San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
LEMON FEST BRINGS ZEST TO CHULA VISTA
Thousands flocked to celebration on Third Avenue
Thousands of people streamed into downtown Chula Vista on Saturday for the 25th annual Lemon Festival. Families sipped various types of lemonade, tasted lemon-flavored ice creams and even enjoyed a lemon-based cook-off.
Chula Vista was dubbed the “Lemon Capitol of the World” after the completion of the Sweetwater Dam in 1888, according to the city’s website. While a post-war housing boom transformed the city by the late 1950s, the community still celebrates its agricultural roots.
“It’s something about the lemons,” said Lizbeth Garcia Tillack, who was handing out official festival stickers at the event. “I have a lemon tree. My family has lemon trees. It’s about that tradition.”
Food, clothing and other vendors lined Third Avenue from E Street to Park Way, with live music coming from two stages. Children played in bounce houses and posed in front of signs emblazoned with the yellow citrus fruit.
The event was organized by the local business improvement district, Third Avenue Village Association, which is currently rebranding as Downtown Chula Vista. Dominic Limandri, the group’s district manager, said commerce has bounced back from the pandemic and is thriving like never before.
“We have seen some changeover on the block with new businesses and a new generation from Chula Vista,” he said, calling out a handful of establishments including Mmm...cakes, Culichi Town and 3 Punk Ales.
Christine Spracklin and her husband rode beach cruisers to the street fair from their home just a few blocks away. She said she’s attended the festival about a dozen times and was impressed by Saturday’s turnout.
“I’ve never seen it this good,” she said. “There’s just a lot of venders and a ton of people. It looks awesome.”
Daniel Lopez drove from Allied Gardens for the event with his wife and two young boys, who were enjoying a lemon-themed swing.
“We’re still escaping the shadow of COVID,” said the 43-year-old. “It’s just nice to get out in the crowd and see what the venders are doing.”
There was also a large collection of educational booths. Alex Muniz, with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, was giving folks advice on how to care for their lemon trees. Specifically, he was teaching people how to spot Asian Citrus Psyllid, a bacterial disease spread by small insects that are prevalent in many parts of Southern California.
“Citrus is one of the most popular backyard fruit trees in California,” he explained. “I’m talking with residents about how to raise healthy citrus trees.”
A few steps away, chalk artist Cecelia Linayao was putting the finishing touches on a street mural of her nieces enjoying lemonade. She said the pandemic has been hard on her business as many such festivals have been on hold for the last two years.
“If life hands you lemons, make lemonade,” she said, smiling. “I was excited to do this festival because it’s one of the first coming back.”
The event stretched from 11 a.m. into the early evening, drawing an estimated 30,000 people. The city held a smaller version of the festival last year, according to organizers.