Tag Archives: Quirky Civic Events

Butterfly Parade 2013

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Butterfly Parade Title
1970s Butterfly Parade

Self sustaining before it was a UN buzz phrase. One of the few remaining events that are not capitalized on. Flutter on, little chrysalis’ and butterflies.

On a sunlit, 80-plus degree Saturday morning in Pacific Grove, several hundred kids dressed up as insects, sea creatures, farmers, artists, pioneers, clowns and healthy vegetables for the 75th annual Butterfly Parade and Bazaar.

A few parents, grandparents, babies and dogs dressed for the occasion, too.

The popular, don’t-you-wish-you-lived-here event is a rite of passage for Pacific Grove grade-schoolers. As they move from kindergarten to fifth grade, they get promoted from caterpillars to monarch butterflies, lady bugs, bumble bees, jellyfish, otters, farmers, pioneers, gold miners and, finally, clowns.

They gather in their handmade costumes in front of Robert Down Elementary School to pose for the paparazzi, then convene with their classmates for a 1-square-block strut that starts and ends on Pine Avenue.

Butterfly Parade 2013

Feast Of Lanterns Keeping Secrets?

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There were fireworks of course, but the first rule of Feast Of Lanterns is you don’t mention the fireworks.

Second rule is don’t hang the Feast Of Lanterns banners from the streetlights.
Taken July 27:
No FOL Banner

The Mon Sori percussionists, a group of local people with Korean heritage, were just one of many attractions at the Feast of Lanterns, which drew more than 1,000 people by 2 p.m.

Although the lantern-adorned vessels and fireworks gathered bigger crowds later in the day, afternoon crowds could not seem to stay away from the Chinese-inspired event.

Music constantly played as the smell of burnt food filled the air, children ran in the water and made sandcastles, impromptu volleyball games were constant, inflatable bounce houses wore out the kids and a bashful sun kept the temperature around 65 degrees.

“The nice thing is the whole city does something,” said Virginia Coleman, a longtime volunteer.

The event was first held in 1905 but did not become an annual festival until 1957. Coleman said she and her husband understand the appeal, having been involved since 1985.

Feast Of Lanterns Keeping Secrets?

Fire Up The Feast Week, Pt 3

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The 2011 edition of the 54-year-old city festival concluded Saturday at Lovers Point, where sugar-buzzed kids sampled each of the aforementioned attractions all day. Then they snuggled with their parents in the evening to celebrate the crowning of Queen Topaz and marvel at lantern-adorned vessels on Monterey Bay and fireworks exploding over the water.

“This was always a big thing to do when I was little, even though they didn’t have bounce houses and bubble machines in those days,” said Rick Martin, a former Monterey Peninsula resident who drove from Santa Clara to enjoy the event. “My family came every year to see the boats all lit up and the fireworks over the water. Those are great memories for me, even now, which is why I try to come back every couple of years.”

Rick has it about right. The Feast is a good time to reconnect if you have been away.

Last year’s excuse for a Feast was not what makes memories.

The entire day at the beach
Feast Of Lanterns Beach

Free live entertainment
Bryan Diamond FOL 2003

No fire of this kind. Though the free entertainment mentions other smokes

Feast Of Lanterns Smoke Smoke
Return of this kind of fire is welcome, even in the fog.
Feast Of Lanterns Fireworks 2000

Fire Up The Feast Week, Pt 3

Vicious Dog Attack At Good Old Days

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Please leave the dogs at home. It could have been a child mauled.

“He is lucky to be alive,” she said. Enns said she took Harry to see the dogs at the SPCA for Monterey County adoption booth when they encountered Heidi, who was also on a leash. Without being provoked, the pit bull suddenly attacked Harry, according to Enns.

The UC Davis veterinary hospital treated Harry, who went back to the facility Wednesday for a checkup. Enns said Harry looks “pretty normal” but that he’s missing
some of his front teeth. She said she is going to look into the possibility of having Harry fitted with dental implants. Meanwhile, Heidi, who was in quarantine
at the SPCA after the attack, was scheduled to be put down Thursday.

Vicious Dog Attack At Good Old Days

Good Old Days 2011 – Moe Said WHAT?

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Thai Stick?

“It’s the largest arts and crafts show in the tri-county area,” Ammar said. “We have top-name bands and entertainment. Look at downtown on Lighthouse. It’s a zoo.”

A throng of people walked along the noisy, smoky Lighthouse Avenue surrounded by the smells of cooking corn dogs, bratwurst, garlic fries, Thai sticks and calamari. The food vendors shared space with arts and crafts booths, children’s face painting, bounce houses and rides.

Some Good Old Days vendors’ wares show real class:
GOD No Skinny Bitches

Good Old Days 2011 – Moe Said WHAT?

Chamber Of Commerce Story 2, Slow News Week

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Moe Ammar Dont Buy American

Make sure businesses are ready for major events that come to Pacific Grove. Refer visitors to events, places and businesses in town. Emphasize environmentally friendly events.

“Now we know who is in charge of what. We’ve met each other. Now we’ve got to work together,” chamber president Moe Ammar said after the two-hour meeting, which had a 27-member panel and 40 people in the audience. The panel included people from the hospitality industry, arts community and city officials.

Ammar, who has led the chamber for 18 years, said he holds the gatherings when the economy slips. The last such event was 10 years ago.

He last held any marketing summit a decade ago and has not noticed the economy since then? The best idea I think is to find a new Chamber Of Commerce leader.

As people described their organization’s events, Frutchey said there were some festivities he wasn’t aware of and suggested a master calendar for Pacific Grove events.

Great, we have a come-here City Manager that does not know about the quirky civic events in P.G., or what resources to turn to and find out.

It is the economy. Need to emphasize value for the dollar, which admittedly P.G. has very little of.

Chamber Of Commerce Story 2, Slow News Week

Final Snow In The Park (and this time we really mean it)

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What will Moe turn it into and call it then? Stilwell’s Art Sale In The Park?

Caledonia Snow In Park

Stilwell’s Snow in the Park at Caledonia Park on Saturday will be the last such event with snow, said Chamber of Commerce president Mo Ammar.

“We will continue the event in the future,” he said, “but there will be no snow.”

Final Snow In The Park (and this time we really mean it)

Feast Of Lanterns Sideshow Attempts To Salvage Event

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Once in a lifetime experience – pay to see the Feast Of Lanterns pageant. Dixie is dreaming.

Feast of Lanterns volunteers have attempted to keep the pageant and performance as close as possible to the traditions that people remember so well from Lovers Point.

“All will be going on as it does on the pier, with a few modifications for the Performing Arts Center,” said Layne. “There is usually a sea dragon in the water and the lighted boat parade. All these elements will be there — we’ve just had to bring in props. We’ve even (simulated) fireworks using lights and streamers. A dozen youths have been added to the performance to create dragons and lighted boats.”.

One cannot duplicate the element of excitement waiting to see if the princess can get into the tiny boat without falling in the water:
Fol Get In Boat

Feast Of Lanterns Sideshow Attempts To Salvage Event

Feast Of Lanterns – If Not At The Beach, Never

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Well the ticket admission thing in the middle school auditorium does not appear to have worked out well.

July 31 was just another foggy day at the beach this year.
Feast Of Lanterns 2010

Feast of Lanterns board president Sue Renz said her phone has been ringing off the hook.

“They will call and say, ‘when are you going to be doing the Feast of Lanterns at the beach with the pageant and the fireworks?’ And I have to say to them, ‘we aren’t doing it there this year,'” said Renz.

For decades, the pageant and fireworks took place at Lover’s Point, but this year it’s moving to the middle school. That means no fireworks, a scaled back show and $20 tickets. There’s room for about 700 people at the middle school theater, but only a dozen tickets have been sold.

Feast Of Lanterns – If Not At The Beach, Never