I really enjoyed the Silver Lake Jubilee last year, and after the Sunset Junction Fair fiasco, I am anticipating it quite a bit this year. Last Friday, they announced some details about the upcoming Labor Day street festival, and big surprise, the entry price is up, way up! From $5 to …$20! Precisely the SJF’s price!

This is a big jump, but at least they are been very transparent, probably to avoid any of that other fair nebulous mess: Here is where the money goes: $10 Community Programs, $4 City Fees, Security and Insurance, $4 Administration, $1 Re-investment Fund, and $1 Marketing and Public Relations.

That’s good but for that price I want something worth my money! The lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but more than 35 bands are promised, plus more than 15 food trucks, 75 craft vendors and 40 comedians and performers.

Jack Martinez, executive director of the Los Angeles Arts & Athletics Alliance (LAAAA) which sponsors the fair, declared to Buzzbands LA: ‘At the end of the day, we set the $5 ticket price out of naiveté. We have to make sure we do what’s fiscally responsible for the organization, and make sure we have a safe, clean festival.’

He also added that when it comes to the bigger price ticket ‘That’s something that’s going to happen naturally. But all the complaints people had about Sunset Junction — I feel like we’ve stepped up and addressed them. We’re a very transparent organization as far as where the money goes, and what we contribute to the community. We’re really proud of that. In the end, we want to be able to stage a quality event and answer our commitment as a nonprofit.’

Presale tickets are available for $15 in February, but the music lineup will only be announced in March!