Fiesta Days vendors set out to impress

While Fiesta Days is most known for its hilltop carnival and performances on the Creekwalk stage at Andrews Park, it also attracts visitors with its food and vendors. As thousands flock to the park throughout the weekend, vendors from across the region sell fun wares and dish up fair food for eventgoers.

Along the hill leading up to the carnival, vendors sell a variety of goods, including clothing, home decor, jewelry, candy, seasonings and more. Rodney Garibaldi, of Kiss My Licorice Candy company, sells multicolored licorice ropes and other sweet treats along the hill up to the carnival.

"We sell licorice ropes- the most amazing licorice on the planet," he said Friday. "We import everything from Spain

Garibaldi said he sells 18 different flavors of sweet and sour licorice, as well as the original red and black. He also sells 11 different flavors of sour belts and other sweets.

Garibaldi said he has owned the company for 16 years, since he met a candy importer who taught him some things about the trade.

"He showed me a little bit about the business and stuff and it just kind of took off from there," he said.

Garibaldi said the realistic fruit flavors of his licorice set his company apart.

"The minute you bite it, you can taste it," he said. "The flavors are incredible - it really does taste like what it says,"

Garibaldi said it is particularly special to him to work at Fiesta Days.

"Fiesta Days is Vacaville," he said, "I remember growing up here, I came to Fiesta Days. And now seeing all these kids, my friends' kids, some even their kids' kids, come out here for the carnival and the bands. This is what Vacaville is about. This is the biggest community event of the year, on a big weekend too."

Esther Ubillus, owner of Tacos Jalisco, served tacos, nachos, and quesadillas from a stand along the Creekwalk on Friday, along with her family. She said she and her brothers took over the family business from their parents three years ago.

"It is our first time here," she said of Fiesta Days. "We are excited."

She said the company caters to other events and is familiar with serving large events, but was adapting to doing so many different orders at once. She said the restaurant is working on being more involved in Vacaville and its community events.

"We are just not used to big crowds," she said.

Anyiah Zeidan of Sweet Snacks sells fluffy mini pancakes topped with sprinkles, syrups and other toppings from a small stand at Fiesta Days with her 6-year-old daughter, Valentina. She said she also runs a nonprofit dog rescue, which Sweet Snacks helps to support.

"We just opened in February, so we are very new," she said.

Zeidan said toppings include strawberries, blueberries and a variety of cereals.

"You can kind of customize what you want," she said.

Ziedan said she and her daughter hope to expand the stand to serve fries, chicken, and specialty drinks like iced coffee and matcha tea.

Based in Vacaville, Ziedan said Sweet Snacks sells at the farmers' market on weekends but has never sold at Fiesta Days before.

"The community is cool, getting this exposure for our business," she said, "My daughter is here with us now, she is joining in and just watching the community and just getting our name out there."

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