Fair Days Ahead

Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, lined with shops, restaurants and coffeehouses, sees its share of action, with people shopping, dining and generally coming and going.

Once a year, however, that stretch really comes alive, thanks to an event created by the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce to benefit the community’s elementary schools and the chamber itself.

The seventh annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair and Carnival is a big, three-day party featuring musical entertainment, kids’ attractions and plenty of food and drinks.

“The chamber needed money, and there was lots of publicity about schools not having enough books or supplies,” said Sondra Frohlich, the chamber’s executive director. “So we came up with the festival, and over the years it has grown quite a bit.”

The carnival part of the event is Friday and Saturday at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Cedros Avenue. There will be rides for children and adults, and carnival games.

Admission is free, but tickets must be purchased to go on the rides and to participate in the activities.

The fair, which will span half a mile, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, between Van Nuys Boulevard and Kester Avenue.

There will be 150 arts and crafts exhibits, educational booths, an international food court and a karaoke stage.

A special children’s area will feature a variety of entertainment and activities for kids, including a petting zoo.

Throughout the day there will be live entertainment on big stages scattered throughout the site.

Among the musical acts scheduled to appear are Bob’s Yer Uncle, Downbeat Express, Jenna and the Weeping Buddhas, the Brombies and the Ronnie Gutierrez Band.

Bob’s Yer Uncle is an R&B; band that plays regularly at various venues throughout Southern California. Downbeat Express plays big-band and swing tunes. Jenna and the Weeping Buddhas is a popular rock ‘n’ roll band that performs regularly at Southland clubs such as the Viper Room, the Troubadour and House of Blues.

The Brombies are four local musicians who play “bluesy-pop-rock,” and the Ronnie Gutierrez Band plays Latin tunes.

A group of young musicians from the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies will also play jazz. The group recently returned from a concert at Lincoln Center in New York.

One of the more unusual acts is the Perfumes of Araby, a belly-dancing troupe that performs exotic numbers and includes a live snake in some acts.

“Entertainment is very important, especially a good variety,” Frohlich said. “We know that the better the entertainment, the longer people stay at the fair and the more they will buy.”

This year the fair will include a new auto racing attraction in conjunction with NASCAR, the country’s sanctioning body of stock car racing.

Included in a special section highlighting the world of auto racing will be four racing cars that can be controlled electronically by individual participants.

Also, race-car driver Dino Hamilton will attend the festival and display his car.

BE THERE

Sherman Oaks Street Fair and Carnival, Friday-Sunday. The carnival is at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Cedros Avenue from 6-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. The street fair is Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Ventura Boulevard from Van Nuys Boulevard to Kester Avenue. Admission is free. For more information, call (818) 906-1951.