Bike Races Kick Off 2-Day Heritage Faire

A Doobie Brothers concert, professional bicycle racing, grape stomping and everything in between--from a display of Harley-Davidson motorcycles to cowboy poetry.

The eclectic events are part of a citywide festival that begins today in Fillmore, goes by the name Heritage Faire and is basically an excuse for folks to go out and have a good time, said Deputy City Clerk Steve McClary.

“It’s the first year for the Heritage Faire,” he said. “It kind of evolved from last year’s Restoration Celebration, which was marking our return and getting back on track from the [1994 Northridge] earthquake, and of course, that was a one-time theme, so it’s become the Heritage Faire.”

But the idea behind the event today and Sunday is the same: to lure tourist dollars to the small agricultural community in the scenic Santa Clara Valley that is trying to remake itself as a visitors’ attraction.

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. today with professional bike races on a seven-block downtown route.

Most other downtown activities--including children’s games, live entertainment and food and beverage booths--will get underway at 11 a.m. today and 10 a.m. Sunday.

Today, two cowboy poetry and country music shows will be held at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the restored Towne Theater, 338 Central Ave. Cost is $5 adults, $4 seniors and $3 children.

Also today, the Doobie Brothers will play at 8 p.m. at Shiells Park. Tickets, available at the gate or at a downtown booth Saturday, are $20 general admission. And for $3, people can don pairs of disposable booties and crush grapes with their feet at Giessinger Winery behind City Hall.