By Mclean Grimes
Staff Writer
Fiesta Hermosa Locale took place in Hermosa Beach Sept. 4-6, as a fundraiser for the city’s Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.
The Fiesta included music, art and shops. Events took place in three main areas of downtown Hermosa Beach: the lawn, the garden and the sidewalk. The lawn included art booths; the garden hosted live music and rides; and the sidewalks contained promotions for local businesses.
“It was fun to walk around and see all of the different areas in Hermosa with my family,” sophomore Sabrina Dela Barre said.
In past years, Fiesta Hermosa has attracted thousands of Southern California residents. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the Fiesta’s focus, however, placing a greater emphasis on local businesses and attractions. Its name, which was recently changed to Fiesta Hermosa Locale, reflects a more community-oriented focus.
“The modifications made to the festival were to limit the number of people in attendance for safety reasons,” Gum Tree owner Lori Ford said.
The Art Lawn and booths on the sidewalks were free, while the food, rides, and live music in the garden required a ticket. The cost of tickets for the Fiesta are $25 for general admission and $100 for a VIP pass. However, a free livestream of the musicians and bands was offered for those who wished to listen virtually.
“My mom and I didn’t get to go into the garden, but the music was pretty loud so we could still hear it as we walked around,” Dela Barre said.
On the Art Lawn, the Fine Arts Festival hosted individual booths showcasing local artists in an open area. Each booth had its own display to feature art, such as paintings and jewelry.
“My favorite area was the Art area because I liked seeing all the different booths,” Dela Barre said.
There were many local businesses, including Gum Tree and El Tarasco, that participated in the Fiesta. With no street closures on Pier Avenue, each business located on the sidewalks of Hermosa Beach or the garden hosted an activity, sale or promotion to attract visitors.
“Our shops and cafe were busier than they have ever been during past Fiestas,” Ford said. “I believe the focus on the local community and the spacing out of the different areas of business all factored into the major success of the event.”
It was great to read this article and to find out that the event was a success after the adjustments made. Making it smaller in light of the safety concerns of Covid-19, plus making it more of a local event for local businesses and local residents, seems to have been a wise choice. And the locals must have felt more community pride than a larger event would have. It sounds like there was a silver lining in the challenges the Fiesta faced, one that benefitted the local community and its businesses. 👍