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Arts & Entertainment

36th Annual Carlsbad 'Village Faire' Takes Over Downtown

The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce sponsored event brings in thousands to shop in the village.

On Sunday afternoon in downtown Carlsbad, thousands of folks came out to enjoy the bi-annual Carlsbad Village Faire. With over 700 exhibitors, organizers boast that it is the largest one-day street fair in California. 

Brian Roth of Kennedy Associates is the chief planner for this event. He said, "I think Carlsbad Village is just a nice location. It's one of the longest running ones.  It's just a happening place, and people want to come here."

At the faire, there's lots to see and lots to eat. The smell of all the great food is just one of things that brings people to town. You'll find hot polish sausage sizzling on a grill, and down the street, kettle corn pops by the kettle-full. At one of the booths, they expect to make 90 batches in one day—that's almost 300 pounds of the hot popcorn. You'll find chocolate covered berries, ice cream and more.   

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One fair-goer, Allison Singson, said she loves the food. "I like the salty things and sweet things in close proximity. Right now, I'm eating  some kind of ice cream cookie, melting mess, but it's really good."

This year is the 36th annual event, and some folks have been around for lots of those years. Aaron Brener from Vista is a longtime exhibitor in Carlsbad. His wife's latest creation to sell at their booth is "yard art." He said he helps her make these yard displays "from antique plates, fastened to a metal pole."

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Visitors find many other cool things to see and to buy here, and there are lots of creative ideas and products. One Poway company offers a solution to the overstuffed wallet. It's made of super-thin parachute fabric and promises to reduce to bulk in your back pocket.

And here's an idea that's new—"Laughter Yoga." It is a group that teaches the health benefits of laughing, on purpose. Laughter expert Linda LeVier said her group doesn't "wait for a joke," but they laugh as a wellness exercise because "laughter is the best medicine."

And laughter and having a good time are all a part of the Carlsbad Village Faire experience.

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