This coming Tuesday, Aug. 17, there will be a very different kind of entertainment on the horseshoe. The world-famous and ever-popular Zucchini Races will be held again near the fountain. An annual event since seemingly the dawn of man, the event offers match racing, grudge matches and head to head (gourd to gourd?) combat. Prizes are awarded to the fastest, the silliest, the gaudiest and the largest. Remember, in the strange and little-understood world of Zucchini Races, size does matter.
Perhaps Rachel M. from Austin, Texas said it best in her Yelp review from 2007:
“Five stars aren’t enough…By pure luck, my husband and I stumbled upon the Zucchini Races a few weeks ago at the Tuesday Night Market. It’s exactly what it sounds like: people make little cars out of homegrown zucchini and race them, four in a heat, down a curved, four-lane ramp, in the middle of Sonoma Plaza. The cars are gorgeous: hand-painted, decorated with flowers and toys, etc. What seems like the whole town shows up with picnics, bottles of wine and blankets to watch the races. It is fabulous.”
Alas, there will be no live music this week to accompany the races. Next week, the music returns with a unique treat in Live Band Karaoke.
