FAMILY FROLIC FESTIVAL OFFERS RIDES, FOOD AND CULTURE.

Byline: Rick Coca Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE - More than 80,000 people turned out this weekend to eat cotton candy, listen to soothing Hawaiian melodies and sip lemonade at the 23rd annual Salute to Recreation Family Festival at Northridge Park, which ended Sunday.

The three-day event, sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, offered carnival rides, a petting zoo and face painting for the kids - and gyros and beer for the adults.

Event coordinator Cindy Bertematti, who has worked on the festival from its inception and has served as coordinator the past 12 years, said the celebration has grown considerably in the last 23 years.

``It began as an art fair with just Northridge Park participating,'' Bertematti said. ``Now all the centers in the Valley participate.''

Like last year, the parks department expects to make a small profit from the festival and will use those funds as seed money for next year's event.

Profit, however, is not the point of the festival, Bertematti said.

``It's a way for the recreation centers to give back to the communities in support of our parks,'' Bertematti said.

As a testament to how popular the event has grown through the years, organizers said people come from as far away as Santa Clarita, and listed Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa as an opening ceremony guest on Saturday.

``It's the biggest festival in the Valley,'' Bertematti said.

On Sunday, 10-year-old Alex Vasquez of Chatsworth said he was looking forward to sinking his teeth into some cotton candy, then checking out the carnival section.

``I like the rides,'' Vasquez said.

The Hawaiian Village has proved to be popular through the years, event organizers said. A fixture of the festival for the last 18 years, and a mainstay in the Valley since 1978, the village drew thousands who came to listen to authentic Hawaiian and Polynesian music and purchase tropical delicacies and wares.

Tony Hughes of Simi Valley, attending the event with his 12-year-old daughter, Aleah, and 2-year-old son, Ty, has been coming to the village show for about a decade. Originally from the island of Oahu in Hawaii, Hughes said the show is a close second to the real thing.

``If you can't make it to the islands, you make it here,'' Hughes said.

There was a large contingent of Hawaiian and Polynesian people at the event, but Hughes said the show was for everyone.

``Others get enjoyment, a friendly atmosphere and a lot of love,'' Hughes said. ``They get to learn about a different culture, which everybody should do.''

Rick Coca, [phone]

rick.coca(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Melissa Jost, 4, is held in place by family friend Franne Cumpas as she rides the carousel at the festival on Sunday.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer