PLACENTIA : Festival Visitors Can Sample Cultures

Residents will have a chance to sample the heritage of various nations at Placentia’s first Festival of Cultures Street Faire today. The festival, to be held in the Placita Santa Fe area of Old Town Placentia, will begin at 10 a.m., with music by the El Dorado High School Jazz Band, and will continue until 5 p.m.

Food and craft booths operated by community businesses will operate in the 100 and 200 blocks of Santa Fe Street. The Chamber of Commerce will operate a food and beer garden on Main Street south of Santa Fe Street.

A portable stage will be set up at the intersection of Santa Fe and Bradford avenues, with a smaller stage at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue.

Entertainment will include local high school and junior high school bands, an Irish pipe and drum corps, American Indian dancers, a martial-arts demonstration and Ballet Folklorico.

The event will be similar to Placentia’s annual Heritage Days, said Jim Soto, director of parks and recreation. “We’re hoping it will be so successful it will become a yearly event,” Soto said.

Residents are encouraged to wear clothing representing their ethnic heritage, said Pischel. A 3 p.m. contest will determine the best costume.

Admission is free, and the Placentia trolley will provide shuttle service from parking areas at Kraener Park and Valencia High School.