Businesses benefit from first-ever Mayfest Monterey

Tasty food and live entertainment drew over 9,000 visitors to the Custom House Plaza in Monterey for the first-ever Mayfest Monterey.

“Me being here right by the plaza I get the benefit of having lots of the festivals that happen here. So festivals are always a good thing for me,” caf owner Dan Vitanza said.

Vitanza runs a caf on Alvarado Street. He said Memorial Day weekend already brings in a lot of business, but Mayfest is an added draw and a big boost during the start of the busy tourist season. Vitanza said this Memorial Day weekend is the busiest he has seen in four years.

“It’s the gear-up time. It’s time to start thinking about the busiest six months of the year,” said Vitanza.

In Germany, Mayfest is the kick-off to Octoberfest but in Monterey organizers said the purpose of the event is to showcase local businesses. It’s a community-driven event started by community members.

“I think we helped out the wharf, I think the wharf helped me, I think we helped out the local coffee shops and stuff and obviously the venders here,” said event organizer Andre Lengacher.

Local artist Christopher Woods agrees. You can find his work all over the Central Coast. He said it’s festivities like Mayfest that help increase profits.

“It’s a great opportunity to get my work out there and have people check it out and overall it’s been a pretty good experience,” said Woods.

After Mayfest, he said it may be time to expand.

“I need to get my website set up so that they can order through me directly. That’s something I’ve had a lot of people ask me, ‘how can I get this to my house’,” said Woods.

Mayfest organizers said the event was such a success they will be back next year.