THE BENICIA WATERFRONT FESTIVAL, featuring music, vendors and kids’ activities, was held for the first time in seven years.
Kevin Denton photo
■ Main Street says consensus on celebration is positive
By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter
“We’re so glad you brought it back — it’s something I really missed.”
That’s the sentiment staff members of Benicia Main Street heard both Saturday and Sunday during the 2013 Waterfront Festival on the First Street Green.
The festival, promoted as “Back With a Splash,” had been on a seven-year hiatus, during which Main Street focused on its replacement, the Arts and Jazz Festival.
But art and jazz didn’t have the same broad-based appeal, so members of the Main Street board suggested reworking the waterfront festival format to make it family friendly, and then bringing it back.
“It went really well, and we were very impressed with the turnout,” Deborah Meyer, event coordinator, said. The opening day, Saturday, attracted 2,300 visitors; Sunday’s attendance was 3,000, she said.
Visitors flocked to the booths, and Meyer said the new favorite was Arepas Bululu, which served hot Venezuelan sandwiches and other food.
Also well attended were the places where 15 craft beers were on tap, she said.
“That’s a Waterfront Festival favorite,” Meyer said. “That area was really busy.”
The bands were another attraction, she said. They played good-time classic rock, blues, dance hits, Tex-Mex, funk and soul tunes.
“They were the biggest highlight,” she said.
“There were kids dancing, and couples dancing. It was good fun on the green.”
The festival was so successful, it’s assured to take place next year, Meyer said.
“We definitely will be making it an annual thing,” she said.
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My forth year participating as an artist. Love the new music format and enthusiastic crowds that made it a great weekend. Thanks Benicia! Thanks Main Street!
As a fairly new resident of Benicia (4 yrs.), I’ve been waiting for an event where both families with small children and people without children can enjoy side by side. This event was wonderful, please bring it back! The only thing I would say is to promote it to families more. Most of my peers with children didn’t know about it. I’m not sure how you can get the word out (maybe sending an email to the Benicia Moms Group?), but just some feedback. I will do my part by telling my friends. Great job!
We went both days and thought the bands were great but we’ll still miss the Jazz Festival.
We went to support Benicia, but I’m not sure what I paid $20 for, or if we’ll bring the family back next year. I guess it was a cover charge for the bands since nothing else was included in the entrance fee. Seemed exactly like the Farmer’s Market (which we love) but with bands in place of produce. Keep working to improve it and drop the cover charge then we’ll be back!
Shaia Spice was a first time participant and we thought everyone involved with the Benicia Main Street Group was wonderful. They really had their act together and were very helpful and friendly.
I didn’t go and I spoke to a number of others who didn’t either, and for the same reason: the $10 price tag. There are free, high-quality craft shows every weekend in the bay area with multiple music stages and a larger variety of vendors, both crafts and food. Benicia can do better than this. Let’s at least capitalize on the one thing that we can offer over most bay area locations. How about getting some water sports competitions going again? Take advantage of the new kite and paddle sports store and put Benicia back on the map for water sports. Kite flying and fishing too! It will be a great draw for the event, and,better than that, it will get people coming back to Benicia long past the event, something retail businesses, restaurants, and bars will benefit from.
We went both days and it only cost $ 5 dollars each as we printed out the two for one coupons we found on this website. We had a great time for a cheap price