Portola Valley celebrates annual Town Picnic and enjoyable run

The city of Portola Valley held its annual Town Picnic and Zott’s to Tots Fun Run on Sept. 20, bringing collectively a whole lot of native residents to take pleasure in dwell music, barbecue, video games, petting zoo and extra. The decades-long custom has advanced all through the years, changing into extra household oriented, inviting a whole lot extra folks in comparison with its early beginnings. 

Since 1971, Portola Valley has hosted its Town Picnic at Town Center in celebration of group and the beginning of fall. In 1979, it began incorporating its Zott’s to Tots Fun Run making each occasions “a very hallowed town tradition,” mentioned Patty Dewes, chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee. 

The day of festivities begins off with a morning enjoyable run from Alpine Inn to Westridge Drive. Over 400 folks participated in 2024. Fun run contributors accomplished the almost 2-mile stretch by foot, bicycles, horses, skateboards, rollerskates and even strollers. 

With a whole lot of individuals taking part within the enjoyable run,  4 years in the past the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office determined that it might be greatest for the city to shut down the streets for the security of runners and drivers. 

The enjoyable run has change into a convention that invitations people of all ages from toddlers to seniors. It ends with a celebratory cross of the end line and a reward of a medal and popsicle. 

After the run, the group walked down the trail towards the Town Center the place the sounds of the dwell band, Up and to the Right, echoed by way of the sector. Kids might be noticed leaping on large inflatable impediment programs and bounce homes, screaming with pleasure. 

Locals gathered on the picnic tables, catching up with family and friends whereas having fun with hamburgers and scorching canines grilled by the native Scouting America troop. 

In the Nineteen Seventies, the city picnics have been higher suited to adults, mentioned Dewes. Residents might be seen having wine with their barbecue, spending time with others in the neighborhood. But because the city’s demographic started to alter as extra households moved in, the city shifted its focus to offering extra family-oriented occasions, Dewes mentioned. 

Dewes defined that it merely serves as a time for folks to only have enjoyable. 

“There’s been a lot of turmoil in the town the last couple of years and I think people like to think about this as an event, where they don’t have to think about the housing element or about the finances of the town and just go down, have fun and meet people,” mentioned Dewes. “There are so many good things about this town and we need to celebrate those.”

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