CARLSBAD: State park hosts Christmas in July event
Santa’s favorite spot to vacation is South Carlsbad State Beach,or so say the organizers of an annual Christmas in Julyfundraiser.
Jolly old St. Nick will tour the 220-space, beachfrontcampground along the southern part of Carlsbad Boulevard and posefor photographs late Saturday afternoon.
“It’s really a lot of fun ---- the first time we did it, it tooktwo hours to get through the campground,” said event organizerDennis Kessler, describing how people use photographs of thesurf-loving Santa on Christmas cards.
Santa Claus will look like himself from the waist up --- he’llhave his trademark red hat and jacket. But he’ll be wearing some”butt ugly” swimming trunks and carrying an old surfboard, Kesslersaid.
Participation in the three prior “Christmas in July” events wasmostly limited to out-of-town folks staying at the campground, butthis year organizers have obtained permission for extra publicparking so that locals can join in the fun, fellow event organizerBill Mahoney said.
“We’ve been able to get a huge amount of parking that we didn’thave in past years,” he said.
People who aren’t staying at the campground can park for $10along an unused roadway on the east side of the campground betweenPoinsettia Lane and Breakwater Road. They can access that roadthrough the campground entrance.
Their $10 parking cost nets two tickets for the event’s popularraffle. This year’s prizes include three one-week-free stays ateither South Carlsbad or San Elijo State Parks.
The raffle prizes have been hotly sought in past years becausethe winners can pick whatever dates they like for their one-weekstay and they don’t have to go through the state’s online systemmonths in advance to make their campground reservations, hesaid.
Saturday’s Christmas celebration starts at 3 p.m. and Santa’stour is an hour-and-half later than that, but people can park alongthe roadway spots starting at 9 a.m. and spend the day at thebeach, Mahoney said.
In addition to the Santa visits and a campfire event, organizerswill offer kids’ craft projects in the afternoon.
All profits from the event, which last year totaled $11,000,fund special events at the campground, including Halloween andEaster activities, Mahoney said. The festival is organized by theFriends of Cardiff & Carlsbad State Beaches, a nonprofitorganization that works with the state parks system to protectlocal state beaches.