Time to start planning for October Harbor Days

OCEANSIDE — The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce will present the annual Oceanside Harbor Days on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 at the Oceanside Harbor. The theme of this year’s event is “A Pirate’s Playground.”
Pirate Cove, a Harbor Day’s favorite, will be returning this year with lots of pirate fun and mayhem. The historic tall ship Californian will also be returning to the harbor with its picturesque sails. Visitors will enjoy events including roaming pirates, live entertainment, arts and craft exhibits, great food and fun activities for the entire family. The event is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
“This year, there will be some new changes to Harbor Days that include moving the entire event to the beach side of the Harbor. We are excited about mixing it up with a brand new layout as well as adding some new entertainment,” said David Nydegger, president of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. “We wanted to create a more cohesive atmosphere and synergy for the event while making it easier for guests to see and experience everything Harbor Days has to offer.”
Harbor Days would not be complete without its traditional signature events that include:
— Fishing Derby: Guests swarm around the fishing pier in order to witness youngsters cast their lines for the biggest fish.
— Nail and Sail: Spectators are entertained as sailors sink or swim in this contest which pits brain against brawn as teams build and navigate a seaworthy craft around a short, but treacherous course.
— United States Marine Corps and Navy displays: Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, everyone has a great time crawling around these massive military machines that are on display at the Oceanside Harbor Beach.
The opening ceremonies for Harbor Days will take place at noon Oct. 2 at the Harbor Stage. Capt. Jack, a look-a-like from the popular movie series, will be emceeing the event. Miss Oceanside will be singing the National Anthem and the El Camino High School JROTC Color Guard will present the colors.
Access to Harbor Days will be easier than ever with rail transportation from the Sprinter and Coaster along with a free shuttle service that will be available from the Oceanside Transit Center to the Harbor. Whether you drive or ride, it is recommended that visitors utilize the shuttle service from the transit center.
Harbor Days is free to the public and is presented by Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Oceanside Harbor District, Cox Communications, Genentech and San Diego Ford Dealers.
For more information, call the Oceanside Chamber Commerce at (760) 722-1534 or visit www.OceansideHarborDays.com.