A proposal by Discover PB to fence-in Pacific Beachfest next year to expand areas for alcohol consumption has met resistance.

The change is being proposed for the 2024 annual October community event by Pacific Beach’s nonprofit business improvement district. Discover PB has suggested enclosing five blocks within the event’s boundaries to boost attendance while allowing parents the opportunity to enjoy an adult beverage.

This year’s program for Pacific BeachFest on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. along the boardwalk from Felspar Street to Thomas Avenue, will remain unchanged from past years. The free family-friendly festival features live music, action sports on the sand, a food-eating contest, and shopping,

noted Sunny Lee, Discover PB’s executive director. Lee added that Discover PB is only “exploring this option,” expanding alcohol consumption.

“I was unsure we would even be able to do it,” Lee said. “People started to grow concerned before we knew if we could even be able to do it.”

Lee stressed any changes for Pacific Beachfest need to be reviewed and approved by Discover PB’s board and committees, as well as ultimately being approved by the California Coastal Commission. After meeting with the City’s special events and park and rec departments, as well as San Diego Police, Lee noted, “It is really not in the cards for us this year.”

Concerning proposed event changes, Lee said: “The whole reason we want to move forward with this is because we’re seeing the dynamics of the community changing. A lot of families come to Beachfest, not just people who want to party and drink in our beer garden.”

Noting the event is overcoming challenges presented by the recent pandemic and declining attendance, Lee added: “We want an environment where parents don’t have to swap positions to watch the kids when they want to go and have a drink, just like they do at a day at the zoo or SeaWorld. We just want a comfortable place for everybody to have a day out on the boardwalk.”

But some PB residents are seeing the issue differently.

“A 5K Fun Run and activities on the sand were important parts of connecting PB residents and visitors with our finest resource. Walling off the view of that oceanfront with fencing would be completely defeating the reason for the event,” argued longtime PB community planner Eve Anderson, who served on Discover PB’s board in 1997 when she said BeachFest was created as “the anti-block party, specifically selecting our wonderful oceanfront for the event.”

“The number one concern about the proposal is we don’t need any more alcohol; it’s illegal on the boardwalk and the beach,” said Claudia Allen, co-owner of Crystal Pier Hotel. “No special event should be offering it.”

Allen added PB is striving hard to promote itself as a “family-friendly town. We have to fight hard every day to keep it family-friendly, and we also want to preserve the natural beauty of the boardwalk, which is one of the most beautiful places in this whole city.”

“When many people in our Neighborhood Watches found out about their (DPB) plan they opposed it immediately,” said Marcella Teran who coordinates the program in PB. “If parents are drinking alcohol and driving their children home from this event, we are encouraging drinking and driving with children on board. Also, if the parents need to drink, there are many bars on Garnet to drink. Having another venue that allows alcohol only adds to the negative reputation of PB. We are already over-concentrated with establishments that sell alcohol.”

“History has proven with stats to back that up, that in prior years expanding an open public beer bar across a wide swath was extremely detrimental to local businesses and full-time residents,” said resident Gary Morefield. “Citizen altercations increased greatly creating a nightmare for SDPD, kept families with children away from enjoying the beach, and left trash and debris strewn across the coastal boardwalk for City employees to clean up. The cost to the City was enormous. I trust we can learn from history and not pay the price for having to repeat it.”

“I have been volunteering at BeachFest since 2006, coordinating the Community Stage and the booths for PB schools and community groups,” said resident Marcie Beckett. “My goal has always been to keep BeachFest a community-focused, positive, fun, family-friendly event that showcases the best in PB and reflects positively on our community.

“The proposal to fence the entire venue and allow drinking throughout would change the focus of BeachFest to drinking. And instead of BeachFest showcasing the best in our community, it would showcase the worst. It would cause schools, families, community groups, and many residents to stop supporting and attending the event. It would destroy BeachFest as we know and love it. And I would be very sad to see that happen.”

Photo by Steve Sidell