For Rolando residents and those visiting the area, this Sunday will be a day of fun, entertainment and more.
The 26th Annual Rolando Street Fair is back on April 14 and is sure to make for a lot of good memories.
According to College Area resident Dana Rowley, “The fair is a bit different every year, with different vendors, food and beverages. But what changes most year to year is the band line-up. We always work hard to get a variety of music that’s fun for all. And this year, we have some of the biggest bands we’ve ever had – meaning numbers of people. Ska orchestras, marching brass bands and kids that rock, it’s going to be so fun.”
Rowley noted that the event tends to get around 12,000 people each year, but it is continuing to grow.
The success of most events hinges on volunteers and the time and effort they put in to make things happen. That is certainly the case with this popular Rolando event.
“The Rolando Street Fair is run almost exclusively by volunteers,” Rowley remarked. “This is an event by the community, for the community. It’s one of the only fairs in San Diego that runs this way. Putting on an event of this size is a ton of work, and our community members put in hundreds of volunteer hours to make this super cool day happen.”
For Rowley, the time she puts into the event is well worth it.
“One of the things I like most about this area is how much there is a sense of community and an almost fierce determination to put effort into the area that surrounds you,” Rowley stated. “This is a rapidly evolving area and there’s a lot of folks who really care about what it will look like in the future. And though a day of music and fun doesn’t seem like it has much to do with that, it actually does. It brings people together and creates a sense of pride in what our little community can provide for all of San Diego to enjoy. So I’m pretty selfish in that in that my favorite thing about the fair, is that it’s in my neighborhood. That’s why I’ve taken the role of marketing for the fair for the past four years.”
Given the fair takes place on residential streets and not in a business district, you can bet locals will be showing off their community.
Entry and live music is free and the area for kids is only $5 for unlimited play all day.
“Our committee really does design this event with everyone in mind and aim to have an event that kids, families, students, and friends can all enjoy together,” Rowley added.
For more information, visit: https://rolandocc.org/rolando-street-fair/.
