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Taraval Street Fair Returns on October 25th
by Mitch Bull
Food, fun and live music takes center stage as the 2nd annual Taraval Street Fair returns this month. The fair, organized by the Taraval Merchants Association, will take place on Taraval Street between 46th and 47th Avenues from 10:30 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 25th.
Dallas Udovch, of Oceanside Heating and Air Conditioning, is the President of the Merchants Association and is excited about this years’ festival. “Last year, between 7000 and 10,000 people attended the fair, and this year we are expecting a larger turnout. We will be featuring 4 bands for the live music, lots of food booths, including sausages, sushi and Mexican fare, a Hot Dog eating contest (with a $150 grand prize), jewelry booths and many different things for kids.”
The music stage will feature several bands , including “The Impailors”, “The Teddy Hey Band”, “The Rockaway Players”, and the band “Kim Never Talks”.
Children and children of all ages can look forward to having fun at the fair, as it will feature a Pumpkin Patch, a Bouncy House, Clowns, and a San Francisco Fire Engine, courtesy of S.F. Fire Chief, Johanna Hayes-White, “who has been wonderful to work with during this planning process”, said Udovch.
He went on to explain that everyone he has worked with to plan the event has been very supportive, citing State Assemblymen Leland Yee, District Supervisor Carmen Chu, and the Staff Command at the Taraval Police Station as being critical to helping to ensure that the fair is successful and safe.
Last year, Mayor Gavin Newsom attended the 1st Annual fair, and Supervisor Chu presented the Merchants Association with a proclamation declaring “October 27th, 2007 to be Taraval Street Fair Day in S.F.”.
Putting together an event of this size is not an easy task and Udovch has had plenty of assistance from his colleagues on the Merchant’s Association to get things in order for this year’s event. “The Board of Directors has done a fantastic job in pulling this together. Dave Quimby, Yuin Sam, Paula Sham, George Zlatnich, and Orlando Tyson have all worked extremely hard to make this event a reality, said Udovch, who added, “Our goal is to highlight this great neighborhood we live in, elevate District 4, and to get everyone together for a day of fun and friendship.”
The planners have had good success with sponsorship for the fair, with a mix of sponsors signing on. Sponsor businesses involved are Costello’s 4 Deuces Bar, Lakeside Hardware, 1st National Bank, the Riptide Lounge, Prudential Insurance, Allstate Insurance, and Oceanside Sheet Metal and Pepsi.
Next year, the planners are looking to expand the scope a little larger, hoping to take over a section near to Great Highway to recreate a version of San Francisco’s famed “Playland at the Beach” for a day, with rides, booths, and of course, Laughing Sal.
As with all street fairs, parking is limited so taking public transportation is recommended.
For more information on the fair, go to the website www.Taravalmerchants.org.
October 2008
