On August 14, Hillcrest’s CityFest will once again bring the community together for the 27th time. The festival, which will close down eight blocks of University Avenue will provide fun for all from noon to 9 p.m.

This year’s CityFest will feature more rides and games than in previous years and a full-day lineup of live music. The Grand Stage will be graced with performances from Run Honey, F.U.Z.Z., Liveagain and seven other groups. The southern end of the festival will have a life-sized game arena with interactive games for some friendly competition. HBA Marketing and Communications Program Manager Lisa Weir says, “We’ll have a huge waterslide so people can cool off because it gets pretty hot in mid-August.”

When the sun goes down, at 8 p.m., the iconic Hillcrest sign will be relit. The sign has been out of commission the last few months but its pink lights are now greener than ever; the refurbishments included the installation of LEDs, which will make the sign environmentally friendly, brighter and more powerful.

The relighting of the Hillcrest sign brings CityFest around full-circle. The festival inadvertently started 27 years ago when residents gathered together for the unveiling of the Hillcrest sign, which was taken down in August of 1983. After volunteers raised money to have it restored, the sign went back up in August of the following year.

In addition to the sign improvements, changes will be made to this year’s festival. The Beer Garden will be expanded with more entrances and exits to ease the flow of the popular hangout place at the festival.

Another addition to this year’s CityFest is Tempo, a new festival mascot. The bobble-headed DJ will be joining the Spirit of Hillcrest in keeping the fun going throughout the day.

With so much to do at CityFest, where’s the best place to be? Weir says, “I’d be hanging out in the beer garden, right on the periphery so I can enjoy a cold beer, watch the band perform and I’d be standing under the historic Hillcrest sign.”

More information about CityFest 2011 can be found at www.HillcrestCityFest.com.