Chula Vista Centennial Harbor Days Extravaganza

The tall ship Californian and the steam yacht Medea, will grace the harbor as guests enjoy free admission to these historic vessels. The Maritime Museum will also present displays of the San Salvador project and Cabrillo National Monument will showcase the early seafaring days; Pirates and Spanish explorers will be on hand. A classic car show will set the mood for the early years of transportation. Visitors can catch a ride on an amphibian tour bus, the SEAL, to explore Chula Vista harbor and the bay, and Old Town Trolleys will offer free rides to hop from one area of Harbor Days Extravaganza to another, including the Chula Vista Nature Center and the new US Fish and Wildlife Headquarters. Bicycles will be available to explore the Bayshore Bikeway and Chula Vista bicycle trails, a service provided through a grant from the Port of San Diego. Other exciting transportation displays and events will be scattered throughout the festival.

The Centennial Harbor Days Extravaganza supports Arts Month Chula Vista with a juried Art Show hosted by the Chula Vista Yacht Club. The free exhibition will feature works by local waterfront artists and is open to the public.  An artisans’ craft fair, poetry and theatre on the boardwalk, various random acts of culture, an interactive mural, and a special event sculpture by Michael Leaf will animate the bay during this two-day celebration.

Saturday’s lineup includes the first annual Susan G. Komen “Sail for the Cure” regatta with a special “Art Bra” exhibition to help raise funds for breast cancer research. On Sunday, Chula Vista’s high school robotics teams will challenge other County teams to an afternoon match. In the Kidzone guests will be treated to feature performances by the Von Jon Circus, the CCC Ballet Folklórico Xochitl, and the Heart Light Dance & Fitness along with activities for children hosted by the Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Department including storytelling and roaming pirates. This year our program coincides with the National Worldwide Day of Play sponsored by Nickelodeon, encouraging everyone to get outdoors and play.

Ecotourism and the natural environment will be a highlight of this event, with educational exhibits and activities focusing on Chula Vista’s unique eco-zone and delicate habitat, in collaboration with the Chula Vista Nature Center. Plan to spend time enjoying the outdoors and the natural jewel of the South San Diego bay.

Special thanks to our partners the City of Chula Vista, Chula Vista Centennial, the Unified Port of San Diego, Big Bay, San Diego Maritime Museum, Allied Waste and Rural/Metro Ambulance, and to our hosts California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista Yacht Club, and Chula Vista Marina and our sponsors, Marine Group, Procopio, Vulcan Materials Co., Copy Link, and many other businesses and community members supporting this event.

For more information please visit the official website: www.cvharbordays.com.

ABOUT HARBOR DAYS EXTRAVAGANZA 2011- SEPTEMBER 24 & 25
Harbor Days was an annual event that celebrated the Californian’s return to her original homeport of Chula Vista. The event was canceled in recent years, but has been reborn for Chula Vista’s Centennial Celebration as a volunteer-powered community Extravaganza, thanks to support from the San Diego Unified Port, the Big Bay and the Maritime Museum of San Diego. This waterfront “Extravaganza” is a free two-day fair providing entertainment for locals and tourists alike. This year’s focus is on Chula Vista’s 100-year anniversary and the history of transportation: past, present & future featuring the tall ship Californian and the historic steam yacht Medea, highlighting local history, arts and culture, supporting economic development and raising environmental awareness. To learn more about Chula Vista Centennial Harbor Days Extravaganza visit the official website at www.cvharbordays.com. (Website designed by Chula Vista resident Marianne Gibson.)