The Carlsbad Village Faire is a twice-yearly tradition that consistently attracts record numbers of shoppers, visitors, vendors, and seekers of the new, the different, the delicious. Oh, and dogs. It also attracts dogs. “I have no idea why people bring their dogs,” said Brian Roth, of Kennedy & Associates, who has helped organize the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce event since 1997.
This year's event will be held November 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Village of Carlsbad.
The Carlsbad Chamber has been working with Kennedy & Associates to present the street fair every May and November for 35 years. Since its inception, the Faire has grown from a modest sidewalk sale to the nation's largest one-day street faire, including nearly 900 vendors and attracting more than 100,000 people. “I have no idea how many dogs,” Roth said.
Roth has seen some intriguing items and has watched many regular vendors evolve over his years with the event. From among the thousands of quirky, trendy and eye-catching gift items and novelties, Roth has seen artisans create custom jewelry on-site, display hand-carved, truly one-of-a-kind wooden bowls, and he has seen a musician successfully sell his own CDs for 22 years. Not a whole lot surprises him.
Roth has also seen what the Faire can do to help expand a business. California Quivers is the Southern California version of the Italian ice, and has become a staple at the Village Faire. “Matt Farruggio was young entrepreneur in his 20s when he started,” Roth said. “He started with a small cart or two at universities and our Faire, then expanded over the years, and now has three full booths in the Faire. He has expanded his brand nationwide with some additional offshoots.”
Farruggio asserts that the Faire was instrumental in getting his buisiness off the ground. “Our participation in the Village Faire has been a big part of our success. It's the best event we do,” he said. “That first year we had to beg to get in because of limited space, but it was worth it.” He recommends the Faire to budding businesses as a savvy marketing move. “It provides immediate feedback and allows you to take risks with new products or ideas. It can have a huge impact on business.”
Some Village Faire businesses are handed off to the next generation. “BBQ 4 U is in its second generation of providing tri-tip sandwiches to Faire customers,” Roth said. “The father started with us in 1992, and the son now continues on.”
For some Faire businesses, location is key. According to Roth, one particular vendor sets up at the extreme end of Faire boundary, where one would assume she would be hard to find. “She refuses to consider moving,” he said. “Her customers find her every Faire.”
The Carlsbad Chamber starts getting inquiries for the November event in May. The Chamber's Business Development Manager, Kristina McMahon says that the May Village Faire acts as a catalyst for some vendors. “People attend the Faire and see how well attended it is and they start thinking they'd like to exhibit at the November event,” she said. “We definitely gets calls in May and June for the November Faire.”
Chamber members receive priority on the wait list for exhibitors. Some businesses join the Chamber initially to get into the Faire and end up staying for the life of their business. For example, Roth cites Charter Oaks Preserves. “They have been in the Faire since 1986 and have remained a Chamber member all these years,” he said. “She has been in the same space in front of the Coyote Bar & Grill forever, selling preserves, mixes and gift baskets.”
For the vendors, the Carlsbad Village Faire may be all about the booming business that so many eager shoppers represents. But for the thousands of attendees, it's all about the food. Seasonal favorites, refreshing treats, and unique, ethnic specialties punctuate every stretch of the Faire. The air is redolent with spicy barbecue smoke and the smell of frying funnel cakes. The cakes, according to Roth, date back to 1988 with the Kiwanis Club of Oceanside. “They still serve them in the Roosevelt Food Court,” he said.
Roth has his own Faire-food weakness. “I never eat those huge sausages, other than at the Village Faire,” he said.
The Carlsbad Village Faire is Sunday, November 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Village of Carlsbad. The event includes a beer garden, an international food center, a pancake breakfast, and children's rides and games. For more information call 760-931-8400 or visit www.carlsbad.org.
Faire patrons can take North County Transit District's COASTER directly to the Carlsbad Village Station the day of the event. NCTD will operate a robust train schedule, delivering passengers directly to the Faire from as far away as San Diego and as near as Oceanside. Transfers are available from inland trains as well. Stay tuned to www.gonctd.com for the latest details about special services and rates to the Carlsbad Village Faire.
This year's event will be held November 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Village of Carlsbad.
The Carlsbad Chamber has been working with Kennedy & Associates to present the street fair every May and November for 35 years. Since its inception, the Faire has grown from a modest sidewalk sale to the nation's largest one-day street faire, including nearly 900 vendors and attracting more than 100,000 people. “I have no idea how many dogs,” Roth said.
Roth has seen some intriguing items and has watched many regular vendors evolve over his years with the event. From among the thousands of quirky, trendy and eye-catching gift items and novelties, Roth has seen artisans create custom jewelry on-site, display hand-carved, truly one-of-a-kind wooden bowls, and he has seen a musician successfully sell his own CDs for 22 years. Not a whole lot surprises him.
Roth has also seen what the Faire can do to help expand a business. California Quivers is the Southern California version of the Italian ice, and has become a staple at the Village Faire. “Matt Farruggio was young entrepreneur in his 20s when he started,” Roth said. “He started with a small cart or two at universities and our Faire, then expanded over the years, and now has three full booths in the Faire. He has expanded his brand nationwide with some additional offshoots.”
Farruggio asserts that the Faire was instrumental in getting his buisiness off the ground. “Our participation in the Village Faire has been a big part of our success. It's the best event we do,” he said. “That first year we had to beg to get in because of limited space, but it was worth it.” He recommends the Faire to budding businesses as a savvy marketing move. “It provides immediate feedback and allows you to take risks with new products or ideas. It can have a huge impact on business.”
Some Village Faire businesses are handed off to the next generation. “BBQ 4 U is in its second generation of providing tri-tip sandwiches to Faire customers,” Roth said. “The father started with us in 1992, and the son now continues on.”
For some Faire businesses, location is key. According to Roth, one particular vendor sets up at the extreme end of Faire boundary, where one would assume she would be hard to find. “She refuses to consider moving,” he said. “Her customers find her every Faire.”
The Carlsbad Chamber starts getting inquiries for the November event in May. The Chamber's Business Development Manager, Kristina McMahon says that the May Village Faire acts as a catalyst for some vendors. “People attend the Faire and see how well attended it is and they start thinking they'd like to exhibit at the November event,” she said. “We definitely gets calls in May and June for the November Faire.”
Chamber members receive priority on the wait list for exhibitors. Some businesses join the Chamber initially to get into the Faire and end up staying for the life of their business. For example, Roth cites Charter Oaks Preserves. “They have been in the Faire since 1986 and have remained a Chamber member all these years,” he said. “She has been in the same space in front of the Coyote Bar & Grill forever, selling preserves, mixes and gift baskets.”
For the vendors, the Carlsbad Village Faire may be all about the booming business that so many eager shoppers represents. But for the thousands of attendees, it's all about the food. Seasonal favorites, refreshing treats, and unique, ethnic specialties punctuate every stretch of the Faire. The air is redolent with spicy barbecue smoke and the smell of frying funnel cakes. The cakes, according to Roth, date back to 1988 with the Kiwanis Club of Oceanside. “They still serve them in the Roosevelt Food Court,” he said.
Roth has his own Faire-food weakness. “I never eat those huge sausages, other than at the Village Faire,” he said.
The Carlsbad Village Faire is Sunday, November 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Village of Carlsbad. The event includes a beer garden, an international food center, a pancake breakfast, and children's rides and games. For more information call 760-931-8400 or visit www.carlsbad.org.
Faire patrons can take North County Transit District's COASTER directly to the Carlsbad Village Station the day of the event. NCTD will operate a robust train schedule, delivering passengers directly to the Faire from as far away as San Diego and as near as Oceanside. Transfers are available from inland trains as well. Stay tuned to www.gonctd.com for the latest details about special services and rates to the Carlsbad Village Faire.