From cotton candy and hot dogs to carnival rides and hot air balloons, the 41st annual Clovis Fest took place over the weekend in Old Town Clovis.
Community members and visitors flocked to the event for free entertainment and family fun.
Clovis Fest kicked off bright and early on Saturday morning with the Hot Air Balloon Fun Fly. Hot air balloons and Fresno State’s blimp, Bulldog1, took flight at 7 a.m. and drew a crowd of 3,000 people.
“It’s such a big part of the festival,” said Fran Blackney, a Clovis Chamber of Commerce business advocate.
From more than the 200 craft and commercial booths available, visitors had a chance to splurge on food and household items.
“We have something for everybody, from the carnival rides and face painting for the little kids to the Budweiser beer garden for their parents,” Blackney said. “We kind of take care of everybody.”
Blackney said she is proud the Clovis Chamber of Commerce hosted the event because it gives the city a profitable business opportunity while at the same times, gives community members and visitors a chance to have fun.
“It’s a great family tradition,” she added.
Clovis resident Connie Loves attends Clovis Fest every year and said this year.
“It wasn’t too hot this year and the crowds were just right,” Loves said. “I had a funnel cake, pizza, watched a little wrestling and saw some of the products. It was fun.”
Amid the many food stands and home décor booths, live entertainment was also in full effect.
“We have Lucha Xtreme Wrestling, No Surrender Laser tag and we have Clovis North High School robotics team,” Blackney said. “We have a lot of the same things, too, and that’s comforting, because people know exactly where to find their favorite things.”
A new addition to the festival this year was a sand castle competition hosted by the American Institute of Architects.
“This is our first year at Clovis Fest and we’re very excited,” said Julie Jaurique-Chipps, vice president of the American Institute of Architects San Joaquin chapter. “We really want the younger kids to see what architecture is and what architects and structural engineers do. This is a great way to get them to see what our industry does.”
