BREA : Food, Entertainment to Highlight City Fest

The 11th annual Brea Fest will take place next Friday with food samplings and free entertainment including shows by dancers, comedians, jugglers, painters and bands.

The event, which will be from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Brea Civic Center on the corner of Birch Street and Randolph Avenue, is expected to attract about 4,000 people.

Tickets will be sold to buy samples of food provided by 33 area restaurants including El Torito, Outside China Cafe, Renaissance Cafe and Jojo’s Pizza Kitchen. The cost is $10 for six samples or $2 for each individual sample.

The money raised will benefit Brea’s cultural arts programs, which include art and drama workshops, the city’s Art Gallery exhibits and Curtis Theatre productions. Last year’s festival raised $17,000.

Justice, a country-Western band, will perform in the Civic Center parking lot while the Joe Nappa Band will play dance music in front of the center, a jazz band will play at the Embassy Suites hotel next to the center and a piano player will perform in the Art Gallery.

Dancers will show off their tap, jazz, ballet and modern dance moves in the Curtis Theatre, where an award-winning juggler and high school choir will share the stage. Inside the City Council Chambers, visitors can participate in karaoke. Face-painting and art demonstrations also will be featured at the festival.

“Brea Fest generates interest in the city’s theater and art gallery and it brings the whole community together,” said Kathie DeRobbio, the festival manager. “It’s just a fun celebration of the arts. It’s something for everyone.”