Upcoming Events

Canyon Fiesta - Canyon's Most Beloved Tradition Since 1934

Over 130 years ago, the Marquez family donated this land with one condition, that the community would never stop gathering and celebrating together. Every spring since, we've kept that promise.

Fiesta is Canyon's heartbeat. It's the one day each year when current families, alumni who graduated decades ago, neighbors from up and down the canyon, local businesses, firefighters from Station 69, and friends from across Los Angeles all come together on our little campus for an afternoon that feels like coming home.

More than 2,000 people gather for one shared tradition, and every dollar raised goes directly into the programs that make this school extraordinary: art, music, PE, digital learning, smaller class sizes, and the teachers and staff who make it all happen.

This isn't a fundraiser disguised as a party. It's a party that happens to fund everything your child loves about Canyon.

What You'll Experience

Fiesta Is Not Fiesta Without Food!

Fire-roasted corn on the cob and carnitas – the Fiesta classics that have people lining up before noon
Churros, ice cream and sweet treats – because it's a celebration
Hot dogs, pizza and carnival favorites – kid-approved, parent-approved
Fresh fruit, acai bowls and salads – for when you want something lighter between rounds
Local vendors and Canyon family favorites – new discoveries every year

The Competitions

Chili Cookoff – If you have a secret family recipe, or just like to cook, enter the Chili Cookoff. Bring your batch to school on the day of Fiesta by 11AM in a vessel that can stay warm (a slow cooker or crock pot works great). Entries are judged by our favorite firefighters from Station 69, and the Grand Prize Winner walks away with bragging rights and a one-of-a-kind prize basket full of great goodies.
Cake Decorating Contest and Cake Walk – Bake it, decorate it, show it off. Then watch someone take home a masterpiece at the Cake Walk.

Live Music, Games and Entertainment

All-ages entertainment across campus, kids' games, activities, music and the kind of energy that only happens when 2,000 people are having the best day of the year.

The Story Behind the Celebration

In 1839, Governor Juan Alvarado granted 6,656 acres of land – Rancho Boca de Santa Monica – to Ysidro Reyes and Francisco Marquez. Canyon School was built on land donated by the Marquez family, and a condition was reportedly written into the gift: keep celebrating together.

The first formal Fiesta was held in 1934, a two-day event with a student pageant on canyon history, an outdoor supper, and a juried art fair featuring photographer Edward Weston and sculptors like Merrell Gage. The following year, young Ernest and Theresa Marquez, descendants of the family who gave the land, danced in the Historical Pageant.

By the 1950s and '60s, Fiesta had become legendary. Live mariachi bands, Mexican costumes, confetti eggs, dunk tanks, and reportedly Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz flipping burgers at the booths.

Fiesta has changed over the decades, from nighttime pageants to daytime carnivals, but the spirit never has. This is where Canyon families, past and present, come together as a village within the city.

Canyon carries on more than 130 years of Fiesta at the second-oldest surviving school in L.A. County. Not even campus construction has managed to stop us. We'll see you at the next one.

Five Ways to Be Part of Fiesta

1. Show Up

Fiesta happens every spring at Canyon Charter Elementary School, 421 Entrada Drive. Bring your family, bring your neighbors, bring your friends. The more people, the bigger the celebration, the more we raise for our kids.

2. Volunteer

Fiesta can't happen without the help of our parent volunteers. If we get 11 volunteers from each class, we have enough to make Fiesta a success, and there's a role for every schedule:

Setup crew – morning shift, get the campus Fiesta-ready
Booth operators – run games, food stations, activities (2–3 hour shifts)
Ticket sales – be the friendly face at the front
Food and beverage coordination – vendors, logistics, making sure nobody goes hungry
Entertainment and activities – keep the energy going all afternoon
Breakdown crew – afternoon shift, leave it better than we found it

Even two hours is enough to fill a spot with your name on it. Sign up for your favorite booth today.

3. Sponsor a Booth or Activity

Family sponsors get a sign displayed right in front of the activity, game, or booth they sponsor. Commodity sponsors (game prizes, decorations) are acknowledged with colorful signs around the lunch area.

It's a direct, visible way to show your family is part of what makes Fiesta happen.

4. Become a Corporate Sponsor

Business owners get their brand in front of 2,000+ engaged local families in one afternoon at Fiesta.

All sponsorship contributions are tax-deductible. Canyon Booster Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 95-3892191).

New to Canyon? Here's What You Need to Know

If this is your first year, Fiesta is the fastest way to feel like you belong. You'll meet families from every grade, reconnect with neighbors you didn't know were Canyon parents, and your kids will make friends they'll keep for years.