And it was all thanks to the Heartbeats, a local band that changed costumes every time they sang the songs of a different group as they performed at Celebrate Saratoga! on Sept. 18, the once a year party when Saratoga lets its hair down.

A medley of food, wine and music drew nearly 30,000 people to Big Basin Way this year.

Earlier in the day, there had been apprehension about the weather but as the day progressed, the rain held and there was no holding back the fun.

"I thought the weather was going to let us down, but look—it's beautiful out here tonight," said Bill Cooper of Cooper-Garrod Vineyards as he rushed around unpacking cases of wine and attending to customers at his booth.

There was something for everyone, from rock climbing for kids to gourmet wines for adults. Some were there for the bands, some were there for the food, but everyone seemed to be having a blast. Some played air guitar as they danced to the bands, others were content to eat some paella sitting on the sidewalk.

"It's a hoot. The music is good, the food is good," said Meg Caldwell, who has just moved to the area from Las Vegas. "My friends brought me here and this is so much fun," added Daniel Ro of San Jose.

"Have you ever seen Saratoga so happy?" asked Kristin Davis, executive director of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. She had the look of someone who had worked for weeks to put together the event. But she did find time to try out a multiglow mouthpiece as she commandeered her troops of volunteers on the radio.

More than 400 volunteers helped out at the event, from checking IDs to helping at the various tents. Mike Atkin, who was volunteering at a booth, said, "It's fun to watch the crowd. One can see all kinds of people."

For many, it is an occasion to catch up with old friends. "We bump into friends, my children bump into their friends or even their teachers," said Lakshmi Mani of Saratoga, who was there with her husband and their children.

"This is Saratoga's biggest party. There was no way we were going to miss it," said David Shen, who had just married Kyna Sah. They swayed to the music, wearing jester hats.

Sheriff's from the local West Valley Sheriff's Station patrolled the area on foot and on bicycles, with cars stationed on both ends of Big Basin Way.

There were a few people who had a bit too much to drink. Capt. John Hirokawa of the Sheriff's Department was seen calling for cabs as some of the overindulgent revelers were sent home. But these were just minor aberrations in an evening of good cheer.