Capitola Begonia Festival Diary #5 – Four Days at the Beach
You could be forgiven for thinking that Capitola’s Nautical Parade is the only event in the Capitola Begonia Festival. Forgiven, but sadly mistaken.
There are actually four days of events taking place throughout Capitola’s Labor Day weekend, and a lot of them take place high and dry around Capitola beach!
To assist people coming into Capitola Village, a free shuttle service runs every day from Friday through Monday, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Friday evening features Movies at the Beach – this year’s feature is 1960’s favorite, “Beach Blanket Bingo”, in keeping with this year’s Capitola Begonia Festival theme “Beach Party”.
Saturday, September 4 is a pretty full day! The Begonia pickers are up bright and early grabbing the begonia blooms to be placed on their entries throughout the day.
Meanwhile, visitors have a full day as well with a myriad of events and attractions – from:
…taking a stroll along the banks of Soquel Creek to view the floats being constructed…
…to a Sand Sculpture Contest on Capitola Beach at 8 a.m…
… to a viewing of the works of local student artist along the Esplanade at 9 o’clock a.m…
… to a concert at Esplanade Park at 4 p.m. featuring local favorites “Mike Hadley and the Groove”.
Then at dusk, another movie (this one will be “Mama Mia”).
Sunday, September 5 is certainly a big day.
Starting at 8 a.m., registered participants will be chosen for teams at random to compete on Capitola Beach in a game of horseshoes (how Americana can you get?)
Then:
More reviewing of the armada of floats along Soquel Creek…
… A children’s “Chalk Art” display along Capitola’s seawall at 9:00 AM until Noon,
… A chance to create a hat out of Begonias (as we seeing a pattern here??) at 11 a.m. on the Esplanade
… And, finally at 1 p.m., the 58th Annual Capitola Begonia Festival Nautical Parade.
Whew! But that’s not all. After all that…
… the “Houserockers” – another terrific local band – provide a concert in Esplanade Park from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Now comes Monday – Labor Day – and it begins pretty early with a 6 a.m. open-to-all-ages Fishing Derby on the Capitola Wharf.
When your young anglers are finished with that, there is another Children’s Art Event in Esplanade Park at 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Then, back to the water, folks, and the Rowboat Races on Soquel Creek beginning at 1 p.m.
Check with the Capitola Chamber of Commerce about registering for these events if you want to participate. If you want to adopt more of an “observer” profile, all you have to do is show up in Capitola-by-the-Sea for the biggest community event of the year!
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