May 16, 2006 > Garden show sure to bring smiles to Niles

by Venkat Raman and Praveena Raman

The 13th Annual Wildflower Art and Garden Show in the Niles district of Fremont will take place Sunday and will showcase not only the rich history of private and commercial horticulture, but also Niles Art Walk artists as well. 

This free event is being organized a little differently this year. "We are taking advantage of the lovely, meandering, wide sidewalks from one end of town to the museum," said Theresa DeAnda, chairperson of Niles Main Street Association.  All streets will remain open and vendors will set up their wares on the sidewalks.  Niles Boulevard will bustle with activity as 45 vendors from all over the Bay Area offer art and garden themed items for sale.

The small town atmosphere of Niles will add a unique touch to the festivities.  Visitors can enjoy local artist demonstrations of their work including glass blowing, painting, and jewelry making. Local guitarist Bill Epps and the Bluegrass music of the Forget-me-nots will provide entertainment. In addition, people can board the train for a round trip ride through scenic Niles Canyon from the new Niles Station, and watch old time movies at the Essanay Silent Film Museum.

Highlighting the show is the Open Garden self-guided tour. Niles resident's gardens are open for public viewing during the show. Tickets are $12 advance purchase and $15 on the day of the event.  You can pre-purchase tickets from Antique Treasures, Bite & Browse, Corrie Glass, My Friends and I and the Essanay Cafˇ. All tickets will be entered into two drawings and the winners can choose $50 worth of merchandise to take home from the vendors at the show.

"These are gardener's gardens," said DeAnda. The gardens will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and ticket sales end at 2 p.m.  

Niles Wildflower Art and Garden Show
Sunday, May 21
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Niles in Fremont
(510) 742-9868
www.niles.org
Ticket booths opens at 9:30 a.m.