Chula Vista’s Eastside neighborhoods are finally getting a city event in their neck of the woods.
The Chula Vista City Council on Tuesday approved contracts for a consultant for LakeFest and a coordinator for a 5k fun run/walk event that is being put together by Councilman John McCann.
The total cost of LakeFest and the 5k will be approximately $40,000 to $50,0000 which will be raised via fundraising and donations, said Anne Steinberger. Marketing and communications manager with the city of Chula Vista.
The family fun event is set to take place on Sept. 24 at 8 a.m. with a 5K Fun Run/Walk. LakeFest will begin immediately after the 5k. The event will feature music, sporting activities, community performances and activities for children.
In February council approved the LakeFest event as a city sponsored even and on Tuesday agreed to allocate an additional $4,000 in seed money for the contracts of Kelly Lannom Event Management as a consultant for the event at $9,700 and Oscar Lozano to coordinate the run/walk for a fee totaling15 percent of the registration fees collected to coordinate the LakeFest 5k Run/walk. The council also approved up to three one-year extensions. The $4,000 will be appropriated to the office of communications supplies and services budget in the General Fund basd on anticipated event fees.
“We welcome all Chula Vistans and families to come down to LakeFest and enjoy the Olympic Training Center and participate in the 5k run,” McCann said. “This will be a great, positive event to bring the entire community together.
McCann said LakeFest is an opportunity to make the Olympic Training Center more community oriented since the city has taken ownership of the center.
McCann said plans are in the works to possibly make the 5k Run/walk a revenue-generating event for the city.
LakeFest becomes the city’s newest sponsored event and the first on the east side. HarborFest and the Starlight Parade are continually hosted in western Chula Vista. In recent years, HarborFest runs over $100,000 while Starlight Parade usually raises $50,000, said Steinberger.
Steinberger said this would be an exciting event for the entire Chula Vista community.
“We know how to celebrate and have fun in Chula Vista,” she said. “We’re planning the inaugural LakeFest to really wow people with a fun run and walk around the Olympic Training Center, great music, delicious food, fun activities and more.”
