Hollywood Park partnered with NBA legend Baron Davis and his Black Santa Brand to host the third annual WinterFest. While WinterFest provided family fun and entertainment, it uplifted local businesses and raised awareness of pickleball.
“Shout out to Hollywood Park for opening their doors to the community,” Davis said. “This year, we decided to do pickleball because we feel like from an exercise standpoint and a new sport standpoint, this would be great to introduce to the community.”
The WinterFest consisted of several activities from Saturday morning to evening. It started with the Farm Habit Farmer’s Market that provided produce and goods along with a vaccine drive with Novavax.
The vendor village featured several Black-owned businesses. Among the vendors was Fresh Finesse, pop-up flower bar. The company owner Stacie H. is a native of Inglewood.
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“This is actually my third year participating and it’s always amazing because it gets better each year, each experience is a different experience,” Stacie H. said. “To see all of the new things come to Hollywood Park and to see the community absorb it and then when it all comes together, it’s like every year it’s something new.”
Fresh Finesse can be found on Instagram on @freshfinesseflowers. Trey Holmes is the owner of TILT sneaker and apparel boutique. There are two locations of the boutique, one of their Instagram names are @tilt.inglewood.
“We’ve had the business right here in Inglewood for about five years,” Holmes said. “To see the change happen from five years ago to current events like this are happening for a brand like ours to gain exposure through current people but also new faces.”
Attendees were able to get massages from ICU Initiative Connections Massage Therapy.
“That’s a very good thing,” Shara Sunniali of ICU said. “Everyone needs to come together more.”
The Inglewood high school marching band marched through the vendor village. Lovejoy Pet Rescue was also on-site for families to adopt pets. Youth were able to participate in arts and crafts, they also received free presents.
Among the several families that attended the WinterFest was two-time Paralympic medalist Isaac Jean-Paul and his family. He earned a silver medal in the men’s T13 Long Jump during the 2024 Paris Games.
“My daughter loves Christmas, I heard it’s a celebrity pickleball match,” Jean-Paul said. “Paris was crazy … This is my second time being a Paralympian. My first Paralympic Games was in Tokyo and that was night and day from Paris.”
Prior to the Pickleball tournament, attendees were able to play exhibition matches. Davis played alongside youth before competing in the tournament. ABC7 Los Angeles reporter Ashley Mackey competed in the tournament with her father.
“Being here in person has been great and lots of good energy,” Mackey said. “I am an athlete at heart, whenever I go out there, I’m always trying to win but it’s for fun.”
Members of the Inglewood Pickleball Foundation at Darby Park came out to support the tournament.
“I’m so glad [Davis] is bringing more awareness to the sport,” said Inglewood Pickleball Foundation member Gwen Allen. “It’s so much fun and I love it.”
For more information on the Black Santa Brand, visit https://shop.blacksanta.com/.
