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44th annual Camarillo Fiesta puts flavor into the weekend
Photos by Joseph A. Garcia / Star staff Jose Ramirez of Sun Valley, an attendant for the Casino thrill ride, watches the crowd enjoy the spins and dips during an afternoon at the Camarillo Fiesta.
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Nicholas White, 22 months, of Camarillo feeds a Nubian goat during a visit to the Camarillo Fiesta on Saturday afternoon. The goat was part of a display that included chickens, ducks and alpacas.
Old Town Camarillo is playing host to fun lovers at the 44th annual Camarillo Fiesta this weekend.
The old-time street fair kicked off with musical performances at Dizdar Park on Friday.
Saturday was the first day vendors and patrons perusing food, jewelry, clothing and more converged on the stretch of Ventura Boulevard.
Organizers said the three-day event usually draws 35,000 to 40,000 visitors. It winds up today from noon to 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Reina Ginspert of Oxnard was busy selling items from Wagon Wheel Bakery, the Ventura business she and her husband own. She said after 10 years of selling at the fiesta, she stills finds it exciting.
"I love it," Ginspert said. "I like the people, the food, and the weather is always perfect."
The fiesta, which stretches from Oak Street through Glenn Drive, is put on by the Camarillo Fiesta Association, a nonprofit organization that assists local youth education programs.
Mike Morgan, 60, is the co-chairman of the association and also serves on the City Council of Camarillo. Morgan, who's worked on the fiesta since 1997, said he's proud of the event's growth over the years.
"We went from a 15-booth event, to now a 150-vendor event," he said.
The fiesta also assists local youth programs at the event with an area called the Fun Zone. The game and activity booths are free to nonprofits, and each organization takes home 100 percent of its profit.
In the Fun Zone, Madie Oberg, 13, was helping her California Dynamites gymnastics team's booth sell temporary tattoos.
"It's really fun," she said. "This is kind of like our version of the Ventura County Fair."
In addition to the 150 vendors, the fiesta includes food, games and entertainment as well as a car show.
For more information, visit http://www.camarillofiesta.com.
Posted by AskingQuestions on July 15, 2007 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have not attended the "fiesta" in years because no events are scheduled that fit the "fiesta" theme and this year was no different. As for the entertainment, the Estrada Brothers Band, a Latin jazz group come the closest to "fiesta" but even they are a stretch. Don't get me wrong, the Estrada Bros are great and Ruben at the vibes is fantastic. However, this is a "fiesta" in name only. As pconvery said above, it has "the typical kids rides, booths that aren't very interesting..." for me that is boring. But apparently there are at least 35,000 people out there who like this sort of thing.
Posted by bearbigdog2 on July 15, 2007 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How does someone find out the schedule for the entertainment on Sunday 7.15.07?
Posted by CALA on July 16, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know what happened to the man who was on the corner of Arniel and Daily? It seems he may have been having a stoke.
I hope he is ok. My thoughts and pryers are with him.
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