That event is the grand reopening of Town Plaza Park on Sept. 22. The park, bordered by S. Santa Cruz Avenue, W. Main Street and Montebello Way, has been undergoing renovations since the spring, necessitating the temporary relocation of Music in the Plaza and the Los Gatos Farmers Market to civic center grounds.

The Sept. 22 festivities, however, should more than make up for past inconveniences, according to Susan Buxton, the volunteer services coordinator for the Los Gatos Community Services Department.

"I think it's going to be a wonderful event. What makes it so special is that all of this has been done by community members. I think people think of the Town Plaza Park as sort of the heart of the town," says Buxton, a Los Gatan herself.

A daylong slate of free events begins at 11:30 a.m. with marching and music by the Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Department's bagpipe and drum corps. At noon, Los Gatos Mayor Randy Attaway and members of the town council will speak, recognize the people and organizations that helped in the park's renovation and then conduct the official "opening ceremonies"—cutting a ribbon and turning on the newly designed fountain.

Throughout the afternoon, several activities will be available to visitors. Historical displays, tended by docents dressed in period garb, will be set up in and around the park. They include a stagecoach with live horses; a collection of vintage cars, trucks and other vehicles; and historical photo displays of the park from decades past, including its days as part of a railroad station.

"We're trying to tie together the plaza's past as a transportation hub for the town with its present uses," Buxton explains.

Carnival-style games, a Bounce House and a pumpkin-decorating table will be available for the younger set between 12:30 and 4 p.m. And from 12:45 to 4:45 p.m., a series of entertainers will take to the park stage or stroll among the visitors, including the Joel Harrison Band, Stage Crew Barbershop Quartet, the Jack Raymond Group, Short Attention Span Circus, Magic Dan and Daffy Dave.

The headline entertainer is the eclectic Joe Sharino Band, which will play from 5 to 8 p.m. Because the streets surrounding the park will be closed to traffic, visitors are encouraged to make it a "street dance," according to Buxton.

Among the local volunteers serving on the Town Plaza Celebration Committee are Laura Bajuk, Ken Cannizzaro, Noreen Christopher, Alastair Dallas, Youwanda Dreger, Dick Konrad, Phil Micciche, Vince Mutascio, Patricia Pritchard, Greg Stowers, Bill Wulf and Jo Zientek.

Unlike the Town Plaza's grand reopening, the Los Gatos Food Fest is an annual event. This year, the gourmet gathering takes place from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m., also on Sept. 22. The Food Fest is one of the chief fundraisers for A Place for Teens—also called The Outhouse—a nonprofit center used by local youths to meet, study, socialize, eat, play games, surf the Internet and participate in workshops and leadership activities.

According to co-president Lee Fagot, so many restaurants and cafes are participating this year that the tasting-sized food, snack, drink and dessert items will be served in two shifts: one "menu" is in effect from 12:30 to 4 p.m., the other from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Taste tickets are $2 each, with the cost per item ranging between one and three tickets.

"There's something for adults, something for kids and for everyone in between!" Fagot says.

Among the establishments that had confirmed their participation as of Sept. 6 are Aldo's, California Cafe, Cafe Marcella, Cafe Rouge, Campo Di Bocce, C.B. Hannegan's, Chart House, Crimson, Dolce Spazio, Le Boulanger, Los Gatos Bar & Grill, Los Gatos Brewing Company, Manresa, Oakville Grocery, Pedro's, Swenson's, The Toll House, Whole Foods, the Wine Cellar and Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza. Barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers from Los Gatos Meats & Smokehouse will also be available throughout the fest.