Pan Am Fiesta

Each year, the Pan Am Fiesta returns Thursday through Sunday over Mother's Day weekend to Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

Pan American Fiesta 2022 from CityTVLakewoodCA on Vimeo.

Highlights

  • Free live concerts on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • Community-group hosted food booths and food trucks sell a variety of goodies on Friday evening and all day Saturday.
  • Carnival rides and games Thursday evening through Sunday! Discount tickets are available at Lakewood City Hall and at Mayfair Park. 
  • Over 50 arts and crafts dealers bring their wares on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • The Children's Cultural Booth offers kids a free, hands-on cultural experience featuring activities and arts and crafts from across the Americas from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. 
  • The flag presentation ceremony of the United States and all the countries of the Americas at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
  • Meet the Pan American Association's Ambassadors.
  • See the poster and poetry contest winners.

Summary of Festival Hours

  • Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m.: Discounted $2 carnival rides, plus games & concessions
  • Friday, 5 to 10 p.m.: Food trucks, food booths, rides, games & concessions, live music
  • Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Food trucks, food booths, rides, games & concessions, live music
  • Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Rides, games and concessions

Pan Am Fiesta History

Montano and SolterThe Fiesta is Lakewood’s longest-running community event, dating back to the mid-1940s.

It began as a handshake between two friends and fellow Lakewood Lions Club members. Dr. Walter Montano, the former Bolivian Consul to Los Angeles, and Jesse Solter, a local schoolteacher, agreed to begin a program to foster good relations with Lakewood’s Latin American neighbors--pictured riding in a parade (right). 

Read the full story about the origin of the Pan Am Fiesta.