A Brief History of The Redwood Mountains Fine Arts & Crafts Faire and Music Festival… “The Redwood Mountain Faire”
The FIRST year, the Faire was called, "The Highlands Faire," since it was at Highlands Park. No music the first year. The idea came from Diana Troxell and Linda Moore; they co-chaired the first year. Linda led the Faire for the next four years and grew it into the awesome two-day event we all remember... Here is a very brief look back....
This was on the Happenings Page of The Valley Press, subtitled Valley Events... on April 9, 1980.
"The San Lorenzo Valley Women's Club is sponsoring an arts and crafts fair at Highlands Park in Ben Lomond from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19.
Some 25 Valley artists are participating in the Highlands Faire, showing paintings, ceramics, fabric, arts and jewelry, among other crafts.
In Addition to the exhibits, the fair will feature food, drink, ice cream and Irish music.
The county park will hang the artists work in the main building until May 30.
Diana Troxell and Linda Moore are coordinating the event, which is open to the public."
Several hundred people came to that first Faire, "The Highlands Faire." We made $300 selling baked goods and champagne. The swimming pool was available for folks to use, and was available throughout the run of the Faire.
The NEXT year, it became the Redwood Mountains Faire and Folk Music Festival. We even made a billboard! Lettering by Peter Troxell (in photo); Painting by Diana Troxell. Site -- formerly illegal billboard on Hwy 17, now occupied by Ocean's Honda. We had a music competition and professional music performances. People sat on bales of hay in the field where the Children's Center and parking lot and skate park are now. Performers included Bob Brozman, the Small Wonder String Band, and there were poetry readings in the big house. Fine Art display in the Mansion started the tradition that lasted through the years of the Faire.
That second year, again in April (the 25th) also brought the first Banana Slug Race, juggler and musician, mimes, and lots of prizes for the music competition. Over 50 donors to the Faire. Made $3,300.
1982 we made $11,000 and got the first real playground equipment donated to Highlands. It became a two-day event, and the word "Folk" was dropped from the name. The Valley Press published a 4-page pullout program...
That year the VWC supported the Nuclear Freeze Initiative...Kate Wolf headlined Saturday and the Tony Rice Unit headlined Sunday. The Storm of '82 had happened and the VWC had operated the Disaster Center to help with response to the disaster. Almost 100 individuals and businesses were named as donors. Security was provided by a bunch of computer engineers from Hewlett-Packard, friends of Ken Macy. Listen to an interview of Nancy Macy on KGO radio from 1982.
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1983 the number of craftspeople and artists topped more that 100. The Faire moved to June (since the April 1982 Faire had been impacted by an early morning drizzle on Saturday. A second stage in the area by the Big House allowed the music competition and acoustic performances to expand, plus other entertainment, to create almost a separate event inside the Faire. Mary McCaslin and Jim Ringer headlined Saturday, Bob Brozman was back, and on Sunday, Queen Ida and her Bon Temps Zydeco Band were featured, along with Joe "Fingers" Shupe, who turned the fiddle into a new and amazing instrument. The David Grisman Quartet headlined. Vaudeville show, clowns, pony cart rides... banana slug race. The Senior Center was "backstage." Funds provided a "Jaws of Life" for Ben Lomond Fire...$17,000 was given out... Listen to an interview of Nancy Macy on KGO radio from 1983. (After pressing play, audio may take a moment to load)
In 1984, the music competition expanded, with both children and adult categories and 16 competitors received awards in Guitar, Banjo, Fiddle and Songwriter/Singer categories. Along with the music, theatre and dance performances were features in the Senior Center. Taj Mahal and Norton Buffalo performed on the Main State, and again over 100 artists and craftspersons were featured. Gave away $23,000; BC Fire Dept bought communications equipment and the SPECTRA (arts in schools) program benefited, among many others. No formal “grant” involvement by other nonprofits yet, though many benefitted, including Valley Resource Center (now Mountain Community Resources), Valley Churches United, Mountain Community Theatre, and the Fire Departments, in fact, by the 5th year of the Faire, there were 30 committees utilizing volunteers from many non-profits, which was a deciding factor in designation of some of the Faire proceeds. Also, groups like Valley Churches United were allowed to operate food booths (remember the "Ecumenical Sausages"?), and 4-H to sell snow cones, and keep their profits...pretty lucrative for most groups.
By 1985, the Faire's 6th year, This was the first year that the effort to involve nonprofits really expanded, as the Faire had grown so much that a lot of volunteers were needed to make it happen. So the grant system was started: a nonprofit does a specific job for the Faire and receives a specific percentage of the net proceeds. Bruce Bratton was emcee along with Jeff Stewman. Bob Brozman was back and Kate Wolf was featured again, along with Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods. Sidesaddle was a big draw too. 100 artists and crastpersons, clowns, face painting and more. A Children's stage with performances for youngsters was started on the deck down by the playground.
1986 featured Etta James who brought SOUL to the Faire and Elvin Bishop kept everyone dancing. It cost $6 to get in. Lots of children's games and rides. Del Rey and the Blues Gators and Isle of Skye and the Ono Brothers performed as well. It was June 14 and 15. $14,000 made for nonprofits. Poster featured a clown playing saxophone. Program was a folded single page again.
Lacy J. Dalton was the 1987 Faire headliner on Sunday, with Shaboom on Saturday. Bob Brozman and Back Alley Ban, and the SLV Youth Battle of the Bands' winner, Black Ice. A Doobie Brother, Pat Simmons brought his Skinsuits band, and Rush Hour and Sugarbeets performed. Admission was back to $5 for some reason. Really nice poster featured the Rachael Bachrach Tree. There was a 50's costume and dance contest! Always something new each year. It was the year of the lawsuit when a puppy's tooth caught on a little toddler's finger. Insurance company handled it for us, but a wake up call to really enforce NO DOGS, NO PETS at the event. (They were not allowed, but the puppy was carried in under a coat.)
By 1988, the VWC was having to accept applications for the Faire Director(s) position(s), since the job was enormous. Improved arts and crafts restored the quality of the merchandise, because it had declined with all and everyone that applied allowed to enter; limited the number to 70. There was Kids Showcase on the acoustic stage, with singers featured for children down by the playground. The competition was all day Saturday, and Sunday there was theatrical entertainment on the acoustic stage. The performances were by Nicolette Larson, Bob Brozman, Sidesaddle, Shanachle, Sugarbeats, Orquesta Gitanno, Suzanne, Backalley, Glenn Morgan and Abbot Zoo... Around $25,000 was shared with nonprofits.
1989, the take went up to over $34,000. Main Stage had John Sandage as emcee. Back Alley Band opened on Saturday, then Bob Brozman, Robert Earl Keen and the Austin Lounge Lizards. Saturday was the competition on the Mansion Stage. Sunday featured the Sugarbeats, Sidesaddle, Harold Porter, Shawn Phillips and Dan Hicks and His Acoustic Warriors. Children's stage had storytellers, musicians, and clown performances. Belly Dancers, theatrical performances, and more on the Mansion (Acoustic) State. Big pullout program was paid for in the Valley Press by ads around the edge. Good idea.
1990 -- This was the year after the October 1989 earthquake caused so much devastation in the Valley, and the Valley Women's Club was very active in the recovery efforts! Lack of time and people forced us to put on a music festival ONLY, to cut the time involved in organizing the event! It took place on June 9 and 10. Saturday had Midnight Rose, Dirty Butter Revue, Back Alley, Sundogs and Cojmander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. Sunday, main stage, was Mary McCaslin, Sean Seman & Friends, Santa Cruz Steel, Peter Rowan and the Free Mexican Airforce, and The New Riders of the Purple Sage. The Magnolia Tree State (new name for the Acoustic Stage) had guitar, harmonica and vocal competition. The Oak Tree Stage (the children's stage down by the playground) had Jim Marshall and Lisa Atkinson performing both days. And Sunday on the acoustic stage was a new singer/songwriter competition. There was an 8-page program with lots of ads. There was a petting zoo, jugglers, "The bounce" Face painting, as tradition demanded. It was an earthquake benefit. LOUD protests at the lack of crafts and art were heard! Cannot have the Faire without them!
1991 brought back the artisans... Photography exhibition the Mansion instead of fine art show. About 25 of them. Music had reggae group, House of Fire, Lady Bo, Maria Muldaur!!, Lydia Pence & Cold Blood, the Dinosaurs (Papa John Creach, Barry Meltohn, Peter Albin, Spencer Dryden and Merl Saunders) -- awesome! Sunday was Del Rey & the Blue Gators, Pele Juju (woohoo!), Country Joe McDonald & Friends (I have a t-shirt he gave me!), Peter Rowan and Charlie Musslewhite -- what a harmonica! On the Magnolia State was songwriting workshop, guitar and vocal competition, Ramblin'Jack Elliot, Ginny Mitchell...Instrumental competition, Mary McCaslin performing. Oak Tree Children's stage brought back Lisa Atkinson and Jim Marshall. 8 page Souvenir Program pullout with ads. Close to $50,000 shared with non-profits that year.
1992 -- 45 or so artisans; Fine Arts back; great activities for children and younger teens Saturday John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers headlines, with Merl Saunders and the Rainforest Band, Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88's, Pele Juju, and Katzenjammers. Creative Song Writing Workshop brought dozens of people carrying musical instruments to the Faire, plus the popular music competitions and performances on the Magnolia Tree Stage. Sunday, headlined Big Brother & the Holding Company!, with Bonedaddies, Ranch Romance, Back Alley Band and Sidedaddle earlier in the day. Celtic Harp and yodeling on the acoustic stage! $8 in advance; $10 at the gate. June 7 & 8.
1993 --- RAIN!!! Only made $12,000 above costs, and shared it all with nonprofits, so NO START UP funds for 1994. The bands played, and people came and danced in the rain! Saturday Clan Dyken, Worlds Collide, Tocara, Pele Juju and David Grisman performed. On Sunday, with better weather, Sista Monica, Back Alley, Santa Cruz Steele, Square Roots and David Lindley attracted more people, and made attendees happy. The acoustic stage had the competition and performances by Hurricane Sam, Sugarbeats, Celtic harpists, and others. Music cost over $16,000 that year. For the rest of that year the VWC had a series of "Save the Faire" fundraising events and direct solicitation for funds; they made it happen, but had a really limited budget for 1994. The VWC braved the uncertainty and decided to hold the Faire in 1994. We had to raise the price to come in... still a deal.
1994- Put on the Faire with a really cool lineup... Jr Walker and the Allstars for Saturday, and Jefferson Starship for Sunday. (No program or PR from this year -- anyone have any? Please let us know.) Sista Monica and Mumbo Gumbo performed for sure, as well as City Folk, Chambers Brothers, Alisa Fineman and Elvin Bishop too. The Faire brought in over $99,000, so debts from 1993 were paid (including the '93 Faire Directors, Jim Kallas and Donna Reynolds), and $27,000 was left for grantees. Kept $6,000 for start up and still had to raise another $6,000 to make it work for 1995.
1995 the Faire cost $15 to get in at the gate; $12.50 in advance. We had a two-day price of $22 in advance and $25 at the gate. About 600 people volunteered and got in free while 5700 paid to attend. The Income was huge -- about $106,000. Pickle Family Circus was brought in for more entertainment. Sold "quality" wine, not just coolers and beer and soft drinks. The music included Norton Buffalo and the Knockouts, Dr Loco's Rockin' Jalapeno Band, Laura Love Band, Vicki Neville Band, and on Sunday, Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band, Hapa (Hawaiian!), Caribbean All stars and Oklin Bloodworth. So much was on the Magnolia stage that year... Leslie Ellis Lost Borders, African dance & drumming, Martin Simpson, Tat Donohue (guitar pickin') and competitions. What a weekend! BUT...THE FAIRE COST AS MUCH TO PUT ON AS WAS BROUGHT IN... BARELY $6,000 WAS NETTED; that was very, very little for all the nonprofits who worked soooo hard doing so much work... and no money at all to start up again. So the VWC Board voted to not put on the Faire in 1996.
1996 -- A group of wonderful, stalwart Faire lovers put on another Faire to try to make it work...it was a fun event and well attended. We do not have the line up. (If you know it, let us know.) However, it barely broke even and was the last time a "Faire" was produced at Highlands. The closest thing since then has been the October Scottish event that went on for many years. There was a "Concourse d'Elegance" car show one year. Highlands Park now has a Children's Center, a Skate Park, a fantastic new playground. Still a wonderful community Park.
2010 --- It's BAAAAAAACK! The Redwood Mountain Faire, June 5, 2010, 11 am- 7 pm, at Roaring Camp in Felton. www.redwoodmountainfaire.com.
