The Cultural Heart and Soul of Berkeley Celebrates the Season

Holiday Shopping and Entertainment Abundant on Telegraph Avenue!

Berkeley, California (Tuesday, November 23, 1999) –  Holiday shoppers to the Telegraph Business District will be treated to an abundance of good cheer, great music, fine food and high quality crafts. Not to mention festive lights, colorful decorations, and an eclectic bezerkeley experience.

Over the past year "The Ave" has experienced an economic upswing in increased number of shoppers to the area who are enjoying many new store openings, clean street projects, and graffiti-free buildings.

In addition, Telegraph has had incredible success in creating a pedestrian safe business district. Once again, the cultural heart and soul of Berkeley is alive and well and ready to celebrate!

On Tuesday, November 30^th, Telegraph Avenue and the district’s side streets will come alive with thousands of festive lights and holiday sprays, banners and garlands. Mayor Shirley Dean and Councilmember Kriss Worthington will officially light up the Avenue with a Lighting Ceremony at the Dwight Triangle (corner of Telegraph and Dwight) at 6:00 p.m. 1999 holiday posters, designed by well-known Berkeley graphic artist John Howard, will be distributed at the lighting ceremony.

Who’s Got Rhythm? Telegraph!

During December, Telegraph will come alive with the sounds of soulful sidewalk rhythms and heart popping ethnic holiday music. Musical festivities commence on December 1 with the University Men’s Chorale perform a cappella at 6:00 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. on December 6. On December 3 and 10 at 2:30-3:30 p.m., children from Arrowsmith Academy will entertain shoppers with traditional Christmas Carols. On December 11 at 2:00 p.m., Berkeley’s hot Rhythm Kitchen are sure to leave shoppers dancing in the streets. In addition, professional musicians will play at corner locations during the holiday season and the all star Cal Jazz Choir will give a sneak preview performance. For holiday music lovers wanting to celebrate the excitement of live stage performances, Cal Performances is the place to be. Located on Bancroft Way, Cal Performances will be presenting Klezmer Mania on Friday, November 26 and Saturday, November 27 at 8:00 p.m. Fiesta Navidad will be presented at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 28. To top it off, Mark Morris’s hilarious The Hard Nut will return to Cal Performances on December 11 through December 19. Call (510) 643-6714 for info.

16^th Annual Holiday Street Fair

Some of Northern California’s finest artists and crafts people will meet at the 16^th annual gathering of over 200 artisans on Telegraph Avenue. For three weekends before Christmas (Saturday December 11; Sunday December 12; Saturday December 18; Sunday December 19; Thursday December 23 and Friday December 24) street artists will take over a four-block area on Telegraph from Bancroft to Dwight from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.. In addition to leather goods, pottery, jewelry, artwork, handcrafted clothing and accessories, the vendor fair will feature a display of wacky and wild Art Cars.

Getting to and Parking Around the Telegraph Area

Telegraph shopping destination goers will find plenty of parking and transportation options during the Holiday Street Fair. Validated parking will be available for the University of California’s Anna Head Lot and Underhill Lot, both of which are located on Channing Way above Telegraph. The Sather Gate Mall and Garage also offers a wonderful opportunity for folks to park and shop all in one spot!

Free shuttle bus service will be offered from the downtown Berkeley BART station to Telegraph throughout street fair hours. The shuttle bus route will leave from the bus station, head up Dwight to College, down Bancroft and back to the BART Station.

Holidays on Telegraph is a collaborative project co-sponsored by Telegraph Area Association, Vendor Street Fair Committee and the Telegraph Property-Based Business Improvement District, the University of California & the City of Berkeley.

Enjoy the Holidays!  Enjoy the Heart of Berkeley!