NORTHRIDGE, CA — The San Fernando Valley has it all: history, culture, celebrities, shopping, arts and foodie scenes, and even some stunning nature. So naturally, it has its own holiday: 818 Day.
This year, 818 Day falls on a Sunday and the celebration will take place all weekend at the Westfield Topanga shopping center in Canoga Park.
Celebrations for 818 Day, the six-year-old holiday named after the region’s iconic area code, include events ranging from a burrito-eating contest to an exhibit of historical relics to live music and tequila tasting.
“In celebration of ‘818 Day’ – a local holiday honoring the San Fernando Valley area code – Westfield Topanga is hosting a weekend-long festivities at its new foodie destination, Topanga Social,” Westfield Topanga officials announced in a written press release. “Get ready for an action-packed schedule of events and promotions featuring live music, delicious food, refreshing beverages and plenty of good vibes.”
The event includes an 818 Tequila tent, Tarantula Hill Brewing tent, cilantro-lime burrito eating contest, Valley Pride decorations, movie cars, 818 Day cookies, giveaways, free puzzle games, live music, DJ sets, yard games, local vendors and street dogs from Topanga Social.
A newly designed flag for the San Fernando Valley will be unveiled on Level 1 near the fountain on Sunday evening. According to My Valley Pass, the visitor guide to the San Fernando Valley, the mall’s fountain will also be redesigned to pay tribute to the valley.
The celebrations will take place on Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The event is all about celebrating the atmosphere of the valley.
“We have a really cool setup again this year. We have our free retro arcades for free play, we have a cool exhibit from the Valley Relics Museum and we have cool music all weekend long,” Oscar Urrutia, founder of My Valley Pass and 818 Day, told ABC7. “We always noticed that people say ‘Happy 818 Day,’ but it was never really celebrated. So the Valley Relics Museum and My Valley Pass took it upon themselves to make it a bigger deal for the Valley.”
