Meet Sarah Nicole Fisk | Community Event Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Nicole Fisk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah Nicole, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My decision to start my own business stemmed from repeated experiences interviewing with companies I had long admired and dreamed of working for. After progressing through multiple interview rounds, I would often be told I wasn’t selected. Over time, I realized that instead of waiting for opportunities to be given to me, I needed to use my creativity to build my own path. When you continue to put yourself out there and face disappointment, it pushes you to think outside the box and take control of your future. I learned that you can’t wait for the life you envision — you have to take risks and create it yourself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up immersed in the world of small business and events, working alongside my father who owned a flower shop and created floral designs for weddings and parties. From a young age through my teen years, I would help him, giving me my first glimpse into entrepreneurship, creativity, and event production.

In 2008, I moved to Los Angeles to attend college, initially pursuing a degree in photography. While in school, I began shooting events and helping a friend promote his events, giving me valuable, hands-on experience in the event and promotions industry. Around 2010, I started making swimwear in my room — designing and creating pieces for my friends, simply giving them away at first. One day, someone asked me, “Why aren’t you selling your swimsuits?” Until that moment, it hadn’t occurred to me that I could turn my passion into a business.

That question sparked a major shift in my mindset. I decided to take a leap of faith, dedicating my focus and energy to building a swimwear brand. To promote my brand, I began popping up at pool parties, markets, and local events, eventually hosting my own poolside events to launch new collections. Through this journey, I discovered my love for bringing people together — creating spaces where creativity, community, and celebration could thrive under the sun.

Through these experiences, I gained invaluable lessons in budgeting, brand building, and understanding return on investment. One of my biggest challenges came when I transitioned from personally making each swimsuit to managing production runs. Adjusting to producing minimum order quantities, wholesaling, and selling through my website required a different kind of focus and resilience. Building visibility, getting stores to carry my brand, and expanding in a competitive market taught me what it truly means to grow a business from the ground up.

Since the pandemic, I have paused the swimwear brand to focus on building The Venice Fest, but my long-term goal is to relaunch the swimwear line when the time is right — and hopefully feature it at the festival as a full-circle moment.

What truly sets me apart from many other street festival organizers is that I have firsthand experience being a vendor, a brand builder, and a small business owner. I know the effort, heart, and hustle it takes to pop up at markets and grow a brand. This perspective shapes every event I produce — with a real commitment to creating experiences that support and celebrate the makers, artists, and entrepreneurs who are the heartbeat of the community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting, I’d plan a relaxed, sun-soaked day to really show them the best of the Westside. We’d start the morning with coffee by the beach — somewhere local and breezy — and take a stroll along the Venice boardwalk to soak in the energy, art, and ocean views.

From there, we’d head straight into a full beach day. I’d reserve a Bliss Beach setup so everything is ready when we arrive — umbrellas, chairs, towels, and that perfect beach vibe without the hassle. It’s the best way to lounge comfortably and enjoy the waves.

For lunch, I’d have food delivered from one of the nearby beachfront spots — something fresh and local, ideally with a mix of salads, tacos, and iced drinks to keep things easy and beachy. We’d spend the afternoon swimming, people-watching, and just unwinding in the sun.

As golden hour hits, we’d head to Elephante in Santa Monica for drinks and dinner. With stunning rooftop views and great atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot to watch the sunset and reflect on a perfect SoCal day. We’d close out the night there, relaxed and happy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my fiancé and partner, Kris Herbert. He is the driving force behind my journey into hosting community events, and without his support, I might never have had the opportunity to create spaces that bring people together. Kris believes in me even when I doubt myself. He pushes me to dream bigger, stands by me when challenges arise, and reminds me of my strength when things get tough. His unwavering support, encouragement, and leadership inspire me every day to keep growing — not just as a business owner, but as a person. I am endlessly grateful to have him by my side.

Website: https://www.thevenicefest.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevenicefest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevenicefest

Image Credits
@amelie_e_uchiike