FamFest Returns to Ashland Community
Ready to kick your summer into high gear? Then, make your way down to the Ashland Youth Center for the 2nd Annual FamFest on June 22.
The Castro Valley and Eden Area Chamber of Commerce again hosts this street festival, which features entertainment, food, beer, and family fun. The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on East 14th Street at 163rd Avenue in Ashland.
Traffic will be closed along East 14th Street for a few blocks and rerouted a few hours before that to accommodate the setup of stages and booths.
Admission is free for everyone to enjoy. Vendors will sell a variety of items, from jewelry to homemade goods. Street vendors will be selling fan favorites such as tacos and pupusas.
“As people walk through, they will see vendors, community services, games & bounce houses for the kids. They will smell wonderful food, including tacos and pupusas, and hear Music,” said Gary Slate, executive director of the Chamber.
Returning musical performances will be Taiko Drummers and Patron Latin Rhythm. Booths have games for children, with some giving out keepsakes to kids and others giving out information on community resources for adults. Activities for children also include a rock-climbing wall, quilting, bouncy houses, games, and more.
FamFest has its roots in Cherryland and Ashland community outreach and was initially organized by Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley. The event started as a fun run for kids and adults. It added a few booths at the finish line a few years back. In 2019, it expanded to include vendors and fun family events. Recently, the Eden Chamber decided to take over hosting duties for the event. FamFest is touted as a smaller counterpart to the Fall Festival held in Castro Valley each year.
Supervisor Miley, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Oro Loma Sanitary District, and Alameda County Economic & Civic Development are the event's sponsors.