Convivial in the Village: Holiday Street Fair Concludes With the Blues

Updated at 9:50 a.m. Sunday

Harmonica John Frazer and his Blues Wailers band blew past the 10 p.m. closing time Saturday at Christmas in the Village—letting a couple Helix Charter High School musicians take over on drums and bass guitar.

A dozen people in the audience hung with them, stretching out the La Mesa Boulevard event that shouldn’t have to end. 

The vibe was relaxed and convivial on Day 2 of the 22nd annual street fair—which began with a half-hour parade featuring local youngsters and ended with Mr and Mrs. Santa Claus waving from bookstore owner Craig Maxwell’s truck in La Mesa’s version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“This is our way of saying thanks,” said Richard Felix of the sponsoring La Mesa Village Merchants Association.  “There aren’t many [events] like these anymore.”

After checking to see all booth operators were happy and set, John Vigil of the merchants association in his ornament-festooned Dickens coat led the parade with Zoe Tantrum, dressed  in her all-white “Music Box” persona as Angelique.

Hundreds of families, and dogs dressed for the holidays, strolled the closed downtown streets wishing strangers Merry Christmas and checking out the open businesses, packing restaurants and warming their hands over the traditional fire pits.

Unlike the beer-fueled Oktoberfest, no major police presence was needed.  It was minimal—with several RSVP senior patrol members instead of clumps of armed officers.