Get out of bed early for the Pacific Beach Block Party this Saturday. For 27 years the block party has allowed Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach to explode into a cacophony of vendors, entertainment and locals.
The Pacific Beach Community Foundation organizes the all-ages event, which is scheduled for May 11 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Money generated from this year’s party directly benefits Pacific Beach and will be used for education and philanthropy within the community.
“”It is the biggest one-day in the state,”” spokesperson Kevin Hellman said. “”We are the biggest block party in the biggest space and draw the biggest crowd.””
Hellman has been involved with the PB Block Party for 10 years. Each year draws more people with new exhibits and activities, according to him.
Running from Ingraham Street south to Mission Boulevard, the block party will offer a Kids Fun Zone, an international food court, 400 vendors, inventions, corporate sponsors and the music festival — 10 stages with 50 performers.
“”New for this year is the GNC pro performance arm wrestling competition,”” Hellman said. “”People are excited about this; I have had call after call from people wanting to get in on it.””
The competition will showcase professional and amateur competitors and is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Although we have left our childhood years behind, youthful behavior is still in the best of us. The Kid Zone, located on the 1500 block of Garnet, will not leave the child in all of us out of the festivities, according to Hellman.
“”There will be things for the adults and parents to play on,”” he said.
In other words, prepare to take off your shoes and play with the kids.
The music festival rages all day long, with a variety of music emanating from 10 strategically placed stages.
You don’t have to migrate toward a stage to listen to the music. Street performers, the Montgomery High School Steel Drum Band, Tom Griesgraber and escape artist Michael Patrick will be working their way through the crowds during the day.
Parking is free for all, with the early birds getting the best on-street parking. Those who can’t get up early will have to park at Crown Point Shores and ride a free shuttle to Garnet.
The Lineup
SLAMM magazine presents the Sycuan Casino Stage, featuring Cowboy Mouth, Chris Whitley, fluf, Lualta and Rochelle, Rochelle.
91X presents the Wherehouse Music Stage with the Mother Hips, Convoy, Ten Pound Brown, B-Side Players and Elijah Emmanuel and the Revelations.
91X presents its second stage, the Club Plan B stage, with d*frost, Edify, Honey Bucket, Earth Ride and Citizen X Posse.
The KSDS Jazz 88 Stage presents Jack Costanzo, Kokopelli Latin Jazz Quartet, 2000 lbs of Blues, Blue Largo, Earl Thomas and Agent 22.
Rock 105.3 presents the Sobe Beverage Stage, featuring Slightly Stoopid, Buckfast Superbee, Wonka Bar, Glissando and Animal 32.
101 KGB FM presents the Auto Trader/sdam.com Stage with Mike Reilly Band, Private Domain, Pink Froyd, Deadline Friday, Derek Duplessie and the Desert Poets.
Channel 93.3 presents the SecondSpin.com Dance Stage with Aion, DJ K and Shawni Young, Barry Weaver, Jonene, E-Sassin, Mark Thrasher and DJ Hawg.
My 94.1 presents Club Tremors Club Stage, featuring The World Famous Disco Pimps and the ’80s Allstarz
The Typhoon Saloon Stage will feature Scorch, Powerthud, The Lovelight Shine, Crucial and the Good China.
The Tiki House also has its own stage with the Boogiemen, the Big Provider and Yellow Miseries.
