Bonitafest turns 45 this weekend.
The longstanding community celebration starts at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15 with a Twilight Trail Parade starting at the Sunnyside Equestrian Arena in Rohr Park and leading around the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course.
Genral chairmman of the event Max Branscomb said anyone is welcome to join the parade from walkers, runners, bicyclists and horseback riders. He encourages parade attendees to bring glow sticks or any form of light source.
“People can ride their segways, people can jog, people can walk, bring your dog, bring your baby strollers, everybody can join in,” Branscomb said.
The parade will feature girls from Bonita Valley Softball who won the state championship, the cast of the Bonitafest Melodrama and the Sweetwater Valley Little League team.
Day 2 of Bonitafest includes a street fair and performing arts festival on Sept. 16 from noon to 2 p.m. at Bonita Vista High School, 751 Otay Lakes Road. The street fair will have more than 100 vendors, food trucks and art displays. A kid’s area will also be included. A musical stage will highlight show choirs, bands, dance groups and mariachi performances. A second stage will have solo artists and younger performers. Branscomb said the street performing arts festival is all about the musical talent in the South Bay.
“We really made an effort to make sure that the entertainment is more diversified,” he said. “We wanted entertainment and performing arts from the Philippines and from Mexico and from Guam and from other parts of the world.”
The 40th annual Bonitafest Melodrama will wrap up Bonitafest at 7:30 p.m. from Sept. 27 through Sept. 30 at Sweetwater Community Church Theater.
This year’s play, “Bonita Vista By 2” is about the opening of Bonita Vista High School and its first football game. The play, directed by Branscomb, is based on a true story but fictionalized.
Branscomb took over Bonitafest four years ago when it looked like the event was on the verge of dying because previous event organizers could no longer support it.
“It just keeps getting better and better every year,” Branscomb said. “I was optimistic when I took it over and I was looking at a way to sustain it for 10 years,” he said. He said he hopes in a few years a younger person can take over the Bonitafest.
Branscomb said to make Bonitafest work with a $19,000 budget he had to cut security costs by not closing any streets and instead have the event in a contained location. Money for the Bonitafest came from a County of San Diego Community Enhancement Grant and received money from corporate sponsorships.
For tickets to the Melodrama call (619) 850-7126.
