A Time for Cultures to Come Together

An estimated 10,000 people celebrated the diversity of cultures within the west San Fernando Valley on Sunday at the second annual International Fall Fest ‘97, featuring a multicultural mix of food, music and children’s activities.

Festivalgoers chowed down on Mexican tamales, Hawaiian popcorn and Cajun hot links as well as barbecued ribs, ice cream, roasted corn and shaved ice. Visitors also perused Aztec-style clothing, colorful pinatas and ethnic bric-a-brac. “We wanted to hold an event where all the people could come together to share their cultures,” said Aline Hausman, executive director of the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce, which arranged the daylong festival on Sherman Way.

Performers included the Los Principas mariachi band, the German Fernandothaler Musikanten band and Kishin Taiko Japanese drums, among others.

Numerous community groups, social service agencies, schools and churches serving West Valley residents had displays in 120 booths lining both sides of the street, which was closed to traffic.

“In the booths, there are foods and wares on display from every part of the world, which reflect the different ethnic groups in the area,” Hausman said. The Canoga Park and West Hills areas are home to people from Latino, Asian, African American and European American backgrounds.

Youngsters seemed less interested in the rainbow of cultures than in one thing aimed at them: a kiddie carnival with swirling rides and games of chance.

“I saw a flier about the fair, and it mentioned a petting zoo and free admission, so we thought we’d bring the kids,” said Tracey Baumann of Woodland Hills as she and a friend, Angela Riccardelli of West Hills, pushed strollers down the midway.

Bringing people together to celebrate their diversity was the chamber’s aim, Hausman said. “We wanted to bring people of different backgrounds together, instead of having them living separately.”