Fairs always look so happy and festive. And finding one here in my beloved city is always a treat.
Funny clowns, colorful banderitas, kids running around, giant bubbles, pretty things for sale, amazing stilt walkers, and yummy organic food all over the place… these were the things that greeted people at Oakridge Business Park’s Summer Market on Sundays last April.
Oakridge Business Park is located at A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City. As the name implies, it has various business establishments– a branch of that overpriced and overrated international coffee shop conglomerate, another overpriced restaurant that has pancakes for a highlight, a popular local restaurant… (yep, here’s a Starbucks, a Pancake House, and a Cafe Laguna for the ridiculously rich :P)
The view from the highway
And when we went farther inside… the colorful banderitas were very welcoming
Onward to the fair…
stilt walkers that kept striking a pose whenever they spot somebody toting a camera… :P
stalls with an assortment of yummy whatnots and cute thingamajiggies
the lechon that was not… organic (hehehe) but nonetheless, was quite popular :D
proof that a camera almost always makes people sport their best smiles
cute organic herbs, organic veggies, and other organic products for sale… for the wannabe health nuts
It was scorching hot that day, so some yummy organic ice cream is quite apt.
And of course, you pair it with some scrumptious organic pastries.
A taste of native delicacy, palitaw… that I was actually too shy to have a bit of taste test. But it sure did look good.
colorful “ala IKEA” ice trays
ash trays that look like cute mini flower pots
other lovable extras I just can’t help snapping shots of…
kids playing on a huge blow-up playground/jungle gym
a chef having a cooking class… yum!
a pair of vividly colorful clowns
with Ley
Ley is a fan!
It was a very nice Sunday. The event was quite well-organized. And the place was actually designed for fair-like events such as the Summer Market. I mean, the main thoroughfare is round and has a built-in centerpiece(it was a small lanky tree, but still), and their stage was in this nicely huge tent that offered people some reprise from the hot sun. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they added a gazebo at the center or something. Hehe. And the organizers were charmingly accommodating. They offered free umbrellas, water for cooling off, and even sunblock to shoppers and loiterers alike. I was a bit amazed.
I felt guilty that I liked playing hooky from Sunday service but the day was well spent, despite the extremely painful heat. It really felt like I was in one of those quaint American farmers’ markets that I see TV show characters visit. And it didn’t hurt that they were selling some of the most difficult things to find here in Cebu–organic foodstuff. I know of a cute little boy who’d have loved to visit this event. :D
