{"id":248962,"date":"2015-07-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-31T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/cityfest-goes-pop\/"},"modified":"2015-07-31T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-07-31T07:00:00","slug":"cityfest-goes-pop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/cityfest-goes-pop\/","title":{"rendered":"'CityFest se vuelve pop'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Por Ken Williams | Editor<\/p>\n

Thirty-one years ago, in the summer of 1984, Hillcrest residents and business owners got together to celebrate the relighting of the beloved Hillcrest sign on University and Fifth. They called it CityFest.<\/p>\n

Who knew that CityFest<\/a> would turn into a huge celebration of the Hillcrest community, now attracting an estimated 150,000 people from all across the West Coast to enjoy food, beer, music, arts and crafts?<\/p>\n

\"CG081411(CityFest)015webtop\"<\/a>
CityFest returns Aug. 9 and is expected to draw 150,000 visitors. (Courtesy of CityFest and Hillcrest Business Association)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CityFest returns this year on Sunday, Aug. 9, running from noon to 11 p.m. in the heart of Hillcrest.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Mama\u2019s Kitchen fundraiser, \u201cDunk a Drag\u201d returns (Courtesy of CityFest and Hillcrest Business Association)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So what\u2019s new this year?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are calling this year \u2018CityFest goes pop,\u2019 referring to everyone’s favorite summertime treat \u2026 the popsicle,\u201d said Megan Gamwell, marketing and communications program manager\u00a0of CityFest sponsor Hillcrest Business Association. \u201cWe are teaming up with Viva Pops to do 300 popsicle giveaways around the neighborhood leading up to CityFest to help get everyone excited. We will be posting our\u00a0popsicle\u00a0giveaway locations on our Facebook page:\u00a0Facebook.com\/CityFest<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gamwell is relatively new to the HBA and CityFest, but she is helping usher in new ideas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis marks my third CityFest with the HBA. Over the past few years I have seen the event grow to include more of the arts,\u201d she said. \u201cLast year, and again this year, we are incorporating multiple artist alleys where local artists will be painting, sculpting,\u00a0designing\u00a0and sketching live throughout the event. The artist alley has almost doubled in size compared to last year with over 50\u00a0artists\u00a0already committed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Musical<\/a>
Musical acts will appear throughout the day (Courtesy of CityFest and Hillcrest Business Association)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gamwell shared her views on why CityFest has become such a popular attraction.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think CityFest has become such a \u2018big deal\u2019 in the community because it embodies the true meaning of community,\u00a0fun with family and friends, and summertime!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCityFest has been a staple in this community for over 30 years and for most people it\u2019s a summertime tradition. Between the carnival rides, Furry Fosters petting zoo, live music, \u2018Dunk a Drag\u2019 (a fundraiser for Mama’s Kitchen), the beer garden, and street fair foods and crafts, there is something for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Events during the daylight hours tend to cater to children and their families, and when the sun goes down the attention turns to the adults with dance music from some of the best DJs in town.<\/p>\n

Hillcrest\u2019s live music venue, The Merrow, has also got in on the good vibrations, assembling a live music lineup of We Are Sirens, The Verigolds, Perro Bravo, Cumbia Machin, Saint Diego, Viva Apollo and Social Club that\u2019ll run throughout the day.<\/p>\n

\"Events<\/a>
Events include a waterslide (Courtesy of CityFest and Hillcrest Business Association)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And, according to the HBA, this year\u2019s festival will include:<\/p>\n