“Family fun since 1979!”

 

Hometown Days is a weekend where people of San Carlos come together to celebrate each other and the important milestones during the year. The event kicks off with a parade where different groups in San Carlos – school bands, girl scouts, police and firemen, non-profits, and others – ride their own float and present themselves to the community.

After the parade, its a whole weekend with tons of food and lovely music in Burton Park, where the attendees enjoy a variety of activities, special demonstrations, and presentations. Antique and classic cars. Country Western Dancing. Fire Department’s Arial rescue and “jaws of life” demonstrations. Puppet shows. Concessions. Arts and Crafts. Moon walk. Horseshoe tournament. Pony rides. Choo Choo train rides. Pet Parade. Artist sales. 4-H Petting Zoo. Jugglers. Magicians. The Amazing Mr. Bubbleman. 3-legged races. For many years on Sunday morning at 7am (weather permitting), Hot Air Balloon Rides were also part of the fun.

After decades upon decades, the San Carlos Hometown Days celebration still stands, and its original purpose – to build community – remains intact.

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Attractions

 

FOOD OPTIONS

Indulge your inner foodie! Enjoy diverse dining options from local food trucks and booths, and purchase tasty treats in support of San Carlos Non-Profit Groups!

 

GAMES AND ATTRACTIONS

Saturday & Sunday 10:00 A.M. To 5:00 P.M.

Don’t miss the rock wall, mega slide, and many more attractions including games hosted by local nonprofits! Cost: $1 per ticket

 

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS

Sunday, 1;00 P.M. And 2:30 P.M.

Don’t miss two farm animal presentations by local educator Robin Lise-Nielsen

 

MARKETPLACE

Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 A.M. To 5:00 P.M.

Looking for the perfect gift? Shop small by purchasing items from local artisans and merchants!

 

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Saturday & Sunday 10:00 A.M. To 5:00 P.M.

Learn about local services and programs, meet business owners, and enjoy fun games and activities! Visit the volunteer booth to learn more about opportunities to lend a hand within your community!

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Events

 

SCEF CELEBRATES MUSIC

Friday, 5:30 to 7:30 P.M.

The San Carlos Education Foundation host musicians from our local elementary and middle schools for a free concert. Bring a picnic dinner and a love of music and support student musicians! Thank you to the San Carlos Education Foundation for hosting our annual concert in the park!

 

PARADE

Saturday, 9:45 A.M

Join us! The Hometown Days Parade on Laurel Street is on Saturday morning, May 20, and begins at 9:45 a.m. from Central Middle School. It circles around for all to see and is a highlight of the Hometown Days weekend. Contingents include antique vehicles, floats, fire and sheriff vehicles, marching bands, dance troupes, local organizations and more! Grab some chairs and come on down to enjoy!

The mood is festive and the crowd always lively! Hand selected parade judges will carefully select the winners in several categories. The judging stand is located on Laurel Street in front of Bianchini’s Market, but bystanders view the parade all along San Carlos Avenue, Laurel Street and Arroyo Avenue. Parade winners can pick up their ribbons at the information booth.

Register here to join.

Calling also all bicyclists, scooter riders, unicycle enthusiasts, and all other human-powered wheel lovers! Open the Hometown Days Parade as part of the Pre-Parade Roll!

Hometown Days “Pre-Parade Roll”
It’s a bike parade! Come show off your bikes & riding wheels and we’ll roll down the route as a group, just before the Hometown Days parade. Pace will be slow. Costumes, decorations and pinwheels encouraged! Meet your fellow rollers between 9:15 to 9:30 a.m. in the Wheeler Plaza parking lot on Laurel Street, before taking off together at 9:40 a.m. The bike parade ends at the valet bike parking (in the gated bocce area) in Burton Park.

Questions? Email sancarlosbikes@gmail.com. 

Valet Bike & Wheel Parking at Hometown Days
Ride your wheels to Hometown Days! Valet parking for bikes and riding wheels will be available at the bocce ball court in Burton Park on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Volunteer as a Bike Valet!

San Carlos Bikes is about better biking, walking and active, sustainable transportation in San Carlos, Belmont, Redwood City, and beyond.

 

ART

Hometown Days Art Contests – submit your art today!

Elementary Kids Coloring Contest 2023
Upper Elementary Kids Coloring Contest 2023
Ryan Greco Memorial Art Contest 2023

Grades TK – 5th will receive “You Belong” coloring pages to complete and submit at school. Ryan Greco memorial middle school art contest are for Grades 6th-8th. Students may submit one piece of artwork that embodies the theme you belong at Hometown Days.

Submissions due Monday, May 1st, 7pm to the San Carlos Youth Center (1001 Chestnut St.)

Saturday & Sunday 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

View contest entries to the coloring contests and Ryan Greco Memorial Art Contest at the Youth Center!

Sunday, May 21st at 12:30 P.M.

Prizes announced on the Grass Stage!

 

FUN RUN

Sunday, 8:30 to 11:30 A.M.

Run or walk in this 5k/10k annual hometown days tradition! Register online for the fun run at sancarloshometowndays.Com

Bruce M. Paris Memorial Hometown Days Fun Run. Join us May 21 for a Sunday morning family friendly 5K/10K run or walk! A fundraiser for student scholarships and other charitable causes. This is a family-friendly 5K/10K Fun Run. Check in on Chestnut Street at Burton Park. Afterwards enjoy a family friendly pancake breakfast!

Prizes will be awarded for overall 5K & 10K winners as well as medals for 2nd and 3rd place winners. Fun Run t-shirts are available for all runners! Early bird pricing ends April 30th!

Cost: $10 per person for Pancake Breakfast; No registration needed fun run

Sunday, 10:00 to 10:30 A.M

Awards ceremony on the Grass Stage

Click HERE to Register! Want to support the Rotary without running or walking? Click HERE to Sign Up as a Fun Run Volunteer!
Questions: email dantaylor@yahoo.com

 

PET PARADE

Sunday, 10;30 A.M. To 12:45 P.M.

Dapper dogs, cool cats, and all performing pets have the chance to strut their stuff at the pet parade. Pre-registration is required to be eligible for fur-bulous prizes in four categories! Pet parade awards ceremony on the Flanagan Infield at 12:15 P.M.

Calling Dapper Dogs, Cool Cats, and all Performing Pets! Register your furry friend in the 2023 Hometown Days Pet Parade! Pre-registration is required in order to be eligible for fur-bulous prizes! Choose your favorite category below:

Categories

Best in Show
Best Costume
Coolest Cat or Exotic Pet
Best Junior Handler

Schedule (Sunday)

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. – Check in
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Parade (4 Categories)
12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Awards
Email will be sent to participants with schedule and reminders one week before event.

Check out the 2022 Pet Parade winners below!

Best in Show
The colorful Zelda, who showed off her skills in multiple categories!

Coolest Cat or Exotic Animal
Crammer the chicken impressed the judges with her breakfast-making skills!

Best Junior Handler
Michael won over our judges with his expert handling of pup Luna!

Most Impressive Trick
Whizzy’s final trick was very professionally picking up her well-deserved prizes!

Best Costume
Last but certainly not least, Poppy the dog (dressed as a shark during competition) wowed the crowd by coordinating her costume with handler Owen!

We can’t wait to see you all next year!

 

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Live Entertainment

 

Hometown Days features two stages of live performance & music. The Cedar Stage is the permanent city stage located in Burton Park adjacent to the children’s playgrounds at the north end of Burton Park. The Grass Stage is set up just for Hometown Days and is located in the open spaces of the grassy sports fields at the south end of the park near the San Carlos Youth Center.

Friday, May 19 Cedar Stage

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: SCEF Celebrates Music

Saturday, May 20

Cedar Stage Lineup

10.00 A.M : San Francisco Bay Jazz Ensemble
11.30 A.M : Jim Stevens & Friends
1.00 P.M : Kickback
3.30 P.M : Chad Bushnell
6.00 P.M : Tinman

Grass Stage Lineup

11:30 A.M. Carlmont High School Jazz Band
1:00 P.M. Arden Alexa
2:30 P.M. The Headliners

Sunday, May 21

Cedar Stage Lineup

10:00 A.M. West Bay Community Band
11:30 A.M. The Pandemics
1:00 P.M. Pop Fiction
3:00 P.M. The E-ticket Band

Grass Stage Lineup

9:00 A.M. Sequoia High School Jazz Band
10:45 A.M. The Voicebox Choirs
11:30 A.M. Jazz Ma Tazz
12:00 P.M. San Carlos Children’s Theater
1:30 P.M. Sound Waves & Tide Notes
2:10 P.M. Dance Expressions
3:00 P.M. Ticket To Ride

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History

 

In the fall of 1979, a small group of community members gathered with then Mayor, Pat Bennie to bring to life her vision of a community event. They dubbed it ” Hometown Days”, and gave it a western theme. The original volunteer committee included a cross section of the community and the goals they set for this family-oriented day were to provide non-profit community clubs and organizations an opportunity to participate, earn a few dollars and offer the community a good time at little expense. As plans developed, it was decided to make the event two days. Service clubs like the Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary would provide man power and food and beverage booths at a reasonable cost to attendees. Community businesses could donate prizes, services, resources, and be recognized for their support.

In 1980, after months of planning and organizing, the original event took place on a September weekend. Hundreds attended. The Kiwanis Club barbequed steaks and burgers and a band played while folks danced under the stars. Sunday morning, The Rotary Club held a pancake breakfast and people streamed into the park after church services. It was a huge success. San Carlos clubs and organizations expressed their delight about this first-ever weekend community social. Artists were pleased with their recognition and sales, attendees loved it, and all agreed that Hometown Days should continue the following year.

Without any funding, the all-volunteer Hometown Days Committee scheduled their second annual celebration. The event eventually moved to its current May spot, and over 30 years later, with over 12,000 attendees annually, we continue to celebrate Mayor Pat Bennie’s dream of a spirited, fun-filled community gathering.

From San Carlos Hometown Days Official Website

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Host a Booth or Food Stall

 

Introduce your business, non-profit organization, or handmade product to thousands of enthusiastic Hometown Days attendees! Sign up to host a Game, a Community Information Booth, or a Marketplace Booth. You’ll meet new friends, dance to music, and enjoy beautiful Burton Park as part of one of the biggest and most fun events of the year!

Or if you are thinking of being a Food Vendor, San Carlos Hometown Days attracts thousands of hungry attendees to Burton Park on May 20 and 21, and a variety of tasty choices gives everyone the chance to picnic in the park!

Due to high volume of participants, Onsite Booth and Food Vendor registrations are now closed. Thank you so much to our many 2023 Hometown Days participants! If you have questions about becoming a food vendor at Hometown Days, please contact events@cityofsancarlos.org.

 

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See other interesting traditional events in San Carlos. You may also check the main calendar for the dates of these, or to save them on your personal calendar.

Official website: https://www.sancarloshometowndays.com/