It’s time again to celebrate neighborhood pride with the East Bakersfield Festival.
Returning Saturday to Jefferson Park, this annual event promises a day of free activities, live entertainment and fun.
This gathering is also a celebration of the neighborhood and its residents, which is the reason the event was created in 2018.
Organizer Children First, a nonprofit geared toward providing health and wellness to kids, uses the festival and its annual Literacy Gala in November, to help fund its community outreach, which includes food distributions, neighborhood cleanups, a literacy program for elementary students and outdoor excursions throughout the year.
The festival’s strong community connection is clear through its entertainment lineup, according to Natasha Felkins, Children First chairwoman and part of the festival’s organizing team.
“We have a band, EastBound, that is made up of Highland High School students.”
The new addition to the live entertainment is the first time an all-student group will take part. (Student dancers have participated in past events as part of folklorico groups and with Dat Krew.)
The Foothill High Mariachi Band will kick things off at 11 a.m., followed by Aztec dance group Calpulli Ollincan Yolotl at 11:30 a.m.
Headliner Grupo Feliz will take the stage at noon.
At 1 p.m., dance troupe Dat Krew will perform followed by Ballet Folklorico Mi Pasión at 1:30 p.m.
EastBound will play at 2 p.m. with covers of rock songs from the 1960s through the 2000s.
Grupo Folklorico Escuelas Unidas will present its dance performance before CC Amore closes out the live entertainment at 3 p.m. with its mix of funk, soul and ’70s hits.
Felkins said a friend lovingly refers to the festival as “the Coachella of Kern County,” and organizers are proud to highlight talent from all over the community.
She said, “All these performers are local, home-grown in our community, with many from east Bakersfield.”
Speaking of local, the kid’s zone will be packed with activities and fun from area vendors
Earth Day 661 and Green Clean Pros. will have an upcycled garden house and will help attendees craft their own flower from recycled materials and paint a mural.
Ray’s Exotic Show LLC, with renowned reptile expert Doug Lemmons, will showcase a variety of creatures to learn about and hold (for those brave enough).
Community Action Partnership of Kern will give away free children’s books to encourage reading at home and at the park.
Instructors from Bakersfield Elite Martial Arts will provide basic self defense lessons for kids and adults.
Children First will offer a variety of field games including potato sack races, tug of war, play parachute and a blue hole tarp game
Next Play Collective will offer kids a mini soccer activity with cones and goals, encouraging them to try dribbling and shooting.
Event participant 3G Activities will host 3-on-3 youth basketball games and fundamental lessons, working with participants on basics like ball handling and dribbling, passing, shooting, layups, footwork and defense.
The Girl Scouts Service Unit 614 will offer free face painting and temporary tattoos.
Attendees can also enjoy free rides on the Ferris wheel and play at the on-site spray park.
Along with all the activities, children can also enjoy a free slice of pizza courtesy of the Little Caesars on Columbus Street while supplies last at the Children First booth.
Free snacks from The Wonderful Company will also be available.
Food will be for sale from a wide variety of vendors, priced under $20 with “tacos and other snacks that won’t break the bank,” Felkins said.
Set to participate this year are Big Al’s BBQ, Get It Twisted, Las Poblanitas Mexican Food, Porfys’ Treats, Semper Fries, Krazed Food Truck and Desserts, Snowie Shaved Ice, Just A Little Cart, Twisted Lemonade and Soda Shop, Grace & Grains Bakery, Kona Ice of Central Bakersfield, Yaya’s Sweets Coffee & Sips and La Chica Fresa.
Artisan vendors, who will have artwork and other goods for sale, include My Sister’s Plants, Icy Boutique, Evil Eye Arts, Melissa’s Toys, X Buenrostro Lopez and Child of Venus and Pluto.
Live artwork will also return this year, a feature that began in 2022. This year, Jaelyn Foster will be painting a piece on-site.
Also on display will be works by past participating artists Desiree Rodriguez, Jennifer Beltran, Dan Andriano, Andre Ruiz, Belinda Rickett, Evelyn Dominguez, Naomi Eleanor Carrizales, Francisco Javier “Skip” Sanchez Jr., Taya Marroquin, Franchesca Fenton, Beth Chaney, Mike Gamboa and Muriel Ramos.
Along with all the fun planned, attendees are also encouraged to make a day of it enjoying time in nature.
“We’re letting the community and families know that this is an event to bring your lawn chairs, bring your blankets and stay for the entire day,” Felkins said.
“We want people to be able to stay and enjoy the park.” she said, noting that parks are sometimes forgotten as places where people can safely enjoy the outdoors.
“Bring a picnic, pick a spot and just hang out.”
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the park, 801 Bernard St. (The resource fair ends at 3 p.m.)
Admission is free.