FIESTA DAYS FUN KICKS OFF MONDAY
Sizzling temperatures are slated to disappear next week, just in time for the 66th annual Fiesta Days fun starting Monday.
It's a special year, said Chair Karen Juilfs, as Fiesta welcomes new activities, celebrates hurdling a crisis that could have killed the event and bids farewell to Juilfs, who has been with Fiesta for more than 30 years.
“It's personal. I moved here without a home,” she shared, of her beginnings in Vacaville. “I found my place here.”
Soon, she found Fiesta and became involved, It was her way of giving back to her community.
“I started out as a garbage picker,” she remembered.
She moved on to become
the “sheriff” of the Fiesta Days jail, did merchandising for the event, helped set up Andrews Park for vendors and participated in the Kids Zone.
In 2009, she took over as general chair, a post she retires after this year.
“I've never missed a Fiesta Days,” she added, recalling the rush of preparations and getting things done “just so.” Her family is a big part of Fiesta, helping in any way they can. Her grandkids, she pointed out, now ages 3-21, have all pitched in one way or another.
Juilfs promised that she'll still be involved — she just won't helm the event. It's just time for a change, it seems, and a pace that's not so hectic.
Still, there's the adrenaline rush of preparing for Monday's kick-off bbq.
Tickets, at $65 each, are still available for the dinner, from 5-8 p.m. at the CreekWalk.
Enjoy seared steak with papa potatoes, salad, dessert and more.
Meanwhile, enjoy the tunes by the popular Pub Kats and take a turn or two around the dance floor.
Tickets are available at https://www.vacavillefiestadays.org/events.
The main event opens Thursday and includes the Kids Zone, the carnival and more.
This year, the Kids Zone will host its first-annual derby car races on Saturday and Sunday, at 3 p.m. both days.
Participants are asked to register, pick up their free derby car at Pacific Ace Hardware (or the Kids Zone up until 2:30 p.m. on event days) and then get ready to race. There will be prizes for each heat, as well as a grand champion.
Juilfs pointed out other exciting offerings, including a petting zoo courtesy of Be Love Farm, pony rides, games along the midway, fair food including corn dogs, funnel cakes and marinated bacon slices a la Big Bad Bacon, among other venues.
Next Saturday's parade features more than 80 participants with even more floats than last year, Juilfs said. It starts at 10 a.m. at Willard's Dry Cleaning and ends off Orchard Avenue.
The parade lineup will be
available on the Fiesta Days website, https://www.vacavillefiestadays.org.
Juilfs cautioned against throwing anything along the parade route, as it can be hazardous to participants, she advised.
As well, the Fiesta Jail won't be in the parade this year as longtime “sheriff,” Mitch Mitchum, died earlier this year.
“He was a good sheriff,” she said. “He was a good person.”
The fun continues through Memorial Day, with food and music and entertainment galore. On Sunday the 28th, a Mass will be held in Andrews Park and mariachi performers and dancers will play in honor of Hispanic Day.
Gordon Johnston with Johnston Amusements said lots of improvements and repairs have been made and ample fun will be had, with two new funhouses soon to arrive.
“I'm 58 and I've been doing this for 50 years,” he said, explaining his love for Fiesta. “I've been going to this since I was a little kid. It's kind of like a homecoming.” Juilfs expressed thanks for everyone who has ever cared about Fiesta Days.
“We thank our community for helping us with support this year and also the city of Vacaville. It was a very difficult year,” she emphasized. “To all the businesses that reached out to us, big and small, our hearts are full.”
She thanked sponsors and individuals alike and welcomed all to come and enjoy the magic that is Fiesta Days.
All Fiesta information can be found online, at https://www.vacavillefiestadays.org.