Gardena Civic Center

Although not quite as big as last year, this year's Gardena Heritage Festival & Street Fair proved to be the nicest festival to date.

The days immediately before and the days that followed were overcast and cool until mid-afternoon, but on the day of the festival, Saturday, October 2, 2004,the sun came out at day break and shown all day under clear skies and a warm summery breeze.

An estimated 2,500-3,000 person crowd came out to enjoy the festivities that included 80 booths that featured an array of delicious foods, displays, crafts, a children's play area and two stages of day-long free entertainment.

Foods were supplied by regulars Giuliano's, Lomeli's, Restaurant Shilla Burnt Tortilla, Krispy Kreme, Sushi Boy, the South Bay Korean Cultural Committee, the Korean Grocer's Association, GNBY Coffee Cafe and Tropical Islands along with a few new vendors including Boba Loca, BJ's, Dray's Barbeque, Gardena Community Church of Christ, Kyokai, and Mo' Sweet Treats.

The children's play area included a blow up slide, an on bounce, reptile show and an area to make and display various ethnic themed crafts.

Entertainment was provided by singer Gayle Green, rapper Baby Bear, the Dancin' Boots, the Gardena Fil Am Senior Dance Troupe, the Ryukyu Koku Matsuri Taiko Drums, Skyler Blue Hawaiian singers, the Gardena High School Ballet Folklorico dancers, Lorilynn Hula Hoops, the South Bay Korean Dance Academy, the Fantasia Dance Ensemble, the Jang Koo Hakdang Korean Dancers, the Halau Kealii O Nalani Hawaiian dancers, Sakura USA, the Gems of Polynesia, the Fore Run Band, the Inc. of Arts Theatre troupe, Genie & Belady I, the Alive in One Band, the Fujima Seiyumi Kai Dancers, the Bahai'i Youth Workshop & Adult Choir, M Factor, the Angel Spin Band, the Linda Miles Band, the Retro Boomers and the Babylon Mood Dancers.

Helping to sponsor this year's festival, with its theme, 'Celebrating Unity,' were Platinum Sponsors, the Kiwanis Club of Gardena Valley, the Normandie Casino and Waste Resources; Gold Sponsors, Hisham's Towing and Gardena Nissan; Silver Sponsors, the Law Offices of Oliver, Vose, Sandifer, Murphy & Lee, Seoul Health Spa, the Gardena Evening Optimist Club, the Gardena Management Employees Organization, and the Gardena Police Officers Association; Bronze Sponsor, the Gardena Municipal Employees Association; and Supporting Sponsors, the Ken Nakaoka Co., Yorgo's Burgers, Super Patch USA, the Gardena Bowl, USank, Crenshaw Lumber, Farmer Brothers and Councilman Oscar Medrano Jr.

Gardena's Heritage Festival began in 1994, when the Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce sought the City of Gardena's assistance in creating a program to celebrate