Fullerton's Market

The lively and family-friendly Fullerton Farmer’s market will pack up and close for the winter after its annual Oktoberfest celebration this Thursday.

The community event incorporates live music, fresh fruit, great food, and a beer garden for the adults. Several families flood the Downtown Fullerton square on Wilshire Boulevard to enjoy the festivities from late spring to late fall every year.

Several local fruit, vegetable, and flower vendors take over the street and offer discounted prices for their goods. However, the farmer’s market offers much more than vegetables and fruits for Fullerton residents.

Every week the market seems to have a brand new theme. During the summer months toddlers play and get wet in the large fountains located in the middle of the square. When Fullerton was in the news for the death of Kelly Thomas, a local church sold tri-tip sandwiches, with the proceeds going to the homeless. Summer dog days invites owners of canines to attend and show off their pride and joy.

To wrap up the last day of the Fullerton market, the event will be beer and Halloween themed in celebration of Oktoberfest. The Fender museum next door to the event offers a beer and wine garden for adults to try out their favorite brew or blend, while the kids can enjoy the activities in the main courtyard.

The Fullerton farmer’s market is designed for all ages, and is one of the many popular scenes of Fullerton.

Fullerton's Finest?

Hundreds inhabited the Downtown Fullerton Plaza to make a unified voice against the way the homeless are treated. Spattered through out the crowd were yellow t-shirts that read "Justice 4 Kelly Thomas." The Fullerton event was a Benefit Concert and Food Drive in memory of the fallen Kelly Thomas, who died after an altercation with the Fullerton Police.

In the middle of the crowd stood one, single, solitary, police officer.

As the large crowd enjoyed several rock groups with social justice messages, the Fullerton Police officer stood there among a group of homeless, media reporters, and protestors. The event, which was charged with political activism and messages against the Fullerton Police and city government, naturally should have had several officers to maintain security.

Nevertheless, there stood the solitary officer, talking to a few citizens that wanted to give him an ear full.

In some ways, the one officer encapsulated the large outpouring of outrage from the community versus the sounds of silence that have caused public criticism of the Fullerton Police Department.

The same crowd that took part in supporting the homeless at the rally would be elated only a few days later when the Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced that at least one of the officers would be charged with murder.

Today, several with bright “Justice 4 Kelly Thomas” shirts, and several around the world are awaiting the beginning of the court trials. At the same time hoping to make a vibrant voice for the homeless and needy that live in Fullerton.