The Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair celebrated its 50th anniversary over the weekend with more than 80,000 attendees enjoying food, games, and music.

The fair was also the first one back fully to its "regular" format following COVID and the restrictions that held back some of the regular elements of the fair for the last two years.

The fair was "a resounding success," according to Hometown Fair President Joe Marcy. "Typically we welcome 80,000 attendees over the fair weekend. Based on preliminary data, we believe we exceeded that."

A few highlights of the weekend, according to Marcy, included:

• The dance floor reached max capacity while the headline band “Better Daze” rocked the Main Stage on Saturday.

• The Hometown Fair merchandise booth had a record-breaking year, nearly selling out by Sunday afternoon.  

 

• The Hometown Fair silent auction raised $11,826.

• Hundreds walked through the fair's Historical Tent - a new feature for this year - that was an emotional experience for loyal fair-goers and volunteers.

Also, noted Marcy, for the first time ever, fair organizers surprised Beer Garden attendees on Sunday with a live broadcast of the football game. ("This was very well received," he added.)

Fair Opens with Fanfare

"This has been a long time coming," Marcy told the crowd. "We, as an all-volunteer board, have worked tirelessly to make this happen, to honor our history, to celebrate our future - and it's a bright future. This is where tradition is started, this is where tradition is continued. We honor those traditions here. This is done by the community, and it's for the community."

 

Marcy thanked the fair's 21-member volunteer board as well as the City Council and other government officials, the police and fire departments, and all of the vendors.

Noting that a portion of the proceeds from the fair will support local booster clubs and local artists, Marcy added, "This is meaningful for a lot of people."

Middle: Mary O’Keefe Fay, Tamarie Cuneo, Nellie Ambrose, Diane Charvat, Bea Zimbalist, Renee Hall, Kari Carpino

Front: Jeanna Harkenrider, Karen Tokashiki, Joe Marcy, Dana Old, Nikol Fisher
Photo via John Wolfsohn Photography.