Capitola Beach Festival

The Capitola Beach Festival, held at Capitola Beach on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, has something for everyone. Here is a lineup of events. Saturday, September 26. The fun begins with the Little Wharf three-mile fun run, beginning at 8 a.m. in the East Cliff Shopping Center on East Cliff Drive, near 16th Avenue. This event is sponsored by the Wharf-to-Wharf race committee. Preregister at wharftowharf.com/little-wharf-3-miler.

My personal favorite part of the festival is the sand sculpture contest, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Capitola Beach. If you want to participate, register on Capitola Beach at 10 a.m. Or you can watch from the sidelines as the sculptures emerge. It never ceases to amaze me what a group of people armed with buckets, shovels, sand, and water can create in just a few hours.

There will be children’s art from noon to 3 p.m. at Esplanade Park. Pick up a map and complete a scavenger hunt in the village from noon to 4 p.m. Play cornhole on the beach and enjoy live music. A Lighted Nautical Parade will be on Soquel Creek from 7 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a parade of lighted barges as they travel down the river to the lagoon. Float builders who wish to light up a barge must preregister. Call 831-428-9875, or visit or capitolabeachfestival@gmail.com.

After the Lighted Nautical Parade, there will be a drone show over the beach and Soquel Creek. Stay in your spot following the parade to view this spectacular event. Sunday, September 27. A fishing derby will be held from 7 to 11 a.m. Bring your own fishing poles and register near the end of the Capitola Wharf. Open to all ages.

Enjoy ukeleles at the beach from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and play horsehoes in the sand. Children can create chalk art on the seawall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Finally, compete in rowboat races starting at 1 p.m. Register at the pathway by the Stockton Bridge from noon to 1 p.m. There will be timed heats on Soquel Creek with two people per boat. Boats are provided.

More information is at www. capitolabeachfestival.com.