WATTS : Summer Festival Returns Home to Watts Today

The Watts Summer Festival, born in the ashes of the 1965 riots, comes home to Watts today for the first time in years.

The festival runs through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 111th Place and Wadsworth Avenue.

The festival was begun to commemorate the 34 people killed in the 1965 Watts riots, but it had met with difficulties over the years because of waning corporate and county support. It was canceled in 1976, 1978 and 1987 because of financial difficulties. Since the county canceled the use of Will Rogers Park in Watts in 1983, the fair has wandered in search of a home--until now.

Sponsors, including entertainer Michael Jackson, came forward this year amid increased attention to the inner city after last year’s Los Angeles riots.