For foodies, music lovers, families and friends, downtown San Bernardino was, at last, the place to be Saturday, July 13.
Home to the inaugural SB Food Fest, a rejuvenated Court Street Square provided longtime residents, city officials and visitors space to enjoy food, music and the company of others.
“We will not wait for change,” Luis Ojeda, We Are The Change San Bernardino founder, third from left, tells a crowd of more than 200 attending the first SB Food Fest in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday, July 13, 2019. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The first San Bernardino Food Fest was about more than food. The downtown event was about revitalization of the city. “We are doing damage for the good,” Luis Ojeda, We Are The Change San Bernardino founder, tells a crowd of more than 200 attending the downtown celebration on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Gabriel Garcia, 11, of San Bernardino prays. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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More than 200 attend the first SB Food Fest in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday, July 13, 2019. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
In the shadow of the San Bernardino County Superior Court is the first SB Food Fest featuring Italian ice, kettle corn, Hawaiian food and more in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday, July 13, 2019. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Rafael Lopez, 9, of San Bernardino flips at the first SB Food Fest in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday, July 13, 2019. The bounce house was near a handful of food booths and a food truck. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
More than 200 attend the first San Bernardino Food Fest in downtown on Saturday, July 13, 2019. They say the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off the San Bernardino celebration. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Shadows and lines grow long as the sun goes down at the SB Food Fest downtown San Bernardino debut on Saturday, July 13, 2019. They wait in line to order Mexican food. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Johnae Small of Sunny Jays Italian Ice cools off with mango and bubble gum flavors at the first SB Food Fest in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday, July 13, 2019. She lives in Adelanto. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Johnae Small of Sunny Jays Italian Ice holds mango and bubble gum flavors at the first SB Food Fest in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday, July 13, 2019. The weekly event designed to improve the city will continue for a year, according to organizer Luis Ojeda. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Noelle Lilley of Bakersfield, left, and sister Danielle Lilley of San Bernardino chow down on Toasty Locos and funnel cake, respectively, at the SB Food Fest held in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday, July 13, 2019. They wanted to support their San Bernardino hometown. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
In the shadow of the San Bernardino County Superior Court is the first SB Food Fest featuring Italian ice, kettle corn, Hawaiian food and more in downtown on Saturday, July 13, 2019. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
More than 200 attend the first SB Food Fest in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday, July 13, 2019. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Ideally, SB Food Fest becomes a weekly event, a staple in the community calendar, Ojeda said.
“Downtown belongs to the people who live here, and it is our job to make sure they can utilize this public space and make it a place,” Councilman Henry Nickel said. “We should have a liveable, dynamic downtown. This is one way we get there.”
