The 47th edition of one of the South Bay's biggest street festivals hits downtown Los Altos on July 11–12. It's free, it draws an estimated 100,000 people, and parking downtown will be a mess — here's the plan.

The 47th Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival takes over Downtown Los Altos — Main and State Streets — this Saturday and Sunday, July 11–12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

The festival draws an estimated 100,000 visitors over the weekend to a city of 30,000 — a number that tells you everything about the scale and the parking situation. The footprint covers 300-plus fine arts and crafts booths, curated since 2006 by Pacific Fine Arts Festivals in partnership with the Los Altos Village Association. Local wineries, beer, and spirits fill out the rest — sold via an on-site ticket system — alongside food vendors ranging from Thai to all-American. Two stages run free music all day, the Kidzone handles families, and a new CulturAsia area highlights the region's broader cultural mix. The Sustainability Square at Fourth and State Streets offers free water refills.

The act worth planning around: The Houserockers close out Saturday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. on the main stage.

Parking: Don't gamble on downtown — it fills fast. Go straight to the Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Avenue. From 280: exit El Monte, left on Foothill Expressway, right on San Antonio Road, right on Hillview. From 101: exit San Antonio Road, cross El Camino, left on Hillview. Rideshare drops off well at Village Park. One practical warning the city has flagged in prior years: cell service in downtown Los Altos gets crushed when the crowds arrive. Agree on a physical meet-up spot before you split up, and download your maps offline.

Two hours? Work the art booths first — the good pieces move — grab a drink ticket, and be at the main stage by 4:45 for The Houserockers.