3,000-plus at inaugural Street Fair

A crowd estimated at 3,000 – 3,500 attended the inaugural Downtown Arcadia Street Fair and Patriotic Festival Friday, July 3.

Gold Line train station platform canopy to cover ticket vending machines. Colored glass designed by Arcadia station artist Michael Davis to evoke the eye of a peacock feather.

Mayor Gary Kovacic kicked off the Patriotic Festival staged at the new Arcadia Transit Center, where the new Gold Line station is to be dedicated on August 22 across the street from 24 Hour Fitness. Some of the hundreds of attendees commented on the newly-exposed canopy on the train platform featuring colored glass panels intended to evoke a peacock feather. Former Mayor Peter Amundson’s Minuteman Transport sponsored the Patriotic Festival with additional sponsors Foothill Credit Union and Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary sponsoring the Patriotic Festival and adjacent/simultaneous Downtown Arcadia Street Fair on First Avenue from Santa Clara Street to Huntington Drive. <Story continues below the following two videos highlighting the events on July 3…> Three-minute video highlights of the Street Fair YouTube format…

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Get the Flash Player to see this content.Two-minute video highlights of the Patriotic Festival YouTube format…

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Get the Flash Player to see this content.Mayor Kovacic and Matt Denny’s Ale House Restaurant owner Matt McSweeny welcomed the crowd and introduced several bands who became the first to perform on the stage at the Transit Center, including the classic rock band Totally Hip Replacements. McSweeny, who is also the original President and now Treasurer of the new Arcadia Improvement Association business district, which presented the Patriotic Festival and new weekly Street Fair, had a table set up to serve pulled pork and tri-tip sandwiches. Another Downtown Arcadia restaurant, Villa Catrina, also offered Mexican cuisine. The AIA also had a booth at the Transit Center, offering promotional give-aways and information about attractions in the area, including the Arcadia Historical Society’s Thoroughbred Racing Walk of Champions, more than 60 sidewalk plaques along Huntington Drive and First Avenue that was dedicated last September, 2014. While the Patriotic Festival will be an annual event, the Street Fair, will continue every Friday evening from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. on First Avenue north two blocks from Huntington Drive to Santa Clara Street. The Street Fair featured more than 40 farmer’s market vendors and more than 40 other vendors offering various unique gifts, food and beverages. Kids also enjoyed a petting zoo, pony rides, giant slides and bouncey house. Three different sets of bands and musicians played throughout the evening at three different areas of the Street Fair.

— By Scott Hettrick