June 20, 2011—-From June 11-12, a crowd of more than 30,000 Palos Verdes residents gathered together at the Promenade of the Peninsula for the highly anticipated, 24th annual Palos Verdes Street Fair and Music Festival. Voted by the Crafters Guild as the largest and best fair offered in the South Bay, the PV Street Fair was sponsored by Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, Promenade of the Peninsula, Equinox, and many others. Providing countless hours of entertainment for all ages, the Street Fair involved more than 200 arts, crafts, and vendor booths that filled the streets with enticing goods.
“It’s tradition for my friends and me to attend the street fair! For as long as I can remember, my mom would always take me to the fair, where I would buy adorable knick-knacks, ride the Kamikaze, and sample delicious foods of various ethnic backgrounds! The environment is what brings me back every year- there’s always so much energy, buzz, and enthusiasm! It’s a great way to experience the joys of summer with the entire community!” Neda Dai, a junior at Peninsula High School, exclaimed.
Every year, the Street Fair provides entertainment of various forms for everyone: teenagers get thrills off of the numerous coasters and rides- from the classic Merry-Go-Round to bumper cars, and the Viking Ship to the Carousel; adults relax and listen to local musicians while enjoying the plethora of foods and vendors; and children enthusiastically ride mini-horses and feed llamas and goats in the petting zoo, free of charge.
However, this year, the residents of Palos Verdes were not the only ones involved in the Fair- countless canine companions were as well. In the Top Dogs Show, owners proudly touted their well-groomed pets to others, while residents found the perfect addition to their families through the Dog Adoption Center.
Bringing the community together as a whole, the Street Fair focused on the theme, a “Green Event”, by providing environmentally friendly goods and services to the attendees and encouraging steps to recycle, compost, and conserve energy. In fact, food vendors had to meet “green quality” standards by providing only fresh, locally grown produce without processed ingredients, and were only permitted to use recyclable containers!
Marilynn Lions, Chair-Elect of PV Chamber of Commerce and representative on behalf of the South Bay Environmental Program, explained, “Our booth offered programs to help save water, energy, and the environment. This is our eighth year participating in the Fair, and it’s a fun way to meet everyone in the community, where we can come together and exchange ideas! I love seeing all of the other vendors and the things they have to offer!”
For the past 24 years, the Street Fair has been utilized as an effective means of pumping revenue into the community, fundraising for the PV Chamber of Commerce, advertising new and upcoming local businesses, providing a relaxing and enjoyable environment for participants, and most importantly, unifying the community as a whole.
Holding a tote bag overflowing with samples distributed from various booths and a large smile brimming on her face, Neda Dai added, “I can’t wait till next year’s Street Fair! This is a type of event where I can see myself, in the future, bringing my own children and sharing the delights of our community with them too. The Street Fair is love, happiness, and a sense of unity, all bundled together into one amazing event.”
