Blog - Chula Vista Living

Chula Vista Lemon Festival 2025: A Zesty Day of Fun for the Whole Family

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August 16, 2025

Chula Vista Lemon Festival 2025: A Zesty Day of Fun for the Whole Family

Are you ready for a day filled with fun, family, and lemonade? The Chula Vista Lemon Festival returns on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Third Avenue between E and G Streets. This free, family-friendly celebration honors Chula Vista’s roots as the Lemon Capital of the World and brings the community together for music, food, crafts, and hands-on activities. I look forward to attending this event every year. It’s the perfect mix of fun activities, local vendors, and live music.

Celebrating Chula Vista’s Citrus Legacy

For decades, the festival has celebrated the city’s agricultural heritage while showcasing its vibrant downtown today. It is a chance to learn about local history, support small businesses, and enjoy a full day outside with friends and family. It also gives you the opportunity to visit the businesses along Third Avenue and learn more about what they have to offer.

“We do this event every year on Third Avenue in downtown Chula Vista to really commemorate the agricultural legacy of Chula Vista as once being the lemon capital of the world,” said Dominic Li Mandri, district manager of the Downtown Chula Vista Association.

If you have lived in Chula Vista for as long as I have, then you know this event is the essential end-of-summer event that draws a huge crowd. I still remember performing on stage for the Chula Vista High School dance squad. It’s unfortunate that there aren’t more local schools participating in the event.

Downtown Chula Vista Lemon Festival — The Chula Vista Lemon Festival is always a big summer event. Third Avenue is filled with many people and vendors. We always recommend arriving early to enjoy it.

What to Expect at the Chula Vista Lemon Festival 2025

Plan for a packed schedule with live entertainment on three stages, dozens of vendors, great food and drinks, and activities for all ages. They have finally brought back the one event we have all been asking for, the pie-eating contest. That is going to draw a crowd, so make sure you get there early to get a good spot. For a full shcedule about the event, be sure to follow the Downtown Chula Vista Association on Instagram.

Lemon Pie Eating Contest for brave dessert fans
Best-Dressed Contest with a citrus theme
Little Lemons Kids’ Zone with games and crafts
Lemon-Powered Science Display that blends fun with learning

“It’s a great way for kids to both have fun and also learn in the process,” Li Mandri said. “It’s just one way that we kind of incorporate the academic and the education within our program for the Lemon Festival. We thought this was a great novel idea to highlight education within our community, but also do so in a fun way that is interactive and immersive for our young Chula Vistans.”

Chula Vista Living Returns to the Lemon Festival 2025

The biggest news this year about the Chula Vista Lemon Festival is the return of Chula Vista Living as a vendor. Chula Vista Living had a booth at the festival back in 2007, when it was still a magazine and before social media became popular. I was a junior at Hilltop Middle School at the time, although I’m not sure if I attended the Lemon Festival.

Mr. Chula Vista himself will be there selling t-shirts and sticker packs. If you love his designs, this is your chance to purchase some custom items. You can find him in front of Craft on Third in space #99. He will also be selling products online very soon, so stay tuned for updates!

Chula Vista Living booth at the 2007 Lemon Festival — Here is a photo from the archives of the Chula Vista Living booth at the 2007 Chula Vista Lemon Festival. This was back when we were a magazine.

Plan Your Visit

Come for the contests, stay for the music, and take time to explore downtown. Bring sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and an appetite. The festival is easy to enjoy at your own pace and has something for everyone.

Casa Casillas Opens as Chula Vista’s New Cultural Arts Center

Amanda Contreras

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August 12, 2025

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Casa Casillas Opens as Chula Vista’s New Cultural Arts Center

Chula Vista has a new destination for creativity and community connection: the recently opened Casa Casillas, located at 50 4th Avenue. City leaders unveiled this cultural arts center as a space where the public can enjoy art, attend workshops, and watch local artists create during their residency.

The first two artists in residence are already bringing color and life to the space.

“A residency, it’s kind of like a dream come true,” said German Rojas, one of the inaugural residents at Casa Casillas. Rojas, a San Diego-based queer artist, is known for his vibrant use of color that reflects his experiences growing up between Mexico and San Diego. His work draws heavily from the rich traditions of Mexican culture, offering viewers a unique perspective through his bold, expressive paintings. You can view his website to learn more.

For Rojas, the residency offers something rare: the time and space to focus on art without the constant pressure of making ends meet.

“In San Diego, it’s super expensive just to support yourself. You have to work so much that sometimes your passions disappear,” he said.

The artist residency program at Casa Casillas offers local talent studio space and a $1,000 monthly stipend for six months, providing artists with a valuable opportunity to create and grow.

Fellow resident Melissa Salgado, who goes by the artist name Melicha, is equally grateful for the opportunity. The 28-year-old Southern California native works primarily in oil and acrylic on canvas, exploring themes of vulnerability, nature, and human anatomy. Her paintings often combine warm and cool color palettes, contrasting imagery, and symbolic elements inspired by childhood memories, daily life, and cultural heritage. If you would like to support her, please visit her website here.

“I’m super glad that Chula Vista is taking the initiative to create these kinds of programs for the community,” said Salgado. “Before, it felt like the community had to make their own free events.”

Casa Casillas occupies the former YMCA building and fulfills part of Chula Vista’s long-term cultural arts master plan, a vision championed by former Mayor Mary Casillas Salas. The center is named in honor of her mother, Paula Casillas, an artist and lifelong resident of the city.

“Chula Vista did not have a formal art space in the city until this ribbon-cutting today,” Salas said during the opening.

The center is now open to the public for visits, workshops, and the chance to see resident artists at work, making Casa Casillas a vibrant addition to Chula Vista’s cultural scene.

Chula Vista Community Shuttle Expands to Serve More Residents

Chula Vista Blog

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August 12, 2025

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Chula Vista Community Shuttle Expands to Serve More Residents

The Chula Vista Community Shuttle service is expanding to serve more residents, city officials have announced. While many had hoped for the shuttle to expand east into parts of eastern Chula Vista, the expansion will focus on the south. This move will bring greater mobility and access to areas previously underserved, especially for older adults and residents along the Interstate 5 corridor.

What You Need to Know About the Expansion

The shuttle service, which has been well-received by residents, offers on-demand transportation to get around town quickly and easily. The service is available to everyone, regardless of age. If you’re under 55, you can still ride for just $2. Many residents, including myself, have found this service very convenient for traveling around Chula Vista.

Chula Vista Community Shuttle — The green area represents the current zone. The expanded area is marked in red and will include the Palomar Trolley Center.

Launch Event at South Chula Vista Library

To celebrate the expanded service area, Mayor John McCann, city council members, and other community leaders will host a formal launch event at the South Chula Vista Library, located at 389 Orange Avenue. The event will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Be sure to stop by to learn more about how the shuttle can help you and your neighbors!

The city has launched a free Bayside Shuttle Service that runs from the bayfront to Downtown Chula Vista, stopping at various locations along the route. You can read more about this shuttle here.

Improved Access to Key Locations

The shuttle’s expansion will improve access to essential locations across Chula Vista. This includes major shopping centers, grocery stores, the South Branch Library, and all three San Diego Trolley stations. The shuttle will extend farther along Third Avenue, reaching as far south as Anita Street and west to the bayfront. It will also offer access to residents in several mobile home parks, six of which are specifically designed for seniors, as well as affordable housing complexes.

With the addition of the Palomar Trolley stop, the expanded service will connect residents to more transit options, including major bus routes and the Blue Line, which links to downtown San Diego and the U.S.-Mexico border.

About The Chula Vista Community Shuttle

The Chula Vista Community Shuttle is part of California’s Clean Mobility Options Pilot Program (CMO), which is funded in part by the California Air Resources Board’s Clean Mobility Options program and the California Energy Commission. This program is part of the state’s Climate Investments initiative, which utilizes Cap-and-Trade dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support the economy, and enhance public health, particularly in disadvantaged communities. You can learn more about the shuttle on the city’s website here.

Thanks to $1.8 million in multi-year funding, the shuttle service offers free rides to individuals aged 55 and older, as well as affordable rides to those aged 18-55. This service is made possible through generous support from the Community Congregational Development Corporation (CCDC).

Divina Matcha Coming to Downtown Chula Vista

Chula Vista Videos

Kurt Bunch

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August 11, 2025

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Divina Matcha Coming to Downtown Chula Vista

Michelin-recognized chef Priscilla Curiel is opening Divina Matcha, a ceremonial-grade matcha café, in downtown Chula Vista at 216 Third Avenue. Replacing her former Tuetano Taqueria, the new grab-and-go spot will serve handcrafted matcha drinks made to order, along with house-made baked treats like brownies and scones. The café focuses on freshness, quality, and traditional preparation, offering bold flavors and a calm energy boost. Expected to open soon, Divina Matcha aims to be a cozy destination for matcha lovers and newcomers alike.

You can read more about Divina Matcha Café here. Are you looking forward to this new spot in Downtown Chula Vista?