Fiesta La Ballona plans 3 days of live entertainment
By Kimberly Knab
Fiesta La Ballona will present three days of free, live music and dancing, as part of Culver City’s annual “Party in the Park” Aug. 25-27 at Veterans Park and is produced by the City of Culver City, the Fiesta La Ballona Committee, local sponsors, and almost a hundred volunteers. Veterans Park at 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City.
This year, the Fiesta entertainment program celebrates a century of music with diverse performances. The Entertainment Tent will open on Friday, Aug.t 25 at 4:30 p.m. with Corey and his Cohorts performing early Jazz and Swing classics. Opening Ceremonies will commence at 6 p.m. with Mayor Jeffrey Cooper and members of the Culver City City Council, Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission, and the Fiesta La Ballona Committee.
Fiesta-Palooza will start at 6:30 p.m. Fiesta-Palooza, coordinated by Flynn Namala and Ryan Silver of The Blank Minds, will showcase local teen bands Eliza, The Narts, Leaving London, Mediocre, and Street Play.
Street Corner Renaissance, a Doo Wop quintet, will launch the performances on Saturday, Aug. 26 at noon and they will be followed by Grupo Folklorico Macias performing folk dances of Mexico. Fortunate Son will pay tribute to the best of Creedence Clearwater Revival at 1:45 p.m. followed by dances of Grupo La Rosa. Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps will sing the Blues at 3:30 p.m., followed by Ho’Aloha Polynesian Dancers at 4:30 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., Corday Undercover will perform ‘80s Hits and beyond.
Next, On The Edge Dance Studio performs lively Hip Hop and Jazz. starting at 7 p.m., and Fiesta La Ballona will present Hollywood Blonde in a two-hour dance party featuring Top 40 hits.
Cali Rose & The CC Strummers will open the program on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. with the sounds of ukulele. Orquesta Charangoa will then perform with a traditional Cuban orchestra at 11:45 a.m. This performance is sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Xorotroptzi will follow with Bulgarian heritage dance. Sunday afternoon will feature Crawdaddio performing Zydeco music at 1:30 p.m., followed by Brasil Brasil Cultural Center entertaining the crowd with capoeira. Quitapenas performs Afro-Latin music at 3:15 p.m., followed by Ballet Folklorico de Claudia Jeanette. The Fenians closes the entertainment program on Sunday with an hour-long set of Celtic Rock at 5 p.m. Stilt walkers, provided by Red Swan Entertainment, will intermittently rove the park both Saturday and Sunday.
Fiesta hours are 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26; and from 11:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug.t 27.
The Fiesta would not remain a reality without the support and generosity of all of its sponsors. This year’s sponsors include GOLD: Co+Opportunity Market & Deli and Sony Pictures Entertainment; SILVER: T-Mobile, Tito’s Tacos, Kane Balmer & Berkman, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and Steeldeck, Inc; BRONZE: Golden State Water, HeArt Realtors, The Culver Studios, Backstage Bar & Grill, The Vivian Lesny Group, SoCal Gas Company, HaltonPardee Partners, Echo Horizon School, AYSO (Region 19), Ivy Station, and Culver City Rotary Club; FRIENDS: Cavanaugh Realtors, The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa, ZogSports, and Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum; ACTIVITY PARTNERS: LA Galaxy Star Squad (appearance Aug. 26 noon-4 p.m.), L.A. Kings Ice Crew (appearance Aug. 26 4:15 p.m.-8 p.m.), Angel City Derby Girls (Bike Valet); MEDIA PARNERS: LA Weekly, KCET (appearance Aug. 26 11 a.m.-6 p.m.), Jack-FM (appearance Aug. 27 11 a.m.-3 p.m.), and KLOS (appearance Aug. 27 4 p.m.-8 p.m.); ZERO WASTE PARTNERS: Haynes Building Services.
To learn more about Fiesta La Ballona or to sign up to be a volunteer, visit the website at www.fiestalaballona.org, call 310-253-6550, and find out more by liking the event on Facebook, following it on Twitter, or viewing it on Instagram.