This year, among other changes, visitors to the 43rd Annual Cabrillo Festival will be able to view close up the reenactment of the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo and his first steps ashore at Ballast Point in Point Loma Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m. The dramatization should prove the highlight of the festival’s open house.
Thanks to a venue change this year’s open house “” featuring Mexican, Native American, Spanish and Portuguese dancing, storytelling, music and food “”will be held at the Naval Base Point Loma at the picnic area, close to the likely location of Cabrillo’s landing on Sept. 28, 1542, when he claimed the region for the Spanish crown.
The location change from the park to the base became necessary when the Cabrillo National Monument and its supporting foundation were unable to fund the festival for the first time in 16 years.
“The Foundation is facing declining revenues from the bookstore. The park is experiencing flat appropriations that haven’t kept up with the costs and increasing expenses. We found ourselves with less money to put into special events, which are a lower priority than the park’s maintenance, operations and visitor services,” said Karl Pierce, Cabrillo’s public information officer.
Cabrillo Festival, Inc., the non-profit organization that stages the festival in conjunction with the park, the Navy and community groups, was grateful when Naval Base Point Loma Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Patton offered to host the annual event at the base.
“We’re really excited about the new location’s being on the water’s edge,” said Mary Correia, president of Cabrillo Festival, Inc.
“The highlight for many years has been the tallship San Salvador (played by the Maritime Museum’s Californian) sailing into the harbor. The landing of Cabrillo, viewed from the park, had lost its impact and glamour because the monument is so far away. The new location is beautiful “” a grassy park right on the beach, near what is historically believed to be his original landing place,” she added. Cabrillo and his party will also mingle with visitors after their landing.
For the Navy, involved with the event for 16 years, hosting the festival offers an opportunity for community outreach.
“We’ve wanted to let the public know what is on the point. This is one of our ways of giving back to the public,” explained Chief Kingsley Van Duzer, public affairs officer for the Navy base.
Van Duzer noted that anyone wishing to attend the event arrive at the base’s front gate at the end of Rosecrans Street. He recommends that adult drivers have their photo ID and current car registration on hand. Guests will be directed to on-base parking, with handicapped parking near the event.
This year, another first, the Navy will provide rowers and crew for the chalupa carrying Cabrillo “” portrayed by Donald Valadao “” from his ship to Ballast Point.
The festival’s opening ceremonies on Friday, Sept. 29, at 5:30 p.m., will still be held at the park’s Cabrillo Statue. Festivities there will include a concert by the Navy Band Southwest, Kumeyaay Bird Songs, a ceremonial wreath laying and keynote address by Inocencio F. Arias, Spain’s consul-general in Los Angeles.
As part of the Cabrillo Festival, the park will host a special 16th century living history encampment with Spanish soldiers and sailors on Sat., Sept. 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and show the National Park Service film “In Search of Cabrillo” in the park’s auditorium four times during the day.
On Sunday, Oct. 1, the living history encampment will shift to the base, as part of the festival’s open house activities, which run from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Entertainment will include folkloric music and dancers and Native American cultural and craft demonstrations throughout the day, accompanied by a food bazaar selling Native and Latin American specialties.
“We’re trying to add more activities and infuse new life into the festival,” Correia explained. She encouraged visitors to bring a blanket and picnic, and sample the event’s new “walkabout” character.
This year there will be vendors offering an array of goods. Barona Cultural Center and Museum representatives will also be available to provide background on their cultural programs and the indigenous peoples populating San Diego before Spanish contact.
Point Loma residents from the Portuguese community began the festival in 1964. Due to their efforts, Cabrillo Festival, Inc., was founded. The all-volunteer organization incorporated as a non-profit in 1975 to raise money for the festival each year, explained Correia, who has been involved since 1983.
“Our two main goals are to keep history alive and to bring cultures together,” she said.
The festival is free and open to the public. For more information, call CNM at 619-557-5450, ext. 0.