Only once a year in Irwindale California. It was amazing , drizzling but for short rain…read more We got the tickets on line and parking was $15. The fair was beautiful. The moment you come you are in different era . Medieval times. People dressed up for the occasion and costumes were pretty good. Lots of food, rides , activities, shows. Love the Jousting show. Be back

*** 2026 Season - April 4, 2026 - May 17, 2026 ***…read more The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire is an annual event that originally started in 1963 and has since moved to its current location at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale, California. Our party saw ads for the faire on social media and decided to check it out. [Parking]: The faire highly recommends entering the recreation area via the 210 exit off Irwindale Ave (#38) rather than following GPS and exiting from the 605. There is a $15 entry fee to enter the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area (advance purchase not required). There is no street parking here so don't even bother trying. There is also an additional $30 fee for a VIP parking pass (so $15 entry fee + $30 VIP parking) and VIP parking is limited to 300 vehicles each Faire day & requires advance online purchase. If you plan to arrive after 11 AM, then I highly recommend getting a VIP parking pass to avoid the long traffic lines for general parking as the main Jousting Tournament starts at 12 PM. Our party arrived at 9:15 AM and there was already waiting lines to get into the general parking lot, but our party had no issue with general parking as the staff guided the line of cars and my car ended up parked pretty close to the faire entrance. [Ticket]: $53 for adults. Members of the military with valid IDs, seniors age 62+, and AAA members receive $5 off tickets purchased at the box office. Doors open at 10 AM. The faire also offers the Pub Crawl show that departs at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM. Please note that the Pub Crawl sells out quickly and does not include admission to The Renaissance Pleasure Faire (an additional $90 per person). [Entering & amenities]: There is a basic security check before entering the fairgrounds. One factory-sealed water bottle is allowed per person. No pets are allowed at the faire except service animals. Strollers and wagons of all sizes are welcome. There are no lockers or bag check services at the faire. Almost all restrooms are porta-potties. [Costumes]: Approximately 75% of visitors were already wearing costumes, but it is not mandatory. There is a costume rental shop located just inside the front gates of the faire with adult-sized costumes ranging from $18 - $65 (average price around $39). [What to expect]: Few activities and foods our party wanted to try included watching a Jousting Tournament and eating a chimney cake. There were approximately 125 vendors and the faire was fairly easy to navigate since visitors mainly follow one route. Most entertainment shows start at 11 AM and there are three time slots for the jousting show: 12 PM, 2 PM, and 5 PM. There are also many fairground games like archery + axe throwing + human-powered rides, but unfortunately they cost extra money. Also feel free to interact with the townspeople to make this whole experience more immersive. [Food]: Top highlighted items include turkey legs, chimney cake, and steak on a stake. Our party had a beef chimney cake for $18 (cash only) and honestly it was pretty mediocre. [Tips]: Bring an umbrella or wear plenty of sunscreen as the weather can get pretty hot and there are not many shaded areas. Also bring cash as vendors selling alcohol and many other art & craft vendors only accept cash. Also don't wear shoes you don't want to get dirty because my sneakers were covered in dirt after the visit. Most importantly come early before the doors open to avoid the crowds after 12 PM. [Conclusion]: Personally this is a one-and-done medieval-era experience.

I really do miss live shows and getting a chance to get that feeling of happiness when you go to…read moreshows with friends, listen to great live music, and make memories. With the pandemic still very much so at large, we are very limited to these types of experiences, but Insomniac was able to pull this off, while still keeping everyone safe. The only downfall (and quite big IMO), was the wait time to enter the first weekend. We waited over an hour to enter GA, and eventually was asked if we wanted to upgrade to VIP for $50. I wish we were asked this in the beginning, but I wonder if they've been able to fix this problem since then. Also, if anyone has attended this and knows the link to the official playlist on Spotify, please send it my way! I'd love to bookmark this entire playlist to listen in my car.

Tickets are $69.99 during the week, $89.99 Fridays and Saturdays, $79.99 on Sundays. An additional…read more$59.95 to upgrade to VIP (up to 8 people per car) and another $20.00 for the service fee. Yeah, it adds up and it doesn't seem worth it, but if there's 8 of you in the car and split the tab, it isn't too bad. We came through on a Friday night. We opted for the VIP package and bypassed pretty much everyone (that line looked like a thousand miles long, so that alone threw all regrets, doubts and second thoughts out the window!) Bypassing the long line was one thing, but then my passengers' bladders decided to go in sync and in unison all needed a bathroom break BEFORE the drive. The VIP package came in handy once again - they have a separate set of porta-potties for VIP peeps, too! Needless to say, there were no lines there either. So, yeah, off to a good start. I didn't really know what to expect, so I decided not to expect too much. There were a lot of mixed reviews on Yelp (complaints were mostly about the cost) so I kept an open mind. THE VERDICT: Totally WORTH IT. This whole production was well put-together. It was beautifully created with a lot of imagination. The engineering and construction alone were astonishing, how long did it take them to put it all up! And I really liked that they coordinated all the lights' movements with the music coming off the assigned radio station (107.9.) And those souls braving the cold as they entertained us with their dance moves... KUDOS! (I didn't get to see what's in the VIP box but going by how each of my passengers went through it like the Tasmanian Devil, I'm gonna assume whatever was in there was fun!) If this is your thing, here are a few tips: 1) Entry is at Holly and Huntington NOT at the main entrance. If you do end up at the main entrance, they'll reroute you. No worries. 2) You can come through as early as 30 minutes before your scheduled time, but try to be there within that window just for the sake of being considerate. The whole thing is about 45 minutes to an hour, all depending on how slow or fast you go. 3) CLEAN YOUR WINDSHIELDS! I meant to, but I completely forgot. But even with the semi-dirty glass, it was still pretty good. 4) Sunroofs are great! I didn't have one (wouldn't have mattered if I did since I was the one behind the wheel) but I was sorta jealous of the peeps who made full use of it. I imagine that's the best way to experience it. 5) You are allowed to open your windows. Just watch out for fog machines... 6) Take your time and let it all sink in. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it, something cool to do social distancing style. It's an event for all ages and a great excuse to get out of the house more especially during these challenging times.

Great Night Market. So busy and fun! I enjoyed seeing all the arts and crafts, and the smell of the…read morevariety of foods.

I've been looking forward to this since last year and finally made it happen with some friends,…read moresadly last min the party size was reduced to half but a time was had! Lots of food options, we took turns choosing food and sharing (best foodie way to do it!) Loved the silent disco! Also did the bungee jumping! I'll definitely come here again hopefully with a larger group next time!

What else can I add to what Grace C. has already extolled about this event? :)…read more It was my first time to A Taste of Old Town Monrovia, after hearing my boyfriend rave about all the deliciousness of years past. Thus, expectations duly raised, I went into the event with high hopes and an empty stomach. I was not disappointed. There were fifty booths this year, representing many a palate. From hotel cuisine to soul food, there was a stand to satisfy one's appetite. Did I go back to Paradis Gelato's stands twice? Maaaaaybe. ;) Thanks to this event, I had the opportunity to sample foods from many different eateries. Jake's Roadhouse, Sena on Myrtle, and Bottega della Sera were particular faves for me. There are many other places that I look forward to visiting. The live music was wonderful, everyone was friendly, and the overall atmosphere was just lovely. I really like the palette-like trays they gave us (there's a slot for holding your wine glass, too!). The Kiwanis Club did an excellent job organizing this wonderful event! Totally brings me back to my days of volunteering with Key Club in high school :) Thank you again! I look forward to returning next year.

My first time ever at this 6th annual event organized by Monrovia Kiwanis! I've been meaning to…read moreattend one of these Taste of Old Town Monrovia events ever since I moved to Monrovia 3 years ago, but something always came up during my October weekends and I would have to skip out. Finally, this year, everything fell into place and at 5 pm on Sunday, with my pre-bought ticket in hand (you save $10 not buying at the door!), I was ready to taste and drink my way through the main street on Monrovia on Myrtle Ave with the over 50+ vendors from Monrovia and the surrounding areas. The entire street of Myrtle is blocked off from Lime to Colorado. Upon check-in (and checking your ID to make sure you're over 21), you're handed a reusable tote bag with a wine glass and reusable food tray (with handy slot to house your wine glass). The tote bag is great in holding coupons and menus and business cards handed out by the various vendors. Some vendors have storefronts right here on Myrtle while others are in nearby cities (like Duarte, Azusa or Pasadena) or can provide catering and private orders! You definitely will not go home hungry! A tip learned from this trip is that it may be worthwhile to do a walk through first to see what's out there and pick what piques your interest. Otherwise you'll be full before you hit the halfway point! Plenty of food and availability to go back for seconds on your favorites! The lines were very reasonable, with the max being maybe 4 people ahead of you in line. The BF and I tried plenty of sweets (cupcakes, bundt cakes, ice cream!), BBQ foods, Mexican food, comfort food, and so much more! Plenty of alcohol flowing here too! I love that everything is included in the ticket price so you don't even have to bring your wallet if you don't plan to bar hop afterwards! Other than the food, there's a live band (Time Bomb) providing some great tunes through out the night, in front of an area set up for dancing to work off the food. A photo booth was nearby as well to capture your picture pre or post food coma. I have to give major props to the Kiwanis Club of Monrovia for such a well run event. Tickets could be purchased online (with a small convenience fee) or at a couple of different Monrovia merchants in person (cash or check only). The day of the event, checking in ran super smooth and the Kiwanians were all over the event -- making sure trash cans weren't overflowing, providing bottled water at their booths, and making sure everyone was having a great time! If I wasn't already a member of another Kiwanis club, this event would motivate me to join their club! And of course, the proceeds of the tickets all go towards benefiting the youth programs they organize in the community. What a win-win situation -- the kids supported by Kiwanis wins and my tummy wins in trying out so much variety of food! Of course, I have to comment that I had no problems finding parking as well. There are plenty of street parking and spots at the various free public parking lots next to Myrtle Avenue. Just turn on one of the side streets one or two blocks before you hit Line or Colorado to avoid the buildup of traffic from the blocked off streets. As I was heading out, stuffed to the brim at 7:30 pm, I saw a sign saving the date for the event next year - October 15, 2017. You can bet it will be on my calendar and it should be on yours too, especially for any first timers!

Visitation Rights: Have been coming to this place many times to either study, enjoy a couple of…read morecoffee, eat, and people watch. Locaton: Old Town Monrovia is centered around Myrtle Avenue, extending roughly from Foothill Boulevard (Route 66) north to Olive Avenue south, and from Ivy Avenue east to Primrose Avenue west, encompassing about ten blocks The area's heart is Myrtle Avenue, where you'll find many of its key businesses, with Foothill (Route 66) as a major north-south boundary. Parking: Located between Foothill Blvd and Parking can be found along Myrtle Ave, in nearby public parking lots parking structures, and in the residential. FREE PARKING! You can also park in the shared parking lot on the SW corner of Foothill and Myrtle. Just walk down Myrtle Ave.. Ambiance/Decor: You'll find a relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere perfect for browsing, dining, enjoying coffee, catching a movie, or just strolling, with close proximity to hiking trails in the nearby foothills. You can also find a statue Samson the Hot Tub Bear Festivities For All Of Us: They have a lot of activities for the locals and out of towners through out the year. -Friday Night Street Fair & Market -Valentine's Day Carriage Rides -Spring Egg Hunt & Healthy Kids Day -Monrovia Old Town Wine Walk -Monrovia Days Community Festival -4th of July Fireworks Show & Concert -Summer Concerts & Movies in the Park -Fountain to the Falls Run/Walk 10K -Old Town Fall Festival -Halloween Spooktacular and Trick-or-Treat Bash -Thankful & Grateful Holiday Gathering -Holiday Parade -Holiday Home Decorating Contest -Santa Tours If you want more info, you can visit the city's website: https://www.monroviaca.gov/your-government/recreation/special-events#ad-image-0 Business/Shops: In old town Monrovia, you'll see a blend of mom and pop shops and restaurants. The shops that I've patronize through out the years are: Merengue, El Diablo, Grey and Cash, Jake's Roadhouse, Mikomi, Tacos and Papas, and Charlie's House. Old Town For Thought: If you want a quick getaway from reality, this town is for you.

Monrovia is a beautiful hillside town located in the San Gabriel Valley. On occasion I visit and on…read morea recent Friday evening I was surprised to find that the town has a large night market with local vendors, entertainment, shops, and artists offering handmade goods. A must visit! Peaceful, quaint environment with a small town vibe, and California appeal.

Old run down rides. Wouldn't trust them. Dusty dirt wear old shoes if you go. Take water bottles to…read morestay hydrated.

Summary: 5 stars because cheap admission for unlimited rides from 5pm-10 (stops admitting at 9);…read moregreat option for local fun--especially in an area where fun activity means eating or having to drive far, so I can excuse the smelly mud, some broken rides, and some workers with attitude. ------ This carnival arrives seasonally. When I went, they opened from 5pm til 10pm, but stop admitting people at 9. - Entry: Carnival tickets are $9.95 (I paid $10 at the window), and they stamp your hand as you walk in. All rides are unlimited, but you still pay for food and games. I never had to wait long for a ride. It's such a good deal! Beware of mud on the dirt and hay ground since they water it and wear close-toed shoes. - Rides: I'm afraid of heights, so I only rode the baby rides like the merry-go-round, bumper cars, spinning dragons (think Disneyland teacups), mini roller coaster, dumbo, etc., and I died on the Ferris Wheel, although it was very smooth and did not sway. I watched my friends go on the Super Shot (smaller, shorter version of Supreme Scream), spinning swings, and a spinning ride where you lie on your stomach. We also went to a small mirror maze. There were more rides, like a large slide and many of them rides for small children. However, there were a few rides that did not work. A majority of workers were energetic and fun, but the ones with broken rides were tired and didn't want to be there. ***Food: Sort of pricy depending on what you get, but that's normal at fairs.*** - Standard fair food like funnel cakes, nachos and candied apples can be found here. Given the predominantly Latino area, there were many stands selling Mexican food and refreshments. - Churros. They were alright, but I could have skipped them. - Funnel cake. I went up to a random stand to get peach funnel cake that came with whippe cream on top; it was pretty good because they kept the canned peaches cold, but it wasn't amazing. It was also pricy at $7, but it was huge and I split it. - Sope. Bought a $5 carne asada sope topped with shredded cabbage, guacamole, sour cream, a slice of tomato, and grated cotija cheese. The masa base was so good and fresh; I saw the ladies shaping them at the booth! The meat was also flavorful and not tough. However, they skimped on the guac and sour cream. The tomato was ripe and yummy; I wish they gave one more slice. I added lime juice from the condiments on their table. I ate it all up and got really full!

I love the thunder fest in Covina. The atmosphere is amazing. It's like your back in the 1940s or…read more50s. They have great food lots of cars, crafts and boots and let's not forget about the bands come and enjoy hanging out.

My wife and I were looking for something to do this weekend. My daughter suggested that we go to…read moreThunderfest with her and her husband, Our son-in-law always looks forward to this event, Since it is only a few miles from our house, Thunderfest would make a nice evening out. This takes place in downtown Covina. The main street (Citrus) and a number of side streets are blocked off. All of the classic cars are lined up along both sides of Citrus. Various vendors are located along the side streets, Beer and food is located in Heritage Park. We passed all the signs that announced preferred parking for $10. We found free parking on a street a few blocks away. The walk over was not too bad. Walking down Citrus you pass by all these amazing cars. It is mindboggling how many are here, My son-in-law has been to many car shows like this in Southern California. He says Thunderfest is the best show he has been to. It is absolutely amazing, There were a lot of people on the street but it did not hinder us from walking along and looking at the cars. Everybody seemed to be enjoying the day. There were no people behaving badly. There were a good number of families with small children here. We walked down one of the side streets and looked at some of the vendor booths. They had a stage set up on one of the streets, A band was playing classic Led Zepplin. It sounded pretty good. We went to Heritage Park and got something to drink. They had a number of vendors selling craft beer, They were also selling snacks and carnival type foods. We were here about three hours. We really enjoyed our time here. There was no admission charge. It only costs you if you buy food, drinks or whatever else is being sold.. This is great event and I will definitely go back.

Lots of fun! Loved the live music and vendors lots of fun booths only down side was it was sooooo…read morehot and parking was a little high $40

We've been going to this fair for the past four years. It's a lot of fun even though it's hot as…read moreheck. It's also fun to see arts & crafts from different towns in Nayarit and dancing to the live music. This year its on Aug 14 &15, 2010

It was a beautiful experience…read more Won a pair of tickets from Yelp giveaway and we were thrilled. The whole event is very spiritual complete with group meditation and community activities. Also there was tons of food trucks for those hungry bellies. We got 2 lanterns to decorate. The kit comes with 1 marker and a lantern with battery powered electric candle to put inside. It was fun decorating it. They gave a 1 hour window to place the lantern in the lake and that was so beautiful. With the lights and reflections in the water. Beautiful experience!

I arrived to this event around 5:30pm and parked in one of the marked lots 4 or 5 - I was surprised…read morethere was no staff directing or a fee as stated, but was a short walk in the dark toward the festival maybe about 2 min-3 min. Walked through the crowds toward 2 pop up tents where you got your ticket scanned and received your wrist bands and box - mine was the date night package which came with 2 lantern boxes. Each box included: the lantern, a mandala throw, a marker, conversation cards ( which I thoroughly enjoyed ) a deck of playing cards. The date box also came with a mandala throw and a light up flower crown. There was some music playing, by the time I had arrived there was no performers, some people went on stage to express their feelings and how/why they came to the festival. There were was a good variety of food trucks and vendors. I wrote wishes/hopes/dreams I wanted to manifest on my lantern. It was a nice intimate date night where you were able to self reflect.

The kettle corn from Jake's Roadhouse is a must, you won't miss it just follow your nose…read more Unfortunately there's not too many vegetable or fruit stalls (only 2-3 different stalls), you will mostly find more home baked goods, hummus, dips, desserts, and fashion stalls. At the end of the street towards Huntington direction is where the food trucks are located. There's chinese (dumpling or bao zi), Hawaiian, fried chicken, Maine Lobster, Mexican, Crepe, cupcake, and ice cream trucks, just to name a few but it changes up every week. They have a few tables for seating if you want to eat there. All in all, a fun local activity that's always available on Friday nights throughout the year.

Monrovia Street Fair & Market is a weekly, family-friendly event held every Friday from 5-9 PM in…read moreOld Town Monrovia on the 700 block of S. Myrtle Ave. It features a wide variety of food vendors, artisan crafts, jewelry, live music, and children's activities like bounce houses. Street food, fresh produce, handmade crafts, live entertainment, and a kids' zone. Parking: Free parking is available in city lots, particularly between Myrtle and Olive avenues. Atmosphere: Lively, community-focused, and pet-friendly.