Over 100,000 people attended the Carlsbad Village Street Faire (don’t forget the e) on a cold and rainy day. With “May the Fourth be with you” as the unofficial theme, many attendees wore Star Wars-themed attire to celebrate the day.

The Faire spanned the entire Carlsbad Village footprint, with vendors ranging from BMW to the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and even the San Diego Police and Fire Departments. The streets were filled with the scent of food vendors and the buzz of merchandise stalls.

Vendors arrived as early as 5 a.m. and remained until 5 p.m., enduring a long day in less-than-ideal weather. California Termite gave away chip clips, pens, magnets—and most memorably, green and red striped lollipops, which were a crowd favorite. Several attendees signed up for a free termite inspection.

As one of the few pest control companies present, the California Termite team spent much of the day answering questions—mostly about fumigation. Many homeowners didn’t realize there are alternative treatment options besides tenting and orange oil. Some even asked for pricing based solely on square footage, unaware that fumigation costs are determined by the cubic volume of a structure.

Conversations often started with fumigation questions but transitioned into discussions about modern, low-toxicity termiticides and their advantages over orange oil. It was surprising how many homeowners hadn’t had a termite inspection in years, didn’t maintain a termite warranty, and were unaware of the long-term benefits of borate treatments in attics, garages, and crawlspaces.

Despite the weather, the event was a success. California Termite looks forward to attending future Carlsbad Village Street Faires—and will definitely restock the lollipops.