01/27/09
Filed under:
General
Posted by:
@ 1:21 am
Christmas at the beach is gone. It was my favorite season. I really love remembering the traditions I grew up with as a kid. But now, thanks to so many event planners, public relations specialists, marketers and community volunteers, I am swamped with 2009 events coming at me faster than that Easter Bunny just around the bend (April 12). I seldom receive events from convention and visitors bureaus anymore (with the exception of Oxnard and Santa Cruz). There’s a lot more grass roots work going on, and I really feel encouraged by the events I’ve seen upcoming for the 2009 year.
Some events seem to have disappeared.
- Tomato Festival in Carmel - For instance, the gent who hosted the Tomato Festival in Carmel ended a 17 year stint, according to his web announcement. He got me roped in by sending me his events listings. I am a sucker for tomatoes so each year I told myself I’d go to Carmel to sample his goodies. I’m sorry to see him leave.
- Hello Kitty Boardfest - Last year the boardfest for girls got cancelled just as it was time to happen. This Huntington Beach event, some say, was usurped by a similar effort at the US Open of Surfing. I’m not sure if it’s coming back in 2009.
- Cinco de Mayo at Gaslamp. One of the hottest events in San Diego must have been a bit too hot. It was called off last year. I don’t see it on the list just yet for 2009.
- Grapefruit Festival. I can’t find any evidence of this event. It was hosted in northern California. I am still looking.
Events that could be worth seeing in 2009
- There are many whale festivals and celebrations, but one that really pops out is the Dana Point Festival of Whales. This event is like a month of activities rolled into two weekends. And it’s mostly done by volunteers. They rock! The event in 2009 is on March 7,8,14 & 15.
- Easter Egg Hunts are plentiful in California. Along with the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in December, every city hosts an egg hunt. But here’s a twist. In Yorba Linda, the adults have a flashlight egg hunt for themselves. Now isn’t that fun? I think so.
- What about Valentine’s Day? Finally, the single people are fighting back. They’re coming up with events that make statements about being along. In Newport Beach, there’s the un4seenproductions boat cruise for singles who love to be single…and have fun. And in Los Angeles, Esotouric Tours is taking you on a trip to the haunts where love went wrong, and somebody murdered their lover, plus other strange tales based on true events in the big city.
- Summer events will be plentiful and include lots of fishing derbies, car shows, sports, beach festivals, hundreds of farmers markets each week, free outdoor concerts, and countless themed festivals with food, drinks and parades. Stay posted. Our little elves are hand-picking the cream of events and putting them on the BeachCalifornia.com web site.