Hultville – The 77th Annual Island Festival Concert featuring Table 5 kicked off with a lighter-than-usual attendance on Friday night, February 9, likely as a result of the cool, rainy weather.
Fortunately, Saturday, February 10 will bring sunny skies and perfect conditions for a full day of festivities that include the annual Island Races, a street fair, a much-anticipated parade, and the first start of the Mariachi Festival of the Islands party.
But concertgoers who attended Friday night enjoyed a mix of popular songs, in English and Spanish, that impressed the crowd. The band played for over two hours as people sang and danced to their favorite songs.
Attendance seemed to pick up after the rain ended, leading to more people coming out to enjoy the music, food and festivities. Tacos, hot dogs, kettle corn, and a beer garden were readily available under the canopies for all to enjoy.
The events of the 77th annual Carrot Festival will be covered on Saturday.
Samantha and Christina Silva, both Holtville residents, agreed on why they enjoy the Carrot Festival, saying they love that the community comes together every year and that there are options for children. In addition, one of them said she enjoyed meeting “people who have gone and come back.”
“The Carrot Festival is a constant; it will always be here,” one woman said.
Jesus, the taco shop owner, said he, his family and friends go out for food, celebrations and music. He added: “We are from Holtville; We do Holtville things.
Likewise, Missy Berger and her friend Cathy Samaha went out to see old friends who gather at the park every year during this period. They love that the festival is very local and small but also something special and unique to their community. “It brings a lot of people home,” Berger added of the festival.
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A group of teens echoed that sentiment as they waited in line to enjoy the exciting carnival ride. “I loved that it was our own thing,” one girl said, referring to the roots of Holtville, the festival’s birthplace.
The carnival was adjacent to the concert, and young people of all ages could be seen flocking to the variety of rides and games available, both large and small.
The anticipation of the parade and the ongoing celebrations on Saturday could be felt in the air.
Yvette Rios, a lifelong Holtville resident and Island Festival coordinator with the Holtville Chamber of Commerce, said she was very proud to be a part of this event in her hometown. “I've attended every year since I was a kid. It's very special to me.”
