By Mary O’KEEFE

The community is reminded that the Hometown Country Fair is this Saturday. Each year the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts this event which celebrates the area’s small town feel in the middle of an urban setting.

The parking lot at CV Park will be full of carnival rides and games. There will be cotton candy and popcorn, a dog parade, and the popular pie-eating contest (contestants must be under 20 years old).

The reason the Crescenta Valley can enjoy the city/country feel is in part due to the residents who protect their “Mayberry” with a vengeance and the local businesses where mom-and-pop shops live in harmony alongside a few larger corporate stores.

One example of how local businesses support the CV Chamber is Bruce Bartels who owns Bruce’s Automotive. He reached out to 10 independent automotive repair shops in the area, even gave them a name – Valley Automotive Group – and the group is an event title sponsor.

The Chamber works hard to bring businesses together, support the community and create events like the Hometown Country Fair to share its love of the area.

For the first time, the Chamber will be providing shuttles to and from the fair. Shuttles will be available at two pick-up spots: Bob Smith Toyota/Scion in the 3300 block of Foothill Boulevard and the Park and Ride lot on Lowell Avenue near the entrance to the Foothill (210) Freeway.

There will be booths from local vendors and organizations at the fair as well as entertainment including the award winning Crescenta Valley High School jazz band, Rosemont Middle School jazz band and St. Francis High School drumline.

The “Legends of Hot Rods” forum will take place in the park’s community room from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The forum will feature Pat Ganahi, former editor of Hot Rod Magazine, automotive customizer Gene Winfield, world record drag racer Bob Muravez and this year’s emcee – the voice of the National Hot Rod Assoc., Dave McClelland.

There will also be a drawing at the end of the day for an iPad.

The Hometown Country Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is being held in CV Park at 3901 Dunsmore Ave. in La Crescenta. Admission is free.

File Photos

  Mary Okeefe