Begonia Festival

The 65th annual and last Begonia Festival was as beautiful as ever, and did not disappoint! The four day event was a great way to spend the sunny Labor Day weekend with family and friends.

Hundreds gathered to celebrate and say farewell to the festival that has delighted spectators for decades.

On Saturday, Sept. 2, a sand castle contest was held on Capitola Beach. Contestants showcased their creative sand castles from 8 a.m. to noon, while judges and beachgoers enjoyed the masterpieces that ran along the shore. Some designs included a mermaid, turtle, otter, sea lions, and a giant hippo.

Later in the afternoon, construction began on the begonia floats. A massive amount of vibrant begonias filled boxes that participants meticulously placed on their floats to create unique designs.

On Sunday, Sept. 3, a large crowd gathered in Capitola Village to watch the nautical parade from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Spectators were lined along the river, beach, and bridge to get a good view of the show and cheered as decorated floats went by.

The parade was a beautiful way to say goodbye to the festival that has brought joy to the community for over 60 years.

For more information on the Begonia Festival, click here.