Julian Rey Saenz didn't have a booth, but he fared well on La Mesa Boulevard during Oktoberfest, collecting $320 over three days in his guitar case in front of Handful of Wildflowers or the Goodwill store near Spring Street.
Not bad for a high school freshman with a six-string acoustic guitar who uses a bike to get around.
The veteran street performer—a regular at the Friday farmers markets and events like Christmas in the Village and Back to the '50s Car Show—played at his third Oktoberfest over the weekend.
An independent sort, he doesn't play with the Helix marching band or their ensembles, but he's looking forward to tennis season. He likes the Helix courts. The former College Prep Middle School student also goes by J-Rey, he says.
Julian, with his curly brown hair under a rakish hat, has become a popular addition to La Mesa Village events, singing pop songs and ballads of stars long gone.
Thousands of people packed the streets of the La Mesa Downtown Village for the city's annual celebration of brats, beers, babies and Bavarian culture.
Scores of food, service and product vendors greeted crowds for the 39th annual event sponsored by the La Mesa Village Merchants Association. And among it all, La Mesans have been snapping photos by the thousands. And we want to see them!
Upload your best shots from Oktoberfest, and contribute to our community photo gallery.
