Zestful fun
Those looking to get their citrus fix have no reason to feel sour this weekend.
The 28th annual Lemon Festival will return today and Sunday to Girsh Park, with entertainment and activities for all ages. Whether it’s the lemon meringue pie, locally crafted lemon libations or a cup of the freshly squeezed tart beverage, Goletans will have their opportunity to pay tribute to the city’s most famous produce.
The event will include entertainment and activity for all ages, including the 14th annual Goleta Fall Classic car and street rod show. The car show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Sunday, showcasing a variety of classic rides. A new twist this year will be the addition of motorcycles and bicyclists. The event will include the Goleta Lemon Pinup Pageant at 1:30 p.m. today, while award-winning car owners will be recognized at 2:30 p.m.
Those who drop by will also be invited to enjoy “Safety Street,” which is known as one of the largest interactive displays of fire, police and emergency services in Santa Barbara County. Additions this year include a sheriff’s K-9 and mounted units, said Kristen Miller, president of the Goleta Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the annual event.
The kid zone will feature rides and games, including mini golf, inflatable bubbles and obstacle courses. Tickets for the rides are $1 each, with most rides costing between four and eight tickets. All-inclusive activity wristbands can be purchased for $30, which includes access to such activities as bounce houses, an inflatable obstacle course, a rock wall, slot cars, mini golf, archery tag, and more.
As is the case with many local festivals, there will be no shortage of live entertainment. Beginning at 10 a.m. today, more than a dozen performances will be held on the main stage – ranging from student dancers, live music and a karate display to a pie-eating contest, which also will be held at noon Sunday. Several areas scattered throughout the park will allow people to share their festival experience through Instagram.
Admission and parking for the event is free. For the safety of festival guests, organizers are requesting the no pets attend the festival.
Ms. Miller, who helped organize the festival since 2002, told the News-Press that while there are some small additions each year, many people enjoy the tradition of the festival.
“People keep on coming back year after year because of some of the new things that can entice them, but it’s really because we’re able to keep things the same,” she said.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information or a schedule of activities, visit lemonfestival.com.
