TUSTIN : Tiller Days to Recall City’s Rich Agricultural Roots

For the 37th year, this city will celebrate its agricultural heritage with the Tustin Tiller Days hometown festival.

The family-oriented event, which will take place today through Sunday at Columbus Tustin Park, is expected to attract between 10,000 and 20,000 spectators daily.

The festival, which is a fund-raiser for local charities, has been expanded to include carnival attractions, co-chairwoman Cherrill Cady said.

A highlight will be a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, featuring television newscaster John Beard as grand marshal. The parade will proceed north on El Camino Real from 6th Street, turn east on 1st Street, then north on Prospect Avenue. The parade will end at the park, at Prospect Avenue and Irvine Boulevard.

Musical groups and dancers will perform until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and until 6 p.m. Sunday. A pizza-eating contest is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Saturday, followed by a pie-eating contest at 6:30 p.m. The “Tiny Tiller Pageant” for ages 3 to 6 is planned for 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Other activities will include a display of vintage and exotic cars, arts and crafts booths, food, a petting zoo, pony rides and a Ferris wheel. A pancake breakfast will be presented by the Tustin Chamber of Commerce from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday.

Admission to Tustin Tiller Days is free. Hours of the festival are 2 to 11 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Additional information is available from the Tustin Community Services Department at (714) 573-3326.