Vanessa Avilez
Staff Writer

The Family Festival and Certified Farmers Market began on May 3 in Old Town La Verne and will continue every Thursday night through the summer.

The festival on D Street, alongside the ULV Campus,features arts and crafts, live entertainment, delicious food and best of all the outdoors.
The smell of barbecue fills the air, but that isn’t all.

There are all sorts of different foods such as Mediterranean kabobs, sausage sandwiches, funnel cake, kettle corn, cotton candy, snow cones and many more appetizing foods.

“This is my second year,” said Wennise Cheah, an employee from Mt. Olive Organic Farm.

“Hopefully more people will come to the market so we can introduce the products,” Cheah said.

The market and festival has something for everyone, from young children to adults.

There are food booths of fresh fruit, vegetables, beef jerky, cookies and other pastries, different dips and spreads, nuts and many more tasty foods.

“We came for the fresh fruit and vegetables and we want to eat,” Courtney Berry, a resident of La Verne, said. “They have interesting items here.”

The other booths along the street contain clothing for children and adults, handbags, jewelry, scented candles, handmade art, cell phones and equipment, programs for weight loss and classes for yoga and line dancing.

“I like jewelry,” Sylvia Loera, a resident of La Verne, said. “I’m always looking at jewelry and candles, and I like the flowers here.”

Some of the employees and owners of the booths are hoping for a good turnout this summer.

“I really like it,” said Karen Johnson, a second year returner and a line dancing instructor from the La Verne Community Center.

“I teach line dancing classes,” Johnson said. “I’m hoping to get more students.”

“I hope for a lot of people to come out and support it,” said Floyd Marks, a third year returner and employee of Scratch Cookies and Bakery.

For parents who want to spend some time looking around, there is a section where their children can play while they shop.

There are two jumper sets and a clown who does face paintings.

The outcome has been great for the past two weeks. However the street fair should attract more attendees within the next month due to summer vacation.

“I never stopped by before so I decided to come to see what it’s all about,” Daisy Aguiar, a senior criminology major, said.

“It’s to get a feel for the community,” Aguiar said.

It would be well worth it for members of the La Verne community and anyone passing by to come to Old Town La Verne on a Thursday night.

It is a great outdoor experience. There is something for everyone.

This Family Festival and Certified Farmers Market will continue every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through the summer until August 30.

Vanessa Avilez can be reached at vavilez@ulv.edu.