Day 20: Countdown to Colfax World's Fair

It’s just 20 days until the Colfax World Fair, arguably the biggest annual event in Valley Village. It’s also the most profitable fundraiser for Colfax Charter Elementary School, and 100 percent of the gross pays for student enrichment, as well as traditional programs that are now being slashed due to deep LAUSD budget cuts.

Every day for the next three weeks, The Valley Village Report will feature a particular fair attraction, game, silent auction item, food vendor, and entertainment that participants will enjoy the day of the fair. By the time Saturday June 4 hits, Patch readers will know the lay of the land and be ready to race toward their favorite one.

Because this truly is an “old world fair,” we start off the countdown with some simple, traditional things that give this event its neighborly feel:

The Popcorn Booth will be run by the board of Neighborhood Council Valley Village. The elected members of Valley Village’s “bridge to city hall” will be handing out tasty hot popcorn, as well as free NCVV swag like tattoos and rubber bracelets. Even if you’re not in the mood for a snack, swing by and meet the members. Introduce yourself and find out what’s going on with park improvements, the virtual garden tour, and other upcoming Valley Village events.

Flip a Frog is one of the favorite games for the preschool set because they get to slap a mallet on a small teeter-totter and literally flip-a-frog into a basket. Kids have been known to whack, flip, and run back into line again for a full hour. Colfax can almost guarantee that even the most difficult night owl will be sleeping like the baby he should be by 8:00 pm.

The Mini Obstacle Course is another great attraction for younger children. Unlike your standard birthday party bounce house, this inflatable lets them crawl through tunnels, climb up and over obstacles like a stubby Navy Seal, hit multiple punching bags, jump a little, and bounce into any wall without getting the slightest boo-boo. It’s the perfect solution to keeping ahead of that midday temper tantrum.

The First Grade Violin Concert shows spectators the amazing progress these kids have made from their weekly violin lessons at Colfax Charter Elementary. There is nothing more adorable than seeing dozens of pint-sized virtuosos-to-be sliding their bows across the strings, then taking that polite bow at the end. And if the song turns out to be a little less than perfect, at least the concert is short.

A 45 minute flight in a 1946 J-3 Piper Cub Plane is just one example of some of the once in a lifetime experiences that are offered at the Colfax World Fair Silent Auction. Imagine a flight where you don’t have to get to the airport two hours early and no one loses your luggage. There’s sure to be a bidding war on this one!

Colfax Charter Elementary School will also be highlighting these features daily on both their Facebook and Twitter pages, which are linked to the school website. Anyone who replies, retweets, or leaves a comment on Patch will be entered into a daily drawing to win a Colfax World Fair t-shirt and ten tickets to the fair. Winners will be announced each following day.

The Colfax World Fair takes place Saturday, June 4 from noon to 7 p.m. at Colfax Charter Elementary School – 11724 Addison St., Valley Village.