CityFest: A Local Celebration of Hillcrest History

With Pride Fest just wrapping up last week, we can always count on Hillcrest to find a reason to celebrate. This year marks the 27th annual CityFest on August 14th, which has expanded over the years to become one of the largest street festivals in San Diego.

Each year, CityFest commemorates the relighting of the neon pink Hillcrest sign. The beloved sign was once taken down in 1983 to be restored, and was returned one year later to a crowd of eager fans. That momentous day marked the unofficial start to CityFest. Thankfully, those kinds of restorations don’t take quite so long these days. The neighborhood beacon is relit every year during a lighting ceremony, allowing San Diegans to relive the excitement of seeing the iconic landmark come to life.

CityFest has grown into a fun celebration of both history and community spirit. This year’s event will feature a beer garden, an enormous music stage that will span the width of University Avenue, and over eight blocks of food and street vendors. Locals who love the Hillcrest lifestyle and visitors who just want an extra taste of the excitement are all welcome into the neighborhood celebration.

If that’s not enough, those looking to put their more artistic side to use can find a creative outlet at the event. CityFest hosts a variety of arts and crafts activities for all ages to get in touch with their artistic side. From pipe cleaners to face paint, CityFest conjures up the spirit of culture and play for all ages. This year, they’re expecting a crowd of over 150,000 attendees.

CityFest will take place on Sunday, August 14th from 12pm- 8pm, so mark your calendars now! San Diegans can eat, play, and recreate a little part of history in the heart of Hillcrest, at the intersection of 5th and University Avenue. To find out more information about the event, take a look at their website.

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