Wildcat Canyon Community School to host outdoor music festival

By Kathy Chouteau

Wildcat Canyon Community School, which serves pre-K through 8th grade in the El Sobrante hills, is hosting an inaugural outdoor music festival on Sept. 21.

“Canyon Fest” will run from 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the school’s canyonside campus at 3800 Clark Road. The family-friendly event offers a day of live music, local food and artisan crafts benefiting the school’s garden program.

“A group of moms came together with the idea to put this on as a little something different than our other festivals,” said Ash Reiter, a professional musician and parent volunteer. “There’s going to be a lot to engage the kids, but it’s also going to be an event that really brings joy to the adults as well.” The festival is open to everyone. 

An impressive lineup of musical acts includes headliner Sugar Candy Mountain. Special guests Vetiver, Indianna Hale, Joel Robinow, Barrio Manouche and Banda Kafuné will also be part of the musical mix. DJ Lisa and DJ Easy Reiter will be spinning tunes throughout the day, culminating in a DJ dance party under the stars.  

Attendees can anticipate a variety of local food/coffee vendors, including Xulo, Picnic and Cute Coffee. A Maker’s Market will also showcase the creations of approximately 15 local artisans. “We’re going to have a great artisan market with people doing ceramics, jewelry, and textiles,” Reiter shared. “It’s a nice way to end our summer and launch into the fall.” 

Canyon Fest funds will support the expansion of the school’s garden program, which helps pre-K-8th grade children learn about where their food comes from and how it’s grown. “We needed to improve our garden program with some infrastructure,” said Reiter, sharing that the organizers hope the students can contribute their harvest to the school’s food service. 

Tickets for Canyon Fest are priced at $45 in advance and $50 on the day of the event plus minimal fees. Children under 12 can attend for $15. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs/blankets and to carpool if possible. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. Wildcat Canyon Community School is located at 3800 Clark Rd. in El Sobrante. Questions? Contact Reiter at ashreiter@gmail.com.