by Kevin Cody
Local musicians, local artists, local restaurants, local breweries and local retailers will be featured in a reimagined Hermosa Beach Labor Day Weekend Fiesta, aptly renamed Hermosa Fiesta Locale. The changes were announced Tuesday by Chamber CEO Jessica Accamando.
The local emphasis was prompted by the need to comply with post pandemic safety regulations. But they are also responsive to longstanding complaints from residents, and businesses about street closures and a lack of local vendors.
The fair’s footprint is also being reconfigured. The traditional vendor booths on Hermosa and Pier avenues will be replaced by sidewalk booths in front of local stores, and an Arts Festival on the Community Center Lawn, hosted by the Arts Group of Hermosa Beach.
The only street closure will be between Pier Avenue and 10th Street, at the entrance to the fair’s traditional music and beer garden in the parking lot behind the Bank of America. A family fun area inside the garden will include a Ferris Wheel.
Unlike in previous years, admission will be charged to the music and beer garden, which will also offer wine and spirits. Two stages will present amplified and acoustic music. Tickets will be $15 per day ($2 for kids), and allow unlimited coming and going. Tickets to the VIP lounge will be $100.
In announcing the changes on Tuesday, Accamando said ticket sales will help control crowding in the garden, in compliance with COVID safety requirements. She also acknowledged that the sales will help the chamber recoup some of the revenue it traditionally makes from non local vendor booths.
Changes to the post pandemic Labor Day weekend fiesta that prove popular, will be incorporated into future Labor Day and Memorial Day fiestas, Accamando said.
Band line-ups and tickets sales to the Garden may found at FiestaHermosa.net. ER
