Lompoc Visitors Guide

Lompoc Valley Visitors Guide 37 The carnival, presented by Paul Maurer is sure to bring the fun for everyone! Arts and Craft, Commercial vendors, and Food Contact: Lompoc Valley Festival Association 414 W. Ocean Ave. Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: 805-735-8511 Fax: 805-735-9228 Email: office@lompocvalleyfestivals.com The 2020 theme is "Pirate's Treasure". It features a parade starting promptly Saturday at 10:00am. The carnival will run for 5 days; Paul Maurer will thrill you with some great rides. The Arts and Craft and Commercial vendors will be available Wednesday - Sunday. Food Booths will be open all five days. On our main stage there will be free entertainment with admission. Paid parking is available on site for a nominal fee. I n the early 1950s, Lompoc leaders started putting on an annual rodeo and parade. This event grew until George Miller, one of our city's leading citizens began championing for the Flower Festival. Miller persuaded the Chamber of Commerce to change from the rodeo and parade event, reasoning that while more than 200 California communities staged rodeos each year, large and small, Lompoc had its world famous flower fields, an asset that was unique and the perfect basis for the community event. The Alpha Clubs flower Show (started in 1922) was the key event on which the Festival was developed. Now, the parade, with its floral floats is the large draw, with the Flower Show continuing as a much desired and well-attended attraction. In the beginning the Flower Festival was a 2 day event, it has grown to be a 5 day event. The Festival Association holds two events each year, the Spring Arts Festival in April and the Flower Festi- val in June. One paid employee manages the Office year round and everyone else is a volunteer. A Board of Directors consisting of twelve members and the Past President meet twice a month. Plans for the next festivals begin almost immediately after the Flower Festival is over. FLOWER FESTIVAL JUNE 24 - 28, 2020 PARADE: Come to the Flower Festival Parade to be de- lighted by floats, local organizations, mini-floats, and the people of the Lompoc Valley. Promptly at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 27th, the parade departs from the corner of North H St. and East College Ave. and proceeds down H St. Booths will be open all five days. On our main stage there will be free entertainment with paid admission. Paid parking is available on site for a nominal fee. Admission to the Park is $5.00 for 13 & older, free for those 12 & younger. 4-Day Admission Pass for $15.00 and Ocean Avenue, past thousands of spectators. Bands, floats, equestrian units, drill teams and drum squads, and clowns delight and entertain the crowd. All floats (designed and constructed by local organi - zations) must be constructed of flowers and/or natu - ral materials, most of which have been grown in the Lompoc Valley. In the past, the Queens Float was built by the local federal prison inmates. Presently the Float is built by the Lompoc Community on a vol- unteer basis. The parade is organized and operated by the Lompoc Valley Festival Association. Opening Ceremonies: The 68th Annual Flower Festival will be declared officially open by our 2020 Flower Festival Queen and her Court on Wednesday evening. Park Admission $5.00 for 13 & older, free for those 12 & younger during the following hours: Wednesday Free Thursday 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm Friday 1:00 pm - 9:30 pm Saturday 9:00 am - 9:30 pm Sunday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm