The Third Avenue Village Association will be ringing in its first ever Third Avenue Village Street Faire April 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event is replacing TAVA’s 16-year-old Festival Cinco de Mayo, Jovita Suarez, TAVA’s event manager, said.
“The board voted to cancel the (Cinco de Mayo) event because of all the competition,” Suarez said. “This way we will have a better turnout and better vendors for the community.”
Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo, a three-day event, Suarez said, was TAVA’s chief competitor.
Suarez said that for the event’s debut, she is expecting 35,000 people.
The faire will host a slew of attractions from classic cars and magicians to live entertainment.
Carnival games, face painting and other activities will be available for kids.
A Spring Fling runway show, which features salons and dress boutiques exclusively from Third Avenue, will be one of the main attractions.
Musical performances by local musicians Jerry McCann, Lion Path, Michelle Lundeen & the Blue Streak, Puente and Soul Seduction will be performing.
A Chula Vista resident and musician, McCann, who has opened up for Santana, said his 75-minute set will consist of three decades of rock and roll music spanning from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.
McCann said an event like this helps local musicians get to know their audience.
“It’s not about money, it’s about knowing your neighbors,” he said. “I am kind of an unknown here. I was here in the mid ’60s then I went to perform outside the city.”
McCann said TAVA is paying him a small stipend to perform.
He also said the last time he performed on Third Avenue was six years ago, and he is excited for the opportunity to do it again.
Suarez said the free event is organized and paid for by TAVA and sponsors, and not by the city.
“This is not a city event,” Suarez said. “This is a TAVA event,”
For more information, visit www.thirdavenuevillage.com.
