The Exchange Club of Fontana is gearing up for the 112th Fontana Days Festival, a large, family-friendly celebration centered on activities, food, live music and other festivities. This year’s theme will be “Dancing in the Street.”
The event will start at 5 p.m. Friday and Thursday, June 5 and June 6, and noon on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and June 8, at Veterans Park, 17255 Merrill Avenue, Fontana. Tickets are $3 except for children under 5, who will receive free admission.
“The Fontana Days Festival is a celebration of community, culture and summertime excitement,” said Vanessa Antekeier, Exchange Club of Fontana member.
“Whether you’re enjoying a funnel cake, watching a performance, or spinning through the night on a carnival ride, there’s something for everyone.”
Featured musical acts include the Susie Hansen Latin Band, Diamond Singers, The Shenanigans Band, Plena Vista Entertainment, Brothers Igniting A Groove, Chico Band and Young Keta.
Attendees can also expect various food vendors such as La Chiquita Tacos, Cali Sweets Inc., JC Kettle Corn, Cruising Cones Soft Serve Ice Cream, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Daddy’s Best FroYo and Sabroso Eats, LLC.
“I want to make sure everything is smooth, and that everyone gets some good entertainment, great food, that they’re able to get on all the carnival rides and that it’s not overcrowded,” Antekeier said.
“We want them to feel safe, and we have excellent Fontana Police Department coverage that I feel comfortable with. We’re so grateful for that, and it’s due to the event being co-sponsored through the city. Fontana Days has been pretty consistent the last few years, which helps us out.”
Other event sponsors include Mayor Acquanetta Warren, the John P. Previti Memorial Foundation, Options For Youth Public Charter Schools, the Credit Union of Southern California, Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc., the Fontana Foundation of Hope, California Recyclers Inc., the Fontana Water Company and San Bernardino County Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez.
Regarding this year’s theme, Antekeier explained that while the name is different every year, the event maintains the same experience.
“There was nothing in particular regarding the theme, and it was more just a consensus during the meeting,” Antekeier said. “Someone said, ‘Dancing in the Street,’ and we all agreed to that great idea. We always have a theme, and regular entertainment to complement that.”
Antekeier explained that scheduling differences caused the parade to be held in early May instead of during the festival.
“It’s a city decision and nothing the exchange club decides on,” Antekeier said. “We try to coincide with what the city agrees to because, in the past, it used to be that we had the parade, and then it would go straight to the festival.
“This means the parade route would end at Veterans Park on the same day. However, due to changing schedules where schools don’t get out in June anymore, and instead get out in May, we wouldn’t have as many people during the parade if we had it later, toward the festival itself. Everything is a little bit spread out now.”
Antekeier guides the Exchange Club’s youth Excel Club and said its members will participate and volunteer at the festival.
“We will have a karaoke fundraiser that the Excel Club is putting on, and it’s an opportunity for people to donate money toward these teddy bears that will be distributed to kids who are unfortunately going through abuse,” Antekeier said.
“We will give them to the Fontana Police Department and the Fontana Unified School District Police Department for them to distribute. We’re trying to raise money for these teddy bears, and people are more than welcome to do so. Any amount helps. We also ask the Excel Club members to volunteer their time scanning people in and provide any information that people will need up front at the front gate.”
Antekeier said she wants to see a similar amount of attendance to years past, and that people come away from the event having had fun.
“We have a lot of awesome citizens who show up,” Antekeier said. “I have seen people come in Fontana t-shirts that they custom-made, and it just makes me so proud. Little things like that make me super excited to interact with the citizens, especially working at the front gate where I can be around them.”
