Patrons of the 20th annual Taste of Morgan Hill found relief
from the high temperatures by guzzling fresh-fruit smoothies and
cold beer, lounging to live music on two stages, and opening their
wallets to dozens of vendors of specialty and handmade arts, crafts
and, of course, food.
Patrons of the 20th annual Taste of Morgan Hill found relief from the high temperatures by guzzling fresh-fruit smoothies and cold beer, lounging to live music on two stages, and opening their wallets to dozens of vendors of specialty and handmade arts, crafts and, of course, food.
More than 7,000 people made their way through the festival Saturday, Morgan Hill police estimated. Longtime Taste of Morgan Hill patrons and vendors suggested the attendance numbers were down slightly from previous years – probably because of temperatures reaching 100 degrees.
“It’s hot,” said Amanda Mussynski, a Live Oak High School student who grew up in Morgan Hill and goes to the Taste of Morgan Hill every year. Still smiling despite the complaint of the weather, Mussynski and her friends were preparing to get in line for a three-foot-tall frozen smoothie.
The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation booth, where volunteers handling owls, hawks and other birds that couldn’t make it in their natural habitat due to injuries, had just enough shade to keep their animals cool, has done educational presentations at the Taste of Morgan Hill for all 20 years the event has occurred. WERC director Sue Howell said the snakes didn’t like the morning sun and had to be kept in the dark, and away from public view until later in the afternoon.
Visitors were still impressed with the wide variety of merchandise for sale, including works of art, pre-packaged specialty foods, trendy clothing, and raffles for vacation getaways and a custom-made pickup truck.
Hector Esparza, 57, of Salinas, visited the Taste of Morgan Hill with his wife and a couple of their friends.
“I like these community events, with all the local vendors,” said Esparza, attending his first Taste of Morgan Hill, which closed downtown streets just for vendors and pedestrians. “The sidewalk atmosphere is nice, and it gives the smaller (retail store) owners a chance.”
Natalie Bobuk, 24, and Becky Glasgow, 23, moved to San Jose recently and attended their first Taste of Morgan Hill Saturday. Bobuk is a teacher at Sobrato High School, and the friends decided to attend the art and food festival after hearing all the hype from students at Friday night’s El Toro Bowl football game.
They both said the event was bigger and more diverse than they expected.
“I shouldn’t have brought my wallet,” said Glasgow, commenting on the tempting wares for sale by scores of different vendors lined up on both sides of Monterey Road.
They were particularly impressed with the selections offered by more a dozen different jewelry vendors. “There’s too much jewelry – it’s dangerous,” joked Bobuk.
Some of the jewelry tents specialized in polished Poppy Jasper rock, a Morgan Hill trademark natural resource that is only found locally. Carla Fairey and her husband Rusty harvest the rock from a local friend’s property, cut it and polish it themselves. They travel the area selling necklaces, earrings and pendants, as well as large display rocks, at festivals such as the Taste of Morgan Hill, and farmer’s markets from their jewelry booth, Elkhorn Trading Company.
“The Poppy Jasper is one of our signature stones,” said Carla Fairey Saturday. “Each one is a little work of art. It’s abstract and unusual, and it yields a whole lot of pleasure for just one stone.”
If there was merchandise, there was also food at the Taste of Morgan Hill. Barbecue vendors Trail Dust and Mansmith’s served up smoked tri-tip sandwiches. Shrimp scampi, grilled turkey legs, chicken skewers, and carne asada sent puffs of smoke and sizzling sounds through the air. The scent of fried calamari, zucchini, and garlic French fries was pungent.
Danielle Perez, of Morgan Hill, enjoyed a gyro sandwich, before filling shopping bags full of new clothing and a handful of “yard sticks,” or decorative animal and insect designs atop three-foot metal rods that stand in a garden or lawn.
The festival was also a boon to downtown merchants. “Business is great,” exclaimed Rosy Bergin, owner of Rosy’s at the Beach, while rushing to find tables for a long line of customers forming inside the front door.
Also featured at the Taste of Morgan Hill was the Classic and Custom Car Show, which has also run 20 years concurrently with the art and food festival. This year’s car show featured 168 spotlessly polished cars, including a 1916 Maxwell, a couple of 1973 Panteras, and a variety of Chevrolet Impalas, Camaros and Corvettes, and several Ford Mustangs.
Showing his 1966 Pontiac Tempest that he rebuilt after it sat in a field with the convertible top down for 12 years was Tim Kelso of Morgan Hill. “I finished polishing it last night,” said Kelso, who is also a sponsor of the car show.
Lou Mirviss, co-chair of the car show committee, said in the 20 years she has helped organize the car show, it has grown into the fourth largest family car show in California. The show’s sponsors were preparing to pick their top 10 or 12 “best of show” participants Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s judges will include local public officials and dignitaries, Mirviss said.
Festival volunteers reported no significant glitches or problems with event logistics. Glenn Littig, a volunteer at the wine tent, said the construction on Third Street displaced some vendors from their normal locations. That made it difficult for some longtime attendees to find their favorite food booths, he said.
Morgan Hill police reported no criminal or medical emergency incidents at the festival.
The festival will continue Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and temperatures are expected to reach the mid to high-90s.
The Taste of Morgan Hill is organized annually by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, as a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.
