out the opening day festivities, the two-day extravaganza offers gourmet foods, local premium wines, a microbrew beer garden, drinks, a car show, kid zone, arts and crafts, quilts and fiber arts show, exhibitions and dancing.
Admission and parking are free to an expected 40,000 to 50,000 visitors.
Three new features to this year’s Taste of Morgan Hill are: extended Saturday hours until 9 p.m.; a teen-themed third stage in the Sinaloa’s parking lot that will include demonstrations from Lana’s Dance Studio as well as students from several martial arts programs; and a nonprofit plaza on the Third Street Promenade, which will include booths from the Santa Clara County Water District and PG&E.
Due to the extended hours, Chair Tim Hennessey for the Taste of Morgan Hill Committee said organizers have more than doubled security; asked for an increased police presence; and have brought in giant portable light towers for better safety.
The car show will feature more than 125 vehicles on Saturday and about 70 on Sunday – and a D.J. is set to serenade with music from the 1950s and 1960s.
All the downtown restaurants will be opened.
There will be two musical stages on Third and Second streets with full lineups from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, including the likes of Busta-Groove, Old Dogs New Tricks, The Dad’s Band, SB Dub Allstars, Hot Rods Band, JJ Hawg, Ted Sanchez and the Gundacker Project.
The Taste of Morgan Hill, described by the Chamber of Commerce as an art and wine festival slash classic and custom car show, is situated in downtown on Monterey Road between First and Fifth Streets. Parking is available at the Train Depot at 17300 Depot St. off Butterfield Avenue.
For more information on the Taste of Morgan Hill, click here.