The Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) shared last week that they will bring Hillcrest CityFest this year, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 8 from 12 noon to 11 pm.
The popular annual event, which attracts more than 150,000 attendees to Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest, had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions begin to loosen and the pandemic gets farther and farther behind us, HBA is looking forward to bringing Hillcrest CityFest back this summer.
Hillcrest Cityfest is a celebration of community spirit through music, arts, crafts, and food, and attracts visitors from all over the neighborhood, San Diego, and beyond. The daytime festival atmosphere transforms into the "CityFest at Night" dance party after sundown featuring some of the area's best DJs.
Event organizers say this year's festival will include over 250 artisans and crafters from across the country, an international food court, live music, a kids zone, a petting "zoo," artist alleys, a 21+ beer garden, and more spread out across 6 blocks.
Hillcrest CityFest's roots began in 1984, when the official lighting of the refurbished Hillcrest sign was held. The sign had been dark for several decades. As part of the lighting, vendors set up on the closed streets around the corner of Fifth and University. According to HillQuest.com, the celebration of festivities lasted until after 10 pm that day with an attendance of about 3,000 people.
The Hillcrest Association sponsored the first “CityFest” in the spring of 1985. Bob Walker, owner of The Gallery Store, organized a juried art show, drawing a crowd of about 5,000 people. Active participants filled Fifth Avenue (north of Robinson) with many expressing themselves with paintbrushes on the street. The following day the painted streets made the front page of the Union-Tribune.
Proceeds from Cityfest go towards the upkeep of the Hillcrest sign and other beautification projects in Hillcrest.
Learn more about the history of Hillcrest CityFest here.
Those who wish to apply for vendor space at Hillcrest CityFest 2021 can click here. Entertainment bookings can apply to Benjamin@Hillcrestbia.org.
For more information on CityFest click here or call the HBA office at 619-299-3330.
Tags: Hillcrest, HBA, Hillcrest CityFestLocal