By Laurie Hill
The 6th Annual Capitola Beach Festival brought celebration, sparkle and warmth to Capitola Village on an otherwise chilly weekend.
Nearly 3,000 runners kicked up their heels Saturday in the Lil Wharf 3-miler race, matching broad smiles with the gleam of finisher medallions.
Creative families and friends stacked and sculpted beach sand for prizes.
Second Place: Jewel Boxers Float: Capitola Fun
Santa Cruz Sand’s Bill Lewis, surprised us all with the “Capitola Beach Festival” moniker skillfully crafted in sand. Cornhole players tested their skills on the beach. Billy Martini, a true showman, treated everyone within hearing distance to a musical tribute of the ‘70s.
The highly anticipated Lighted Nautical Parade brought surprises. No one expected that at least two of the parade participants would have to jump from their barges into the creek to solve an assortment of mishaps. Technical issues abounded, affecting power, propulsion and sound.
The float builders presented big dreams of rock bands, dancers, ukuleles, historical tales, a fountain of youth, a special song composed for and played during the parade, while maneuvering around unseen obstacles and coping with the sometimes-tricky passing under the Stockton Street Bridge. All had a story to tell about celebrating the good times in Capitola.
The Parade Team introduced a new system to send the music produced on the barges to creekside speakers — this system worked best when the float builders remembered to turn it on.
When the parade ended, the winners were announced (First: Capitola Museum, Second: Jewel Boxers, Third: Joyism), and the judges and Creek Marshals had gone home, a fully lit and overloaded barge continued to play rock music up and down the creek, until we heard “we’re stuck again.”
Horseshoe players
The recently reopened Capitola Wharf welcomed the return of the Fishing Derby. Fanciful stories of the ones that got away, how many tiny fish they caught, and bragging rights to the awards for the largest fish.
The Paddle Board races went off without a hitch, if you do not count the challenges of the online registration and a stolen buoy before the races started.
One entrant remembered their board but forgot their paddle. The wet-suited winners delighted in their ribbons and limited-edition t-shirts. We had hoped for more paddlers. Too cold?
The Horseshoe Tournament, always a favorite, ended as usual with winner trophies half the size of the adult contestants.
By Sunday afternoon the Rowboat Races were well underway. It appeared that half of the participants had never even been in a rowboat.
Third Place: Joyism Rowboats: Christine McBroom and Beckett
No worries, this is a safe place to start, with a few dozen onlookers watching and laughing from Stockton Bridge. Just ask the new Event Coordinator — new to rowboats herself — when, on a dare, she too ventured out in a boat.
There was plenty to celebrate at the Capitola Beach Festival.
Although there was rousing fun for many, organizers are still asking how best to increase participation? If you have ideas, thoughts, or comments, Email them to [email protected]. Express your joy of community by decorating a float, joining the organizing committee, or planning to come out and play.
And please bring back the sunshine in 2025.
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Event results can be found at www.capitolabeachfestival.com
TOP PHOTO: Winning float — Capitola Museum Float: A Sentimental Journey