It started as a small get-together, tucked between Christmas and summer celebrations, when neighbors exchanged recipes and baked goods. Fifty years later, Pacific Grove’s Good Old Days has grown to a supersized, two-day block party with a parade, carnival rides and enough sweets to rot a kindergarten class of teeth. This year, more than 25,000 people are expected to attend the city’s $60,000 party.
“It was a just a neighborly thing to do,” said former Pacific Grove Fire Chief and City Councilman Don Gasperson, who started the annual Firemen’s Muster Competition and Bucket Brigade in the 1960s.
Pictures from the scene:
Ah – a hint of localism
Don’t forget this is Earth Day – Appear to be substainable and push to recycle.
But add more car exhaust as you circle the town looking for a place to park. Holmans shows it’s usual non hospitality.
Lighthouse Avenue takes on the look of a carnival midway.
Jurassic Survivor? Let’s vote the raptors off..
Hungry after that? Time for Meat On A Stick as Snick calls it. There seemed to be too many dogs around the food area.
A little return to the PG Good Old Days of the past – handicrafts for sale.
Dolphins!!
Tie Dye!
But the prices are up there with Carmel Plaza – whoo! a $69 aloha shirt.
A $75 denim shirt
I saw these unusual mobile wind thingys
Just when I was about to declare that the find of the week for it’s distinctive look of craftsmanship and originality, I saw another merchant offering the same thing:
The seller at mobile wind thing # 2 was quite rude and declared “NO PICTURES”. Pftft, you are in public, in the middle of a street. You and the other vendor lost any appreciation from my family and declared the weird mobiles just another piece of overpriced Chinese imported junk.
Good Old Days has obviously changed from a townspeople event to another chance to fleece the tourists.
