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People could not have asked for a better weekend to attend the 30th annual Live Oak Park Fair. 

With just over 100 venders, nine different performers, and a number of local food booths, the festival was celebrated under blue skies and sunshine all day Saturday and Sunday in Live Oak Park. 

Tents were set up for venders from all over the West Coast, ranging from Southern California to Oregon. Booths sold everything from jewelry to clothing to ceramics to musical instruments. 

“As an artist, I like this show a lot,” said Sam Thurow, who came with his wife from Talent, Ore., to set up a booth for their company, Handwoven Impressions. “It’s not big and it’s a beautiful setting. I like a show that is more intimate like this so people can find their way around.” 

There was also a stage set up in the park that was occupied throughout the fair by performers representing the diverse culture of Berkeley. 

The fair got of to an 11 a.m. start Saturday with Jennifer Makofsky, a storyteller. Circus performer Jean-Paul Valjean took the stage soon thereafter and entertained the younger members of the crowd with juggling and balance tricks. This was the third time at the Live Oak Park Fair for Valjean, an Albany resident. 

Mr. Miraculous, a performer similar to Valjean performing at his 10th consecutive Live Oak Park Fair, was next. While doing many of the same tricks as Valjean, Mr. Miraculous’ specialty was the Chinese yo-yo, a double-bowl shaped object that is twirled on a string connected by two sticks. Mr. Miraculous was able to throw the object over 20 feet in the air before catching it with little difficulty. 

Culture Shock, a youth hip-hop dance troupe, performed next, followed by Joe Schmoe, an electric ukulele player. Mr. Miraculous came back for a second performance of the afternoon just before the first day’s completion. 

The performances were all quite different and unique in their own ways, but people have grown to become accustomed to the different styles of performances at the Live Oak Park Fair. 

“I like the diversity, in that it reflects different cultures; not just a juggler and a magician,” Valjean said. “And the crafts, this is the best that I’ve seen, and I go to a lot of these. The stuff is incredible.” 

Day two kicked off with Zappo! the magician entertaining the younger members of the audience. He was followed by Valjean and then Colibri, a Latin American music presentation, performed by Lichi Fuentes and Alisa Peres. 

FatChanceBellyDance and Arak Pacha, an Andean musician, continued the diverse entertainment and concluded the fair Sunday evening. 

While this year’s fair did not draw as many people as it may have in past years, organizers, performers and venders seemed to be happy with the turnout. 

“Even though the crowds aren’t heavy, people seem to be more serious and appreciative of what’s here,” Thurow said.