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Police Will Close Roadways Friday Evening For The Lafayette Art & Wine Festival

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/18 .. evening-for-the-lafayette-art-wine-festival.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 15:09 GMT by Patch
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Lafayette’s Art & Wine Festival to Close Key Roads Friday Evening – A Detailed Look

The small but vibrant community of Lafayette, California, is preparing for a weekend of culture, creativity, and community celebration with the annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. As the city’s authorities gear up for the event, they have issued a clear schedule of road closures, safety measures, and visitor information to ensure the festival runs smoothly and safely. The event will be held Friday evening through Sunday evening, with a particular focus on Friday’s late‑night festivities. Below is a comprehensive summary of the essential details found on the Patch.com article, including links to further resources, so residents and visitors alike can plan their experience with confidence.

1. The Festival Itself

Dates and Hours
- Friday, March 22 – Sundays, March 24
- Friday Night: 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location
The festival takes place in the heart of downtown Lafayette, with the main stage and gallery space occupying the historic Lafayette City Hall square and surrounding pedestrian plaza. The official festival page (linked in the article) provides a full map of vendor locations, art displays, and interactive workshops.

What to Expect
- Local Artists & Galleries: Over 60 local artists will showcase paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and mixed media.
- Wine Tastings: More than 15 boutique wineries and regional producers will offer tastings, with a dedicated “Wine Hall” featuring live music and wine education talks.
- Live Performances: A mix of folk, jazz, and indie bands will entertain audiences on Friday’s main stage, and a DJ will take over the Sunday night crowd.
- Family‑Friendly Activities: Interactive art stations for kids, a petting zoo, and a “Kids’ Wine Tasting” with grape juice and non‑alcoholic “wine” mocktails.

Tickets & Pricing
General admission is free, but a small donation is encouraged to support local arts and community projects. However, certain workshops (e.g., pottery classes, master painting sessions) require a ticket purchased on the festival website, which can also be pre‑registered to avoid long lines.

2. Road Closures & Traffic Management

Key Closed Streets
The Patch article lists the primary closures that will impact traffic flow:

The city’s traffic engineering team has arranged temporary detours and added traffic officers to key intersections to manage the shift in traffic patterns. Drivers are encouraged to use the city’s official “Traffic and Parking” web page (linked in the article) for real‑time updates and suggested alternate routes.

Parking Information
- Street Parking: Limited and subject to “no parking” signs.
- City Lots: The Lafayette City Hall parking garage and a municipal lot on 2nd Street will be open 24/7, though capacity is expected to fill up by 5 p.m.
- Vendor Lots: Several local businesses, including a boutique grocery and a café, will open their parking for festival attendees.
- Shuttle Service: The city has arranged a free shuttle that runs every 15 minutes from the downtown area to the festival site, departing from the main bus stop at 4:30 p.m. (a link in the article points to the shuttle schedule).

Public Transit
The Patch article links to the East Bay Regional Transportation Authority (EBT) route map. Key lines (Line 9 and 10) will provide extra frequency to the Lafayette station, and the downtown “Festival Express” bus will stop directly at the event plaza.

3. Safety and Emergency Measures

Police Presence
The Lafayette Police Department will deploy approximately 30 officers to the festival site, focused on crowd control, traffic management, and first‑aid support. The event’s main stage is surrounded by a security perimeter with a visible police patrol.

Medical Aid
A mobile medical station staffed by EMTs will be available on site. The article also references the Lafayette Medical Center’s emergency department and provides a quick‑dial number for non‑urgent medical issues.

COVID‑19 & General Health
While most health restrictions have been lifted, the city still recommends hand sanitizing stations are installed throughout the festival grounds. For visitors who are pregnant, nursing, or have compromised immunity, the article encourages the use of the “Outdoor Wellness” link that offers advice on how to safely enjoy the event.

Alcohol‑Related Services
An on‑site “Alcohol Awareness” booth will educate patrons on responsible consumption. For those who prefer a safe ride, the city offers a partnership with the local ride‑share service, providing discounted vouchers for rides to and from the festival.

4. Additional Resources and Community Engagement

The Patch article contains several hyperlinks that guide readers to further information:

• Festival Official Site – provides the event schedule, artist bios, vendor list, and ticketing options.
• City of Lafayette – Traffic & Parking – offers live traffic feeds, detour maps, and parking capacity updates.
• East Bay Regional Transportation Authority – details the updated bus routes and schedules.
• East Bay Neighborhood Watch – outlines volunteer opportunities for those who want to help keep the area safe.
• Local Food & Drink – a guide to Lafayette’s best food trucks and local wineries participating in the festival.

By following these links, visitors can plan every aspect of their festival experience, from pre‑purchase of workshop tickets to secure transportation to the venue.

5. Community Response & Looking Ahead

Community leaders have expressed enthusiasm about the festival’s role in boosting local economies and spotlighting Lafayette’s artistic talent. The city’s mayor announced that the 2024 festival will feature a new “Art for All” initiative, encouraging community‑based murals and collaborative installations that will remain in place after the event. In the Patch article, a quote from the mayor reads: “This festival is more than a celebration; it’s a testament to how art can bring us together, spark conversations, and foster an environment where everyone feels welcome.”

Final Takeaway

The Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is set to be a weekend packed with artistic expression, local flavor, and community engagement. With the city’s clear road closures, transportation updates, and safety protocols, attendees can look forward to an enjoyable and hassle‑free experience. Whether you’re a local resident, a regional visitor, or an artist eager to showcase your work, the festival’s open‑handed approach ensures that there’s something for everyone. Remember to check the official links for the most up‑to‑date parking and traffic information, and enjoy a vibrant celebration of the arts in the heart of Lafayette.