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As we close the distance towards the Second Annual Beaver Festival there are a hundred details to secure. Things look good for three acoustic bands, and a bagpipe. I’m thinking of a children’s procession to celebrate the re-introduction of beavers to Scotland after 400 years, where our friendly clay beavers will play a starring role. Preparations are in place for a silent auction with donations from around the bay area that will include such goodies as a years supply of Peet’s coffee, art work from Frogard Butler and handmade pottery from the Civic Arts studio in Walnut Creek. We plan to offer two children’s art projects. The ceramic tile “beaver art” which will eventually be used for a tile wall, and a beaver tail bookmark which will allow children to leave something behind and take something home. Confirmed environmental displays include the National Parks, Wild Bryde Jewelry, the California Native Plant Society and the Paula Lane Action Network to save badgers to name a few! More are joining all the time.Like last year we will have t-shirts, memberships, tours and activities for all ages.

By all events you can expect a dam good time!

The plans for an exciting new beaver festival this summer just got a lot more tangible. This week I turned in the Talmud-length application for a special event using the downtown park. When I say that the paperwork was 19 pages, you will think surely I exaggerate, but it takes a committed and self-employed civic person to host an event in our fine city. (For comparison, the application for special event in San Francisco is 18 pages less.)

With the application in, the insurance purchased, the restrooms booked, the vendors invited and the park paid for, we can focus our attention on getting your attention. Save the date! August 1st, 2009 from 12:30 to 6:30. So far we have arranged the Alhambra Valley Band, (which is composing a special beaver song!) and the Muir Station Jazz Band, and are looking for a middle group. Anyone have a great Mariachi contact? We also want a bag piper to play and mark the return of beavers to Scotland after 400 years.

So far our line-up of vendors and activities looks prodigious. I’ll keep you posted as the numbers grow, but we’re planning to do individual tiles for the children’s art project, so that they can be fired and added eventually to a “children of Martinez beaver wall”….

The perfect adornment for one of the dull cement bridges. We already have the tiles, the glaze, the training and the firing paid for, just need to work on the city permission part. I’m thinking after each child’s art tile is completed, they can sit down and jot a quick note to the mayor.