This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first “Fiesta La Ballona.” It was established in 1951 as a weeklong celebration of the local heritage. José Manuel Machado, a poor muleteer married in Los Alamos and enlisted as a “soldado de cuera” (leather-jacket soldier). He and his bride traveled on Rivera’s 1781 expedition to Alta California. This was their opportunity to establish a family in this rich new land.
Years after Machado’s death, two of his grown sons, Agustin and Ygnacio, partnered with Felipe Talamantes and his son Tomas to establish a rancho. In 1819, Agustín took his legendary “dawn till dusk” ride on his fastest steed to claim their 14,000-acre Rancho La Ballona. It became the primary rancho from which Culver City was carved. A little later, land to the east became a smaller rancho, Rincón de los Bueyes (Higuera and Lopez property). The shared property line began approximately between today’s Ince Boulevard and Main Street, where The Culver Studios stands today.
The Fiesta began as a program of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the city. It was an inclusive event with something for everyone. During the week, there were sponsored activities like a barbecue, square dance, teen dance and aquacade at the new “Plunge,” the city’s Olympic-sized swimming pool. Although most of the events centered around the new Veterans Memorial Park, there was also a “Thieves Market” at the post-WWII Culver Center. The merchants closed Culver Center Street for this philanthropic sidewalk sale.
Friday of Fiesta week, everyone was encouraged to dress as an early settler. Wardrobe choices varied from Native American, Spanish/Mexican to Western outfit themes. Banking on Friday was very festive and for those who did not “dress the part,” the penalty if caught was a ride around town in the “Fiesta Pokey.”
A Fiesta queen and her court were chosen to reign over the week and little girls competed for the Little Fiesta Queen title. There were two parades on the weekend. The “Kiddie Parade floats” (often built on little red wagons), were designed by parents for their children to pull through Vets Park. The winners received prizes like ice cream cakes. The big Fiesta Parade began staging on Ince or Higuera Street and traveled down Washington and Culver boulevards, to Vets Park. Entries in the big parade were locally sponsored floats and bands, equestrian entries and honored California descendents, who rode in horse-drawn buggies or vintage cars.
The Fiesta La Ballona will take place on the last weekend of August in Veterans Memorial Park. Stop by the Culver City Historical Society Archives to see a (free) special exhibit on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Entry is from the PRCS office off the back parking lot.
