Get ready for Culver City’s party in the park.
Come celebrate Culver City’s great community, heritage and diversity with bands, booths, regional cuisine, carnival rides and more at the 62nd annual Fiesta La Ballona, the community's free "Party in the Park" on August 24-26 at Veterans Park.
There will be live bands and community performances all weekend beginning late Friday afternoon with songs for seniors followed in the evening by Fiesta Palooza, featuring the area's top teen bands.
The Culver City Fire Department bucket brigade will spearhead contests involving service clubs and local PTAs in the Family Fun Zone by the Disney Stage. Attendees can take part in picnic relays, carnival games, bouncy Sumo wrestling, a climbing wall, a petting zoo and pony rides. And, it's a dog's world at the Culver City Police Dept. K-9 demonstration.
Artisans, local businesses, non-profits and city agencies will display their wares and services at 80 craft, product, service and government booths.
The Exchange Club beer and wine garden tap will flow with regional and imported beers next to the Santa Maria Barbecue booth's tri-tip sandwiches, and 20 food booths and trucks will offer value-priced regional cuisine by the large dining tent.
Loosen up with free morning fitness classes at the main stage dance floor. Besides aerobics, the morning health and fitness lifestyle Expo includes the to the Baldwin Vista Scenic Overlook, laps at the municipal plunge pool, community bike rides and the Kiwanis Club carbo-load breakfast.
Learn a creative art by participating in free interactive workshops for all ages by gifted local instructors in the Fiesta Experience. Sample yoga, Pilates, hip hop, tie dye, cheerleading, karate, face painting, storytelling, finger knitting, obstacle courses, Scandinavian dance and mixed media art.
Encounter the rolling history of the Heart of Screenland at the Vintage Car display with colorful signs and archetypal characters along with an antique Model A police car, Model T fire engine, post office delivery vehicle, MGM service bikes and Helms Bakery Olympic coach. And the Culver City Rotary Club will imprison offenders inside the famous Pokey jail on wheels.
Aquacade offers free afternoon swim games, Aqua-Lilies synchronized swimmers, boy vs. girl match races among state-ranked swimmers, and a water polo match between rivals Culver City and Beverly Hills high schools.
You and your bike will be pampered in Cycle City with bike decorating, bike washing, repairs, tech workshops, a safety skills course and a bike parade. The Palms Cycle bike and stroller valet will keep your carriages secure.
Ride the Culver City Fire Dept. five-man bike in the nearby Family Fun Zone. Pitch a tent and learn outdoor skills at the Culver City Boy Scouts' Sunday Scout-a-rama. And the Culver City Girl Scouts will celebrate their parent organization's 100th anniversary by helping Fiesta La Ballona become a zero-waste event through recycling.
Fiesta La Ballona “goes green” with eco crafts, and classes on recycling and organic gardening. Waste bins will be labeled for compostables, recyclables and trash.
Local pros and ranked tennis and paddle tennis players will lead clinics, exhibitions and contests for youth and adults at the tennis and paddle tennis-fest in the tennis court zone.
Exceeding the white-knuckle excitement of the Rock 'o Plane ride, the new Zipper makes its debut at Fiesta La Ballona along with more new attractions in the carnival and games venue for kids of all ages.
Assemblymember Holly Mitchell, State Senator Curren Price, Culver City Mayor Andy Weissman, Miss Culver City Marina Inserra, Grand Marshall Dave Sanchez, Culver City Historical Society honoree Cathy Zermeno, police and fire chiefs, the Culver City City Council, Board of Education members and more dignitaries will network throughout the festival grounds.
And to top it all off Sony Studios characters including a magician, unicyclist, mime and the Culver City High School Centaur mascot will greet the expected 20,000 guests.
See you there!
For a complete list of events, highlights, attractions, days and times click on the PDF link to the right of this article.
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