The 43rd Annual Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival embodied the spirit of the community on Sept. 13 and 14. Tens of thousands of people flocked to Central Park in the heart of the city to eat good food, shop Bay Area artisans and support local community groups.
With multiple performing stages, there was plenty of entertainment to keep visitors engaged. At the Magical Bridge Playground stage, the Buchser Middle School mariachi band performed a collection of songs in preparation for a future trip to Chicago.
While in the Kids Kingdom, the Wilcox and Santa Clara spirit squads showed that school spirit doesn’t eclipse community spirit.
“It means so much just being able to cheer on each other and know that our common interest is cheerleading itself, no matter what team we’re on and what school we’re cheering for,” said Wilcox Varsity Cheerleading Coach Tiffany Veiga*, whose cheer squad performed just before Santa Clara’s.
On the sidelines, Santa Clara was vocal in cheering on its crosstown “rivals.”
“We have zero rivalry between us,” said Erica Fuller, Santa Clara High School’s spirit squad adviser.** “We don’t even really compete. My cheerleaders do traditional competitive cheer. They do what’s called stunt, and we’re two different sports when it comes to that piece. So, we’re not even any type of rivalry. We’re definitely cheering on each other.”
For both squads, it’s about what their performances bring to the community.
“I think it definitely adds to the community because a lot of these kids have done more than just cheerleading within the community. Some of them have done dances, other sports within Santa Clara and Santa Clara Unified. So, having their friends and their parents and other people that they’ve known growing up [watching them], I feel like it definitely adds to their energy and excitement for the performance,” said Wilcox Junior Varsity Cheerleading Coach Caitlin Tedrow.
“[The cheerleaders] always ask, even before I even mention it, they’re like, ‘Oh, we’re doing it [Art & Wine] again, right? We’re coming back?’ They love it. It’s a great memory to always have to come back here,” said Fuller. “Then even my Alumni continue to come back and make sure they’re like, ‘Oh, you guys are gonna perform again?’ ‘Yes, we’re performing.’ ‘Okay, we’re gonna be at Art & Wine anyway, so we’ll make sure we’re there to support.’ So, yeah. So, alumni always come back.”
Among the vendors was a special area for the younger artists. Santa Clara High School junior Sophia Rieblen was there. It was her second appearance at the festival with a booth selling soy candles called Eco Flame.
“I love candles so much, but I’m also really big on what I’m breathing in, and a lot of the candles that you see in stores are made with a bunch of toxins and chemicals,” said Rieblen. “And so I wanted to see candles that were appealing to the eye, but also they’re safe and healthy for you to be able to burn.”
For her, coming to the Art & Wine Festival was like coming home.
“I really love the Art & Wine Festival. I mean, this is where I grew up, so I’ve been going here every year since I was young,” said Rieblen.
*Wilcox’s cheer squad is also supported by Cassidy Joyce and Alyssa Sanchez.
**Santa Clara’s cheer squad is also supported by Amaya Fuller, Mikayla Molina-Trujeque and Alyssa Montes.
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