| When they pulled the switch lighting the sign
(on August 26, 1984), the crowd just roared. Hillcrest was filled with
people. Several thousand crowded onto University Avenue and both
sidewalks all the way to Fourth Avenue. Revelers also filled the area
around the center of the intersection all the way down to
Robinson. It was an incredible sight. People sang and shouted and
tooted
toy horns. The cheering and carrying on lasted for almost an hour.
Cars stopped on Sixth and Fourth avenues and happily blew their horns.
All over Hillcrest it was like New Year’s Eve at Times Square. CAROL ARKO
|
 DONNA McLOUGHLIN
|
| It all started with a sign. In 1940 it was a generous gift to the community from women shopkeepers. Forty-four years later, a small group of business owners and community activists decided to bring it back to life. This was the beginning of CityFest.
|
It was officially the first relighting, but
actually I had been turning it on for a few hours each day for a week
so the neon could burn in. After speeches and thanks and introductions,
Roger Hedgecock and I even held hands as we threw the switch. I can
still remember the joy of that first nighttime lighting. People went
wild. It was truly a festival! GENE COSTER
|
 |
| “Time, money, people, effort and spirit
were the ingredients of the first
CityFest.” |
| Donna McLoughlin (former Hillcrest business
owner and community activist) aptly recalls the first street festival
that has become known as CityFest. She and her husband Patrick were
there at the beginning in 1983. So
were Joyce Beers, Gene Coster, Tony Kopas, Steve Zolezzi, Carol Arko,
Bob Walker, Lucille Greene, Wayne Hammond and Lucy Killea. |
 |
| The refurbished sign was replaced on
Saturday, August 18, 1984. With two 55-foot poles supporting it, the sign is 20 inches in diameter and 40 feet tall. The poles are sunk 15 feet into two 3,200-pound cement pipe supporters. The weight of the sign is 800 pounds. Many companies volunteered their services including: Sklat (for the neon), Coastal Rigging, Dave’s Electric, Montroy Supply, Anderson Drilling, Con Rock Cement, San Diego Chapter of NECA, IBEW, Sheetmetal Metal Workers Local 206, Sign Painters and Pictorial Artists Los Angeles Local 831 and Pacific Sign Construction of Chula Vista.  California Neon Company rebuilt the entire sign itself. |
|
The first (event) was not called CityFest.
It
was just
a celebration in the streets to re-light the Hillcrest sign. It had
been
taken down in August of 1983, and we found out that it would cost about
$4,000
to restore it. So Gene Coster, Donna McLoughlin, Tony Kopas, Joyce
Beers
and I got together and decided to hold fundraisers and ask our friends
to
help us with the money and to donate the work involved in the
restoration. The whole community pitched in to help. People made signs
and held impromptu fundraisers. They put out collection boxes
at the restaurants and at the shops. The residents got behind us
all the way. They came to our events and made donations. The reason
they did was because it was our community sign. It wasn’t just any
old sign. It symbolized our neighborhood. It was a symbol of who we
are and what Hillcrest is all about. It was a feeling of community.
Carol Arko
Hillcrest Association President, 1985 Brass Rail & Number One Fifth Avenue, owner |
 The first “CityFest” was held on May 12, 1985 with gallery owner Bob Walker and Tony Kopas as organizers The theme of “Art is Everywhere” was indeed all over Hillcrest with rooftops fluttering banners in bold colors. At the end of the day painting in the street almost ended our future events. Police say painting on the street is illegal. |
|
 CityFest 1987 shows the northwest corner of Fifth and University avenues prior to construction of the Union Bank Building. |
 1984 |
 1984 2003 |
 On the night of July 10, 2003 Bay Cal Painting workers masked the white letters on the faded red sign prior to using brushes and rollers to apply the paint. |
HBA Executive Director Warren
Simon (below) is
joined by longtime board member Ann Garwood while being interviewed
live for the nightly news.
 |
 Using the same anti-graffiti paint as in 1994 (Amershield bright red), the team worked until dawn before reopening University Avenue. |
 Smiles all around as the sign is
spruced up.
|
 The last two year’s entertainment highlights featured Deejah Marie (at the left) singing with Sue Palmer’s Motel Swing Orchestra, (this year Deejah is singing in France) Culture Shock Dance Troupe, The Impounders, Ruby & the Red Hots, The Good China, Michele Lundeen, Theo & Zydeco Patrol, Bayou Brothers and the one and only Candye Kane. Ms Kane will again rock the north stage in 2004 with the fabulous Sue Palmer tickling the ivories.  |
 |
CityFest 2004 Sunday, August 8 10am-7pm |
  North Stage Lineup (Robinson & Fifth) 10:00-10:30 Raks Al Nejume Belly Dancers 10:30-noon The Bayou Brothers noon-12:30 Jennifer Corday (accoustic guitar) 12:30-1:45 D.A. & the Hitmen 2:00-4:00 Ruby & The Red Hots 4:00-6:30 Candye Kane |
Center Stage Lineup (Pennsylvania & Fifth) 10:00-10:30 Jennifer Corday (accoustic guitar) 10:30-noon Rookie Card 12:30-2:00 The Impounders 2:30-4:00 Theo & Zydeco Patrol 4:30-6:30 Michele Lundeen |
Car Show Stage (Upas & Fifth) 10:00-10:45 Leslie Alexander (accoustic guitar) 11:00-12:30-Laura Jane & Vintage Vegas Revue 1-3:00 Bayou Bros 3:30-5:30 Corvettes |
| Climbing Wall @ Anderson & Fifth |
Mehdi & Psychic Court @ Brookes & Fifth |
|
| Car & Motorcycle Show (from Upas to Spruce) |
2004
CityFest map |
More Hillcrest History |
