And while Caltrain spokeswoman Rita Haskins is excited that her trains are again running through Sunnyvale's station on weekends, Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Suzi Blackman is excited that visitors can now be dropped off right next to the festival.

"I think it's really exciting that the first time the trains are back is the first weekend of our festival season," Blackman said.

In July 2002, Caltrain stopped service to Sunnyvale on weekends so crews could add additional tracks for the Baby Bullet express train service between San Jose and San Francisco. "Passing" tracks were built in Sunnyvale so the faster bullet trains could go around slower local trains. Had the tracks not been closed, workers would have had to clear the area every hour when a train rolled through.

But the absence of the trains for the last two years and tight parking meant fewer visitors to downtown during the construction phase because Sunnyvale was not a convenient destination.

"Parking has always been an issue for us," Blackman said. "And not being able to come right in—across the street from the festival—has led a lot of people to say 'I don't even want to mess with that.' "

As an added incentive for riders, service on June 5 and 6—the weekend of the festival—and June 12 and 13 is free, as a "thank you" to riders who have waited almost two years to use the trains.

Before the construction began, Caltrains cars carried almost 800 passengers each weekend into and out of Sunnyvale, for shopping, work or just to visit. For the festival, that group—expected to be bigger because of both the attraction of the festival and increased ridership in the past two years—will join the 100,000 to 150,000 already expected to attend the festival from throughout the Western United States.

Chamber of Commerce Program Manager Cassandra Nash said she expects 500 artisans and craft tables in addition to 30 sponsor tables at the festival. International food, wine and beer will be sold to raise money for Chamber of Commerce functions and other local charities. With help from local sponsors, including P.F. Chang's and presenting sponsor Toyota of Sunnyvale, Blackman predicts the festival will raise close to $1 million for the organizations involved—including the Second Harvest Food Bank—which is doing a food drive in partnership with AMD. Anyone who brings a non-perishable food item will be entered into a raffle.

In addition, visitors to the area will support the local economy by taking advantage of Sunnyvale services over the weekend.

"People are going to be eating at our restaurants, staying in our hotels and buying gas from out stations, so there is a lot of business being done that is not just benefiting the Chamber of Commerce," Blackman said.

Admission to the festival is free, with food and drinks being sold throughout 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on the event, visit www.svcoc.org.