OLIVER KIMOKEO | sports editor
photo | OLIVER KIMOKEO
Every staple carnival amenity was present.


The three-day Azusa Golden Days carnival completed a weeklong festival of events designed specifically to raise community spirit for members of the Azusa community.

“[Golden Days] is the signature event for the city and it brings the community together,” Chairman of the Azusa Golden Days committee Art Ramirez said.

The carnival was held at Memorial Park, located on 320 N. Orange Avenue near San Gabriel Avenue in Azusa, from Oct. 12 to Oct. 14.

The highlight of the carnival was a musical performance by the Pork Chop Tom Blues Band on the evening of Oct. 13. Their specialty is Chicago style blues and West Coast swing.

“Pork Chop Tom has a very large following,” Ramirez said. “He is from Azusa and he wanted to play Golden Days. We made a big effort to make sure he was going to play Golden Days this year.”

The carnival gave organizations from Azusa and other surrounding areas the opportunity to increase their presence for the local neighborhood.

In addition to providing information for their respective organizations, most booths raised funds by selling an assortment of food and treats to visitors, including Mexican food, smoothies, and funnel cakes.

For an organization to have a booth at the carnival, Ramirez said participants had to fill out an application in the summer.

A fun atmosphere was the intended goal of the Azusa Golden Days committee.

“[The carnival] is a time and place for people to get together and enjoy each other,” Ramirez said.

With an eclectic mix of ‘60s and early ‘70s psychedelic songs heard over the speakers across the park, the mood was set in motion.

People were free-spirited as they enjoyed the company of their neighbors and all the fun activities the carnival offered.

Every staple carnival amenity was present: ranging from rides on the Ferris wheel and the Tilt-A-Whirl to games that featured stuffed animals as prizes.
The committee was pleased with the attendance at the carnival.

“The carnival was very successful. Our numbers were up,” Ramirez said.

Even though the carnival got off to a slow start on Friday, the carnival concluded strong on Sunday night with a mariachi performance.

“Due to the weather, people did not attend on Friday as much as Saturday and Sunday,” Ramirez said.

According to Ramirez, the Azusa Golden Days carnival was a success because the people who attended had fun.

“[Golden Days] is a time for everyone to have a big party,” Ramirez said.