Kermes Festival Returns to Brentwood with Dance, Culture, and Community Spirit
Spotlight on a featured business in East Contra Costa County. This week, we hear from Kermes by Village Community Resource Center.
Kermes by Village Community Resource Center will be held August 23rd from 10 AM — 3 PM at Cornerstone Fellowship, 6641 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood CA 94513
Kermes Festival Returns to Brentwood with Dance, Culture, and Community Spirit
On Sunday, August 23, the lawn at Cornerstone Fellowship in Brentwood will come alive with the sights, sounds, and flavors of East Contra Costa County's diverse community. The second annual Kermes Festival promises a day of cultural performances, food, games, and family activities, all while supporting a vital local cause.
Organized by Village Community Resource Center, the free event serves as both a celebration and a fundraiser. "This is a community event," explains Stephanie Sylvester, who is helping coordinate the festival. "We're gonna have performers and vendors, games, and activities for the whole family. And the point of it is to raise some money for the programs Village Community Resource Center does that serve low-income and disadvantaged families in East Contra Costa County."
A Feast for the Senses
The festival's lineup showcases the cultural richness of the region. Ballet Folklorico will take the stage alongside an Aztec dance troupe and an Indian dance troupe, offering attendees a window into different traditions. "There's a lot of cultural dance represented," Sylvester notes with enthusiasm.
Beyond dance, the event will feature live music and visual arts, including a plein air painter visiting from Livermore. Food lovers will find plenty to enjoy as well. "There's also a lot of great food," Sylvester says. "That is, that's always exciting to me."
The mix of performances, art, and cuisine creates an atmosphere designed to appeal to neighbors from all walks of life. "We are putting together this kind of multicultural community event, bringing all of the different voices and traditions of East Contra Costa together," Sylvester explains.
Supporting Families Year-Round
Every dollar raised at the festival goes directly toward Village Community Resource Center's programs, which touch families throughout East Contra Costa County in meaningful ways. The organization provides food assistance, runs an after-school academy focused on educational enrichment for elementary and middle school students, and offers leadership and career training.
"We have a variety of health and wellness resources," Sylvester adds. "So we try to meet the community in a variety of ways to help families thrive."
From Tradition to Trend
The Kermes Festival itself draws inspiration from a cherished tradition in Latino communities. "The inspiration comes from the tradition of Kermes in the Latino community that VCRC serves, mostly," Sylvester says. "And it is a very familiar tradition in the communities we serve."
This year, organizers are expanding the concept by blending that cultural foundation with elements of the popular pop-up marketplace trend sweeping the Bay Area. The result is an event that honors its roots while embracing fresh energy and broader community participation.
A Day for Everyone
Sylvester emphasizes that the festival is designed with families in mind. "This is very family-friendly," she says. "I hope the diversity of East Contra Costa is well represented. And we have a lot of kiddos running around and a lot of families enjoying themselves on the lawn, playing games and having a great day."
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cornerstone Fellowship, located at 6641 Lone Tree Way in Brentwood, directly across from the WinCo Shopping Center. Admission is free, making it accessible to everyone in the community.
Whether you come for the performances, stay for the food, or simply want to support an organization making a real difference in East Contra Costa County, the Kermes Festival offers something for everyone. For more information about the event and Village Community Resource Center's programs, visit vcrcbrentwoodca.org/kermes or find them on Facebook at VCRC.Brentwood.Ca and Instagram at vcrcbrentwood
Kermes by Village Community Resource Center
Event Day: Sunday, August 23rd
Event Location: Cornerstone Fellowship, 6641 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood CA 94513
Event Time: 10 AM — 3 PM
Phone: (925) 626-7892
Website: https://www.vcrcbrentwoodca.org/kermes/
Facebook: VCRC.Brentwood.Ca
Instagram: vcrcbrentwood
Want to Spotlight your Upcoming Event?
Contact us today for an interview link, and your upcoming event
will be featured on the East County Scoop’s website
and promoted through social media