Pier Daze Seafood & Pirate Festival

"Pier Daze Seafood & Pirate Festival" is the first in a series of articles about having fun in the sun in Long Beach, California.

Long Beach is California's 5th largest city comprised of 50 square miles and about 500,000 citizens. Long Beach has an average of 345 days of sunshine each year. That is truer on some years than others, depending upon the winter, rainy season. Due to the diverse ethnicities of Long Beach's residents it is often called "The International City". One need not wait until summertime to enjoy fun in the sun in Long Beach. There are ethnic festivals, parades, marathons and outdoor activities the year round. "Pier Daze Seafood & Pirate Festival" is the kickoff event that is part of the Long Beach Sea Festival.

"Pier Daze Seafood & Pirate Festival" will be held Saturday June 30, 2007 and Sunday, July 1, 2007 from noon until 5pm at the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. Saturday's events include:

Seafood Festival
Beach BBQ
Live Pirate Show with a Real Pirate Ship Attacking the Pier
Ray Kula's Pyrat Band
Pirate Costume Contest
Kids' Treasure Hunt
Fun Zone on the Beach
Pirate Ship rides will also be available by reservation.

In addition to the Seafood Festival, Beach BBQ and Fun Beach Zone, Sunday's events include:

Rock & Roll Music from "Blue Steel"
Classic Woodies Show
Police, Fire and Lifeguard Demos, including hardware displays.
the 1st "Pacific Open Water Challenge and Pacific 5k Run"

Hosted by Alfredo's Beach Club and presented by a popular free local newspaper, the Grunion Gazette and other sponsors, attending the festival is free. Parking is available, but I would advice anyone attending to leave their vehicles at home and utilize one of Long Beach Transit's busses. Events in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach draw crowds. Belmont Shore residents usually bike, skate or walk to local events and off-street parking is limited. Sometimes I think Long Beach street parking rivals NYC's for finding an available space!

Beach bum types do not need an explanation as to what a Woodie is. Vehicles made of wood frames were often used to transport surfers and surf boards to beaches. The 1960's "surfing craze" was popularized by beach movies and songs by groups such as the Safaris, Beach Boys and Jan & Dean. Thus the wood trucks and station wagons or Woodies became associated with California sun and fun.

The Seafood Festival will feature all your favorite types of foods from the sea: lobster, crab, shrimp, Mali-Mali to name a few. Unlike the free concerts and pirate shows, which will feature cannons and sword fights, there is a charge for food. If you get bored there will also be many pirate booty booths and other arts and crafts vendors. After the festival you might want to lounge on the beach until sundown. Mark your calendar to attend "Pier Daze Seafood & Pirate Festival" and have some fun in the sun, Long Beach style.

Resource: Flyer