The International Street Fair at the City of Orange has been going on every Labor Day weekend for more than 30 years now. My first visit was 25 years ago but for some reason, I have not revisited till this year. It is not a question of time or distance, there are just so many attractions and events in Southern California this one slipped by me for a quarter of a century without even realizing it! When they say Time flies, it really does LOL.
I came early, just half an hour after they opened, things were just stirring up but the temperature was already at 85 deg. F (29.4 deg. C) and for a Southern Californian that is already outside the range of comfort unless you are at the beach. They conveniently set up a cooling station (shown below) where you can walk in and cool down a bit before moving on.
It is best to come at night when there are more music and dancing from various ethnic groups and the crowd is livelier. However, I came to check out the various ethnic food available - they were there alright but I find them overpriced and so-so in taste. There are just so many ethnic restaurants and food venues in LA and Orange counties you developed a sophisticated and discriminating taste after some time - you know when it is good, in taste and in value LOL. The fair is still worth a visit, it is free and you can find free street parkings a short distance away, if you do not want to shell out 10-12 bucks to park near the entrance.
Four dollars for an ear of roasted corn! You can get six of them for a dollar at your local grocery! The Fair is held to raise fund for various charities. The people manning the food booths are volunteers, quit belly-aching and loosen your wallet LOL.
ATMs available in case you run out of cash
Is that enough toilets for you? 
17 comments:
Don't tell me there was no Filipino street!
There was an Asian street but there was no Filipino booth there, only Chinese and Japanese. I think the city of Orange does not have a large enough and active Pinoy community there.
I love street festival where one can pig out and at the same time appear horrified at the $4 ear of corn :D
Sounds and looks like a fun day - minus the heat.
Photo Cache, it was a fun day except I forgot where I parked my car when I was leaving the festival. I had to search for it under the noonday sun LOL.
A street festival can be a lot of fun even without a lot of money to spend. But I'm not sure I would pay $4 for an ear of corn.
George, how about $12 for parking when you can park off the street a few minutes walk away for free? Just remember which street you left your car (the venue is a circular street where many streets feed into it)LOL.
beautiful girls selling ice cream, juice! what else should one look for?
parang walang pinoy booth. :) looks so much fun!
i guess okay lng yung ganyang street food festival if hindi gaano mainit. i can't imagine having one here right now. pero i'm excited with the nearing christmas season kasi madami ulit tiangge and i bet there will be many similar looking bazaars around.
my fave would be the last photo. haha. if you're having a food festival, setting up dozens of portable toilets is a definite must! :)
festive indeed! dami food; dami din portable toilets, hahaha... i know, just in case people who indulge and binge more felt the sudden urge, haha.
dong ho, beauty does sell LOL.
Reena, wala ngang Pinoy booth duon for some reason.
If it is dry heat, like in Vegas, it is a bit tolerable; if it is hot and the humidity is very high it is very uncomfortable, you want to be somewhere else pronto.
docgelo, portable toilets are a fact of life in any public gatherings here. One of the things I like in the US, toilets are always conveniently available and are free unlike in other countries where you have to pay or give a donation to use one.
Summer street fairs are also a big thing in Manhattan but it's the heat and the crowding that usually turns me off.
The last one I attended was during the Philippine Independence Day celebrations and even the food - as you pointed out - isn't really something you would rave about.
I didn't know that there is such festival like this in Cali hehehe, I didn't even get to see one when I was there. Nice pics but I want to see the close-up pics of the food hehehe
The Nomadic Pinoy, same here, big crowds and uncomfortable temp turn me off.
Missy, there are plenty of these festivals all over. Maybe you were not just paying attention to them when you were around. Btw, I'll remember to take a close-up of the food next time.
i do love these slice of life and street fairs in america. i kind of miss that :)
Janet, thanks for dropping by.
I enjoy street fairs though. And I already expect to pay for things slightly overpriced. But if it's for a good cause, I'm in!
How's your week so far?
Many thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comment. Come visit again tomorrow!
Festivals in America is much much different from our local festivals, but I say mas masaya pa rin ang piyestang Pinoy.
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