Culver City’s annual “Party in the Park,” Fiesta La Ballona, is back for another year of carnival fun this weekend, Aug. 28-30, at Veterans Park (4117 Overland Ave.) The weekend will feature live performances, carnival rides and games, over 100 booths showcasing local groups, artisan wares, and other vendors, pony rides and two petting zoos, a beer and wine garden, a farmers market, food trucks and a food court, sustainability activities and other special activities.
Fiesta La Ballona event hours are 4:30 pm to 10 pm on Friday, Aug. 28; 11 am to 10 pm on Saturday, Aug. 29; and 11 am to 9 pm on Sunday, Aug. 30. Complimentary event parking is available at Sony Pictures Studios on Overland Avenue.
Fiesta’s performances in the Entertainment Tent will begin on Friday, Aug. 28 at 4:30 pm with US 99 performing classic rock and roll. Fiesta-Palooza will start at 6:00 p.m. and it showcases five local teen bands, including Detoure, the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts Jazz Combo, Scoop, Silent Partner, and Grounded. There will be other attractions for teens that night including the special offer for the Carnival Rides, Food Trucks and the Party Truck Game Center, a mobile video game entertainment trailer, which starts at 4:30 pm.
On Saturday, Aug. 29, the Opening Ceremony will occur at 11:45 am and include welcoming remarks from City Council members and other officials, the CCHS Cheer Team, and a Color Guard presentation from Culver City’s Boy Scout Troop 113. Vox Femina Los Angeles, a Culver City-based choral group, returns to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
In addition to live performances, many other attractions and activities will be available during Fiesta weekend. On Friday, Aug. 28, seniors can enjoy several early bird special offers, between 4:30 pm and 6 pm at the Food Court and selected food trucks. The Aquacade at the Culver City Municipal Plunge will occur on all three days of Fiesta. KCET will have an interactive arts and education kiosk at Fiesta, on Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm, to celebrate the station’s 50th anniversary. Fiestagoers will also be able to meet the Galaxy Star Squad and LA Kings Ice Crew on Saturday. On Saturday and Sunday, Enriched Farms will provide a Farmers Market, with locally farmed organic produce, uniquely prepared foods and handcrafted works of local artists.
The Exchange Club’s Beer & Wine Garden returns to Fiesta and will be all weekend. If visitors come hungry to Fiesta, food trucks and Food Court booths will be offering options to satisfy anyone’s appetite, including a variety of BBQ, global cuisine, and classic American fare as well as many desserts and sweets.
Culver City’s Fiesta La Ballona is recognized as a bicycle friendly event. Angel City Derby Girls and Palms Cycle will offer a secure bike valet for visitors who ride their bikes to the celebration on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm Culver CityBus provides bicycle racks to encourage bike riding and public transportation. Also, pedicab and Dial-A-Ride paratransit shuttle services will be available at the Sony Pictures Studio parking lot off Overland Avenue.
Music and dance performances as well as special, interactive activities are free. Food, drinks and other attractions are optional and an additional cost. Carnival ride tickets are $1 each with volume discounts. Each ride varies in number of tickets required, with many needing 4-5 tickets per ride. Friday night, starting at 5:00pm, there will be a special offer of two riders for the price of one. Wristbands, purchased for $20.00 in advance, are available for unlimited rides on Saturday or Sunday until 6:00 p.m. After 6:00 p.m. only ride tickets are valid. More information on purchasing wristbands is available by contacting the City’s Recreation Office at 310.253.6650. Wristband pre-sale ends Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 pm.
For more information visit www.FiestaLaBallona.org. You can also find Fiesta on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram #FLB2015 and YouTube.
