What's New: Fall 2005

Begonia Festival Blooms in Capitola
Did you know that for 40 years - from the 1930's to the 1970's – approximately 90% of the worlds Begonias came from Capitola? The 'Pacific Begonia', as it is known, was hybridized in Capitola by the Brown family more than half a century ago. When a local swim teacher used the colorful blooms to adorn paddle boats manned by the ladies of the Capitola Water Follies (her students) as they sailed down Soquel Creek, the Begonia Festival was born. Held every Labor Day weekend for 53 years, the festivities include a jam-packed weekend beginning on Saturday, September 3 rd. Activities include a sand sculpture contest on Capitola Beach , volleyball, live entertainment, horseshoe games, and childrens’chalk art. A hat-decorating event will preclude the nautical parade, which begins at 1:00 PM on Sunday. Festival-goers can view construction of the floats along the banks of Soquel Creek during the day. On Monday, a fishing derby, childrens’ art event and rowboat races bring the weekend to a close.

Arts & Culture Travel Packages Debut in Santa Cruz County
As the growing demand among visitors for arts and cultural-related events increases, the Santa Cruz County CVC announces that new vacation packages in concert with musical performances, theatrical presentations, dance productions and art events are now available. These new creative getaways will make it easier for visitors looking to add a new dimension to their vacation. According to the Travel Industry Association, 75% of U.S. adult travelers attended a cultural event while on a trip in the past year, most often attending performing arts events (48%) and/or art museums or antique establishments (47%). Santa Cruz County ’s wide array of arts-related events such as Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County’s Open Studios Art Tour, the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival and others attract a loyal following that returns each season to absorb the creative spirit Santa Cruz County is known for. These packages can also be seen on the CVC’s website, www.santacruz.org.

Birding Identifies Sweet Tweets
Like listening to a symphony to identify the individual instruments that make up the whole, birding by ear brings new insight into orchestrations. And wintertime is the best time of year to spot Pied-billed Grebes, Surf Scoters, or a Brandt's Cormorant in one of the county’s most bird-friendly areas. The Wetlands of Watsonville in south Santa Cruz County is one of the largest remaining freshwater marshes along California ’s Central Coast , along the globally significant Pacific Flyway. The wetlands provide a resting stop for birds on their migratory journeys, and serve as a year-round habitat for over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and song birds. Out of approximately 1,900 nationwide annual bird counts, the Santa Cruz County area usually ranks in the Top 10 for North America based on the number of species found. The second-most popular outdoor pastime next to gardening, birding boasts 70 million followers.

Holiday Events Make Santa Cruz County Sparkle
An eclectic mix of celebrations capture the festive spirit in Santa Cruz County during the holiday season. In California ’s surf capital, Surfin’ Santa ditches the sleigh and opts to hang ten with his reindeer as they ride the waves to shore at noon at Capitola Beach . Santa then eases into a lawn chair on the beach and take wish list requests from the kids while Donner, Blitzen and the others break out the candy and the holiday cheer. The popular Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train each weekend evening in December is a virtual parade of beautifully lit Pullman cars and open-air excursion cars that travel through Victorian Santa Cruz as carolers sing and the sweet scent of hot spiced cider fills the air. Marching bands, floats, classic cars, costumed characters and Santa in a horse-drawn sleigh will make their way down Pacific Avenue from Laurel to Water Street in the annual Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade. Then, for a different kind of Holiday lighting, the Jingle Shells Art & Book Festival, held at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in Santa Cruz features live music, refreshments and kids activities will include the holiday lighting of a giant blue whale skeleton. At the Santa Cruz Harbor, decorated boats bedecked with twinkling lights parade through the waters for the annual Lighted Boat Parade. At First Night Santa Cruz, revelers can join about 10,000 button-wearing celebrants and families to frolic at this alcohol-free, much-loved event.

Open Studios Art Tour Celebrates Two Decades of Local Talent
Once a year, visitors to Santa Cruz County are given a unique glimpse into the intimate world of art when 300 artists open their studios for a behind-the-scenes peek at their workspaces. Now in its 20 th year, the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County’s Open Studios Art Tour has attracted art aficionados and inquisitive admirers to artists’ studios throughout the area, from a cozy cabin nestled in the Redwoods to a breezy oceanside workroom. Guests on the self-guided tour are welcomed by artists and artisans of wearable art, metalwork, computer imagery, furniture making, basketry, woodworking, collage, mosaic, glass, masks, jewelry, photography, sculpture, printmaking, textiles and painting, and can see creations evolve before their eyes. The Open Studios Art Tour is offered weekends throughout October, with South County artists featured October 1st and 2nd; North County artists on October 8th and 9th, and an Encore Weekend for artists county-wide October 15th and 16th.