A Glimpse of Fair Fun: Foodie Fest Drive-Thru at the Rosebowl
A line of cars makes their way through the Fair Foodie Fest on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at the Rosebowl Stadium, parking lot K, in Pasadena, Calif. (Alex Serbowicz | The Corsair)
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues through 2021, choices for safe and fun entertainment are more limited than ever. The virus and social distancing policies have made public fun and entertainment scarce. Fortunately, people and businesses alike have learned to adapt by taking classic events and forming them in new innovative ways.
Family-owned companies, like Helm and Sons Amusements, are excellent examples of pandemic ingenuity. Since Feb. 5, Helms and Sons Amusements have sponsored Fair Foodie Fest Drive-Thru, a drive-thru of 13 coordinated food stations in the parking lot of the Rosebowl Stadium in Pasadena. Admission to the drive-thru is free, and guests are able to purchase food from vendors at reasonable prices.
The drive-thru begins as drivers pull into the entrance of parking lot K, event staff greet them, and hand out a sheet with a course description. The pamphlet contains a map of the drive-thru, a menu for each of the food stations, and guidelines for partaking in the event to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols are being enforced.
The rules are straightforward: a face mask must be worn at all times, standing outside the vehicle is not permitted, littering is not allowed, and respect for neighboring vehicles is to be given.
The idea for the drive-thru came when Helm and Sons Amusements, an amusement park company from Colton, California, had to adapt to the COVID-19 safety protocols for Los Angeles County. Much like other small companies, they couldn’t operate the way they had before. The typical fairs and festivals that they organize aren’t allowed under COVID-19 restrictions, which impacts their livelihood.
“We had to think outside the box. We knew drive-thrus were open so we decided to open our own drive-thru,” said Colleen Helm, a family member of the owners. “We’re doing this until fairs can come back, but also to keep people going. We don’t want to let people down. We want to keep everyone’s spirits up."
Their idea has greatly benefited Los Angeles. “We’re able to pay 100 employees and we’re averaging about 2,000 cars a day for the weekend. And as for the future, we’re planning to secure more locations to put on more events like this,” Helm said.
With a single creative idea, and a community-minded company like Helms and Sons Amusements, Angelenos can find a fun way to add some variety to their day. The Fair Foodie Fest Drive-Thru at the Rosebowl continues through weekends in March. Detailed information about the event can be found at their website.
