SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Thousands of people packed Fifth Avenue on Sunday for Hillcrest CityFest, San Diego’s largest summer art and music festival.
The nine-block street party featured live music, local food, art vendors and community organizations all celebrating Hillcrest’s vibrant culture.
“Over the years, it has grown so much,” said Natalie Starr, marketing coordinator for the Hillcrest Business Association. “It’s turned into a street and music festival that now spans nine city blocks from Fifth Avenue to Brooks Avenue, and everybody loves it.”
More than 150 vendors lined the streets, offering everything from giant slices of pizza to handcrafted goods. Organizers say the event not only boosts small businesses but also brings the community together.
“I feel like it just activates our community and supports all our local businesses in a wonderful way,” one vendor said.
CityFest is also known as a space where people can express themselves freely.
“We’re proud and honored to be a neighborhood where people can authentically be themselves,” one organizer said.
For some attendees, the festival is about connecting with causes close to their hearts. One visitor said they enjoyed visiting a booth supporting autism awareness because they have two grandchildren on the spectrum.
The annual event began 41 years ago as a lighting ceremony for the Hillcrest sign. Organizers said the large turnout at that first gathering inspired what has now become a major San Diego tradition.
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