FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - The anticipation is finally over and the excitement is just beginning at the new Fair Oaks Village Park and Performing Arts Center.

The Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District (FORPD) recently hosted a four-day grand opening celebration from Oct. 9 to Oct. 12.

Most of the weekend activities were free, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday with speeches and proclamations from local dignitaries, live music and entertainment, a kids’ carnival, site tours, local vendors and much more.

“The turnout for the grand opening event was truly remarkable,” said Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District’s District Administrator Mike Aho. “The people of Fair Oaks came together to celebrate the reopening of what is considered the heartbeat of the community. Despite it being late in the year, the attendance far exceeded my expectations.”

The new Community Clubhouse was beautifully decorated on Friday night. Ticketed guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner with an entrée selection of chicken, fish, or pasta and complimentary wine. Photo courtesy of GreyDot Media

Chrysti Tovani, founder of I Love Oaks, managed a vendor booth on Sunday and was eager to share her perspective.

“The Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District did an amazing job putting it all together. The new spaces are beautiful, practical, and truly built to bring people together,” Tovani said.

Ticketed events at the grand opening included a Friday evening cocktail reception. About 100 guests were treated to a beautifully decorated sit-down gourmet dinner at the new Community Clubhouse, followed by the unveiling of the new Veterans Memorial Amphitheater with live entertainment and dancing.

“It was an evening for the history books and a wonderful way to honor our community’s past while welcoming a future of year-round arts, entertainment and family fun,” said Fair Oaks Chamber Board Chair Mary Howard, who attended the dinner gala.

The new Veterans Memorial Amphitheater served as the evening venue for the Folk Festival. Photo courtesy GreyDot Media

Saturday’s events featured a free Folk Festival from noon to 6:30 p.m. with six different bands playing on the open-air Plaza and Bandshell Stages. Event headliner, Jessica Malone Band, and opening act, Solebel, performed for ticketed guests in the Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre until 10 p.m.

The park’s grand opening weekend concluded on Sunday with a free Open House and family-fun Community Carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The new park has given us something to take pride in,” said Tovani. “It’s more than a playground or plaza; it’s a stage for connection, a backdrop for small businesses to thrive and a place where Fair Oaks can step into its next chapter together.”

The Fair Oaks Village Park and Performing Arts Center is located at 7991 California Ave. To find out more about upcoming live performances and special events, visit fairoaksarts.org or forpd.org.