The 28th annual Adams Street Fair launched on Sept. 26. The fair kicked off between 35th Avenue and Bancroft Street in Normal Heights.
Big clusters of businesses, vendors, performers, musicians, activists and the public came together to have fun and enjoy music and culture. This street fair not only united the normal heights community, but people of all different cultures and communities came and joined the fun as well.
The street fair is an annual event presented by the Adams Avenue Business Association and billed as Southern California’s largest free music festival of all ages.
“The street fairs main focus is to promote and increase commercial activity within the Adams Avenue Business Improvement District,” Alissa Gabriel, storefront improvement program manager said.
For shopping enjoyment, the fair had more than 300 vendors ranging from crafts, food, clothing, jewelry and accessories. There were also three beer garden locations for the twenty one and up fair-goers.
Jennifer Robinsons, a retail vendor said, “I get the same customers every year who are more interested in my ethnic products. They love to come check out what’s new.”
A huge variety of taste-bud satisfying foods also peppered Adams Avenue. Certain food types included Asian, pizza, corn, hamburgers, sausages, and chocolate covered strawberries, just to name a few.
First time visitor Michelle Wilson stated, “All of the aromas floating around the Air was so mouth watering that me and my family had to try a little of everything.”
This year’s street fair also has many political booths as well if you wanted to support the cause you care about. Both the Democrats and Republicans have different booths, and some even brought up controversial issues involving on-going problems in the community.
Free music highlighted the major commotion of the fair. Several live musicians and performers played to the public. There are many different genres played at the fair including country by artist Merie Jagger, Rock artist Delta Blues Dogs and various other artists. A newcomer to the fair this year, Shannon Whyte, stated, “I really love the blues and Delta Blue dogs were amazing, the music really took me back and made me think about old times.”
The street fair had six different stages for your listening pleasure; 33rd Street rock stage, 34th street roots rock stage, Lestats stage, Hawley Blues stage, Dimilles stage, and the Worldbeat Park stage.
Each stage highlighted a different genre of music, giving listeners a taste of different music as they roam the cultural blocks of Adams Avenue.
Carnival rides, games, prizes for the kids and music for the adults offered fun for the whole family.
