Arturo Hilario
El Observador
On August 27-28 a collection of great acts, musicians, comedians, ventriloquists, and more, will convene at the Berryessa Flea Market for its Annual Children’s Summer Fun Fest.
Now in its 20th year, the event has always been about creating a fun and imaginative experience for families.
Bay Area children entertainers Lori Moitié & R.J. Johnson Of Cotton Candy Express Music, are hosting this year’s Fun Fest. As multi-award winning musicians, performers and personalities, the duo have been associated with the Flea Market Fun Fest for years, with this year being their first stint as hosts.
Lori says that this year’s iteration should not be missed.
“I’m a discoverer of talent,” says Lori. Through her experiences in entertainment industry she and R.J. have amassed friends and discoveries that can be called upon to come to events like the Fun Fest and show people a good time.
“20 years ago we saw needs in the Bay Area for creating kids clubs and family friendly places for people to go to.” This led the pair to create the first ever kid-friendly clubs at malls, outdoor festivals and anywhere they could get a stage and a crowd.
Lori adds, “this is why the fit for the Children’s Fun Fest couldn’t be better.”
The history of the Children’s Summer Fun Fest beings and continues because of Marketing Director and Director of Special Events Rich Alvari. He initially thought of the idea to combine elements of the Flea Market like live entertainment with rides and games when he first began his job with the Berryessa Flea Market 20 years ago. “Being that this is the 20th anniversary, I give Rich the credit here, what he’s doing here is he’s been filling neighborhood needs. He’s constantly checking what’s going on with the people.”
It’s this shared bond that Cotton Candy Express and the Flea Market have in looking out and providing communities with fun that makes the union of their respective knowledge a worthwhile effort. Centralizing it at one of the largest outdoor markets in the world helps as well.
“When I go to the Flea Market it’s fun, it’s more fun than ever before. It doesn’t matter what culture you are. It opened up for families, and it’s because of Rich”, says Lori.
This year’s festival includes performances from Lori & R.J., Los Panaderos,( whose ‘Iguana Dance’ is said to be something to behold), and Grupo Folklorico Los Laurels. Lori adds, “we’ve got a magician that we love that transcends any language barriers. If someone is entertaining they’re gonna go ‘wow’ in any language. Along with us, what we call the entertaining hosts, we’re doing a very fun, kid-friendly shtick.”
Besides the performances, rides, activities, science experiments and petting zoos will be available for families.
To Lori the entire point to the event is to have fun and create what she calls “a very special day” for the families and their children. “Our goal is to attract families, the more we attract families, the better it is. The most important thing is the connection to family, the connection to neighborhoods and we all have to work side by side to fulfill the neighborhood.”
“There’s such a need for children. And here’s a special day for them. Come and hang out with us, we do lots of the things, we give out lots of prizes!” she adds.
Berryessa Flea Market’s Children’s Summer Fun Fest will be held August 27-28 from 11:00 am- 5:00 pm at the Pavilion area.
