Santa Monica Celebrates a Local Global Village

Gene Williams

May 17-- A city which prides itself on its small town feel got even smaller Saturday, as residents flocked to Clover Park to see a miniature version of their community at the 14th annual Santa Monica Festival.

The picture-perfect weather and the promise of great entertainment attracted thousands to the village of small tent-like booths representing more than 100 local businesses, non-profits and City agencies peddling their goods and services.

Like the City itself, the fair's eco zone, town square and global cafe emphasized the virtues of diversity and sustainability, while performances of everything from Korean and Afro-Latin music to Broadway show tunes and Country-Western took place on two large stages nearby.

Calling it "the best community festival in LA county," Cultural Affairs Director Hamp Simmons estimated the day's attendance as high as 10,000 and attributed the " terrific weather" and great entertainment from "our own youth," for the success.

Council member Richard Bloom commented, "It's going just dandy," as he surveyed the scene. "This is Santa Monica's signature event."

The councilman was especially thankful for the help the festival got from two big companies.

The last two festivals had been cut back by budget constraints, Bloom explained, but having YAHOO! and HBO on board this year really helped return the celebration back to its former glory. "It's a really good tie in for them and for us."

The Santa Monica Festival was organized and presented by the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division, the Community and Cultural Services Department, the Santa Monica Arts Commission and Community Arts Resources (CARS).

It was sponsored by HBO, YAHOO!, City of Santa Monica Environmental and Public Works Management Department, National Council of Jewish Women/Los Angeles Council Thrift, Santa Monica Mirror, Los Angeles Times, Arden Realty, Build America LLC, Watt Management, City TV of Santa Monica and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

Here are some of the images from Saturday's festival:

Kids from the Santa Monica theater Guild's Youth Education/ Entertainment Series performed Broadway show tunes on the YAHOO! stage (Photos by Gene Williams)

Children performed a traditional springtime ritual by dancing around a Maypole on the Yahoo! stage.

The festival provided the kids with plenty of arts-and-crafts opportunities. At the Santa Monica Art Museum's booth, eight-year-old Lucy Schroff showed off "Jenny," her very own super-hero.

the Korean Classical Music and Dance Company (pictured above and below), entertained the crowd Saturday.

Food and beverages were sold at about a dozen booths including this one from the Talking Stick. The popular Sunset Park coffee house showed it had a soft spot for its patrons and moved its couches and folk-musicians down to the park to create a mellow niche in the shade where folks could cool down from the day's excitement.

A Brazilian folk ensemble (above) provided some lively rhythms for a couple dancing on the grass (below)

"This is one of our premiere outreach opportunities," said the City's Environmental Program Division manager Brian Johnson (right). Andrew Basmajian (left), the division's outreach specialist, added, "We get to talk one-on-one with the people. We learn a lot and, hopefully, we help them understand what they can do to make Santa Monica a sustainable city."

Heal the Bay's Lulu Walcott demonstrated how rain water carries the city's pollution into the ocean.

Sitting at the controls of some of the City's heavy equipment was a big hit with the kids. It was "fun" using the mechanical arm of a Santa Monica trash truck to dump a waste barrel, said five-year-old Sophie, who added that she "really liked" the necklace she got at the fair.

At the City's Animal Shelter booth, Marcello, an eight year old jack russel terrier, quivered with excitement during his first encounter with desert tortoises

A Santa Monica Police officer lets a youngster pet his horse. The department has had horses since 1988.