By Charly SHELTON

Last weekend saw the return of an annual favorite, the Sunland-Tujunga Watermelon Festival. After a year’s hiatus and two previous years being held in Pasadena, the festival was brought back to the Sunland-Tujunga area by the new co-organizers, the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce. It was held at the Hansen Dam soccer field in Lake View Terrace on Saturday and Sunday.

“We’re thrilled with the turnout that we’ve had, with the temperatures that we’re experiencing,” said Michael Moncreiff, president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Despite temperatures over 100 degrees, the festival saw more than 10,000 people over the course of the weekend, Moncreiff said.

Attendees to the fair could get a free watermelon slice or try their luck at a watermelon prize wheel. There was also a watermelon seed spitting range and watermelon crafts for kids, as well as traditional fair amusements such as rides, bounce houses, food trucks, live entertainment on stage and carnival games.

“Overall it’s actually been very successful,” Moncreiff said. “All the planning has paid off.”

  Charly Shelton