42nd annual Hometown Fair continues MB tradition

By Ryan Ulrich and Kathryn Cross
Staff Writers

Fundraising, eating, playing games and listening to live music brings the Manhattan Beach community together each year at the Hometown Fair, which took place on Oct. 4 and 5.

Hometown Fair President Anne Kelly, Vice President Bea Zumbalist, Treasurer Jeanna Harkenrider and the rest of the fair planning board planned the 42nd annual Hometown Fair, one of the most Costa-involved events of the year, in early spring.

“Because we only have a 21-person board, we have to work very hard from the very beginning to make sure that the fair is perfect,” Hometown Fair Publicity Manager Wendy Gilbert said.

Many of the fair’s booths support Mira Costa organizations, sports teams, clubs and electives. From the Drama Department’s face-painting booth to the Model United Nation’s goldfish booth, all organizations strive toward a goal of raising money for their programs.

“I love going to the fair because almost everyone at Costa is either working or walking around,” Model UN booth volunteer and senior Emma Zimmerman said. “It gives you a chance to hang out with people you usually wouldn’t hang out with outside of school.”

In addition to hosting a variety of booths, the Hometown Fair held the annual 10K race, which begins at 1st street in Manhattan and ends at 36th street. Seniors Brandon Shirazi and Emma Lautanen finished first in their respective gender’s 15 to 17 divisions, with Lautanen and her mother also taking second in the race’s mother-daughter team division.

“This year was the tenth time I’ve done the 10K, and it’s always super fun to be surrounded by and run with so many other people from the city,” Lautanen said. “I love the atmosphere.”

In addition to bringing together families throughout the South Bay, the Hometown Fair is an opportunity for Costa organizations to fundraise. Many Costa-affiliated booths take advantage of this each year.

“The money we receive from the fair goes to over a hundred different charities and schools from all around Los Angeles,” Gilbert said.